Mario Kart 7 & Super Mario 3D Land dated

There was one crucial omission to the Nintendo 3DS launch library: Mario. Nintendo is making up for his absence with not one, but two Mario games for the handheld this holiday season. The first is Super Mario 3D Land, the "first-ever true 3D Mario platforming adventure." Developed by Nintendo's Tokyo team, the same team responsible for the Super Mario Galaxy series, the game will take advantage of the gyroscope by allowing players to find secrets before they play a level. There's StreetPass functionality, too. Super Mario 3D Land will be available on November 13.

Next up is Mario Kart 7.

New to Mario Kart 7 are characters like Metal Mario and Lakitu (but who will pick up racers that fall off the track?!). The game will offer a tricks system like the one in Mario Kart Wii, and will offer an optional first-person driving mode that's controlled by the gyro sensor. Mario Kart 7 will be available on December 4th.

“The 2011 holiday season offers up multiple must-have Nintendo games for both experienced players and newcomers,” Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing, said in a press release. “Shoppers know they can count on Nintendo to offer amazing entertainment experiences at an unbeatable value.”

Both games will retail for $39.99 each.