Super Mario‘s future hasn’t been super apparent in recent memory, with the iconic plumber appearing in only a single mainline video game in the last 8 years. The Super Mario franchise, arguably gaming’s most iconic series of games, helped usher the medium into living rooms across the world as Nintendo’s mascot, appearing in numerous titles early in the company’s history.
While 1981’s Donkey Kong kicked off Nintendo’s long-term success, the release of Super Mario Bros. in September 1985 took the company’s home console sales through the roof. A follow-up to the arcade hit Mario Bros, which introduced series staples like the Koopas and even Mario’s brother Luigi, Super Mario Bros. expanded on these concepts to create a fully realized side-scrolling platformer. Characters like Bowser and Princess Toadstool would become icons of their own right, with the later-renamed Princess Peach receiving games of her own.
The ‘Main Event’ of the Super Mario 40th Anniversary Being a Movie is an Absolute Travesty
Super Mario’s 40th anniversary deserved to be celebrated with a new 3D Mario title for the Switch 2, but it was overshadowed by a movie sequel.
Mario Has Only Had 1 Main Series Title in 8 Years
Although Mario is the mascot of one of gaming’s most popular developers, there has only been 1 mainline Super Mario title in the last 8 years. As pointed out by Reddit user TJmaster87 in a post on the Mario-focused subreddit, Mario’s only major release since 2017 has been 2023’s Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Though the game was extremely well received, there has been some controversy surrounding Super Maro Bros. Wonder‘s upcoming Switch 2 edition, and the Reddit post echoes fan’s preference for a brand-new title over Wonder‘s announced DLC.
In contrast, the franchise saw 9 releases between 2007’s Super Mario Galaxy and 2017, when Mario’s latest 3D platformer, Super Mario Odyssey, was released. Though elements of both of these games will appear in Mario’s next feature film, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, many fans wonder if a new game could be on the horizon to capitalize on the success of the upcoming movie. The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which was released in April 2023, grossed over one billion dollars worldwide, making it the highest grossing video game adaptation in film history. Super Mario Wonder released just over four months later in late October 2023, rapidly becoming the fastest-selling Super Mario title in history, and some Nintendo players hope to see the company repeat this past success.
Though Wonder is a fantastic title in its own right, some long-time fans hope to see the mustached plumber return to the world of 3D platforming specifically. Super Mario 64‘s role in inspiring the popular 3D platforming genre in the 90s cannot be overstated, and each of the series’ third-person, three-dimensional adventures has been excellent in its own unique way. With games like 2024’s Astro Bot making waves across the gaming landscape, that influence is still present, and there is plenty of space for Mario to return and reclaim his crown.
As for the direction that the series could take next, many fans feel as though they’ve had an idea of Nintendo’s intentions ever since the Switch re-release of Wii U title Super Mario 3D Land. That game’s added DLC, titled “Bowser’s Fury,” featured a massive, terrifying version of the series’ main antagonist who hunted Mario across an “open world” area. The additional content’s wide open environment felt like a testing ground for the potential future of the Super Mario series, though nothing has come of the experiment thus far. With the Nintendo Switch 2’s launch in June 2025, the console is primed for its own exclusive Mario title, and the franchise may be heading in a bold new direction once it finally arrives.
- Released
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October 20, 2023
- ESRB
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E For Everyone // Mild Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
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Nintendo EPD
- Publisher(s)
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Nintendo
