One massive highlight from the most recent Nintendo Direct was the announcement ofSuper Mario Bros. Wonder, a brand-new 2D entry in the series. This more or less proves that theleaks about a newSuper Mariogamebeing in development were partially correct, even if some parts like incorporating the movie’s designs might not be.
It would also mean thatSuper Mario Bros. Wonderis the first new mainlineMariogame released sinceSuper Mario Odysseyback in 2017. Despite this large gap, something arguably more significant is that it breaks one of the biggest conventions present in the series for about a decade.
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Super Mario Bros. Wonderis the first brand-new game in the mainline series to be entirely 2D since the release ofNew Super Mario Bros. Uin 2012. This would mean that almost 11 years have passed since a new traditional 2D Mario game has been released, even if there are some caveats to that.
A gap like this isn’t entirely noticeable for a few reasons. For instance, amixture of incredibly successfulMariogamesof varying genres has been steadily released throughout the Switch’s lifetime. While many of these are spin-off games not falling under the core platforming genre, others have been ports of Wii U titles with additional content included. Many of these ports are of 2D and 3D platformers likeSuper Mario 3D WorldandNew Super Mario Bros. U Deluxewhich many players did not have an opportunity to play since the Wii U did not sell at all.
Perhaps the biggest reason it was not noticeable – and the largest caveat to sayingSuper Mario Bros. Wonderis the first 2DMariogame in 11 years – is thatSuper Mario Maker 2exists. That game is a platformer also presented on a 2D plane and was released in 2019. The biggest difference between the two, and why distinguishing between them is important, is that whileSuper Mario Maker 2is primarily a level creatorwhere players make their levels to be played by others,Super Mario Bros. Wonderhas the pre-made, linear world structure of more traditional games in the series.
Regardless of the technicalities, it’s exciting to get a traditionalMarioplatformer that introduces something entirely new to the series. While theNew Super Mario Bros. games stand out as enjoyable experiences with a ton of content, it’s refreshing to see the newest game go in a unique direction regarding how levels play.
Based on the announcement trailer forSuper Mario Bros. Wonder, players will have opportunities to warp varying elements of the level that will make collectibles easier to get while giving the game its own identity. While some fans might have appreciated a more straightforward approach to the game,the Wonder Flowerthat literally brings parts of levels to life is undoubtedly a unique direction to go in.
Cool gimmicks aside, it is nice thatthe Nintendo Switchwill receive at least one traditional 2DMariogame that places the focus on platforming challenges ahead of everything else. While the Switch is home toMariogames of all types, ranging from the varying sports titles to the first open-ended 3D platformer the franchise had seen in over a decade, it lacked a game that helped show whyMariobecame a household name almost 40 years ago. HopefullySuper Mario Bros. Wonderproves to be the bold and fun new direction that the trailer makes it out to be.
Super Mario Bros. Wonderwill come out July 28, 2025, for Switch.
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