Nintendo games have performed admirably so far in 2022; the first half of the year was defined by major successes includingKirby and the Forgotten LandandPokemon Legends: Arceus. Luckily for the company, the year still holds a lot of promise.Splatoon 3, Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Bayonetta 3,and a new generation ofPokemonare all on the horizon. This stands in contrast toSuper Mario’s relatively quiet 2022. Fans of theSuper Mariofranchise’s sports spinoffs do get to enjoyMario Strikers: Battle Leaguethis year, but a new core platformer in theSuper Mariolineup hasn’t been unveiled recently.
Mariofans have still had some content to enjoy lately, thanks toSuper Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Furyreleasing in early 2021, but much of that game was likely familiar to them already, and by now most fans have likely had their fill ofBowser’s Fury.Many years have passed sinceSuper Mariogot a wholly new game, so it’s time for Nintendo to announce something new. Luckily, October 2022 would be an ideal time for Nintendo to comment on the future of the franchise because it’ll mark the fifth anniversary of aSuper Mariogame that stands as one of the Switch’s best-selling games.
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Super Mario Odyssey’s Birthday Approaches
It’s no secret thatSuper Mario Odysseywas a smash hit. Critics and fans alike were enchanted by Mario’s next adventure in 3D platforming, and this acclaimed game deserves a lot of credit for giving the Switch a strong debut year, alongside other Switch champions likeThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.Innovative platforming with the help of Cappy, open-world exploration through colorful new environments, and enough collectibles to keep players entertained for dozens of hours meant thatSuper Mario Odysseystood out even in a franchise known for creative and influential 3D platformers.
Super Mario Odysseyreleased on October 27th, 2017, meaning October 2022 will mark the game’s first major birthday as it turns five years old. It seems likely that Nintendo will acknowledge that day in one way or another, considering just how importantOdysseyis to the Switch’s reputation. Perhaps the best way to mark the occasion would be to announce a newSuper Marioplatformer that’ll take up the mantle fromOdysseyin the Switch’s later years.Super Marioside gamesmay have plenty of representation on the Switch right now, but a completely fresh platformer is overdue.
What Could Be Next for Super Mario
Perhaps the most obvious thing that Nintendo could announce this October is a sequel toSuper Mario Odyssey.Fans would certainly jump on the opportunity to go on another adventure with Cappy. Nintendo has made sequels to 3DMariogames before, so aSuper Mario Odysseysequel would hardly be out of character. There are plenty of creative directions that a sequel could go too; for instance,Super Mario Odyssey 2could use a darker toneto tell a more serious, nuanced story in the vein ofSuper Paper Mario, or it could incorporate time travel to mix up its playable worlds.
Of course, a directOdysseysequel isn’t all that’s possible. Nintendo could makeSuper Mario 3D World 2, for instance, although this seems unlikely since the port of theWii Ugame is still pretty new. Alternatively, Nintendo could try producing a standalone game inspired byBowser’s Fury, borrowing the third-person 3D playstyle ofOdysseywhile pairing Mario with classic Mushroom Kingdom characters and putting familiar faces and places in a new light.
All in all, it remains to be seen if Nintendo wants toadvance theSuper Mariofranchiseright now. It might be satisfied withSuper Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Furyfor the moment, and soOdyssey’s birthday could be marked by a modest celebration of the game’s legacy. Ideally, though, Nintendo will use the occasion to launch the IP into its future. Tying a game toOdysseyin one way or another is bound to be good for its reputation, consideringOdyssey’s pedigree. Hopefully the start of the holiday season will include some insight into the state ofSuper Marioand Nintendo’s plans for its mascot’s next platforming adventure.
