Let's be real for a second. If you were browsing the internet back in 2013, the hype cycle for the Wii U was, frankly, a bit of a mess. Then came the Super Mario 3D World IGN review, penned by the veteran critic Jose Otero, and suddenly the narrative shifted. It wasn’t just a "good" game; it was a 9.6 "Amazing" powerhouse that arguably saved the reputation of a struggling console, even if it couldn't save the hardware's sales figures.
Mario games usually get high scores. That's a given. But 3D World was different because it felt like a weird middle child between the grand, sweeping space-opera vibes of Galaxy and the literal, 2D-on-a-3D-plane constraints of Super Mario 3D Land on the 3DS. People were skeptical. I remember people calling it "low energy" before it actually hit shelves. Then the review dropped.
The 9.6 Heard 'Round the Mushroom Kingdom
The Super Mario 3D World IGN score remains a fascinating touchstone in gaming history. Why a 9.6? It’s a specific number. It’s not a perfect 10, but it’s high enough to signal that this is essential software. Otero’s critique focused heavily on the sheer density of ideas. In a typical Mario level, Nintendo introduces a mechanic—say, a transparent pipe or a swinging pendulum—uses it three times, and then throws it in the trash to never be seen again.
It's relentless.
IGN’s stance was that this "disposable" design philosophy is actually the game's greatest strength. While games like Odyssey would later focus on massive, open-ended exploration, 3D World was about the tight, focused rush of reaching a flagpole. You've got the Cat Suit, which everyone initially thought was a bit of a gimmick for the "casual" crowd, but it actually completely broke the verticality of the levels in the best way possible.
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What the Critics (and You) Might Have Missed
Often, when we look back at these legacy reviews, we forget the context of the multiplayer. Most 3D platformers are lonely. Even Mario Galaxy only had that "Star Pointer" second player mode that felt like an afterthought for a younger sibling. 3D World changed the math.
- It brought the chaotic "collision" physics from the New Super Mario Bros. series into a 3D space.
- It gave Peach a floaty jump that made her the meta-pick for speedrunners and casuals alike.
- It introduced the "Crown" mechanic, a subtle bit of psychological warfare where the player with the highest score wears a literal crown in the next level, just so they can brag.
Honestly, the multiplayer is where the 9.6 rating really earns its keep. It’s a specific type of "co-opetitive" play that Nintendo has perfected. You are helping your friends reach the end, but you’re also absolutely going to throw them off a cliff if it means you get the Double Cherry power-up first.
Bowser’s Fury: The 2021 Re-evaluation
Fast forward to the Nintendo Switch port. IGN revisited the title, this time with a different perspective because of the Bowser’s Fury expansion. This wasn't just a resolution bump to 1080p. It was a fundamental shift in how the game felt.
On the Wii U, Mario moved like he was walking through a light coating of molasses. It was intentional, designed to make the 3D platforming more precise for people who struggle with depth perception. But for the Switch version, Nintendo cranked the movement speed way up. You run faster. You climb higher.
When IGN looked at the Bowser's Fury addition, they gave the whole package a 7/10 for the expansion specifically (as a standalone thought) but maintained that the base game was a masterpiece. Bowser's Fury felt like a prototype for what a truly open-world Mario could look like, featuring a seamless Lake Lapcat environment that didn't have loading screens between "levels." It was a glimpse into the future, attached to a masterpiece of the past.
The "Linearity" Problem
Some critics—and a very vocal segment of the fanbase—argued that Super Mario 3D World IGN reviews were too kind. The argument usually goes like this: "It's too linear. It’s just 2D Mario in a 3D skin."
I get that. If you grew up on Mario 64, you want to get lost in a world. You want to hunt for secrets that aren't just on the beaten path. 3D World doesn't give you that. It gives you a path. But the nuance here is that the path is perfectly engineered. It's the difference between a sprawling national park and a world-class roller coaster. Both are great, but they serve different moods. IGN’s high praise was a defense of the "roller coaster" design.
The Technical Reality of the Wii U vs. Switch
If you're looking to play this today, the version you choose actually matters for reasons the original reviews couldn't have predicted.
The Wii U original ran at 720p. It looked clean because of Nintendo's art style, which prioritizes bold colors and simple shapes over raw polygon counts. However, the Switch version in docked mode hits that crisp 1080p. More importantly, the frame rate is a rock-solid 60fps. In a game where a millisecond determines if you land on a Goomba or get shrunk to Small Mario, that frame rate is everything.
Also, let's talk about the Toad levels. Captain Toad started as a mini-game here. It was so well-received in the initial Super Mario 3D World IGN coverage that it spawned its own franchise. That's a rare feat for a side-mode. These levels force you to think about the camera as a tool rather than just a perspective. You can't jump. You have to navigate a 3D diorama by spinning the world around. It's brilliant. It's stressful. It's pure Nintendo.
Why the 9.6 Still Matters in 2026
We are now several years into the Switch’s successor rumors and the evolution of the 3D platformer. Looking back at that 9.6, it serves as a reminder that "innovation" doesn't always mean "bigger."
Sometimes, innovation is just finding five different ways to use a clear pipe.
The legacy of the game, as documented by IGN and others, is its accessibility. It is one of the few games you can play with a grandmother, a toddler, and a hardcore gamer simultaneously without anyone getting bored. The hardcore gamer will try to "infinite kick" their way up a wall to find a hidden Stamp, while the toddler just enjoys being a cat.
Moving Forward: How to Master 3D World
If you're diving back in because of the historical hype, don't just play to finish. Play to break it.
- Character Choice: Stop picking Mario. He’s the "average" choice. Use Luigi for his high jump if you want to skip platforming sections, or use Peach if you’re struggling with falling into pits. Rosalina is the "secret" unlockable character who has a spin attack—she’s basically a cheat code once you get her.
- The Dash Pad: In the Switch version, the increased base speed makes the dash pads significantly more dangerous. Practice your "mid-air spin" to stall your momentum.
- Snapshot Mode: The Switch version added a photo mode. It sounds trivial, but the stamps you collect throughout the game can be applied to walls in this mode. It’s a meta-game that actually gives value to the collectibles that felt useless on the Wii U.
The Super Mario 3D World IGN review wasn't just a snapshot of a game; it was a snapshot of a turning point for Nintendo. It proved that their "EAD Tokyo" team (the geniuses behind Galaxy) could take the simplest concepts and make them feel fresh.
To truly get the most out of your playthrough today, focus on the "post-game" content. The journey to World Crown is where the real difficulty lies. Most players drop off after the "final" boss, but the hardest levels—the ones that justify that 9.6 score for veterans—only appear after you’ve collected every Green Star and Stamp. That’s where the game stops being a "walk in the park" and starts being a test of your soul.
Check your save file. If you haven't hit the final, final level—Champions' Road—you haven't actually finished what IGN was raving about all those years ago. It’s a brutal, checkpoint-less gauntlet that will make you question your love for Italian plumbers, but clearing it is one of the most satisfying "phew" moments in all of gaming.
Go back and find those missed Green Stars in World 4. Experiment with the Bowser's Fury "snapshot" filters. Try a four-player run where nobody is allowed to use the Cat Suit. The depth is there, hidden behind a bright, colorful veneer that most people mistake for simplicity.