You’re standing in the eShop or staring at a wall of red boxes at Target, and it hits you. There isn't just one super mario game for nintendo switch. There are like, a dozen. Some are side-scrollers that look like the ones from the 90s, others are massive 3D worlds where Mario wears a sentient hat, and then you’ve got the weird ones where he’s playing soccer or fighting rabbits with laser guns. It’s a lot. Honestly, it’s a bit of a mess if you’re just looking for "the Mario game."
Most people think every Mario title is a masterpiece just because it has the red M on the cap. That’s a lie. Some of these are essential, life-changing experiences, and some are just... fine. If you’ve got $60 to burn, you don't want "fine." You want the one that reminds you why you started playing video games in the first place.
The 3D Heavyweights: Odyssey vs. Bowser’s Fury
If we’re talking about the definitive super mario game for nintendo switch, the conversation starts and usually ends with Super Mario Odyssey. Released back in 2017, it still feels like it came from the future. The big "gimmick" here is Cappy. You throw your hat at things—frogs, T-Rexes, electricity lines, literal tanks—and you become them.
It’s weird. It works.
But here’s what people get wrong about Odyssey: it’s not really a platformer in the traditional sense. It’s a giant playground. You aren't just trying to get to the end of a level; you're hunting for Moons. There are 880 of them. Some are hidden behind complex jumps, others are just sitting in a bush because a developer felt generous. It’s a collector’s dream, but if you want "Start -> Finish" gameplay, it might actually overwhelm you.
Then there’s Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury.
This is actually two games in one, and Bowser’s Fury is the most interesting thing Nintendo has done in a decade. It’s a seamless open world. No loading screens between levels. You’re just on a lake, and every few minutes, a Godzilla-sized Bowser wakes up and tries to murder you with heavy metal music playing in the background. It’s short—you can beat it in four hours—but it’s a glimpse into the future of the franchise.
3D World itself is the "safe" pick. It’s linear. You go from point A to point B. It’s the best co-op experience on the system because you can play with four people, though you will definitely end up throwing your friends off cliffs. Accidental or not. Usually not.
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Is Wonder the Best Super Mario Game for Nintendo Switch?
For years, the 2D Mario games were getting stale. The "New Super Mario Bros." series felt like it was made by a committee that hated color. Then Super Mario Bros. Wonder dropped in 2023.
It’s trippy.
Every level has a "Wonder Flower." You touch it, and the world breaks. Pipes start crawling like inchworms. Mario turns into an elephant. The background starts singing. It’s the first time in twenty years that a 2D Mario game felt like it had a soul.
If you grew up with the NES or SNES, this is the super mario game for nintendo switch that will make you feel like a kid again. It’s not particularly hard to finish the main story, but the "Special World" levels will absolutely wreck you. The final-final level, "The Final Test: Badge Marathon," is a brutal ten-minute gauntlet that requires near-perfect muscle memory. Don't say I didn't warn you.
The Port Problem
Nintendo loves your money. They know you’ll pay $60 for a game you already owned on the Wii U. That’s why we have New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe. Is it a bad game? No. It’s a very polished, very "standard" Mario experience. But compared to Wonder, it feels like eating plain toast. It’s reliable, but it won’t change your life.
Then you have the Super Mario 3D All-Stars collection. This contained Mario 64, Sunshine, and Galaxy. Nintendo, in a move that still baffles everyone, made it a limited-time release. You can't even buy it digitally anymore. You have to hunt down physical copies on eBay like you’re searching for a rare artifact. Galaxy is still a 10/10 masterpiece, but Mario 64 shows its age. The camera is your primary enemy, not Bowser.
The Spinoff Trap
You have to be careful when searching for a super mario game for nintendo switch because the branding is everywhere. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is technically a Mario game, and it’s arguably the best game on the system, but it’s a racer.
Then there’s the RPGs.
Super Mario RPG (the remake) and Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door are brilliant. They’re funny, weird, and involve turn-based combat. If you want a story where Mario actually talks to people and doesn't just "Wahoo!" his way through life, these are your best bets. The Thousand-Year Door is often cited by critics as one of the best scripts Nintendo has ever produced. It deals with some surprisingly dark themes for a game about a paper plumber.
- Mario Strikers: Battle League: Great gameplay, but feels empty. Not enough content for the price.
- Mario Party Superstars: The one you want. It brings back the best boards from the N64 era. Avoid Super Mario Party (the 2018 one); the boards are tiny and the dice rolls feel rigged.
- Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope: It’s basically "XCOM for kids" but with deep strategy. Surprisingly difficult on the higher settings.
Why Mario Maker 2 is the Infinite Option
If you only ever buy one super mario game for nintendo switch, there’s a strong argument for Super Mario Maker 2.
You get a level editor, sure. But more importantly, you get access to millions of levels created by other people. You want a level that plays itself while music from Frozen plays? It exists. You want a level so hard that only three people in the world have beaten it? Plenty of those.
The "Story Mode" in Mario Maker 2 has over 100 Nintendo-made levels that are actually quite good, but the real value is the "Ninji Speedruns" and the endless challenge. It’s the only game that technically never ends. The downside? You need a Nintendo Switch Online subscription to access the player-made levels. Without the internet, the game is a shell of itself.
The Technical Reality: Performance and Visuals
Let's be real for a second. The Nintendo Switch is old hardware. It was underpowered in 2017, and it’s a dinosaur now. Yet, Nintendo’s wizards manage to make these games look better than most "4K" titles on other consoles.
Super Mario Odyssey runs at a locked 60 frames per second. That’s crucial. In a platformer, input lag is death. When you jump, it needs to happen instantly. Most Mario games on the Switch hit this target, with the exception of Link’s Awakening (not a Mario game, I know) and some of the more chaotic moments in Bowser’s Fury when played in handheld mode.
In handheld mode, Bowser’s Fury drops to 30fps and the resolution takes a hit. It looks "fuzzy." If you have an OLED Switch, the colors in Super Mario Bros. Wonder will literally make your eyes water—the neon purples and deep oranges of the Wonder effects are stunning. But if you’re playing on a launch-day Switch from 2017, you might notice the fan kicking into overdrive.
Making the Choice
Buying a super mario game for nintendo switch depends entirely on who is playing.
For the solo adventurer who wants to explore: Get Super Mario Odyssey. It’s a masterpiece of discovery.
For the family that wants to play together: Super Mario 3D World is the winner. It’s chaotic and friendly.
For the purist who misses the 90s: Super Mario Bros. Wonder. It’s the evolution of the 2D formula that we waited two decades for.
For the person who wants value: Super Mario Maker 2. Infinite levels, infinite frustration, infinite fun.
Actionable Strategy for Buyers
Stop paying full price if you can avoid it. Nintendo games rarely go on "deep" sales, but they do hit the $39.99 mark during Black Friday and Mar10 Day (March 10th).
If you are buying for a child, start with Wonder. The "Nabbit" and "Yoshi" characters don't take damage from enemies, making it the perfect way to teach someone how to play without them throwing the controller in rage.
Check the "Nintendo Switch Game Vouchers" program if you have a Switch Online membership. You can buy two vouchers for $99 and redeem them for two full-priced games. Since most Mario titles stay at $60 forever, this effectively saves you $20 instantly. It’s the only way to get a "bulk discount" on first-party Nintendo titles.
Lastly, don't ignore the NES and SNES apps that come with the Switch Online sub. You can play Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World for "free" (with your sub). Sometimes the classics are all you actually need. They hold up better than you’d think. Honestly, the level design in Super Mario World is still the gold standard that even the modern games try to emulate.
Get one game, master the movement, and don't worry about the 100% completion unless you really love the grind. Mario is about the joy of the jump. Everything else is just dressing.