Everyone remembers where they were when they first saw Mario possess a T-Rex. It was a fever dream. A glorious, high-definition fever dream that redefined what a 3D platformer could look like in 2017. But years later, people are still arguing about the Super Mario Odyssey rating—not just the age rating from the ESRB, but how we actually rank this thing against the titans like Galaxy or 64. It’s a weird one. On one hand, you have critics giving it perfect 10s across the board. On the other, you have a vocal group of platforming purists who think the game is basically a glorified scavenger hunt that doesn't challenge them enough.
Is it a masterpiece? Probably. Is it perfect? Well, that’s where things get messy.
The ESRB Factor: Why the E10+ Actually Matters
Most Mario games land a solid "E for Everyone" rating. It’s the Nintendo brand. Safe. Clean. Family-friendly. But the official Super Mario Odyssey rating is actually E10+ (Everyone 10 and up). This raised some eyebrows back at launch. Why the jump?
The ESRB cited "Cartoon Violence" and "Comic Mischief," which is standard fare. However, if you've played through the ruined Metro Kingdom or fought the Mecha-Wiggler, you know there’s a slightly grittier (for Mario) aesthetic at play. You’ve got realistic humans standing next to a short, round Italian plumber. It’s jarring. It’s slightly surreal. The rating reflects a game that isn't afraid to get a little bit "weird" with its visuals and some of its boss encounters. Honestly, it’s a non-issue for most parents, but it signaled that Nintendo was willing to push the boundaries of what a "core" Mario game looks like.
The Difficulty Gap: 10/10 or Just Too Simple?
This is where the real debate lives. If you look at the Metacritic Super Mario Odyssey rating, it sits at a staggering 97. That is elite territory. But talk to a Sunshine veteran and they might complain that getting a Power Moon is about as difficult as walking five feet and kicking a glowing rock.
They aren't exactly wrong.
There are 880 unique Power Moons in this game. 999 if you buy the duplicates from the shop. Because there are so many, the "value" of an individual Moon is objectively lower than a Star in Mario 64. You get them for sitting on a bench. You get them for buying a hat. You get them for ground-pounding a random shiny spot in the sand. For some, this feels like "participation trophy" gaming. It’s a constant stream of dopamine that doesn’t always feel earned.
But wait.
If you judge the game solely on the main story, you're missing the point. The "rating" of the challenge shifts dramatically once you hit the post-game. The Dark Side and Darker Side of the Moon are brutal. They require a mastery of Cappy’s mechanics—roll-jumping, hat-bouncing, and mid-air stalls—that the average player won't even know exist. This creates a weird duality. It’s a game with a low floor but a sky-high ceiling.
Cappy: The Mechanic That Changed Everything
We have to talk about the hat. Cappy is the reason the Super Mario Odyssey rating stays so high among technical players. Capturing enemies isn't just a gimmick; it’s a total reimagining of the move set.
Think about it.
🔗 Read more: Mario Odyssey Cascade Kingdom: Why Fossil Falls Is Still the Best First Level Ever Made
In previous games, Mario's moves were fixed. You knew how high he could jump. You knew his speed. In Odyssey, your move set changes every time you throw your hat. You become a Bullet Bill. You become a Gushen. You become a piece of meat being flicked by a giant chef bird. It’s chaotic. It’s brilliant. From a design perspective, the sheer variety of gameplay loops contained within a single title is staggering. Most developers struggle to make one character feel good to move. Nintendo made dozens.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Kingdoms
A common critique of the game involves the world sizes. Some players feel the Kingdoms are too small compared to modern open-world titles. If you’re coming from Breath of the Wild or Elden Ring, the Sand Kingdom might feel like a backyard.
That's a misunderstanding of density.
Odyssey isn't an open-world game. It’s an "open-zone" game. Every square inch of the map is packed with secrets. Unlike a massive RPG where you might trek for five minutes across an empty field, Odyssey hates empty space. There’s a Nut to crack, a hidden sub-area to find, or a localized purple coin to sniff out every few seconds. It’s dense. It’s efficient. It’s Nintendo at its most disciplined, even when the world themes (like a literal kitchen world) seem totally unhinged.
The Visuals and Performance: A Switch Miracle?
Let's be real. The Switch is old. Even back in 2017, it wasn't a powerhouse. Yet, the Super Mario Odyssey rating for technical performance remains incredibly high. Why? Because Nintendo understands the "60 FPS Rule."
Odyssey runs at a nearly locked 60 frames per second. In a platformer, frames are everything. Input lag is the enemy. By prioritizing frame rate over raw resolution, Nintendo ensured that Mario feels responsive. Yes, if you look closely at the shadows in New Donk City, you'll see some jagged edges. Yes, the background NPCs in the Metro Kingdom move at a lower frame rate when they’re far away. It’s a compromise. But when you’re mid-triple jump, you don’t notice the resolution scaling. You notice that the game feels like butter.
Is the "97" Score Still Valid Today?
The gaming landscape has changed. We’ve had Astro Bot, Psychonauts 2, and It Takes Two. Does Odyssey still hold up?
Honestly, yeah.
It’s the "joy" factor. Many games try to be cinematic or "important." Odyssey just wants to be fun. It’s a toy box. The game rewards curiosity in a way that very few others do. If you think, "I wonder if I can jump on that," the answer is almost always yes, and there’s usually a hidden coin there to reward you for trying. That level of polish is rare.
However, we have to acknowledge the flaws. The motion controls are... polarizing. To perform the powerful "spin throw" or "homing throw" reliably, you really need to shake the controllers. If you’re playing in handheld mode or on a Switch Lite, this is annoying. It’s a weird vestige of the Wii era that feels out of place in a modern masterpiece. It doesn't ruin the game, but it’s a blemish on an otherwise near-perfect interface.
How to Approach the Game for the Best Experience
If you’re looking at the Super Mario Odyssey rating and wondering if you should jump in, don't play it like a checklist. Don't be the person who tries to find every Moon in a kingdom before moving on. You will burn out.
The game is designed for momentum.
Explore. Find enough Moons to power the ship. Move to the next world. The game is best enjoyed when you treat it like a vacation—hit the highlights, see the sights, and come back later to find the hidden gems.
- Ignore the "Easy" Moons: If a Moon feels boring to get, leave it. There are hundreds more.
- Master the Cappy Dive: Learn to throw Cappy, dive onto him, and jump again. It changes the game.
- Talk to Talkatoo: If you’re stuck, the bird gives you hints. Don't use a Google guide immediately; the in-game hints are much more satisfying.
- Change your clothes: It sounds trivial, but the costumes are half the charm. Wear the skeleton suit in the Lake Kingdom. Why not?
The Super Mario Odyssey rating reflects a game that is essentially a celebration of the medium. It’s not trying to tell a deep, soul-crushing story. It’s not trying to be a "service" that you play for 1,000 hours. It’s a concentrated burst of creativity.
If you want a challenge, head to the Darker Side. If you want to relax, just run around the Mushroom Kingdom and listen to the music. It’s a rare game that accommodates both. Even with its minor flaws—the sometimes-fiddly motion controls and the occasional "filler" Moon—it remains the gold standard for what a 3D platformer can be.
Go play it. Or replay it. It’s probably better than you remember.
🔗 Read more: Deltarune Chapter 3 Moss: What Most People Get Wrong
Next Steps for Players:
Start by focusing on the "Action" Moons—the ones found in the warped-pipe sub-areas. These are mini-levels that strip away the open world and focus on pure platforming. They represent the best of Nintendo's level design. Once you've cleared the main story, make a beeline for the "Mushroom Kingdom" to see how the game pays homage to the 64-bit era. That's where the real magic happens.