Honestly, if you're looking at a Nintendo Switch with Mario Odyssey, you aren't just buying a console and a game. You're basically buying a ticket back to that feeling of pure, unadulterated joy you probably haven't felt since you were eight years old. It’s a specific vibe. While everyone else is arguing about teraflops, frame rates, and ray tracing on the PS5 or Xbox Series X, Nintendo is just over here doing its own thing, and somehow, it still works.
The Switch is old now. We know this. In tech years, it's practically a fossil. But the pairing of the Nintendo Switch with Mario Odyssey remains the definitive "welcome to the club" moment for gamers. It’s the gold standard.
The Magic of the Nintendo Switch with Mario Odyssey Bundle
Why does this specific combo hold up so well? Look at the hardware. You’ve got this tablet that slides into a dock, and suddenly your handheld game is on the big screen. It’s seamless. When Super Mario Odyssey launched in 2017, it was designed to show off exactly what those Joy-Cons could do. You aren't just pressing a button to jump; you're flicking your wrist to throw Cappy.
Cappy is the real MVP here.
For the uninitiated, Cappy is Mario’s sentient hat. By throwing him at things, you can "possess" or "capture" enemies. You become a T-Rex. You become a Bullet Bill. You become a literal spark of electricity traveling through a wire. It’s weird. It’s brilliant. Most importantly, it’s a masterclass in game design that makes the Nintendo Switch with Mario Odyssey feel like a playground rather than a set of chores.
What People Get Wrong About the Graphics
People love to complain about the Switch's power. "It’s only 720p in handheld!" "The textures are flat!" Okay, sure. If you put Odyssey next to Cyberpunk 2077, it’s going to look stylized and simple. But Nintendo uses art direction to bypass the need for raw power.
The New Donk City level is a perfect example. You have a cartoon plumber running around next to realistically proportioned humans in suits. It shouldn't work. It should be creepy. Instead, it’s one of the most iconic levels in gaming history. The game runs at a crisp 60 frames per second most of the time, which is more than can be said for many "next-gen" titles that struggle to hit 30.
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Breaking Down the Costs and Versions
If you're hunting for a Nintendo Switch with Mario Odyssey, you have choices. You don't just walk into a store and grab "the Switch." There’s the Standard V2, the Lite, and the OLED.
The Lite is fine if you're on a budget, but you lose the ability to play on the TV. That’s a dealbreaker for a game like Odyssey where the scale of the Kingdoms—like the Sand Kingdom or the Bowser’s Kingdom—deserves a big screen. The OLED is the premium choice. Those vibrant colors make Mario’s red suit pop like you wouldn't believe.
Sometimes you can find an official bundle that includes a digital code for the game and maybe some red Joy-Cons. These are rare now. Most of the time, you’re buying them separately. Is it worth the $300 for the console plus $50-$60 for the game?
Absolutely.
Unlike most games that lose their value or feel dated after a year, Odyssey is evergreen. You can pick it up today or five years from now, and the mechanics will still feel tight. Nintendo games rarely go on deep sale for a reason: people keep buying them at full price because they’re actually finished at launch. No massive day-one patches that take three hours to download. Just plug and play.
Hidden Mechanics That Most Players Miss
Most people finish the story, see the credits, and think they're done. They’ve barely scratched the surface. The Nintendo Switch with Mario Odyssey experience actually peaks after the main game ends.
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- The Moon Count: There are 880 unique Power Moons. Some are easy. Some require you to master the "hat jump" mechanic which involves diving onto Cappy in mid-air.
- Mastering the Movement: Expert players don't even touch the ground. They use a combination of triple jumps, wall kicks, and Cappy dives to bypass entire sections of the map.
- The Soundtrack: Each Kingdom has a "8-bit" version of its theme for the 2D segments. It’s a nostalgic trip that pays homage to the NES era while keeping things fresh.
Shigeru Miyamoto and the team at Nintendo EPD didn't just make a platformer. They made a sandbox. You can spend three hours just trying to jump onto a specific building in the Metro Kingdom because the physics engine allows it.
Comparisons to Other Mario Titles
Is it better than Super Mario 3D World? It’s different. 3D World is linear. You go from point A to point B. Odyssey is about exploration. It’s the spiritual successor to Super Mario 64 and Sunshine. If you prefer freedom over a timer, the Nintendo Switch with Mario Odyssey is the way to go.
It’s also much more approachable than Bowser’s Fury. While Bowser’s Fury is an open-world experiment, Odyssey feels like a polished, complete journey through distinct worlds.
The Reality of Buying in 2026
We have to be real: rumors of a "Switch 2" or whatever Nintendo calls their next project are always swirling. Does that make the current Nintendo Switch with Mario Odyssey a bad purchase?
No.
Even when new hardware drops, the library on the current Switch is massive. You have Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Metroid Dread, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. But Odyssey is the "soul" of the system. It’s the game that proved Nintendo still understood what makes gaming fun. It’s not about the resolution; it’s about the "Aha!" moment when you realize you can capture a manhole cover to find a secret path.
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Actionable Steps for New Owners
If you just picked up a Nintendo Switch with Mario Odyssey, don't just rush through the levels.
First, go into the settings and make sure your motion controls are on. I know, some people hate motion controls. But in this game, they allow for specific Cappy moves—like the upward throw or the spin throw—that are much harder to do with just buttons.
Second, talk to every NPC. The Toads and the local residents of each Kingdom give you hints that aren't just "go here." They give you flavor.
Third, don't be afraid to use Assist Mode if you're playing with a younger child or if you're just stressed out. It adds an arrow to show you where to go and gives you more health. There’s no shame in it. Gaming should be accessible.
Finally, buy a Pro Controller. The Joy-Cons are "fine," but for the precise platforming required in the darker side of the moon (the final, final challenge), you’ll want the stability of a real controller.
Summary of the Best Way to Play:
- Get the OLED model if your budget allows; the contrast is a game-changer for the darker levels.
- Don't look up guides for the Moons until you've explored every nook and cranny yourself.
- Check the "Snapshot Mode" often. It’s one of the best photo modes ever put in a game, allowing for filters and perspective shifts that make for great wallpapers.
The Nintendo Switch with Mario Odyssey is a rare pairing where the software perfectly mirrors the philosophy of the hardware: play anywhere, play anyway, and never stop being curious. It’s the closest thing to digital magic we’ve got.
Next Steps for Your Setup:
- Check your Joy-Con firmware in the System Settings to ensure motion tracking is calibrated for the best Cappy throwing accuracy.
- Look for "Super Mario Odyssey" physical copies at local used game shops, as Nintendo titles rarely drop in price on the digital eShop.
- Invest in a high-speed microSD card (at least 128GB) because even though Odyssey is optimized, the Switch's internal storage fills up remarkably fast with screenshots and video clips.