Super Mario Odyssey remains one of Nintendo’s greatest achievements in 3D platforming, delivering a massive adventure that proves why Mario continues to set the standard for the genre. Played primarily on Nintendo Switch with additional time on Nintendo Switch 2 through the free update, Odyssey still feels like a showcase of Nintendo’s creativity years after release. With outstanding movement, imaginative kingdoms, the revolutionary Cappy mechanic and an incredible amount of content, Super Mario Odyssey represents the very best of what 3D Mario can offer. While a few design choices prevent it from being completely flawless, including inconsistent Power Moon rewards, an overreliance on motion controls and a lack of the classic Mario hub worlds, this remains an essential platforming experience.
The foundation of Super Mario Odyssey is Mario himself, and Nintendo once again proves why his movement is considered among the best in gaming. Controlling Mario feels incredibly natural, responsive and precise, whether you are running, jumping, triple jumping, long jumping, rolling or chaining together advanced movement techniques. Unlike many platforming characters who rely heavily on special abilities, Mario feels impressive simply because of what he can already do as a character. His movement has weight, momentum and personality, making even simple actions like crossing a kingdom enjoyable.
Cappy is one of the strongest additions to the traditional Mario formula. Throwing Mario’s hat is simple, satisfying and instantly useful, allowing players to interact with the environment in new ways. The ability to capture different objects and creatures completely changes how players approach exploration, puzzles and combat. Taking control of something as enormous as a realistic-looking T-Rex is one of the game’s most memorable moments, and Nintendo consistently finds creative ways to make each capture feel meaningful rather than just a temporary gimmick.
Exploration is where Super Mario Odyssey truly shines. Each kingdom feels like its own carefully designed playground filled with secrets, challenges and opportunities for experimentation. The Odyssey ship provides a fun way to travel between locations while also adding personality through souvenirs collected throughout the journey. Costumes are another enjoyable addition, allowing Mario to dress appropriately for different situations or simply wear fun outfits inspired by other Nintendo characters and gaming history. These customization options never interfere with the gameplay but add extra charm for players who enjoy collecting and exploring.
The sheer amount of content in Super Mario Odyssey is impressive. Power Moons are everywhere, encouraging players to revisit kingdoms, experiment with mechanics and search every corner for new discoveries. While the game does not require collecting everything to complete the main adventure, the post-game offers a tremendous amount of additional content for players who want to continue exploring. It is easy to spend dozens of additional hours finding more moons, completing challenges and uncovering everything Nintendo has hidden throughout the world.
The kingdoms themselves are one of Odyssey’s biggest strengths. Each location introduces a unique identity, atmosphere and gameplay style while maintaining the feeling of being part of one connected adventure. New Donk City is a standout example of Nintendo’s creativity, combining a realistic city inspired by New York with the traditional Mario charm. Seeing Mario interact with human characters, participate in activities like jump rope challenges and experience Pauline’s return as a major character creates one of the most memorable locations in the entire series.
The presentation continues to hold up remarkably well. Despite being years old, Super Mario Odyssey’s colorful art direction still looks excellent, proving once again that Nintendo’s visual design often ages better than purely technical showcases. The music is also consistently enjoyable and fits each kingdom perfectly, even if it does not reach the same emotional or orchestral heights as something like Super Mario Galaxy. Odyssey’s soundtrack may not be as instantly legendary as Galaxy’s, but it remains exactly what a Mario adventure needs.
Playing through the Nintendo Switch 2 update makes an already excellent experience even better. While this is not a separate Switch 2 Edition, the free update gives players a cleaner and more polished way to experience the adventure on Nintendo’s newer hardware. Playing handheld on Switch 2 makes the colorful kingdoms look especially impressive on the larger display, while faster load times make moving between areas feel noticeably smoother. Super Mario Odyssey was already a technical showcase on Switch, and the Switch 2 experience only strengthens its reputation as one of Nintendo’s best portable adventures.
However, Super Mario Odyssey is not without flaws. The camera works well in most situations, but automatic adjustments can occasionally become frustrating. There were moments where I wanted to view a specific angle only for the camera to reposition itself without my input. Giving players an option to fully disable automatic camera adjustments would have made exploration feel even more comfortable.
The Power Moon system is another area where Odyssey takes a different approach from previous 3D Mario games. While having hundreds of moons creates incredible freedom and replay value, some rewards can feel random compared with the more structured objectives found in games like Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario Galaxy. Finding a major collectible after completing a meaningful challenge feels more satisfying than receiving one for a simple interaction, and the sheer number of moons can occasionally make the experience feel less focused.
Some longtime Mario fans may also miss having a traditional hub world. Previous 3D Mario games featured memorable central locations such as Peach’s Castle, Delfino Plaza and the Comet Observatory. The Odyssey ship works well as a method of transportation, but it does not create the same feeling of returning home and discovering new secrets within a central location.
Motion controls are another design choice that may not appeal to everyone. While traditional button controls work, some actions feel clearly designed around motion input first, with button commands feeling more like an alternative option rather than the intended experience. Having more control over how these actions are performed would have made the game more comfortable for players who prefer traditional inputs.
The difficulty is also noticeably accessible. This makes Odyssey welcoming for newcomers, but experienced Mario players may find many bosses and challenges easier than expected. Boss fights are creative and visually impressive, but many encounters can be completed without much trouble, including some of the more intimidating-looking enemies. The realistic-looking dragon is a memorable addition because of its spectacle, but the actual battle does not match the impact of its presentation.
The story remains simple, as expected from Mario. Bowser’s attempt to marry Peach provides the traditional motivation, but Odyssey introduces Pauline in such a memorable way that it would have been interesting to see her play a larger role beyond New Donk City. Nintendo has never relied on complex narratives for Mario games, but Odyssey’s expanded world created opportunities for a more ambitious story.
Super Mario Odyssey is still one of the strongest examples of how Nintendo approaches game design. It takes a familiar character, introduces a genuinely creative mechanic and builds an enormous world that rewards curiosity at every turn. The movement feels perfect, the kingdoms are unforgettable and the freedom of exploration captures the same magic that has defined Mario for generations.
Final Score: 9.5 out of 10
Super Mario Odyssey earns its score through exceptional movement, creative world design, the brilliant Cappy mechanic, incredible replay value and Nintendo’s unmatched ability to create memorable platforming experiences. Its inconsistent Power Moon rewards, motion-control focus and lack of a traditional hub world keep it from absolute perfection, but this remains one of the greatest 3D platformers ever made.
Pokémon Lens
Super Mario Odyssey shares one of Pokémon’s greatest strengths: making exploration itself feel rewarding. Similar to how Pokémon encourages players to search every area for new discoveries, creatures and hidden opportunities, Odyssey motivates players to investigate every corner of its kingdoms for Power Moons and secrets. Both series succeed because their worlds are designed around curiosity, allowing players to create their own journey rather than simply following a linear path.
Source: Pokemon
