Nintendo showcased their June Nintendo Direct with a lot of new Mario news. Nintendo ended the showcase by revealing a brand new 2D Mario game, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, set to release October 20, 2023. We have not had a new 2D Mario platformer since New Super Mario Bros. U in 2012, which was later ported to the Switch as New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe. This is the first game not to be a part of the New Super Mario Bros. series that was introduced in 2006 on the DS.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder brings a fresh coat of paint to the traditional side scroller. While still reminiscent of the New Super Mario Bros. series, Wonder has a more comic-inspired art style. Even the animations take inspiration from comics, making them choppy and pop. Mario and friends are more expressive with new animations when running, jumping through pipes, or ending a level.
As with any new iteration of the Mario series, there are new power-ups. The new main power-up is the Wonder Flower. Unlike the usual power-ups directly affecting Mario, the Wonder Flower affects the whole level. The level itself could start moving, or the level would change into a silhouette style. The last power-up was the elephant ability where Mario transformed into an elephant.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder will have a four-player co-op mode similar to previous titles. Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Toad are all returning characters players can choose from for multiplayer. Players can also play as Princess Daisy, making her first debut in a 2D Mario Platformer. With the success of the Super Mario Bros. movie, fans have been wondering if a new Mario game will come to Switch. Super Mario Bros. Wonder will come out right before the holiday season, making it a short wait for fans.
