Super Mario Bros. Wonder: Everything We Know

If there’s any particular thing that Nintendo has made abundantly clear this year, it’s that 2023 is Mario’s for the taking. The movie was one thing, sure, but thanks to Nintendo Direct, an hour-long episode that sang nothing but the plumber’s praises, we now also have another thread of video games to keep an eye on. And among these recently announced underlings is one intriguing project, in specific—a 2D side-scrolling entry called Super Mario Wonder.

Granted, there’s still a lot we don’t actually know about the proposed project, other than it having to do with Nintendo’s latest generation of Super Mario Bros.; Super Mario RPG is another that’s due out in 2023. But what do we know about it, and when are we likely to see the Mushroom Kingdom superstars grace the system? Take note, here’s everything we can currently tell you about it based on the information provided by the devs to date.

What Is Super Mario Bros. Wonder?

Super Mario Wonder is a lot like its siblings, in the fact that it’s a traditional 2D side-scroller with all the same characters, tropes, and mechanics. What’s new here here is its added quirkiness—a feature that’ll introduce wild and unexpected levels, enemies, and character changes via a new portal-type plant known as the Wonder Flower. Going by the blurb, if heroes are to come into contact with one of these so-called Wonder Flowers, then a new experience will come to fruition, and in turn let their inhabitants explore a network of exciting ways to progress deeper into the story.

To summarize: “The next evolution of 2D side-scrolling Super Mario Bros. games is headed to Nintendo Switch! When you touch a Wonder Flower in the game, the wonders of the world unlock—pipes could come alive, hordes of enemies may appear, characters might change their looks, for example—transforming the gameplay in unpredictable ways. Excitement and different surprises await in each course.” How mysterious.

Story

So, what’s the story this time around? Will it depict the same old tropes as the last, I don’t know — 107 games, or will it feature something fresh? Well, that’s just it — we don’t actually know much more than what’s already been shown at the Nintendo Direct event, thanks to the devs keeping a lid on the bulk of its premise. It’ll be set in the Flower Kingdom, that much we know.

“Super Mario Bros. Wonder features Princess Peach, Princess Daisy and Yoshi as playable characters, in addition to familiar characters like Mario, Luigi and Toad. Plus, Super Mario Bros,” the elevator pitch adds. “Wonder sees the debut of Mario’s newest power-up, which allows him to transform into Elephant Mario! What other wonders could this game contain?” Well, there you have it — Elephant Mario. At this point I’m not entirely sure what to expect from the full product, to be fair.

Gameplay

In addition to the usual gallivanting about on mushrooms and pipes, Super Mario Wonder will also introduce a new type of power-up—an ability that essentially transforms Mario and the ever-faithful Mushroom Squad into elephants. Why Nintendo went with elephants is beyond me, but clearly it’ll have some sort of purpose in one way or another.

What’s really worth pointing out here is the Wonder Flower—an environmental symbol that clearly makes a direct impact on the levels themselves. Interacting with one of these, as shown in the trailer footage, will lead to objects taking new shapes, and often coming to life as an entirely different obstacle to shovel through. From the looks of it, the gameplay will aim to keep players on their toes as each new zone breathes life into a variation of unlikely scenarios. Like a typical Mario game, perhaps, but with shapeshifting action…and elephants.

The good news is, players won’t have to venture alone in Wonder. Matter of fact, each journey will allow for up to four players to join in the action via its local multiplayer mode. Just as well, because judging from the looks of the levels, teamwork could actually be the key to beating each of their unruly and unpredictable trials.

Development

The latest entry in the Super Mario saga was revealed in tandem with several other key announcements at June’s Nintendo Direct event. As well as lifting the veil on Wonder, Nintendo also showcased Super Mario RPG, WarioWare: Move It, and an all-new untitled Princess Peach game. If all goes according to plan, then each of the aforementioned titles will be heading to Switch over the next twelve months, give or take.

Trailer

In case you missed out on the Nintendo Direct event that aired earlier this week, Super Mario Wonder did actually receive its moment in spotlight. And not just any old moment, but a pretty drawn-out moment, of all things, and one that just so happened to shed light on all its latest features and settings. Need we say more? You can catch a glimpse of what’s to come in the next leg of the journey in the trailer embedded above.

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

Nintendo will be bringing Super Mario Wonder to Switch on October 20, 2023. Like every game that has come before it, the latest chapter will be available through the Nintendo eShop as a digital download, and will be available for $59.99 on launch.

Unfortunately, there won’t be any special editions to get ahold of at any point. That said, if you do happen to pre-order the game at any time ahead of its October launch, you’ll automatically receive My Nintendo Gold Points, which can be used to purchase additional content from the eShop.

If you’re interested in staying up to speed with Wonder, then be sure to check in with the guys over at Nintendo via its official social handle for all the latest updates here. We’ll be sure to keep you posted should anything noteworthy pop up ahead of its release.

So, what’s your take? Will you be picking up a copy of Super Mario Bros. Wonder when it releases? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.