There are few mascots more recognizable than Mario, and it feels like there are new games featuring this character releasing at a rapid rate. However, for those concerned with the big, landmark releases, such as 2017’s Super Mario Odyssey, it feels like there hasn’t been any news for a long time.
That’s not the only series that Mario had under his belt, though, as you may have noticed. Players might instead be more interested in Smash Bros. Or they might instead be on the lookout for a new entry in the beloved Mario Kart series.
A Sequel to Odyssey
The game that most Mario fans might find themselves waiting for is the latest in the long line of critically acclaimed 3D platformers. Super Mario 64 started this trend, and it continued with titles like Super Mario Sunshine, both Super Mario Galaxy games and eventually Super Mario Odyssey.
With that latest game releasing in the same year as Nintendo’s other franchise reinvention, Breath of the Wild, it makes sense that some fans might use the sequel to that game, Tears of the Kingdom, as a metric. However, with that releasing in 2023 and there being no word on a potential sequel to Odyssey, fans might look to the release of the next Nintendo console as a potential home for this release.
Mario Kart, Mario Party and Smash Bros.
Part of what Nintendo is known for is its ability to create compelling party games. Getting friends over and playing any of these titles can result in a good time, with each occupying a different genre so as to appeal to a variety of tastes.
The previous release in the fighting game series, Smash Bros. Ultimate, was touted as being the final one, at least by that game’s director, meaning that it could be some time before another entry in that series is seen. While there is rumor of a new Mario Party game, the previous rendition of Mario Kart is still seeing support from Nintendo, meaning again that players might have to wait for the next major console release to see new entries here.
Others in the Meantime
Mario has expanded far beyond the reach of mere platformers in recent times, as you might have noticed. The success of freemium games and online slots in Canada has shown how lucrative the mobile platform can be, so it’s no surprise that Nintendo released Super Mario Run to take advantage of this trend.
That’s far from the only spinoff that Mario has seen in recent years – there have been more entries in the side-scrolling series Super Mario Bros. Additionally, there have been sports games like Super Mario Golf that take these familiar characters to a variety of sporting locations. If you’re a fan of the Mario series but only find yourself playing the major releases, running through the full list of games that this character has occupied will give you ample content to keep you satiated until another one of those games hits the shelves.
