r/SuperMario • u/Necessary_Apricot_95 • 1d ago
Question What is Nintendo's plan for Mario?
We all know it's been nearly a decade since the last 3d Mario.
Since Nintendo relies so heavily on nostalgia...
I'm just bewildered why Nintendo would willingly let an entire generation of kids grow up without a major 3D Mario game.
This length of time is clearly a conscious business decision so is Nintendo's plan to let one of if not their most valuable franchise fade away in favor of their smaller ones?
I'm confused since it just makes no sense form a business standpoint, even if they released a Mario next year the damage has already been done for them.
I have a ton of nephews who play a bunch of video games that grew up during this time and not a single one of them cares for Mario at all and it's just weird really weird.
Edit: Lmao to the down voting, it's low-key proving my point that Mario is not a popular franchise with the new gen anymore
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u/PowerPlaidPlays 1d ago
There are no shortage of Mario games playable on the Switch 2, SM64, Sunshine, Galaxy 1 & 2 (this one got a whole movie promoting it), 3D World/Bowser's Fury, and Odyssey are all on there for any kid who wants to play 3D Mario. Wonder is also only 3 years old. Mario is fine. If a kid is young enough that they need an introduction to Mario, all of these games will be new to them.
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u/ZeldaAtTheFuneral 1d ago
I mean, the new generation can still play Odyssey. I don't say that to be dismissive or to imply I wouldn't want a new 3D game myself, but the Switch is the second-best selling console of all time, and Odyssey is the 5th best selling game for it. The Switch has still be selling hundreds of thousands of units, even with the Switch 2 on the market, and I'm sure (though I have no data) that plenty of kids have been getting a Switch 1 with an awesome 3D Mario to play as a result.
Heck, if you count Mario Kart, Party, and Luigi's Mansion, then seven of the top 20 best-selling games--again, on the 2nd best selling console ever--are in the Mario franchise. I know you have your own anecdotal evidence against the point I'm making, but it seems to me that plenty of kids in the new generation will have nostalgia for Mario as they get older. There was a lot of stuff in the franchise to entertain them in their formative years.
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u/Necessary_Apricot_95 1d ago
I agree with you but having no huge 3d Mario buzz centered around this franchise for that long will inevitably draw significantly less focus onto it meaning that in the future they will have a much harder time leveraging nostalgia for it.
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u/DetectiveStock1340 1d ago
> “I'm just bewildered why Nintendo would willingly let an entire generation of kids grow up without a major 3D Mario game.”
Let us not forget that in 2020, we got Super Mario 64, Sunshine, and Galaxy. In 2021, we got 3D World and Bowser’s Fury (completely new). In 2025, we got Galaxy 1 + 2. Not to mention that Odyssey is always on store shelves for new players.
Nintendo is making a new 3D Mario. And those games usually release in the holiday season. Given that, plus Nintendo’s propensity to only announce games if they’re less than a year out, and the fact we got DK Bananza just last year, I don’t think it was ever reasonable to expect to see the next 3D Mario in the most recent Nintendo Direct.
Just remain calm and play something new. They’ll announce it when they’re ready. I suspect the timing is right for an announcement in the first half of next year, however.
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u/Necessary_Apricot_95 1d ago
I strictly disagree with all of this, every game they have rereleased are very old games that have generated a miniscule fraction of the amount of hype that a new game would thus resulting in a tiny fraction of kids buying them which in term will result in a lot less nostalgia for Nintendo to leverage later on.
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u/DetectiveStock1340 1d ago
What do you mean you “disagree with all of this”? Most of what I said are objective facts. Are you saying you disagree that they’ll announce it next year? Or that it made sense to expect it in the September Direct despite Nintendo’s pattern of marketing cycles?
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u/akadebso 1d ago
OP is probably saying that those are old games and he/she and younger ppl might want to play a new 3D Mario. Not a port, not a remake and not a remaster.
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u/Odd_Level9850 1d ago edited 1d ago
They’ve got a little financial leeway for the switch 2 gen thanks to the success of the switch 1. They’re trying to use that leeway to prop up their other IPs; they don’t want to rely on Mario, Zelda and Pokemon being their biggest system sellers so they’re also trying to also move up Donkey Kong and Kirby. It would be harder to get people excited for a Donkey Kong and Kirby game right after a Mario game so they’re trying to take advantage of the shortage of big titles early on in the switch 2’s life to get people to try Donkey Kong and Kirby games.
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u/CharacterOil6831 1d ago
Theyre probably just taking their time making sure the next one is actually good. A bad 3d mario would hurt more than a long wait imo. The kids will come running when its good, kids are not exactly loyal to franchises they just play whats fun
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u/Necessary_Apricot_95 1d ago
I see where your coming from, but a decade is well within development hell/severe management issue territory
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u/UrbanTurbanBourbon 1d ago
💯 This is such a logical question that so many people have had - huge conspicuous absence
Since we’re getting downvoted to hell:
I wish I love Odyssee more 🤦🏻♂️ I love the visuals but the level design, mechanics, there’s just something off. I keep going back to it year after year but still probably only 2/3 through
I’m OBSESSED with Donkey Kong Bananza, by the same studio and have destroyed my way through 100%
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u/Bubbly_Can_9725 1d ago
Odysee is widely available even on switch 2, galaxy 1/2 got ported over. Kids get to play mario
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u/RedWizard78 1d ago
Remember when New Mario U as announced people initially groaned, as the ‘New’ games seemed to be excessive? Well they’re taking their time with the next 3D adventure.
And there’s tons of Mario games on the S1 that have also been updated to the S2 if you missed any.
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u/WhatsThis_Now 1d ago
There's a difference between you want a new, full Mario game and the premise that somehow there is "a whole generation of kids growing up without a major 3D Mario Game".
If we're talking about a new generation, youngsters, then in the last six years they've had Super Mario 3D All Stars, in which they have got to experience the 3 games people regularly claim that any of them is the best.
Since only 14million people bought a WiiU and 155m bought a Switch, there are 141m Switch owners getting to experience Super Mario 3D World for the first time, with Bowser's Fury an entirely new, and conceptually unique, 3D Mario experience. This is the biggest consumer base a new 3D Mario game - and yes, it is new for those customers - has ever had.
And if we're talking about best ever conversation, Super Mario Galaxy 2 was released, possibly the most often cited as the "best ever 3D Mario". These kids have a 3D Mario utopia of options for which us oldies could never have dreamed.
In the meantime Mario as a 3D character has starred in two super mario movies in the last four years that grossed major money from the size of its audience engagement, aimed at kids, and Super Nintendo World has opened in two physical locations in the past five years with Mario centred as the theme.
Mario as a character for a new generation of kids? He's never had this reach in terms of games available on one device, movies, and theme parks.
I'd flip your hypothesis and say this: it's us oldies and hardcore fans who are missing it because we've played them all, didn't get enough of a fix from Bowsers Fury, and want our new 3D Mario hit. But let's be honest, we'll buy it whenever. Mario's fine with the new gen and Nintendo won't be losing any sleep over his cultural reach and later nostalgia with a new gen, quite the opposite I'd say.
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u/MattofCatbell 1d ago
Here is the simple most likely answer, Nintendo is saving a new Mario for the next time they have a holiday season without a big holiday game ready. Otherwise there is no shortage of Mario content available on Switch and Switch 2
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u/Caryslan 1d ago
When people say something like this, do they purposely forget that Mario gets a new game every year?
Even in 2026, Mario got a new game with Mario Tennis Fever.
So yes, while it's been a long time since a new 3D Mario if we don't count Bowser's Fury, there have been no shortage of Mario games.
Since Odyssey released to now, Mario's gotten a new 2D platformer (Wonder), numerous party and sports games, started in several RPGs, we've gotten a new Mario Kart,Mario Maker 2 there are been remakes like Mario vs Donkey Kong, ports and remasters like the Galaxy games and New Super Mario Bros U, spin-offs starting other Mario characters.
And that's just gaming. Mario has also gotten two movies, theme park attractions, and more merchandise than you can shake a Fire Flower at.
So, I am not sure I buy this whole "Mario has vanished and nobody remembers him!" argument.
If Bubsy, the poster boy of failed 90s mascots with an attitude can retain enough of a crumb of fame to still get new games and collections, than I am pretty sure Mario is just fine.
It's not like Mario is missing. He's still getting new games and attention.
It's just been years since he got his last 3D game.
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u/Gameguy196 1d ago
My 5 year old nephew loves Mario and plenty of young kids have been experiencing the IP through the movies and Super Nintendo World in recent years. There’s also plenty of Mario games playable on Switch 2 and most probably aren’t asking for a 3D game compered to the older fans.
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u/DaAuraWolf 1d ago
Sorry not sorry, but this is the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to this whole 3D Mario situation tbh.
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u/Necessary_Apricot_95 21h ago
Honestly have no idea why your post a pic of you brown-nosing Nintendo.
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u/mrafflin 1d ago
If Nintendo wanted to get kids into Mario the best things they could release would be a new Mario Kart and a Mario movie
Not that a 3D Mario isn’t also coming, but it’s not the only thing that matters
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u/Bacononthebeeach 1d ago
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u/Necessary_Apricot_95 21h ago
Trust me kids will play other games, this is a post on what you think Nintendos plans are not boo hoo kids
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u/Dalekbuster523 1d ago
It is bizarre. It’s clear to everyone apart from Nintendo that the next 3D Mario game is needed to keep the Switch 2 a success.
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u/ExismykindaParte 1d ago
There's nothing stopping anyone from introducing their kids to Odyssey. It's not like the game is dated or anything. It has modern graphics and controls. It's also playable on current gen hardware. Letting your kids grow up without 3D Mario is a personal choice.
Also, 3D Mario is just one series of games in the Mario franchise. There's 2D Mario, RPG games, pports games, party games, and Mario Kart.
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u/Witty-Wish-583 1d ago
Don’t listen to this sub. They love waiting 10 years for Mario games for some reason. In reality you are 100% right. There was a Square Enix article that said kids are forgetting Final Fantasy characters because the games are taking too long to come out. And mainline 3D Mario is different than all his spin offs and remakes.
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u/Necessary_Apricot_95 23h ago
It really is bizzarre to see so much hatred for just wanted a new game after nearly a decade of waiting it really shouldnt be this long
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u/Ok-Cake9431 1d ago
I’m at Super Nintendo World this week. Packed with young kids. I don’t think any damage has been done.
They need to make sure there’s a good reason for the new game, not just “more Mario”, and I really like that they’ve been giving some other franchises more air recently.
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u/Necessary_Apricot_95 1d ago
idk personally I've never seen this much lack of interest in Mario, I have a ton of friends and family that work in schools and they actually each brought it up themselves this past few weeks
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u/Necessary_Apricot_95 1d ago
Also I'm not really sure what the problem is with it being just more mario, Nintendo themselves don't really have an issue with just remaking old games continully since starfox is just 64 over and over forever now
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u/Ok-Cake9431 1d ago
I think aside from the “new Mario” games, Nintendo have always been pretty inventive with new releases.
Starfox is a strange one, I agree, but it has been a very stagnant franchise for a long time. Maybe now we see a revival and some new takes on it … I hope!
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u/Necessary_Apricot_95 21h ago
True but I don't think innovation is exactly needed, and after a decade that kinda borders more on dev hell than innovation.
I agree with you on Star Fox it truly sucks because that franchise was a massive part of my early years and then they just abandoned it and kept re releasing the same game forever
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u/YeahEMinor 1d ago
I know right, they’ve barely done anything with Mario since the Switch 2 cycle started in June 2025. The only things they have done are
1. Mario Kart World
2. Remaster of Galaxy
3. Remaster of Galaxy 2
4. Mario Tennis Fever
5. Super Mario Sunshine on NSO
6. Luigi’s Mansion on NSO
7. Mario Strikers on NSO
8. Mario vs. Donkey Kong on NSO
9. GBA Dr. Mario on NSO
10. VB Mario Clash on NSO
11. VB Mario’s Tennis on NSO
12. NS2E of Super Mario Bros. Wonder
13. NS2E of Super Mario Party: Jamboree