Switch 2's Lack Of A New 3D Mario Game Might Have One Major Benefit

With the Nintendo Switch 2 finally getting its full showcase after years of leaks and rumors, it was bound to have a hard time achieving everyone's expectations. Even if Nintendo's Switch 2 Direct saw the reveal of several exciting first-party games, like Kirby's Air Riders, and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, the absence of any kind of Mario-focused title outside of Mario Kart Wonder was a little disappointing. Given how massively popular Mario Odyssey was for the Switch, the lack of a sequel or any new flagship 3D Mario title being showcased at all was a massive shock.

A new Mario game wasn't the only thing missing from the Switch 2 reveal either, as there was also a noticeable lack of the cozy games that have thrived on the original Switch for years. While the previous Directs offered plenty of unique indie games to look forward to, the focus on higher-fidelity experiences with the Switch 2's upgraded hardware runs the risk of alienating its core audience. Regardless of when Nintendo will shift its focus back towards first-party titles, Mario taking the backseat for a time still offers one silver lining.

Different Nintendo Characters Will Have Time To Shine On Switch 2

Offering A More Varied Experience Right Out Of The Gate

Similar to Link taking center stage in the Switch 1's major launch title, the lack of a brand-new Mario flagship provides more time for Nintendo's other characters to enjoy the spotlight. While the flagship Mario Kart World could technically be considered a 3D Mario game, its focus is more on the gameplay features and ensemble roster than any one character. Mario Kart World also offers several groundbreaking mechanics like open-world driving to help it stand on its own, with the potential to see the largest roster of playable characters the franchise has ever seen.

Mario Kart World Cow character racer doing a trick along an electrical wire.

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Even BOTW was somewhat overshadowed by the announcement of Mario Odyssey. Despite its considerable excitement and overhauled gameplay mechanics, the open-world game had less time to hold the spotlight as Nintendo's latest bestseller. While it's still considered one of the best experiences on the Switch to this day, other games without the same staying power have a much harder time maintaining relevance in comparison to big-budget Mario titles. Thankfully, Nintendo's future selection of first-party games like the multiplayer sequel to Kirby Air Ride doesn't disappoint, even if there weren't as many as I hoped to see.

Donkey Kong Bananza Looks Like A Spiritual Successor To Mario Odyssey

A Unique Experience For Fans Of Mario's Groundbreaking Game

Out of all the major AAA ports and exciting games revealed at the Switch 2 Direct, one of my favorites was, surprisingly, the upcoming Donkey Kong Bananza. While I'm not the biggest fan of the Donkey Kong games as a whole, this newest entry looks like it will take the greatest strengths of Nintendo games like Mario Odyssey while still offering a wholly unique experience. Starting by showcasing its gorgeous graphics and unique art style, Donkey Kong Bananza is dripping with personality.

Switch and Switch 2 side by side with lightning

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While Donkey Kong's game outings have struggled to achieve the same level of mainstream popularity as Mario's, the franchise is well-known for its creative level design, unique characters, and fantastic music that can more than rival the recognizable plumber's. Taking advantage of Donkey Kong's newest redesign seen in the first Mario Kart World trailer, the iconic ape looks more expressive than ever in a cartoonish style that goes well with the fast-paced action and exploration mechanics seen in the trailer.

While Donkey Kong Bananza will likely have more linear levels with intricate new boss battles, it also retains some of the collection mechanics from Mario's past games in the form of shining fruits rather than Stars or Moons. This echoes the 1999 collect-a-thon Donkey Kong 64, but Donkey Kong's newest outing looks like it could avoid some of that game's more tedious elements.

Donkey Kong Bananza breaks an over 10-year hiatus from new Donkey Kong titles, with only remasters and remakes released since 2014's Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze.

Rather than finding ways to explore his environment like Mario does in Odyssey, Donkey Kong's ability to smash through the environments with ease offers a new way to play while still sharing some similarities with the best-selling title. Regardless of its similarities to Odyssey, I can't wait to see the new direction Donkey Kong's latest title takes him in.

Nintendo Could Be Saving The Next Mario Game For A Standalone Announcement

Setting The Stage For An Exciting New Reveal

Given how much of the Switch 2 Direct focused on showcasing the console's new features like backward compatibility upgrades or game chat functionality, there wasn't nearly as much time to actually dive into all the games coming to the Switch 2. Even Hollow Knight: Silksong only got a couple of seconds of screen time, with the confirmation of a 2025 release date passing by with a surprising lack of fanfare. Considering how jam-packed Nintendo's Direct already was, there's a good chance that the announcement of a new 3D Mario game is being saved for later in the year.

If the next iteration of Mario's 3D titles or even a direct sequel to Mario Odyssey was revealed, it could have easily detracted from the games being shown, and its absence could provide the perfect trump card to reveal at a later date. Given how poor the fan response to the Switch 2's significant price bump was, Nintendo will likely need to showcase more unique game offerings like Mario Odyssey before release to make the console worth its next-generation price tag.