Super Mario Bros. Wonder Reviews Deem it the Best 2D Mario in Decades
Reviews for Nintendo’s latest 2D Mario game have launched, and it’s looking very good for the mustachioed plumber. With 9s and 10s plenty, Super Mario Bros. Wonder is currently sitting at a 92/100 score on Opencritic. That makes it the best-reviewed 2D Mario game since Super Mario World on the SNES- which was released over three decades ago. With 97% of critics also recommending the title, Nintendo has yet another 2023 hit on its hands.
Image by Nintendo
When we first saw ‘Wonder’ shown off, a lot of fans were skeptical about the zany animations and out-there-level design. On the other hand, it represented a new direction for the franchise that a lot of people were excited about. The dull but inoffensive ‘New Super Mario Bros’ series has been around since 2006 and, since then, there has been little to no innovation for the 2D series. So, most fans were cautiously optimistic about the latest game when it was announced earlier this year. Considering the reception from critics, however, it seems that this entry has smashed all expectations.
Image by Nintendo
IGN were very impressed with the game in their 9/10 review- believing that this was the direction that the series needed to take to remain fresh and innovative. They said the following:
“Super Mario Bros. Wonder looks and plays like the true next step for 2D Mario platformers. Wonder effects change each stage in both surprising and delightful ways, the Flower Kingdom makes for a vibrant and refreshing change of pace, and Elephant Mario steals the show.”
Metro Game Central were even more impressed in their glowing 10/10 take on the game. The bizarre transformations and unique level gimmicks kept them constantly excited to see what was around the next corner. They summarised their impressions with the below:
“A fantastic 2D platformer that immediately takes its place amongst the pantheon of Nintendo's very best titles, with such a constant stream of new and surreal ideas you want to stand up and applaud it by the end of it.”
Image by Nintendo
Overall, Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a smash hit with critics- and another fantastic game in a year of incredible titles. If you’re an old-school fan of the series who has become dulled by the uninspired direction of the 2D Mario series over the past 20 years, this is a must-buy. Alternatively, even if you’ve never played a game in the series, this is worth picking up on day one. This is seemingly a game that manages to be for everyone- and it achieves this without playing it safe. Hopefully, Nintendo see the glowing praise for this title and realise that innovation and new ideas can still sell.
