Since the dawn of the legendary franchise in 1985, Super Mario Bros. has slowly evolved into one of gaming's most iconic series. Starring the titular Italian plumber, Mario became Nintendo's mascot and is as recognizable as Mickey Mouse.
With over 20 games within the franchise, Super Mario has been present in almost every console Nintendo has released. From the NES to the Nintendo Switch, Mario and his brother Luigi have been on countless adventures that many fans loved.
One of Mario's recent adventures, Super Mario Odyssey, has critically acclaimed status on Metacritic with a score of 97, yet a sequel is nowhere to be found. Yes, Super Mario Wonder is out there, but arguably, it isn't like Super Mario Odyssey.
Now that Nintendo is looking to open a new chapter with its brand-new Nintendo Switch 2 console, will Super Mario Odyssey finally have its overdue sequel, or will Super Mario Wonder have Nintendo's longing eyes and have a sequel instead?
Super Mario Odyssey Sales: One of Nintendo’s Best-Selling Mario Game Ever
Since its release, Super Mario Odyssey has sold over 28.5 million copies, making it one of the Switch's top five best-selling video games. Within three days of its release, it sold a staggering 2 million copies, making it one of Nintendo's fastest-selling Super Mario games.
It would be a waste if this title never had a sequel. Thanks to the Switch's much stronger hardware capabilities than its predecessors, it revolutionized 3D Mario. However, unlike The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, we have never had a sequel since its release.
Nintendo Switch 2 Is the Best Way to Experience Super Mario Odyssey and Its Sequel
Leaks and rumors about Nintendo's gaming hardware have been everywhere recently. From 3D-printed mock-ups to custom cases, the Nintendo Switch 2 is something many Nintendo fans are excited to see, considering how Sony announced its mid-generation release of the PS5 Pro.
Equipped with a much larger screen and Joy-Cons, the Nintendo Switch 2 is speculated to have substantially better spaces than the original Switch. Playing Super Mario Odyssey on this system will be a whole new experience now that Nintendo has confirmed that it will be backward compatible with the existing Nintendo Switch games.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom has taken some inspiration from by throwing Cappy around and taking control of many different objects and enemies. It was fun, exciting, and encouraged imagination, making it a perfect Nintendo Switch game.
Super Mario Odyssey is a Nintendo game that makes the most of the Switch as it is. You can only imagine how the sequel will feel and look with Switch 2's new hardware.
2026 Could Be the Year We See Super Mario Odyssey 2
A sequel to the Super Mario Bros. movie is currently in the works, and characters such as Yoshi and Wario are rumored to appear in the movie. Nintendo might be cooking something exciting as it can tie the movie and Super Mario Odyssey 2 launch should it happen.
However, that's another year away and the Nintendo Switch 2 is rumored to be revealed in February next year. If that's the case, then a sequel to Super Mario Wonder may be the best choice considering Nintendo's timeline.
While it may be entirely possible to have Super Mario Odyssey 2 as a Switch 2 title, Super Mario fans will not have to wait for long to have a Mario-themed Switch 2, as Nintendo is also rumored to have three different Switch 2 versions at launch.
Super Mario Odyssey is an excellent game in itself, exploring new ideas and reformulating the Mario franchise. A sequel to a game of this caliber is something Nintendo isn’t shying away from, but with nearly a decade passing since the release of Super Mario Odyssey, fans are understandably getting impatient.
Either way, we can surely enjoy Super Mario Odyssey on the original Switch and the upcoming Switch 2, thanks to Nintendo for giving the Switch 2 a backward compatibility feature.
Whether Nintendo will eventually release a sequel or leave the title on a high note will still depend on the Japanese titan, so it's best to boot up Super Mario Odyssey again and relive its glorious gameplay.
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