The Switch 2 is finally here, and while we’re all still drooling over the upgraded graphics and loading times that don’t require a snack break, there’s one glaring question echoing through every Nintendo (BUY HERE!) fan’s head:
Where the heck is the next 3D Mario?!
It’s been nearly eight years since Super Mario Odyssey launched — which, in gaming years, is basically a whole geological era. Since then, Nintendo has released two Zelda masterpieces, ported half the Wii U library, and given Shy Guy exactly zero career development. Meanwhile, Mario’s just been chilling in sports spin-offs and hanging out with Rabbids. Tragic.
The next 3D Mario is in the works — that’s not a guess, it’s a fact as inevitable as GTA 6 getting revealed or the beach tide rolling in and out. You don’t need insider info when you’ve got common sense and Nintendo’s track record. It’s coming. The only question is: what kind of masterpiece are they cooking up this time? Being a lifelong fan of the iconic Italian plumber – here’s my educated and hopeful predictions for the next mainline Mario game:
Our Boy Luigi is Playable from the Start
No more post-game handouts. Make Luigi a fully playable character with his own skillset. Luigi’s been putting in work for years. Haunted mansions, interdimensional chaos, Olympic games — the man earned his stripes. And with the Switch 2’s power boost and Nintendo leaning harder into co-op and character variety, it’s finally time our anxious green king is playable from the jump. No more unlocking him after beating the game or tossing him in as a half-baked second player — Luigi deserves full movesets, his own mechanics, and maybe even a personality arc beyond “nervous but helpful.” It’s his era, whether he likes it or not.
A Darker Storyline (No, Really)
Almost every major franchise has taken a step into the shadows lately, and Mario’s no exception. Galaxy had a surprisingly emotional undercurrent, Odyssey hinted at deeper lore, and the Mario movie showed us that even the Mushroom Kingdom can get serious. With the Switch 2 upping the cinematic potential, we wouldn’t be surprised if the next 3D Mario leans into a slightly darker tone — maybe a crumbling kingdom, a corrupted Star Road, or a villain who’s not just Bowser doing his usual kidnapping bit. Now, I’m not saying Mario’s gonna go full Last of Us Part II — as hilariously sad as that would be: Imagine a Mature Rated version with Mario, all scarred up and bloodied, dragging a busted fire flower flamethrower through a Mushroom Kingdom wasteland— but a touch of narrative weight? Some real stakes? That could be a game-changer. I’m kidding obviously – it’ll still be rated E but we may dive into some surprisingly deeper territory.
Mainline Mario Will Always Remain Single-Player (Why Fix What Isn’t Broken)
Multiplayer Mario could work maybe as a Co-op game but overall are there actually people out there that desperately want this?! Look, let’s just say it: Mario is meant to be a single-player experience. I don’t care how many Joy-Cons you’ve got — no one on this planet asked to control Cappy while their friend does all the fun stuff. That Odyssey co-op gimmick? Trash. It’s like being handed a steering wheel with no car attached. Mario games shine when it’s you vs. the world — tight platforming, clever level design, and that “one more try” magic. We don’t need Player Two awkwardly flailing around as a glorified floating hat or watching from the sidelines like Toad in 3D World. Let the plumber run solo. Give Luigi his own file if you must, but leave the multiplayer chaos to Smash, Kart, and whatever new Party game Nintendo will inevitably unleash to ruin friendships.
It Will Be a Celebration of 30 years of 3D Mario
Here’s the real kicker: if Nintendo times this right, the next 3D Mario will drop as a celebration of 30 years of 3D Mario — dating all the way back to Super Mario 64 in 1996. That’s three decades of jumps, stars, galaxies, and childhoods shaped by a mustached dude in overalls. For those of us who grew up tilting N64 controllers like it actually helped Mario jump farther, this isn’t just another game — it’s a generational moment. It’s the kind of release that makes you tear up during the opening cutscene, then immediately triple jump into a wall out of sheer muscle memory. This one’s gonna be special.
Charles Martinet Will Return for One Final Swansong
And if there’s any justice in the Mushroom Kingdom, Charles Martinet will return for one final swansong. The voice that defined Mario for nearly 30 years – from “It’s-a me!” to every joyful “Wahoo!” we’ve ever burned into our brains – deserves a proper sendoff. Not just a cameo, not just a credit — a full-on, heartfelt farewell. Let him narrate the intro, shout during the final boss, maybe even drop one last “Mamma mia” that hits harder than it should. For fans who grew up with his voice guiding us through 3D lands, galaxies, and kingdoms, hearing him one more time would be the ultimate tribute.
It’s-a-me, Mikhail! ^^
Prediction: New Donk City Was Just the Beginning — The Next Mario City Will Be Mind-Blowing
As impressive as New Donk City was back in 2017, let’s be real — it’s about to look like a warm-up act compared to whatever Nintendo’s cooking up for the Switch 2. With the hardware finally catching up to Mario’s ambition, we’re expecting a next-gen urban playground that makes New Donk feel like a demo disc. Think: layered vertical traversal, living crowds that react to your moves, day-night cycles, weather systems, maybe even a subway system you can ride (or parkour off). The next city world could be Mario’s most complex sandbox yet — packed with secrets, side quests, and enough Easter eggs to keep YouTube theory channels busy for years. Pauline better be running for mayor of the galaxy at this point.
Multiverses
I just want to go on record now saying — I don’t necessarily want this. But with every franchise from Spider-Man to Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart diving headfirst into the multiverse trend, it’s not hard to imagine Nintendo giving Mario the same treatment. Picture it: different dimensions where Bowser won, where Wario is the hero, where everything’s 2D, or where Mario’s just a regular guy named Mark who works in IT. Gameplay could shift between styles — like hopping from Mario Galaxy physics to Paper Mario mechanics in real time. It’d be wild, chaotic, probably a little exhausting… but also the kind of ambitious shake-up that’d blow fans’ minds if done right. Still, let’s just hope it comes with a proper tutorial, because multiversal Captain Toad lore might go hard.
PS: I think we’re going to finally get Super Mario Galaxy 2 ported to Switch 2!