Super Mario Odyssey

This article is about the Nintendo Switch game. For other uses, see Super Mario Odyssey (disambiguation).

"Mario Odyssey" redirects here. For The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! episode, see 9001: A Mario Odyssey.

Super Mario Odyssey
North American box art For alternate box art, see the related gallery.
Developers	Nintendo EPD Tokyo 1-UP Studio Panic Button (Switch 2 enhancement)
Publishers	Nintendo Tencent Games (China)
Platform	Nintendo Switch (enhanced for Nintendo Switch 2)
Release dates	October 27, 2017 October 27, 2017 October 27, 2017 October 27, 2017 October 27, 2017 October 27, 2017 December 1, 2017 December 1, 2017 March 16, 2020 October 24, 2022 (physical media)
Languages	English Japanese Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Traditional) Dutch French (Canada) French (Europe) German Italian Korean Russian Spanish (Latin America) Spanish (Europe)
Genres	3D platformer, action-adventure
Ratings	ESRB: - Everyone 10+ CERO: - Twelve years and older PEGI: - Seven years and older USK: - Six years and older RARS: - Six years and older ClassInd: - General audience[?] SMECCV: - Twelve years and older[?] CADPA: - Eight years and older[?] Gmedia: - Seven years and older[?] GRAC: - All ages GSRR: - Six years and older NMC: - Seven years and older[?] ACB: - Parental guidance FPB: - Parental guidance[?]
Modes	Single player, two-player co-op
Format	Nintendo Switch: Game Card Digital download
Input	Nintendo Switch: Joy-Con Joy-Con (horizontal) Nintendo Switch Pro Controller Nintendo GameCube Controller
Serial codes	HAC-AAACA-JPN HAC-P-AAACA-USA LA-H-AAACA-EUR LA-H-AAACB-CHN

Super Mario Odyssey is a 3D action-adventure platformer for the Nintendo Switch. It is the eighth 3D title of the Super Mario series, the first 3D Super Mario title for a hybrid console, the sixth 3D Super Mario title on a home console after Super Mario 3D World, and the third 3D Super Mario title on a handheld console after Super Mario 64 DS and Super Mario 3D Land. In 2020, it was recognized as the twentieth entry in the Super Mario series. As of 2024, it is recognized as the twenty-first on Mario Portal. It was first teased in the Switch's announcement video on October 20, 2016, and was formally announced as part of the Nintendo Switch presentation on January 13, 2017. The game was released in select regions on October 27, 2017; in South Korea and Taiwan on December 1, 2017; and in China on March 16, 2020. The game features sandbox-like elements similar to those in Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine and revolves around Mario exploring Earth-based settings with his new partner, Cappy.

Unique to this game, Mario is able to throw Cappy onto certain enemies and objects, allowing Mario to take control of them and use their abilities. Mario can also dress in different costumes, several being based on the previous games. The game supports two-player co-op, allowing a second player to use a single Joy-Con or Pro Controller to control Cappy independently from Mario. The game also has online functionality, which allows players to compare their times/scores in certain events. In addition, amiibo can be used to unlock certain costumes early as well as obtain free hints toward the locations of Power Moons and regional coins.

The Mario (Wedding Outfit), Peach (Wedding Outfit), and Bowser (Wedding Outfit) amiibo have designs based on this game and were released on the same day as Super Mario Odyssey.

A free update was released for the game on June 5, 2025, when played on the Nintendo Switch 2, which improves the image quality in handheld and docked modes and adds HDR, GameShare, and GameChat support. Elements from Super Mario Odyssey, including its structure, gameplay, and world design, were reused in Donkey Kong Bananza.

Story

Mario encounters Bowser on the latter's airship.

The story begins in the skies above Peach's Castle, where Mario and Bowser are in the middle of fighting each other on Bowser's Airship, with Princess Peach on board as well, witnessing the battle. Bowser punches the ground as Mario jumps backward. Bowser then jumps at Mario and breathes a fireball at him, but misses. Bowser then throws his hat at Mario, which misses but knocks Mario's cap off his head, then boomerangs back at Mario, sending him flying. Bowser then takes his airship toward the skies, as he prepares a forced marriage to Peach. He leaves Mario's cap adrift into the ship's back propellers, shredding it in the process. A piece is obtained by a Bonneter named Cappy, who eventually finds Mario in Bonneton, located in the Cap Kingdom.

Mario meets Cappy.

Mario is awoken by Cappy, who leads Mario through Bonneton before introducing himself, and explains to Mario that Bowser not only had attacked their kingdom, destroying its airship armada, but had also kidnapped his little sister Tiara to use her as Peach's wedding headdress. Together, the two decide to team up to stop Bowser's plans and save both Peach and Tiara. Using the piece he collected, Cappy transforms into Mario's cap, allowing Mario to use his abilities. Cappy then informs Mario that they may be able to find a usable airship in the next kingdom, accessible from Top-Hat Tower. While exploring the tower, Mario uses Cappy's capture ability on a frog. Upon reaching the top, they encounter the Broodals, who were hired by Bowser as his wedding planners. After the Broodal Topper, Mario and Cappy use a spark pylon to travel to Fossil Falls of the Cascade Kingdom, where they find the airship Odyssey, which uses Power Moons as energy to travel. Soon after, Mario and Cappy find and defeat Madame Broode, the boss of the Broodals, and her Chain Chomp. Using the power of a Multi Moon obtained from Madame Broode, the Odyssey becomes functional once more, and Mario and Cappy use it to chase after Bowser and the Broodals.

Mario and Cappy confront Bowser in the Nimbus Arena.

Mario and Cappy travel through several kingdoms. They begin with Tostarena of the Sand Kingdom, from where Bowser had stolen the Binding Band to use as a wedding ring for his bride. They later head to Lake Lamode of the Lake Kingdom and the Steam Gardens of the Wooded Kingdom, but are too late to stop the Broodals from stealing the Lochlady Dress and the Soirée Bouquet, respectively. While en route to the Metro Kingdom, they are halted by Bowser on his airship. After a battle commences in the Nimbus Arena of the Cloud Kingdom, Mario emerges victorious. However, after he is knocked onto his airship, Bowser fires at the Odyssey, causing it to crash-land in the Forgotten Isle of the Lost Kingdom.

Bowser prepares to attack the Odyssey again with the Ruined Dragon.

After Mario rescues Cappy from a Klepto and collects more Power Moons to restore the Odyssey, they travel through New Donk City of the Metro Kingdom, Shiveria of the Snow Kingdom, Bubblaine of the Seaside Kingdom, and Mount Volbono of the Luncheon Kingdom. They then attempt to enter Bowser's Castle in Bowser's Kingdom; however, they are encountered by Bowser before they get there. Bowser orders the Ruined Dragon to attack the Odyssey. This causes the ship to fall to Crumbleden of the Ruined Kingdom, where Mario and Cappy directly fight and defeat the Ruined Dragon. After restoring the Odyssey again, they finally go to Bowser's Castle and find Bowser with Peach. Bowser reveals that he plans to hold his wedding on the moon, and leaves Mario and Cappy to fight the Broodals in the RoboBrood.

Mario and Cappy break into the Wedding Hall.

Mario and Cappy destroy the RoboBrood, sending the Broodals flying as the two recover another Multi Moon. They then head off to Honeylune Ridge of the Moon Kingdom to stop the marriage between Bowser and Peach. They interrupt the wedding as Bowser is attempting to put the Binding Band that was previously stolen from Tostarena on Peach. Bowser then stomps the floor, revealing a trapdoor under Mario and Cappy. Cappy grabs Mario by the fingers and tries to pull him out of the trapdoor, but his hands slip, causing him to drop Mario and fall into it himself. Bowser jumps in after them and engages them in battle, but he is defeated. Mario, Cappy, Peach, and Tiara are reunited but soon discover that the area they are in is collapsing, causing Mario to capture an unconscious Bowser and escape, with all of them eventually returning to the moon. Mario and Bowser then simultaneously propose to marry Peach, with Mario offering a Rocket Flower and Bowser offering a bouquet of Piranha Plants. Peach, overwhelmed by their fighting and arguing over her, rejects them both and leaves with Cappy and Tiara, making Mario and Bowser dejected. She then calls from the Odyssey, saying, "Let's go home!" As the ship takes off, Mario and Bowser run after it. While Mario successfully jumps onto it, he stomps on Bowser, knocking him back, and throws Cappy at the screen, ending the game.

Mario and Bowser desperately fight for Princess Peach's approval.

After the credits, the Odyssey lands in the Mushroom Kingdom near Peach's Castle, where Cappy says that he enjoyed the adventure and wishes to continue traveling with Mario to collect more Power Moons. They do so, going through the Mushroom Kingdom, as well as Rabbit Ridge of the dark side of the moon and Culmina Crater of the darker side of the moon in the process. Meanwhile, Peach and Tiara travel the kingdoms on Peach's "own terms", while finding Power Moons themselves that they give to Mario when he meets up with them.

Gameplay

Super Mario Odyssey returns to the explorative sandbox-like gameplay seen in Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine. Mario explores various large areas in order to collect Power Moons. Collecting Power Moons increases the power of the Odyssey so it can move on to the next area, each of which is accessed in a mostly linear order. There is no central hub world, unlike in the aforementioned games. The game instead has a map screen from where locations are selected.

Mario maintains his moveset from previous 3D titles, including the Triple Jump, the Long Jump, the Side Somersault, the Backward Somersault, the Roll, the Ground Pound, the Ground Pound Jump, the Spin Jump, and the returning dive. In addition, a new character called Cappy allies with Mario and turns into Mario's cap. He grants Mario access to the Cap Throw, a move where Mario throws Cappy as if he were a boomerang for a long-range attack. Cappy can interact with many of the game's objects, or be used as an extra platform. Cappy can also "capture" certain objects and enemies so Mario can take control of them. Each of those objects gives Mario new abilities. This makes capturing a key element, as it replaces the traditional power-up system seen in the previous games of the Super Mario series since Super Mario Galaxy. There are 52 capturable targets in total.

The game also features a co-op mode. During this mode, the second player as Cappy automatically hovers over the first player's head until they press the button, where they gain independent movement. While moving, Cappy acts as though he was thrown. When the second player is hovering over the first player's head, they can move the stick on their Joy-Con to move Cappy 360 degrees, while the first player can still perform all actions with Cappy as in normal gameplay. However, they cannot perform these actions when the second player is not hovering above them, although the Cap Throw can still be used for its movement stalling properties. If the second player, while being independent of the first player, presses the button again, they will travel back to the first player's head. The camera follows the first player in this mode, and due to this, the second player can fly only a certain distance away from the first player until they are stopped by an invisible wall. When the first player walks a certain distance away from the second player, the second player is pushed towards the first player.

One recurring object found in the game is coins. There are two types. Yellow coins return from older games. These coins are scattered across the game and are rewarded for interacting with many objects. Additionally, there are new purple regional coins, which are different in every kingdom. These serve as a minor collectable. While some are out in the open, many are hidden away. Coins are a currency in the game, and they are spendable at Crazy Cap stores to buy items for the Odyssey and costumes. Regional coins can be used only in the same kingdom they were found in. Character customization consists of two portions: a outfit for Mario and a hat for Cappy. The player can mix-and-match any of the options they have unlocked. All of them are entirely cosmetic.

Mario has a life meter with three health wedges, a returning feature from games such as Super Mario Galaxy. Taking damage reduces health, and if Mario runs out, he has to restart from a Checkpoint Flag. However, this game does not have lives, nor 1-Up Mushrooms or Game Overs. Each time Mario is defeated, he loses 10 coins before returning to the level. This is the first 3D game of the Super Mario series not to feature lives.

If the player is having trouble finding a Power Moon, the game has two different hint systems to help them. The new character Talkatoo gives the player the name of a Power Moon, which may hint at its location or at a method used to obtain it. Hint Toad, a recurring character given a name for the first time, reveals the location of a Power Moon on the map screen at a cost of 50 yellow coins.

While Super Mario Odyssey is primarily a three-dimensional game, certain sections switch the game into a sidescrolling mode. These are visually based on the game Super Mario Bros., making use of that game's 8-bit graphics and general gameplay. This further means that Mario cannot use moves introduced later in the series in these sections, such as the Triple Jump and the Cap Throw. However, Mario's health is shared between normal gameplay and these sections. These sections are usually entered through 8-bit pipes, and they allow Mario to move across the surface of various walls in the game. While earlier sections mostly hew to a normal side perspective, later areas project these sections onto objects of varying shapes, such as cylinders and cubes. Many of the game's songs have chiptune renditions that play while Mario is in these areas.

The game makes use of several of the new functions available in Nintendo's Joy-Con and Pro Controller. Motion controls are a major part of the game. Nearly every action done with the or button can instead be done by shaking the controller, sometimes with a stronger effect than just pressing the button. In addition, certain moves are entirely exclusive to using motion controls. This is especially true of the game's capturable characters and objects. HD Rumble is used to indicate hidden places where Mario can ground-pound to find items. Hint Art consists of pictures found in the game that cryptically hint at the locations of Power Moons. These make use of the Nintendo Switch's capture function, enabling the player to store a screenshot of the picture in the system's album for reference as they look for the Power Moon in the game. Super Mario Odyssey supports amiibo, primarily tying the functions to the new character Uncle amiibo. With either controller's NFC touchpoint, the player can scan amiibo for a number of effects. Many amiibo are referred to by name, even if the game does not give them an effect specific to the character. A number of Super Mario-franchise characters have costumes in the game, including Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, and Diddy Kong. Their amiibo unlock these costumes earlier than normal. Any amiibo can be used to reveal the location of a Power Moon on the map. The button allows the player to scan amiibo at any time for different benefits than the ones listed before, with dedicated effects for most Mario, Peach, and Bowser amiibo. Mario amiibo make the player temporarily invincible, Peach amiibo increase the player's maximum health, and Bowser amiibo show the player where regional coins are. Other amiibo provide basic items such as coins and Hearts.

An Assist Mode is available. This mode makes the game easier by introducing a number of additional features. The player has six health wedges instead of three, and standing still for long enough refills Mario's health one wedge at a time. If the player touches lava or poison or falls down a pit, they are returned to a safe location by a bubble while losing only one health wedge. All of those hazards are normally very dangerous. Swimming no longer has an air meter. Arrows that point the player to the objective appear on the ground. Sometimes, they move along walls, point across the air, or point upward. In certain cases involving prolonged air movement, if Mario is on certain detours, or if the goal is to return to the Odyssey, an arrow hovers over Mario and points to the destination or back to the main path. If all objectives in a kingdom are completed and the player still needs more Power Moons to advance to the next kingdom, Assist Mode points the player to Hint Toad, then to the location of the closest Power Moon revealed on the map. Switching modes from Regular Mode to Assist Mode or vice versa can be done through the Options menu. This resets the player's position to a prior save point, but Power Moons are kept.

Super Mario Odyssey contains a number of minigames spread across the game world. Some of these require going into a specific menu to access, while others start when Mario enters them on the game's main map. These usually make use of Mario's existing movement options, instead of having minigame-only controls. Each of them can be played to obtain Power Moons. In addition, scores in each minigame can be uploaded to the internet, and players can view the scores of all players or ones from players on their Friend List.

The game features a "Snapshot Mode", where players can suspend the game with and take screenshots. Players are also able to alter the shot by zooming in and out, tilting the camera for a vertical shot, or applying one of several filters, such as blurring the surroundings, adding a sepia tone, changing the camera to a fisheye lens, or applying an NES-, Game Boy-, or SNES-styled color scheme.

Super Mario Odyssey is playable in 13 languages: English, European French, Canadian French, German, European Spanish, Latin American Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Russian, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Korean.

Balloon World

Main article: Balloon World

Mario hiding a balloon in the Cascade Kingdom

Balloon World is a major minigame similar to hide-and-seek that was added to Super Mario Odyssey in a free update released on February 21, 2018. In order to play, Mario must find Luigi in any kingdom (excluding the Cloud Kingdom, Ruined Kingdom, Dark Side, and Darker Side) and talk to him to begin. Mario is given a balloon that he can hide in spots around the kingdom for other players to find. Mario can also find balloons that other players around the world have already hidden. There is a time limit for placing and finding the balloons. Players can share codes so that their friends can specifically look for their balloons.

Controls

This list is adapted from in-game callouts of actions and the Super Mario Odyssey: Prima Collector's Edition Guide released by Prima Games (with the exception of "Walk"). Where they conflict on what is and is not a move, the Super Mario Odyssey: Prima Collector's Edition Guide is given precedence due to it favoring listing moves separately in every case except for "Camera Control". Where they conflict on the name of a move, Super Mario Odyssey is given precedence due to it being more official. The only exception to this is "Ascend", which is listed under its name in the Super Mario Odyssey: Prima Collector's Edition Guide because while Super Mario Odyssey calls the move "Swim", the Super Mario Odyssey: Prima Collector's Edition Guide identifies a different move as "Swim".

This list has been embellished further with a number of the game's unnamed unique states. The categories of moves are taken from the Super Mario Odyssey: Prima Collector's Edition Guide, though some entries in the "Miscellaneous" category have been split into the categories "Water only" and "8-bit" for the purpose of the table.

The controls for captured entities are not listed here, instead being deferred to the article "Capture".

Nintendo GameCube Controllers can be used through the GameCube Controller Adapter, but it is recognized as a wired Nintendo Switch Pro Controller.

Action(s)	Input(s)
	Dual Joy-Con or Pro Controller	Horizontal Joy-Con (two-player only)
Orientation
Camera Control	to move, or to reset	+ to move, to reset
1st-person view	; while in First-Person Mode, tilt or move Joy-Con (R) or Pro Controller to look around, and press or to reset (single-player mode only)	Cannot use First-Person Mode in two-player mode
Ground movement
Walk	Tilt slightly	Tilt slightly
Run	Tilt	Tilt
Crouch	Hold or	Hold or
Crouch walk	Hold or +	Hold or +
Roll	Hold or + tap or or flick controller	Hold or + tap or flick Joy-Con
Roll Cancel	While rolling, press or and or at the same time	While rolling, press and or at the same time
Spin	Rotate quickly in two circles	Rotate quickly in two circles
Hops, skips, and jumps
Jump	or	or
Double Jump	While landing from standard jump, press or	While landing from standard jump, press or
Triple Jump	While landing from Double Jump, hold and press or	While landing from Double Jump, hold and press or
Backward Somersault	Hold or + press or	Hold or + press or
Side Somersault	While running, move in opposite direction + or	While running, hold in opposite direction + or
Long Jump	While running, hold or + tap or	While running, hold or + tap or
Wall slide	Jump against most vertical surfaces	Jump against most vertical surfaces
Wall Jump	While Mario is sliding down a wall, press or	While Mario is sliding down a wall, press or
Ground Pound	In midair or in water, tap or	In midair or in water, tap or
Ground Pound Jump	During Ground Pound impact, press or	During Ground Pound impact, press or
Dive	After initiating Ground Pound but before impact, press or or flick controller	After initiating Ground Pound but before impact, press or flick Joy-Con
Spin Jump	During spin, press or	During spin, press or
Quick Drop	During Spin Jump, press or	During Spin Jump, press or
Spinning ground pound	During Spin Jump, hold or until impact	During Spin Jump, hold or until impact
Spinning ground pound jump	During Spinning Ground Pound impact, press or	During Spinning Ground Pound impact, press or
Cappy
Cap Throw	or or flick controller	or flick Joy-Con
Spin Throw	Tilt both Joy-Con pads or the Pro Controller quickly to the side, or press or during spin	Tilt horizontal Joy-Con quickly to the side, or press during spin
Upward Throw	Flick both Joy-Con or the Pro Controlle