Super Nintendo World

Super Nintendo World (Japanese: スーパー・ニンテンドー・ワールド Sūpā·Nintendō·Wārudo) is an upcoming theme park area scheduled to first open in  in Osaka on February 4, 2021. It features attractions themed after several Nintendo franchises, including the Mario franchise. The area has also been announced to open in, , and.

While visiting the area, attendees can wear a magnetic wristband known as a "Power Up Band", which allows them to interact with various features in the area, compete with other attendees, and keep track of scores and items (such as coins and stamps) earned from such activities. The Power Up Band also connects to the Super Nintendo World section of the official Universal Studios Japan smartphone application found on the App Store and Google Play Store, which contains a map of the area and its key locations, and allows the user to view their rankings and add, remove, and edit bands. Six different designs of the Power Up Band have been shown so far, all based on emblems of Mario characters: Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy, Toad, and Yoshi.

Of the Mario-themed elements in Super Nintendo World, both a Mario Kart-themed attraction titled Mario Kart: Koopa's Challenge and a Yoshi-themed attraction titled Yoshi's Adventure have been confirmed to appear. Peach's Castle, Bowser's Castle, and a red Toad House are also present. In regards to decorative features, many Mario objects can be seen throughout the area (some of which move, such as coins and Cloud Lifts), though much of the environmental aesthetic is based on that of Super Mario 3D World, including the colored, diamond-patterned platforms, Piranha Creeper vine, pyramids from World 2, and most prominently the grassy platforms, which make up a tall, mountain-like structure replicating Mount Beanpole, with a Goal Pole on the summit. Animatronics of various Mario characters and enemies are also present, including Yoshi and a Thwomp.

The song "We Are Born to Play", performed by and, was released as a music video to promote Super Nintendo World, which depicts numerous attendees exploring a CGI-animated version of the area with many Mario characters and enemies present.

Entrance
The entrance to Super Nintendo World is a large Warp Pipe leading to the foyer of Peach's Castle, which features the sun design on the floor as well as a painting of Bob-omb Battlefield from Super Mario 64. An open doorway leads to the main theme park area. If attendees view the painting from the doorway, the Bob-omb morphs into Bowser Jr. holding his Magic Paintbrush and Peach's Golden Mushroom. "Inside the Castle Walls" can be heard in the background while inside the castle.

Mario Kart: Koopa's Challenge
Mario Kart: Koopa's Challenge (Japanese: マリオカート ～クッパの挑戦状～ Mario Kāto ~Kuppa no Chōsenjō~, "Mario Kart ~Bowser's Written Challenge~"), simply referred to as Mario Kart in the Universal Studios Japan app, is an on-rails ride based on the Mario Kart series where attendees race through a course designed by Bowser. It is located inside Bowser's Castle. Attendees are seated in vehicles designed after the Standard Karts from Mario Kart 8, with a steering wheel included with each seat. The ride makes use of, as attendees are equipped with AR headsets with Mario Caps for the duration of the ride. Attendees travel through different environments including a lava area, underwater, a ghost area, and Rainbow Road, and items can be used. The ride lasts for approximately five minutes, and each kart can hold up to four people (two rows of two seats).

The foyer of Bowser's Castle features stairs leading up to a large Bowser Statue, while the corridor leading to the ride itself features displays of the original eight cups from Mario Kart 8. There is also a large display of the ride's trophy, which is designed after the Universal logo, as well as Bowser's challenge letter next to it that reads:

よく聞け、マリオ！わがはいの城に来い！カートでしょうぶだ！待っているぞ、逃げるなよ！ガーッハッハッハ ''Yoku kike, Mario! Wagahai no shiro ni koi! Kāto de shōbu da! Matteiru zo, nigeru na yo! Gāhhahhahha'' Listen up, Mario! Come to my castle! It's a kart contest! I'll be waiting; don't run away! Gahahaha

Yoshi's Adventure
Yoshi's Adventure (Japanese: ヨッシー・アドベンチャー Yosshī Adobenchā, "Yoshi Adventure") is a ride where attendees travel in Yoshi-like vehicles to search for Captain Toad and three "mysterious eggs" using a map. The entrance is a large, yellow Warp Pipe located at the center of Super Nintendo World. The ride lasts for approximately five minutes, and each vehicle can hold up to two people.

Power Up Band Key Challenges
The Power Up Band Key Challenges (Japanese: パワーアップバンド・キーチャレンジ Pawā Appu Bando Kī Charenji, "Power Up Band Key Challenge") are activities found throughout Super Nintendo World that attendees play using the Power Up Bands to collect keys to help Princess Peach retrieve the Golden Mushroom from Bowser Jr. After collecting three of the five keys, attendees can participate in a boss battle with Bowser Jr.

Each key is guarded by one of Bowser Jr.'s minions. The challenges include:
 * Koopa Troopa POWer Punch: The key for this challenge is guarded by a Koopa Troopa. The challenge involves timing the chain-reaction impact of a series of Red POW Blocks to launch a moving Green Shell at a POW Block with the key on top to collect it. The shell moves left to right while passing through an upside-down T-shaped pipe, and the attendee must physically hit a Red POW Block at the right time so the shell passes over the last Red POW Block when it is activated and launches towards the key. Attendees hold their Power Up Band in front of a Key Coin reader to start the challenge, and again after they have successfully completed the challenge to claim the key.
 * Piranha Plant Nap Mishap: The key for this challenge is guarded by a red Piranha Creeper.
 * Bob-omb Kaboom Room: The key for this challenge is guarded by a giant Bob-omb, and is located at the end of the underground maze.
 * Goomba Crazy Crank: The key for this challenge is guarded by a Goomba.
 * Thwomp Panel Panic: The key for this challenge is guarded by a Thwomp.

1-UP Factory
1-UP Factory (Japanese: ワンナップ・ファクトリー Wannappu Fakutorī) is the gift shop of Super Nintendo World. The shop sells various exclusive Mario-themed merchandise and clothing, one of which is Tokotoko Mario, a batteryless Mario toy that walks while it is pushed with a Red Shell-shaped walker.

Kinopio's Cafe
Kinopio's Cafe (Japanese: キノピオ・カフェ Kinopio Kafe, "Toad Café") is a restaurant run by Toads, with a virtual character named Chef Toad acting as the head chef. The restaurant serves various Mario-themed dishes and drinks, including the Mario Burger, the Super Mushroom Pizza Bowl, and a ? Block-based dessert dish. The main dining area features designs of various Mario items on the ceiling, as well as a Warp Pipe and Mushroom display at the center. There are also "windows" in the restaurant showing animated videos of Chef Toad talking to attendees and other Toad chefs preparing food. The foyer of Kinopio's Cafe has two Gift Boxes: a small one and a big one. Attendees can use their Power Up Band to open one, which may contain an item or coins.

Characters
As with most theme parks, characters from the Mario series are abundant throughout Super Nintendo Land. Most of them are animatronics, while others can be found in meet-and-greet areas. So far, the latter kind of characters shown are mascots of Mario and Luigi, though meet-up points for Peach, Daisy, Toad, and Yoshi appear in the Universal Studios Japan app. Unlike the mascots commonly used for the Mario Bros., Super Nintendo World's Mario and Luigi's costumes have articulated faces, allowing them to move their eyes and mouths.

Development
A partnership between Nintendo and to open a Nintendo theme park area in Universal Studios Japan, Universal Studios Hollywood, and Universal Orlando was first announced on November 29, 2016. On December 12, 2016, Super Nintendo World was officially announced by name, scheduled to open first in Japan in time for the.

On June 8, 2017, construction on the first Super Nintendo World began when Universal Studios Japan held a groundbreaking ceremony, which was attended by Shigeru Miyamoto, Universal Studios Japan CEO J. L. Bonnier, and president Mark Woodbury. A Mario Kart-themed attraction was announced in the ceremony, while a teaser trailer for Super Nintendo World was released the same day.

On April 3, 2019, Super Nintendo World was announced for Universal Studios Singapore by.

During an interview with Universal Parks & Resorts CEO Tom Williams held on September 12, 2019, Williams announced that Super Nintendo World in Japan would open in Spring 2020, and that the Mario Kart ride and a Yoshi ride would be featured in the first phase. Williams also revealed information about a magnetic wristband that attendees would wear and would be used to track scores gained through rides and interactions in the area.

On January 14, 2020, Universal Studios Japan held a "global kick-off presentation event" where many details regarding Super Nintendo World were announced, including the opening now being scheduled for Summer 2020, more details on the function of the wristband (now named the "Power Up Band"), the wristband designs, and the smartphone application. The music video for "We Are Born to Play" was also released the same day.

During a Q4 earnings conference held on January 23, 2020, executives confirmed that Super Nintendo World in Universal Orlando would be part of the upcoming  theme park scheduled to open in 2023. However, due to the, the project was delayed indefinitely. Also as a result of the pandemic, the opening date for Super Nintendo World in Japan was pushed back by a few months.

On October 7, 2020, Super Nintendo World in Japan was announced to open in Spring 2021. In addition, a Mario Café & Store was revealed and announced to open outside of the area on October 16, 2020, ahead of its opening. The exact opening date of February 4 was later announced on November 30, 2020.

On December 18, 2020, Nintendo released the Super Nintendo World Direct. Hosted by Miyamoto, the video toured various parts of the park, including the entrance based off of Peach's Castle, an underground area with Bob-ombs, and Bowser's Castle, as well as 1-UP Factory and Kinopio's Cafe and the merchandise and food offered. It also showed how Power Up Bands are used to interact with activities in the park.