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Super Mario Bros. Wonder game release date, news & gameplay

Wondering what's new with Mario? Here's everything you need to know...

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Our favourite Italian plumber is back. And all his friends are along for the ride too. Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, and the rest of the gang team up in the latest 2D side-scrolling adventure. But Bowser’s up to his dirty tricks once again. After stealing a Wonder Flower and merging with Prince Florian’s castle, he’s turned himself into a massive floating fortress. Can the Mushroom Kingdom crew take him down?

To get you ready for the challenge, we’ve put together a mini guide full of everything you need to know. From the release date and pre-order details to the platforming gameplay, power-ups and more.

What is Super Mario Bros. Wonder’s release date?

Super Mario Bros. Wonder leaps onto Nintendo Switch on 20 October 2023. And if you can believe it, it’s been more than a decade since the last entry in the legendary 2D series. We’ve definitely been waiting patiently for this one!

How much will Super Mario Bros. Wonder cost?

Wonder no more. The standard edition of Super Mario Bros. Wonder is going to cost you £49.99.

If you’re a super Mario fan, Nintendo have also announced a special edition Nintendo Switch OLED to tie in with the release. With a bright red paint job, it’s covered head to toe in Mario’s iconic colour – even the docking station is too. And when you flip open the back of it, you’ll see some of those classic coins hidden inside. While a silhouette of the big man himself adds a nice little final touch.

It’s only coming out in seriously limited numbers though – so you’re going to have to move fast to get your hands on one.

Can I pre-order Super Mario Bros. Wonder?

You sure can. And pre-orders are live right now too, so you’ll be able to get your copy sent straight to your door in time for release day. Or, if you want to go digital, you can always top up your Nintendo account with an eShop gift card instead and grab the game from the Nintendo Store.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder platforms and crossplay

Because it’s a Nintendo exclusive, you’ll only be able to play the game on Nintendo Switch. So, if you haven’t made the switch to their handheld yet, what are you waiting for?

How to play Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Courses

The Flower Kingdom is made up of six unique worlds. And you’ll have to beat different courses on each one to complete the game. But these are going to really test your platforming skills. You’ll travel from dusty deserts to chilly mountains and cramped caves. With a trip to the clouds chucked in for good measure too.

And these courses wouldn’t pass a health and safety inspection, that’s for sure. You’ll have to watch out for lethal drops and pits - plus a whole boatload of enemies. Koopa Troopas, Boos and Goombas are all back to take a chunk out of Mario and co. They’re joined by the new Hoppycats (that copy how you move to try and throw you off) and the Melon Piranha Plants, who shoot seeds at you while you sprint past. So, make sure you watch out!

Power-ups

You’ll need to level the playing field to take on Bowser’s minions. Power-ups let you do exactly that. Picking these up while you play will give you epic new abilities to battle back with against those pesky critters.

Here’s a few of our favourite power-ups:

  • Elephant Fruit – Transform Mario into an elephant. Because why not? Spray water with your trunk. Bulldoze your way through blocks. And swat enemies aside like they’re not even there. Throwing your weight around can be pretty fun.

  • Bubble Flower – You’re having a bubble aren’t you? Catch enemies inside a big bubble or use them as a platform to get up to high areas.

  • Drill Mushroom – Burrow your way through the ceiling or the floor to open up new routes. Or go on the offensive and attack armoured enemies with it.

On top of these power-ups, there are special Action Badges to equip too. The badges give you other useful tricks and perks. Like the dolphin kick that’ll speed up your swimming, or a safe bounce that’ll let you rebound from a deadly fall. That’s one way to quickly bounce back…

Wonder Flower

You’ll find the Wonder Flower scattered about the levels. And picking it up is going to completely transform whatever world you’re in. You could accidentally send a barrage of enemies after you, shoot yourself into space, or transform your character into something strange. It’s a bit of a gaming lottery. But because the flowers are hidden away, you’ll have to scour every nook and cranny of the course to find them. So, keep your eyes peeled!

How many hours of gameplay will Super Mario Bros. Wonder have?

While we don’t have an exact number right now, a lot of the fun of Mario games has always come from replaying levels to try and beat your high score. Or get a better time than your mates. Because of that, you can pretty much play Super Mario Bros. Wonder for as long as you want.

Who are the main characters?

There are 12 different characters for you to pick from this time round. Which is the biggest line-up in a Super Mario game so far! All the big names are here, so pick your favourite and jump in.

Here’s the full list of playable characters:

  • Mario

  • Luigi

  • Two types of Toad

  • Toadette

  • Peach

  • Daisy

  • Nabbit

  • Four variations of Yoshi

While most of them play in exactly the same way, a few come with their own unique abilities that really mix up the gameplay. Yoshi doesn’t take any damage from your enemies (making him perfect for Super Mario newbies) and can use Flutter Jump to get to those hard-to-reach spots. While Nabbit can’t use any power-ups – making them a good choice if you’re up for a challenge.

What are the different Super Mario Bros. Wonder game mode options?

You’ll be able to play through every level in the game in single player, local co-op, or online multiplayer. So, if you want to kick back and chill on your own, you can. And when everyone’s over for game night on the weekend, you can crack out the extra joy-cons and get all your pals involved.

Will Super Mario Bros. Wonder have a multiplayer mode?

You’ll be able to play the game online or locally with your mates, making it great for some quickfire couch co-op. You can even have up to four of you playing on the same console at once – reviving each other’s ghosts when one of you bites the dust, or hopping on Yoshi when you need a piggyback.

Then things get even more wild when you head online. With room for up to 12 players, invite your friends and unleash your competitive side instead. Turn every course into a race and see who can cross the finish line first. On your marks. Get set. Go!

What Super Mario Bros. Wonder features are player customisable?

Because this is a love letter to retro gaming, gameplay is king here. So, there’s not a whole lot in the way of customisation. But you’ll be able to pick your character at the start of each stage, with a few extra variations on iconic characters like Yoshi and Toad for you to try out.

Want to know more about all the latest releases? Get ahead of the game and check out the biggest upcoming games right here.

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Super duper!