Super Mario Odyssey

Super Mario Odyssey sends Mario far beyond the Mushroom Kingdom on a globe-trotting 3D adventure. Bowser has kidnapped Princess Peach and is planning a wedding she wants no part of, so Mario gives chase aboard the Odyssey, a hat-shaped airship powered by Power Moons. At his side is Cappy, a spirit from Bonneton whose sister Tiara has been taken as well, and who turns Mario's signature cap into the most versatile tool the series has ever handed him.

Cap Throw, Cap Jump and Capture

Mario still runs, jumps, wall-kicks and ground-pounds with the precision the series is known for, but Cappy changes what those moves can do. Throw him to hit enemies and scoop up coins, bounce off him in mid-air to stretch a jump across a gap, or chain a dive and a cap jump into long, flowing routes that reward experimentation. The headline trick is capture: land a throw on the right target and Mario takes it over completely, borrowing its body and its abilities.

• Capture a Goomba to walk across slippery ice without sliding, then stack more Goombas on top of each other to reach a lonely Goombette waiting on a ledge that Mario could never reach on his own.
• Become a Bullet Bill to fly across open gaps, a Lava Bubble to swim straight through molten rock, or a Cheep Cheep to explore underwater for as long as you like without worrying about running out of air.
• Take control of a towering T-Rex in the Cascade Kingdom and smash through rocks and enemies alike, one of the early moments that shows just how far the capture idea is willing to go.

Kingdoms Packed with Power Moons

This is the first sandbox-style 3D Mario since Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine, and every stop on the Odyssey's route is its own compact open world rather than a linear stage. Power Moons are hidden everywhere: behind boss fights against Bowser's rabbit wedding planners, the Broodals, at the end of platforming challenges, inside retro 8-bit sections where Mario slips into the walls, or simply under a suspicious patch of ground.

Cascade Kingdom Fossil Falls mixes roaring waterfalls with prehistoric bones and a sleeping T-Rex, making it an early lesson in how much a single kingdom can hide in and around its main path. Sand Kingdom The desert town of Tostarena sits beneath the floating Inverted Pyramid, with ancient ruins, frozen caverns and colorful locals, plus Power Moons tucked into what feels like every dune. Metro Kingdom New Donk City is a vertical cityscape of skyscrapers, taxis and rooftops where Mayor Pauline is gathering musicians for a festival that ranks among the most celebrated set pieces in Mario history. Luncheon Kingdom Mount Volbono is a cooking-themed world of bubbling pots and giant vegetables, where a captured Lava Bubble lets Mario swim through bright pink lava in search of ingredients and Moons.

A Game That Rewards Curiosity

Gold coins buy outfits at Crazy Cap stores, while each kingdom hides its own purple regional coins that unlock local costumes and souvenirs to decorate the Odyssey. Some outfits even open doors to Power Moons you could not reach otherwise. amiibo figures can be scanned for hints toward hidden Moons and to unlock certain outfits, and finishing the story opens up plenty more to discover. It is no surprise the game won Best Family Game at The Game Awards 2017.

Play Together on One Console

Pass a friend a Joy-Con and Super Mario Odyssey becomes a two-player game. Player 1 controls Mario while Player 2 takes charge of Cappy, throwing him independently to hit enemies and collect coins as Mario explores. It is a relaxed, cooperative way to bring a younger or newer player into the adventure without anyone waiting for a turn.

Whether you grew up with Super Mario 64 or this will be your first 3D Mario, Odyssey is the one we would point you to first. Pick up your cap, climb aboard the Odyssey and see how far Cappy can take you.