Super Mario Odyssey

Super Mario Odyssey is a running and jumping game in the long-running Mario series where you save Princess Peach from Bowser. While it's a familiar setup, here you explore vast open worlds and use your hat to help you get around, fight, and even possess enemies to gain new abilities. It's a clear departure from what's come before, yet still retains the same lighthearted charm and focus on fun and fluid movement.

CONTENT RATING

Fear,

Mild Violence

PLATFORMS

Nintendo Switch

POSITIVE GAMEPLAY

Communication

Exploration

Geographic

Parent-Child Co-Play

Popular Choice

Collecting

PLAY STYLE

Co-Op Assistant Role

When Peach is kidnapped by Bowser, who plans to marry her in a big wedding on the moon, you set out after them in an attempt to rescue the princess and save the day. As they visit kingdom after kingdom, stealing priceless artefacts for the ceremony, you chase after them, defeating their henchmen and gathering enough energy to reach the moon. By your side through it all is Cappy, your ghostly hat, who you use to reach new areas and defeat tough foes.

Play remains largely similar to previous Mario games: explore the level, jump on enemies, collect moon pieces to power up your ship, and beat the enemy at the end to inch closer to saving the princess. Super Mario Odyssey expands on these basics with intricately explorable themed worlds rich in secrets and new enemies. Cappy not only adds new ways to attack enemies but also to possess them and use their powers. You also use it to aid in your movement around the stages; you can jump on it in midair to extend your reach, and as you play you learn to use it to reach distant platforms and make seemingly impossible jumps. This moves success from quick reactions to the learned mechanical prowess with the physics of the world and Mario's abilities.

After the more linear Super Mario games like New Super Mario Bros. and New Super Mario 3D World, this game returns to the more open-ended, exploration-based gameplay featured in Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine, resulting in a unique and entertaining experience.

GAMEPLAY TRAILER

Good to know

Insights to ensure your child's gaming experience remains safe and enjoyable

Review difficulty level

Some children might feel frustrated with different game levels or obstacles. Talk to them about recognising when it's time to take a break and turn their attention somewhere else. Often, when they come back relaxed, they're more likely to find success.

Master skills together

Some platform games require a lot of skill and combination movements, which can be frustrating to master. For younger players, set time aside to help them learn and practise the skills.

Build resilience

Platform games can promote perseverance. Encourage children to "try, try again" until they succeed while taking regular breaks.

Skill level age

Suggested by Family Gaming Database

10+

One family , "Super Mario Odyssey with assists mode on worked well for my daughter when had just turned 5." The older player can control Mario while the younger player can help by controlling his cap to stun enemies and collect coins. Another that they, "played through the game first so it was opened up so he could basically do what he wanted while he mastered the controls".

Content rating

Rated PEGI 7 for violence that lacks any apparent harm or injury to fantasy or mythical beings and creatures, pictures or sounds likely to be scary to young children and non-realistic violence in a child-friendly setting or context. One of the boss battles takes place in a nightmarish setting in which you need to climb a destroyed tower to confront a realistic-looking dragon. This dragon has glowing eyes, sharp teeth and looks rather realistic. You need to dodge its lasers and circular saw lasers to remove pins from its head and stop him once this is done. Some boss battles also contain elements that are more severe than previous instalments from this series. In one of the levels, you can capture a realistic-looking T-rex and roam the level with it. This beast has a realistic appearance and could be seen as a disturbing element. Mario can also be outfitted with different costumes. The most noteworthy costume is the Zombie costume. Here Mario looks like a zombie and instead of a hat, he has an axe in his head. This axe can be thrown, much like the hat he always wears. The reactions of the character to this action, remain the same.

PEGI rating explained?