With the deluge of Donkey Kong Bananza previews dropped on July 1, we’re likely years away from a new 3D Mario platformer for Nintendo Switch 2.
That may be disappointing if you haven’t played one since 2017’s Super Mario Odyssey. However, there’s a more recent 3D Mario game that has flown under the radar since its 2021 launch: Bowser’s Fury.
Bowser’s Fury doesn’t receive the same amount of attention as Super Mario Odyssey. However, it’s a fantastic platformer and the only Mario game to offer up a truly open world for players to explore.
Considering it has some enhancements when played on Switch 2, now is the perfect time to check out Bowser’s Fury.
Why is Bowser’s Fury forgotten?
Super Mario Odyssey overshadows it
Bowser’s Fury is often not brought up in conversation with other classic 3D Mario games, an issue that has reared its head once again with this recent Donkey Kong Bananza news.
I was surprised to see even IGN refer to Super Mario Odyssey as “Nintendo’s most recent 3D Mario effort,” even though Bowser’s Fury was developed by the same team at Nintendo EPD.
This may have become the case because the game was positioned in a certain way upon release. In February 2021, it was bundled alongside a Wii U remaster as part of Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury.
It has never been available for purchase on its own, and even within its own bundle, it takes second billing to Super Mario 3D World’s remaster.
That positioning makes Bowser’s Fury seem like side content, like the upcoming Star-Crossed World in Kirby and the Forgotten Land’s upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, rather than the full-fledged 3D Mario game it actually is.
While millions of people have bought Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury, the number of people who have played Bowser’s Fury pales in comparison to the nearly 30 million people who have tried Super Mario Odyssey, according to Nintendo’s public sales data.
Just because it isn’t as popular or well-known as some other 3D Mario games doesn’t mean Bowser’s Fury is bad. The opposite is true!
Why Bowser’s Fury is worth your time
Mario’s most underrated 3D adventure
From its premise to its gameplay, Bowser’s Fury feels like a quintessential 3D Mario game. Mario explores a new locale called Lake Lapcat and takes on the gigantic Fury Bowser, who is corrupted by black sludge.
While other Mario games would have players go through a series of worlds or levels before facing off with Bowser in a climactic showdown, Bowser’s Fury functions more like an open-world game with dynamic events.
It’s shorter than your average Mario game, but much more interconnected.
While Lake Lapcat is split into different themed areas, all of these hubs are part of one open world with no loading screens.
Players are free to collect whatever Cat Shines they can in any order. Periodically, Fury Bowser will appear and attack players, who then have to fend him off by getting a Cat Shine.
Moment to moment, the gameplay feels somewhere between Super Mario 3D World and Super Mario Odyssey, offering Odyssey’s freedom of movement with more traditional Mario power-ups, such as the cat suit from Super Mario 3D World.
Bowser’s Fury isn’t quite like any other 3D Mario game due to its structure, and is a personal favorite of mine because of how freeing it feels to play.
Bowser’s Fury is enhanced on Nintendo Switch 2
And there has never been a better time to play it
There are plenty of reasons to check out Bowser’s Fury on Switch 2 if you missed it on Switch 1.
First, it features significant performance improvements. Bowser’s Fury often struggled with frame rate issues, especially in handheld mode, but now it runs much smoother.
Analysis by Digital Foundry revealed that Bowser’s Fury runs smoothly at a dynamic 1800p resolution and a more stable frame rate of 60 FPS in both docked and handheld modes.
While there isn’t any brand-new content or a dedicated Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, it almost feels remastered when played on Nintendo’s latest hardware.
Bowser’s Fury may be the last 3D Mario game for a while
Although Donkey Kong Bananza is out soon
The amount of time required for game development has drastically increased over the past decade.
Bowser’s Fury was released around three years and four months after Super Mario Odyssey, while Donkey Kong Bananza is coming out four years and five months after Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury.
Even if Nintendo is working on a new 3D platformer starring Mario, it’s likely to be a while before the company announces or teases such a game on its Nintendo Today! app.
Donkey Kong Bananza is the obvious marquee title from that development team meant to tide fans over. But if you’re yearning for a 3D Mario game, specifically on Switch 2, then playing Bowser’s Fury is your best option.
While Super Mario Odyssey often overshadows Bowser’s Fury within the pantheon of 3D Mario platformers, it is a creative hidden gem.
