Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Games review
As of Aug 20, 2026, Super Mario Bros. Wonder is rated 92/100 on Metacritic (135 critic reviews), and 91/100 on OpenCritic (155 critic reviews). Each source is shown in its own units, never blended into one score.
Different sources measure different things, so each is shown in its own units and never merged into one number.
Is Super Mario Bros. Wonder worth it in 2026?
A 91 on OpenCritic and 92 on Metacritic, each from over 130 critic reviews, is not a fluke: this is a genuine critical consensus that Super Mario Bros. Wonder is the best 2D Mario since Super Mario World, a claim that surfaces independently across multiple reviewers. The Wonder mechanics are the real engine here, transforming each stage in distinct ways rather than recycling a single gimmick, which is why consistent surprises and creative level design dominate the praise rather than visual polish alone. Multiplayer earns real praise from reviewers, though the game's reputation rests on what it does in a single-player context, inventive, surprising level design that doesn't coast on franchise familiarity.
Anyone who grew up with 2D Mario and wants a modern entry that takes genuine creative risks rather than retreading the New Super Mario Bros. template.
The post-game asks you to scour the map for missed content without much structure, so players who found the main campaign's loop thin may feel the endgame confirms rather than redeems that criticism.
AI-generated editorial synthesis of the source scores and sampled review themes, not a hands-on test. Reviewer experiences and allegations are not independently verified facts.
Pros
- innovative wonder mechanics6
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- Super Mario Bros. Wonder looks and plays like the true next step for 2D Mario platformers. Wonder effects change each stage in both surprising and delightful ways, the Flower Kingd...
- An endless cascade of ideas in a game that takes Mario to some wonderfully strange places.
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder surprises and delights from the moment you turn on the game. Though the gameplay feels familiar, Nintendo’s ability to iterate on the established formula i...
- best 2d mario in years5
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- Within the understood parameters of what 2D Mario can be, this has to be the single best entry since Super Mario World - and is the perfect first game to launch a new era of Mario...
- It's no exaggeration to say that Super Mario Bros. Wonder is one of the greatest Mario titles to come out in the last fifteen years, likely since New Super Mario Bros. DS itself. T...
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder breathes new life into the franchise by combining some of the best elements from past installments and drawing inspiration from other contemporaries to del...
- creative level design5
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- Super Mario Bros. Wonder is an excellent 2D Mario game with easily the most impressive world-building we've seen in this style. The trilogy of new power-ups are brilliant fun, and...
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder is, quite simply, the best 2D Mario game since Super Mario World. This is the slickest, sharpest, and smartest that two-dimensional Mario has felt since 19...
- Super Mario Bros Wonder is a masterclass in 2D platforming, refreshing a long running series in a tremendous way, with inventive new ways to play.
- consistent surprises4
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- An endless cascade of ideas in a game that takes Mario to some wonderfully strange places.
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder surprises and delights from the moment you turn on the game. Though the gameplay feels familiar, Nintendo’s ability to iterate on the established formula i...
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder isn't just a breath of fresh air for 2D platformers, it's a masterclass in how to update a game concept that's been a hit for more than three decades, and...
- multiplayer fun3
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- The endgame hides a few new stages and some cool minigames, but you are more or less dropped onto the map and asked to scour the place for everything you missed. I’m excited about...
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder takes the best parts of past 2D Mario games and builds on them with new characters, gameplay mechanics and upgraded visuals. There’s something here for bot...
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder is, quite simply, the best 2D Mario game since Super Mario World. This is the slickest, sharpest, and smartest that two-dimensional Mario has felt since 19...
Cons
- single-player lacks depth1
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- The endgame hides a few new stages and some cool minigames, but you are more or less dropped onto the map and asked to scour the place for everything you missed. I’m excited about...
- wants more levels1
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- It's no exaggeration to say that Super Mario Bros. Wonder is one of the greatest Mario titles to come out in the last fifteen years, likely since New Super Mario Bros. DS itself. T...
Themes and quotes are drawn from 20 sampled reviews with text; the scores above reflect all 290 ratings. Counts are how many of the sampled reviews mention each point.
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