Super Mario Odyssey
Games review
As of Jun 23, 2026, Super Mario Odyssey is rated 97/100 on OpenCritic (158 critic reviews), and 97/100 on Metacritic (124 critic reviews). Each source is shown in its own units, never blended into one score.
Is Super Mario Odyssey worth it in 2026?
A 97/100 across both OpenCritic (158 reviews) and Metacritic (124 reviews) is about as close to unanimous as critical consensus gets, and the substance behind those scores holds up: reviewers consistently call it series-best, the Cappy mechanic is treated as a genuine design shift rather than a gimmick, and hundreds of moons with layered secrets give it real staying power well past the credits. Nintendo threaded a genuinely difficult needle, the game retains enough nostalgic DNA to satisfy longtime fans while evolving the series in ways that feel earned rather than cosmetic, continuing a pattern critics specifically noted: Mario rarely gives you the same game twice.
Switch owners who enjoy platformers at any skill level, the breadth of content and the game's deliberate accessibility make it one of the strongest cases for the platform.
Seasoned 3D platformer veterans who prize difficulty may find the main campaign too gentle; the game is built to be welcoming, and if what you want is the precision challenge of Galaxy, this isn't that.
ReviewPond's conclusion, drawn only from the verified scores and review themes below. Not a paid or editorial opinion.
Different sources measure different things, so each is shown in its own units and never merged into one number.
Pros
- series-best quality6
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- Super Mario Odyssey is a spectacular return to form that'll delight casual players and platforming fans, delivering one of the biggest and best games ever from Nintendo.
- Mario's games have been around for almost as long as game consoles have been a thing, but thankfully, he's always evolving. We rarely get the same Mario twice. Super Mario Odyssey...
- For a character nearing 40 years old, it's amazing that Mario has remained not only a beloved character but one whose games are generally expected to be great. From that perspectiv...
- innovation and originality6
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- Mario's games have been around for almost as long as game consoles have been a thing, but thankfully, he's always evolving. We rarely get the same Mario twice. Super Mario Odyssey...
- One of the most daring and influential game designs of all time makes a long overdue comeback in Mario's most madcap adventure yet.
- Super Mario Odyssey successfully brings the series up to date and opens it up to a new audience, while still retaining every ounce of its nostalgia and retro charm.
- abundant content and secrets4
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- With hundreds of moons to collect and a dizzying number of secrets to unearth, Super Mario Odyssey is a monster of a game that rarely dips in the fun department
- Super Mario Odyssey represents a shift in direction for Mario. For about a decade we had exceptional but tightly structured 3D series entries, but this new arrival's building block...
- Full of happiness, an antidote we all desperately need, flawlessly designed, addictive, and just incredible. This is platforming perfection.
- nostalgic yet fresh feel4
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- Super Mario Odyssey successfully brings the series up to date and opens it up to a new audience, while still retaining every ounce of its nostalgia and retro charm.
- The soul of Super Mario 64 is alive and well in the plumber's surreal and stunning new adventure.
- Odyssey is the best Mario game in many, many years, and while it returns to the N64-style formula, its triumphs are firmly its own.
- broad audience appeal3
see reviews +-
- Super Mario Odyssey is a spectacular return to form that'll delight casual players and platforming fans, delivering one of the biggest and best games ever from Nintendo.
- Super Mario Odyssey successfully brings the series up to date and opens it up to a new audience, while still retaining every ounce of its nostalgia and retro charm.
- Super Mario Odyssey is by no means a perfect game, or even the best 3D Super Mario platformer, and thankfully the game doesn't need to be. More importantly, Super Mario Odyssey i...
Cons
- not most challenging entry1
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- Super Mario Odyssey is by no means a perfect game, or even the best 3D Super Mario platformer, and thankfully the game doesn't need to be. More importantly, Super Mario Odyssey i...
Themes and quotes are drawn from 19 sampled reviews with text; the scores above reflect all 282 ratings. Counts are how many of the sampled reviews mention each point.