Battles ditch traditional turns for ring-rotating puzzles, and lining up enemies turns into a genuine brain-teaser. The papercraft staging and deadpan writing are a constant delight. The combat splits players; the humor wins everyone over.
Your verdict
Category
Action Adventure1 player7+
Description
Mario, turned to paper, fights an origami kingdom bending the world to its will. Published by Nintendo, released worldwide in 2020. Battles on a rotating ring where you line up enemies, a vast world to explore, fleeting companions and sparkling humour.
Paper Mario: The Origami King review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
4/5
Story
★★★★★
"Captivating"
Papercraft pushes the idea even further: confetti, origami folds and raised sets where the cardboard tears and unfolds before your eyes. This riot of tactile invention, joyful and inventive, gives every diorama a striking sense of life and volume.
With its folds and humor, this papercraft adventure boasts a score of contagious liveliness: playful jazz, brassy fanfares and battle themes that fizz. The piece for the sea-faring boss, swelling into an epic chorus, has become a cult moment. The music underlines the lighthearted tone without ever forgetting the tenderness of its big beats, carrying every colorful scene.
Fighting office supplies sounds absurd, yet every Legion of Stationery turns a mundane object into an inventive duel. The rotating ring system becomes a real-time puzzle: aligning your strikes to reach a weak spot blends thought with action. Theatrical staging, biting humor and fresh ideas make these the most surprising clashes in the game.
Is Paper Mario: The Origami King still worth playing in 2026?
Even now, The Origami King charms with its witty writing and papercraft sets that still look wonderfully fresh. Its ring-based combat, asking you to line up enemies before striking, remains a divisive curiosity: clever against groups, quickly repetitive on trivial encounters. Pacing sometimes lacks tension and the RPG side stays shy, yet the exploration, the supporting cast and the humor hold up beautifully. A gentle, generous adventure, perfect for anyone wanting a light, colorful Mario with no difficulty pressure.
