The 3D World port is flawless, and Bowser's Fury bolts on a punchy little open world that shows Mario can breathe outside corridor levels. Local co-op is still gleeful chaos, though the fixed camera betrays its age.
Your verdict
Category
Platformer4 players3+
Co-op
Description
Mario and friends clear three-dimensional stages with the cat suit, then take on a colossal Bowser. Published by Nintendo, released worldwide in 2021. Co-op for up to four players, inventive levels and the open Bowser's Fury adventure as a bonus.
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
2/5
Story
★★★★★
"Classic"
Candy colours, cat suits and playfully geometric levels give the game an infectious cheer; then Bowser's Fury tips into an ominous volcanic orange. That controlled contrast, always crystal-clear, shows just how expressive Mario's 3D design can be.
Under Mahito Yokota and Naoto Kubo, bright big-band swing and tap-dance rhythms give every kingdom a fizzy, springy pulse that locks perfectly to your jumps. Bowser's Fury pivots toward stormier strings, a tasty contrast. That brassy bounce fits the platforming so snugly that the loops keep playing in your head long after you've set the controller down.
Gameplay
"Masterful"
Slipping into the cat suit to scale a wall captures in one move the smarts of its vertical, readable level design. Short, dense stages suit both quick sessions and the joyful chaos of four-player co-op. The added Bowser's Fury proves Mario breathes in open spaces too. The fixed camera betrays its Wii U roots, but the whole package stays flawless.
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
Slip on the Cat suit, climb on everything, and jostle merrily as four in 3D levels built for mayhem: local co-op becomes a playground. The ideas keep coming without pause, and Bowser's Fury adds an explosive sandbox. Funny, readable, generous, it gathers everyone around the screen effortlessly.
Bowser's Fury upends the formula by spawning a giant Bowser in real time, interrupting exploration with climactic assaults where the weather itself becomes the enemy. In the main game, King Koopa chains acrobatic phases and vertical platforming. The Giga transformation and spectacular staging blow open each climactic confrontation.
Better with friends
Four players push forward hand in hand through clever levels, yet the chase for the top-score crown laces the teamwork with a streak of rivalry. You lend a hand as readily as you steal the spotlight, and that ambiguity spices up every run. The single camera can crowd the group and trigger a few collisions, just enough to set off another round of laughter.
Is Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury still worth playing in 2026?
First released on Wii U then revived on Switch, Super Mario 3D World has lost none of its clarity. The cat suit remains a genuine level-design idea, pushing verticality without ever losing the player. Short, dense stages suit quick sessions as well as four-player co-op, which stays among the most harmonious in the catalogue. Bowser's Fury, a tense little open sandbox, alone justifies the double billing. Colourful and fluid, the game holds up perfectly against current platformers. A safe bet with no major reservations, and easily enjoyed today by newcomers and returning fans alike.
