Side-scrolling Mario back in top form. Wonder Flowers trigger gleefully unpredictable level twists, and the art direction radiates pure joy. Local co-op is chaotic in the best way, and almost nothing repeats itself.
Your verdict
Category
Platformer4 players3+
Co-op
Description
Mario and friends cross the Flower Kingdom, where Wonder Flowers warp each level. Published by Nintendo, released worldwide in 2023. Surprise transformations including the elephant form, a badge system, inventive stages and co-op for up to four players.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
2/5
Story
★★★★★
"Classic"
Mario regains wild expressiveness: elastic faces, humour-packed animation and Wonder effects that warp the stage on a whim. This modernised 2D, warm and surprising at every pipe, hands the plumber a visual freshness no one expected anymore.
Alongside the bubbly themes comes a mischievous touch: the talking flowers that pepper the adventure with little melodies and chirps, as if the scenery were singing with you. Bouncing tunes, playful percussion, sonic transformations with each power-up: everything sparkles with whimsy. That inventive lightness rekindles the pure joy of the Mario platformer and leaves you humming afterward.
Gameplay
"Masterful"
A pipe that starts to ripple, a herd that stampedes, rules upended without warning: Wonder Flowers tip every level on its head and keep a rare freshness alive. The animation sparkles, badges shade the difficulty, and four-player co-op turns into joyful chaos. It stays gentle overall, yet it's one of the most inventive 2D Marios in years.
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
Touch a Wonder Flower and watch the level spiral into delirium: pipes that wriggle, herds that stampede, perspective that tips over. The visual surprise revives your curiosity on every screen. In co-op the cheerful disorder turns into laughter, and the freshness of the ideas makes you crave the next reveal.
Addictiveness
"Obsessive"
Every level draws an idea it never reuses again: a Wonder effect bends the rules, reshaping the scenery or perspective, and the surprise rekindles curiosity. Short segments and generous Wonder Seeds make progress legible and the chaining irresistible. You aim for 'the next flag' and clear five more. The inventiveness stays dazzling from start to finish; the trickiest stages can demand patience from younger players.
Difficulty
"Easy"
Lifespan
"Average"
Technical info
💾4,5 GB📅20/10/2023
Published by Nintendo
Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Nintendo Switch) price, value & rarity
Four friends sweep through levels brimming with invention, somewhere between mutual aid and gleeful disorder. You revive one another, jostle without malice, and the accessibility badges let less seasoned players keep pace. Cooperation leads the way, gentle and inventive, making it a perfect pick for gathering very different ages and skill levels around one screen.
Is Super Mario Bros. Wonder still worth playing in 2026?
Super Mario Bros. Wonder reinjects surprise into the 2D platformer. The Wonder Flowers upend the rules in every level, from pipes that ripple to herd stampedes, and that unpredictability keeps a rare freshness. The animation is gorgeous, transformations like the elephant amuse without overstaying, and the badge system fine-tunes difficulty. It all stays fairly gentle for those after a stiff challenge, but four-player co-op and hidden levels add texture. It is one of the most inventive 2D Marios in years, joyful and polished, just as enjoyable solo as in a group.
