Leading up to the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct in April, one of the unannounced games that fans were most excited to get a look at was a new 3DMariotitle. Nintendo’s Italian plumber has had his fair share of games over the last few years, but he hasn’t starred in a new, traditional 3D platformer in quite a while. The last premier 3DMariogame was 2017’sSuper Mario Odyssey, which was released more than 7 years ago. Considering that this is the longest gap in the franchise’s history without a new 3DMariogame, it’s not surprising that many gamers expected anOdysseysuccessor to be announced at the Switch 2 Direct.
Nintendo showcased a lot of brand-new, first-party games at its Switch 2 reveal event. The company not only announced an open-worldMario Kartgame, but it also unveiled a new 3DDonkey Kongtitle, a third installment in theHyrule Warriorsseries, a long-overduesequel toKirby Air Ride, a 3v3 wheelchair basketball game, and a Nintendo Switch 2-themed minigame collection. It did not, however, reveal a 3DMarioplatformer, contrary to initial speculation. A follow-up toSuper Mario Odysseywould have been a perfect launch title for the Switch 2, but since that’s obviously not going to happen, it remains to be seen when the game will be released or even announced.
A New 3D Mario Game for the Switch 2 is Likely in Development
Doug Bowser Told Fans to “Stay Tuned” for the Next 3D Mario Game
Nintendo of America presidentDoug Bowser recently commented on the prospectof a new 3DMariogame for the Switch 2. After he was asked about when fans could expect such a title in an interview with CNN, he simply responded with the words “stay tuned.” Bowser then noted that Nintendo has “a long, long catalog, and a long list of intellectual property that [he’s] sure will make their way to the platform.” Although these comments don’t provide much information on their own, they do at least provide confirmation that a new 3DMarioplatformer is indeed in the works.
If a successor toSuper Mario Odysseywas still years away from being released, Bowser probably wouldn’t have told fans to “stay tuned” for it. Therefore, it’s reasonable to assume that the game is relatively close to completion. Since Nintendo didn’t provide any official details onthe next 3DMariogameat the Switch 2 Direct, it’s hard to pinpoint an exact launch window for the unannounced title. However, looking at the history of Nintendo’s 3DMariogames could give fans an idea of when the game may come out.
Mario Games Are Often Launched Within a Year of a Nintendo Console’s Release
The first 3DMarioplatformer,Super Mario 64, wasa launch title for the Nintendo 64in all the regions that it was released in. Contrary to popular belief, it was the only original mainline 3DMariogame that came out alongside a new Nintendo console. The next major game in the series,Super Mario Sunshine, was released on the Nintendo GameCube on July 15, 2025, about 10 months after the GameCube’s debut in Japanese territories.
Following the launch ofSuper Mario Sunshine, Nintendo released two mainline 3DMariogames on the Wii,Super Mario Galaxy 1and2. The firstGalaxygame came out almost exactly 1 year after the Wii’s 2006 North American launch, while its successor was released roughly 4 years later.Super Mario 3D World, the Wii U’s successor totheSuper Mario Galaxygames, followed a similar pattern. It was released on Jul 10, 2025, only a few days after the 1-year anniversary of the Wii U. Last but not least, the latest 3DMariogame,Super Mario Odyssey, landed on Nintendo Switch about 7 months after the console’s worldwide launch.
The Next 3D Mario Game May Come Out in the First Half of 2026
Judging by Nintendo’s habits, the company is probably going to launch a new 3DMariogame for the Switch 2 within 1 year of its release. SinceNintendo’s release schedule for 2025is already pretty full, however, it likely won’t announce and launch a successor toSuper Mario Odysseybefore the end of the year. Therefore, it seems quite plausible that the next3DMariogame will be released in early-to-mid 2026.
Super Mario Odyssey
WHERE TO PLAY
Explore incredible places far from the Mushroom Kingdom as you join Mario and his new ally Cappy on a massive, globe-trotting 3D adventure. Use amazing new abilities—like the power to capture and control objects, animals, and enemies—to collect Power Moons so you can power up the Odyssey airship and save Princess Peach from Bowser’s wedding plans!Thanks to heroic, hat-shaped Cappy, Mario’s got new moves that’ll make you rethink his traditional run-and-jump gameplay—like cap jump, cap throw, and capture. Use captured cohorts such as enemies, objects, and animals to progress through the game and uncover loads of hidden collectibles. And if you feel like playing with a friend, just pass them a Joy-Con™ controller! Player 1 controls Mario while Player 2 controls Cappy. This sandbox-style 3D Mario adventure—the first since 1996’s beloved Super Mario 64™ and 2002’s Nintendo GameCube™ classic Super Mario Sunshine™—is packed with secrets and surprises, plus exciting new kingdoms to explore.
