Definition
Super Mario Odyssey is a 3D platform action-adventure game by Nintendo in which Mario travels across multiple kingdoms with his hat companion Cappy. It was released on October 27, 2017, for Nintendo Switch, developed by Nintendo’s Entertainment Planning & Development division. Purchase and edition information is on the Nintendo Store page.
Series and releases
The game is part of the Super Mario series and returns to the open, sandbox-style exploration of Super Mario 64, alongside the more linear Super Mario 3D World (2013). In 2025, Nintendo announced a free update for this title, among others, to improve playability on the Nintendo Switch 2 system.
Usage
Mario explores each kingdom collecting Power Moons, which fuel the airship Odyssey on its route to the next destination; Cappy can capture enemies and objects, letting Mario borrow their abilities to solve puzzles and get around. The game also includes a two-player mode in which a second player controls Cappy.
Related and confusable terms
“Super Mario Odyssey” is the official title; “Mario Odyssey” is a common shorthand for the same game. It is a 3D exploration-platformer, distinct in style from the side-scrolling Super Mario Bros. games.
Discussed on Next Token
In episode 007, in the chapter “主机游戏移植与平台的攻防” (Chinese transcript), 歸藏 noted that several Nintendo first-party games, including Mario Odyssey, had been natively ported by the community to Mac, and compared frame rates between Switch and Mac (episode 007 transcript). The discussion is about community porting and does not represent Nintendo’s official release plans; see the full chapter.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of game is it?
It is a 3D platform adventure built around exploring kingdoms, movement and Cappy’s abilities.
Are “Mario Odyssey” and “Super Mario Odyssey” the same game?
Yes. The latter is the official title; the former is a common shorthand for Super Mario Odyssey.
Does it run on Nintendo Switch 2?
Yes, the original runs on Nintendo Switch. In 2025 Nintendo announced a free update for this title, among others, to improve playability on Switch 2; details are in the official announcements.
Is there a co-op mode?
Yes. A two-player mode lets one player control Mario while the other controls Cappy.