Super Mario Odyssey

What is it?

Mario Odyssey's central mechanic revolves around Cappy, a sentient top hat. Throw Cappy onto enemies and Mario possesses them, commandeering their abilities: armored soldiers smash obstacles, flame flowers spew fire, giant blobs squish through narrow passages. Each enemy possession unlocks level-specific solutions. Rather than collecting power-ups as temporary enhancements, permanent possession mechanics reward experimentation.

Visually, diverse kingdoms showcase Nintendo's art direction: a desert realm, underwater sequences, a New York–inspired metropolis, lava lands. Each kingdom features native enemy types and environmental challenges. Progression through kingdoms feels like a guided tour of visual spectacle.

How it plays

Levels aren't rigid corridors but open playgrounds encouraging creative paths. Multiple solutions emerge through possession combinations. One area might expect you to possess a specific enemy but rewards creative possession sequences yielding speedrun shortcuts. This flexibility—respecting player ingenuity—reflects Galaxy-era Mario design philosophy.

Collection mechanics reward thorough exploration. Power Moons (progression items) number in the hundreds; some appear obvious, others hide behind optional challenges or pure discovery. Difficulty scales gracefully: early moons teach mechanics, late game demands mastery. Completionists find extensive content; casual players advance steadily without exhausting themselves.

Why it sold

Released October 2017, eight months post-Switch launch, Odyssey captured holiday shoppers and demonstrated the console's 3D capabilities. Marketing emphasized Cappy's novelty, showing possession-based gameplay foreigners to Mario series. The creative core mechanic appealed to both nostalgic Mario fans and newcomers.

With 30.80 million units sold, Odyssey ranks among 3D Mario's best sellers. Critical reception praised the core mechanic's depth and how cleverly levels leverage it. The game proved 3D Mario remained relevant and innovative despite decades of history.