Remember that feeling of pure joy when you booted up a Super Mario game? Since October 2023, Super Mario Bros. Wonder has been rekindling that magic for millions!
Nintendo’s latest entry in the iconic franchise not only met expectations but exceeded them, proving that innovation and freshness are still possible in a decades-old franchise.
As of February 2024, Super Mario Bros. Wonder is the top-grossing platformer on Switch. This achievement is particularly noteworthy considering the platform’s immense collection and the game’s release several months prior.
What’s driving this sustained and overwhelming success? How has Nintendo managed to keep players engaged and attract even more fans to a staple of the gaming industry? In this article, you’ll learn more about Super Mario Bros. Wonder’s achievements and likely reasons for its numerous accolades and universal acclaim.
Wonder takes the crown: the top-grossing Switch platformer
Since its launch on October 20th, 2023, Super Mario Bros. Wonder has been a runaway success for Nintendo, one of the most cherished game development studios worldwide.
The game hit the ground running, selling an impressive 4.3 million copies in just its first two weeks. This made it the fastest-selling Super Mario game to date, setting the stage for its continued dominance.
While the game has performed consistently, it’s in February 2024 that we see some really outstanding figures. During this month, Super Mario Bros. Wonder claimed the top spot as the highest-grossing platformer on the Nintendo Switch environment.
It didn’t stop there, though. The game was the third top-grossing Switch game overall, snagged the number two spot in premium revenues, and people spent over 130 thousand hours watching Wonder-related media across Twitch and YouTube, ranking 20th in its genre.
Wonder also maintained strong engagement for months after its release. That same month, according to NewZoo’s reports, it ranked fourth in Monthly Active Users (MAU) across all Switch games and topped the charts for platformers.
This shows that players aren’t just buying the game and tossing it away once finished, they’re sticking with it!
The game’s success isn’t limited to player engagement either. Critics have showered Wonder with praise, with review aggregator Metacritic reporting universal acclaim. It even got some prestigious accolades, including Game of the Year at both the Golden Joystick Awards and The Game Awards.
So, what’s driving this sustained success? A few factors are likely at play. The Super Mario Bros. Movie, released earlier in 2023, might have reignited interest in the franchise and boosted game sales.
But, perhaps more importantly, Nintendo’s fresh take on the classic formula seems to have found a place with longtime fans and newcomers.
Understand why Super Mario Bros. Wonder feels fresh
We have all played our fair share of Mario games, but Wonder feels like Nintendo went back to the drawing board, injected some serious creativity in their game designers, and sprinkled the whole thing with Mario magic.
Below are the specific reasons why this game became Switch’s top-grossing platformer in February 2024:
A vibrant and expressive art style
A clear departure from the uninspired visuals of the New Super Mario Bros. series, Wonder is bundled with a dynamic and playful art style.
Remember those Saturday morning cartoons that blew your mind with their colors and animation? Well, this game was described as resembling a playable cartoon full of life and color.
Comparisons to classic Nintendo Power illustrations enhance the nostalgic appeal and vibrancy even further while offering a unique visual identity. This approach injects tons of personality into the decades-old, but robust side-scrolling format.
Refining traditional Mario gameplay with a “pop”
Wonder takes everything you love about old-school Mario games (the jumps, the power-ups, and the iconic sound effects) and gives it a fresh coat of paint.
The way characters move and use their abilities has a satisfying “pop” that takes the gameplay experience to the next level – there’s something that makes even basic maneuvers feel great. This subtle distinction is subtle but breathes new life into a familiar formula.
Addressing criticisms of the New Super Mario Bros. series
Remember how everyone complained about how the New Super Mario Bros. games all looked and played about the same? Wonder throws that out of the window with its stunning art style and great attention to detail in level design.
This shows that developers actually listened to their fans’ desires and are committed to revitalizing the side-scrolling Mario experience.
Standing out from Super Mario Maker games
Super Mario Maker lets you build your own levels, which is great for the community, but there is always a risk that things might feel a little uninspired after a while, right?
Wonder avoids this pitfall by throwing in a bunch of new features, like badges that give you special abilities. Some of them are active, the other is passive, but they can completely change how you interact with the game (and, for a challenge, they can be turned off).
The game also supports up to 12 players in local multiplayer, though limited to 4 while in a level. Unprecedented in previous installments, Wonder also has some online multiplayer functionality – you’ll see up to 3 other players in the same stage as you as translucent characters, who can revive themselves by touching other players should anything go wrong.
These new features expand the strategic options available to players while encouraging experimentation and mastery of different playstyles, which is a win for everyone!
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is the top-grossing platformer on Switch: are you wondering what’s next?
Super Mario Bros. Wonder has clearly set a new standard for platformers in the gaming industry, proving that innovation and nostalgia can coexist beautifully.
Despite achieving both, its success story isn’t just about impressive sales or critical acclaim, it’s about reigniting the flames of joy and wonder that made us fall in love with gaming in the first place.
At Main Leaf, we’ve been watching this phenomenon with keen interest. As a game development studio with over 12 years of experience, we understand the fine balance of creativity, technology, and player engagement that goes into creating a hit game like Super Mario Bros. Wonder.
Inspired by Nintendo’s successful titles? So are we. Whether it’s crafting immersive worlds, designing novel gameplay mechanics, or creating characters that resonate with players, we’re dedicated to bringing wonder to every project we undertake.
Are you a company looking to create the next big thing in gaming? Or perhaps you have a unique idea that needs top-notch execution? We at Main Leaf are here to turn your vision into reality. Contact us today to learn more about our services!
