Nintendo has produced a steady stream of mainline and spin-offMariogames throughout the Switch era, the majority of which have been extremely well-received. Whether it’s remakes of classic titles or entirely new projects, it’s fair to say thatMariofans have had a great time over the past eight years. However, while they’ve all been great, the recent slate ofMariogames, including those released prior to the Nintendo Switch, have all stuck to one rule that’s bringing the franchise down.
Of course, it’s important to stress that some of thebest Nintendo Switch gamesof all time have beenMariotitles, and the many glowing reviews they’ve received have all been warranted. However,it is time that the mainlineMarioseries especially drops this one defining trait in order to both revolutionize itand make it appeal to a far broader audience than it already does.
Mario Games Should Have More Challenge Again
They’re Getting Too Easy
2025 is shaping up to be ahuge year forMario, with the Switch 2’s launch lineup all but guaranteed to feature aMariogame. However, while it’ll be great to see moreMarioon the Switch 2, it’s becoming increasingly evident that a major change needs to be made. Ever sinceSuper Mario Sunshine, Nintendo has striven to make theMarioseries as easy as possible, or, as Shigeru Miyamoto said in a 2002 interview with Nintendo Dream (which resurfaced onShmuplations), games that “Grandma and Grandpa, Mom and Dad, even little children can easily pick up and play.”
In that interview,Miyamoto explained how he regretted the fact thatSuper Mario Sunshinewas too difficult for the “average player,“and how he wanted players who’ve never touched a game - those aforementioned grandmas and grandpas - as well as those who are just out of the loop when it comes to modern gaming to be able to jump into aMariotitle with no difficulties. However, most importantly, Miyamoto stressed that, in his eyes, this wasn’t just a problem withMarioSunshine, but rather modern gaming in general, stating:
And this doesn’t apply to Mario only—I think it’s a situation that video games in general are facing. Mario is supposed to be an easy-to-understand game. Even if it’s confusing at first, after playing for a day, you should be able to understand what today’s games are all about.
It’s not hard to see how theMariofranchise has skewed away from challenging gameplay since that interview, nor really the majority of Nintendo’s catalog of games. Outside of some slightly challenging jumps that require a strong understanding ofMario’score platforming mechanics, the majority of releases can be played with ease.The only real challenge now found in aMariogame is that created by players themselves, something only made possible thanks toMario Maker’simpressively creative tools.
Mario Makes It Easy To Balance Difficulty & Accessibility
The More Challenging Aspects Can Be Optional
Nintendo needs to alter this design philosophy and start implementing more challenge into its mainlineMariotitles. Not only is there a clear demand for it, but it will also help to prevent the series from growing stale. While eachMarioentry has always managed to offer something new in terms of mission and puzzle design, it’s hard not to feel like the overall gameplay loop has somewhat stagnated. Regardless of the perspective,the streamlining ofMario’sgeneral gameplay has resulted in players utilizing the same approach no matter the task.
Fortunately, theMarioseries can revert to its pre-Sunshinelevels of challenge without sacrificing the family-friendly approach it has been dogmatically following. Instead of increasing the challenge across the board,the nextMariogame on the Nintendo Switch 2 should add harder optional levels that those who find the base experience too easy can pursue. This is something that Nintendo has toyed with to an extent and can be seen in thecritically acclaimedSuper Mario Wonder, although it has not been fully realized in a 3DMariotitle yet.
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Much like inSuper Mario 64, there could be a number of near-impossible-to-collect Stars that aren’t necessary to see the end credits roll but instead serve as a fun post-game challenge or something newer players can aspire to.These tougher levels are also what makes the classic 3DMariogames so memorablein the first place. Implementing them in the nextMariogame would help it reach those who’ve stayed away from the series thus far due to its lack of challenge, while also helping it become one of thebestMariogamesof all time.
Challenging Video Games Aren’t Just For Adults
Kids Deserve A Little Challenge
During the era in which Nintendo shifted its design philosophy to be more approachable to all players, games were not nearly as deeply ingrained into society, nor had game design evolved enough to become as accessible as it is today. That has changed dramatically now, withyoung children and even grandparents having better access to video games and - children in particular - playing more skill-based titles such asFortnite. The sheer breadth of video games and genres available now compared to 2002 is staggering and illustrative of the newfound skill sets that players of all ages have at their disposal.
While no one is asking forElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtreelevels of difficulty in aMariogame, it’s time that Nintendo realized that players are more experienced with games than ever before.
It’s also worth noting that difficulty in video games has evolved since the 90s and early 2000s. Much of the difficulty in earlier titles - although not exclusively - came from unpolished game design or a lack of standard game design philosophies. Nowadays, while that is still the case in rare examples, difficulty is something that has been purposefully built into certain video games and genres. Essentially,difficulty is now a feature, rather than a consequence of bad or inexperienced game design.
However,Nintendo has not really shifted its design philosophy to meet these new standards, with its games still largely aimed at a generation of gamers that have long since moved on. That’s not to say that Nintendo is producing bad games or that it has lost its touch when it comes to creative masterpieces, as the likes ofBreath of the WildandSuper Mario Wonderprove otherwise. Rather, Nintendo is still making games at a level that is simply not necessary anymore, with even its other franchises such asPokémonbecoming too easy.
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Modern-day children deserve more challenging experiences as their wider pool of gaming experiences has better prepared them as opposed to their 2002 counterparts. While no one is asking forElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtreelevels of difficulty in aMariogame, it’s time that Nintendo realized that players are more experienced with games than ever before. Making more challenging optional content in aMariogame ensures that the audience Nintendo is still targeting is satisfied, while modern gamers get a more compelling experience overall.
