Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a smash hit — it’s now the fastest-selling Super Mario game.
Nintendo announced the Switch exclusive, the first entirely new entry in the sidescrolling Super Mario series in about 11 years, sold 4.3 million units within the first two weeks of going on sale on October 20, a figure boosted by the astonishing success of the Super Mario Bros. Movie and heightened interest in all things Super Mario.
Nintendo notes its data is limited to titles released for Wii and Nintendo DS onwards, when software sell-through data collection began, so it’s discounting sales of Super Mario 64, for example. But it’s unlikely any Super Mario game released on hardware before November 2004, when the DS launched, sold faster than Super Mario Bros. Wonder given the huge Switch install base Wonder launched into (130 million units and counting).
IGN’s Super Mario Bros. Wonder review returned a 9/10. “Super Mario Bros. Wonder looks and plays like the true next step for 2D Mario platformers,” we said. “Wonder effects change each stage in both surprising and delightful ways, the Flower Kingdom makes for a vibrant and refreshing change of pace, and Elephant Mario steals the show.”
Nintendo added that Super Mario games tend to sell consistently over a long period of time, and so anticipates Wonder will continue to sell well especially during the upcoming holiday season and into 2024.
And more Mario-related video games are coming to Switch, including Super Mario RPG later this month, Mario vs. Donkey Kong in February, Princess Peach: Showtime! in March, Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD at some point summer 2024, and Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door down for some point next year. Nintendo said it expects these games to also receive a boost from “the positive momentum brought about by the movie”.
If you’re playing Super Mario Bros. Wonder, be sure to check out IGN’s comprehensive guide.
Nintendo is expected to launch its next generation console at some point in 2024, with development kits reportedly now with partner studios. Apparently this Switch 2 can be used in portable mode, like the original Switch, and has an LCD screen as opposed to an OLED screen in order to keep costs down. It also comes with a cartridge slot for physical games. However, the crucial question of backwards compatibility with Nintendo Switch games remains unclear.
In May, Nintendo said it's the long-rumoured Switch successor wouldn't release until April 2024 at the earliest, and in September said it had moved on to a brand new The Legend of Zelda game, ruling out Tears of the Kingdom DLC. It seems likely this new Zelda game will launch on Nintendo's next console.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
