Super Mario Bros Wonder gives 2D Mario a new art style

Also Mario is an elephant now and Peach is getting her own game

Nintendo’s latest Direct has dropped a bombshell with Super Mario Bros. Wonder, a new 2D side-scrolling Mario game that features a new art style for the first time in almost 20 years.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a brand-new 2D side-scrolling game, just like the old games or the New Super Mario Bros. series, but dialed up to 11. In each level there’ll be an item called a Wonder Flower, and touching that flower will change the level pretty drastically.

Nintendo showed off warp pipes coming alive, groups of enemies appearing out of thin air, and much much weirder stuff too. There’ll be a bunch of different playable characters, including Mario (of course), Luigi, Peach, Toad, Yoshi, and Daisy for the first time in a 2D side-scrolling Mario game. It all looks spectacular, if a little bonkers at times.

Also, Mario can turn into an elephant. Nintendo calls the new power-up Elephant Mario, which checks out, because Mario is an elephant. It’s super weird, super cute, and all looks like an absolute joy to play, especially in co-op.

Unfortunately, at least at the moment, it doesn’t seem like there’s going to be online multiplayer. The game’s store page on the Nintendo eShop only lists local (couch) co-op as an option, and doesn’t have the usual disclaimers about needing a subscription to Nintendo Switch Online. That could change before release, but you probably shouldn’t hold your breath.

The new art style is particularly appreciated, as the New Super Mario Bros. style has been in use for every 2D side-scrolling Mario game since its introduction on the Nintendo DS in 2006. It was used in six subsequent games across the Wii, Wii U, Switch, and even smartphones with Super Mario Run. And now it’s dead, so we may rejoice.

Take a look at the Super Mario Bros. Wonder trailer below.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder will launch on the Nintendo Switch on October 20, 2023.

Nintendo also announced a new Princess Peach game, but gave very few details. It's likely to be better than the terrible Super Princess Peach game on the DS, but we won't know until the game releases sometime next year. We don't even have a title for it yet.