When I released by top 10 favorite Mario games post in late last year, I put Super Mario 3D World at #1. Nostalgically, it will always be my favorite Mario game in the series. It was the first Mario game that properly introduced me into the series a few years back, and it was a great experience throughout my experience. But then there’s Super Mario Odyssey, which overall is much different than 3D World gameplay-wise. It was the first true 3D Mario game with that sandbox style I had ever played, and it was another great childhood experience. But which Mario game is better? Both are very different but very similar as well. Super Mario 3D World uses the gameplay focus from the original 2D games like Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World that was continued in the New Super Mario Bros. series, and Super Mario Odyssey is a sandbox, basically open-world Mario game like Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine. I have nostalgic and gameplay views on both games, and overall I love both, but which is better? Well, that’s what we’ll be doing today. The biggest question I think I’ve asked myself is how we’re going to end 2022. Super Mario 3D World or Super Mario Odyssey?
1. Levels (0-0)
This is hardly up for debate, but I should talk about my reasonings. Super Mario 3D World is like 3D Land in which it’s the more linear level structure and gameplay as the original 2D Mario games. The levels in 3D World are smaller, linear, and there isn’t really any exploration. The games are meant to be played to the end with little things to find here and there, but we’ll get to that later. Super Mario Odyssey’s levels, or kingdoms, are larger, open-world, and built for exploration. Levels can be completed in several different ways, where 3D World is one way. In Odyssey’s kingdoms, there are multiple ways to get from one place to another. In that regard, Mario 3D World can’t compare simply because the gameplay is linear and direct whereas Odyssey is open-world and explorative. Super Mario Odyssey takes a quick lead with 3D World-0, Odyssey-1.
2. Controls (0-1)
Next is controls. This is another concept that doesn’t have much debate. Super Mario 3D World’s controls are more limited and less diverse, where Mario Odyssey’s controls are more expansive and polished. In 3D World, you can do a bunch of Mario’s moves from Odyssey, but not as good. Long jumps are shorter distance, backflips require a second of crouching before the jump, rolling can’t be constantly activated to get a constant burst of speed, and dives are nonexistent. In Odyssey, Mario can go farther with a more satisfying long jump, backflips can be done immediately after a crouch, rolling is quick and you gain speed as you continuously roll making it a fast way to travel, and dives are easy to pull off and can be helpful in specific circumstances. And as a bonus, there’s Cappy who grants even more movements like jumping off your cap for extra distance and height, circular attacks around you, and a fast throw of Cappy forward. Overall, Mario Odyssey destroys 3D World in this category. Super Mario Odyssey continues its streak with 3D World-0, Odyssey-2.
3. Power-Ups (0-2)
Power-Ups are a big part of Mario games, and even though they’re in Odyssey, it’s in a very different way. Super Mario 3D World is traditional. There’s mushrooms, fire flowers, and the tanooki suit and boomerang flower from 3D Land. There’s also the brand new super bell and double cherry. The super bell lets Cat Mario climb walls, dive forward, and scratch at enemies or blocks. The double cherry is strange but can be helpful by creating a clone of Mario, but it is a hassle to control a bunch of Marios. Odyssey’s power-up replacement is captures. In Odyssey, you can throw Cappy as specific objects to take control of them. Some of these are really helpful and fun to use like the Sherm tanks, piranha plants, Yoshi, and more. Then there’s the weaker ones used for just one purpose, like the boulder, tree, or cactus as an example. All of Odyssey’s captures are only used in very specific circumstances, and you’ll have to ditch the ability at some point. In that regard, 3D World’s power-ups are better for the more traditional system and great new abilities. Super Mario 3D World breaks Odyssey’s streak with 3D World-1, Odyssey, 2.
4. Boss Fights (1-2)
This is the first category where I honestly struggled to choose which had the better, more engaging boss fights. Both boss fight systems are similar but the fights themselves are different. First, the smaller-scale boss fights that circulate a couple times throughout the game. 3D World has Boom-Boom and Pom-Pom, and Odyssey has the Broodals. Boom-Boom and Pom-Pom are very simple bosses that if timed right you can skip most of their attacks. Boom-Boom does a crazy spinning attack until he gets dizzy leaving himself vulnerable to jump on. Then he’ll just roll around in a shell around the room. If you jump on his head right after he hops out of his shell, you can completely skip his spin attack. Pom-Pom creates multiple clones of herself where you have to jump on the real one while a bunch of boomerangs are thrown your way. It’s very easy to tell the real Pom-Pom, making this an easy fight. While the Broodals are very similar in difficulty, Mario Odyssey cleverly makes each Broodal’s attack the key to attack them.For example, Rango throws his spinning hat at you where you need to hit it with Cappy to turn it into a flower trampoline for you to use to jump onto Rango. Then there’s the larger scale fights where, in my opinion, aren’t very fun. Some seem to drag on and on like Madame Broode, Knucklotec, Mollusque-Lanceur, and even the Bowser fights. The Bowser fights are probably my biggest gripe with Super Mario Odyssey as I always found them a bit underwhelming for a Bowser boss fight. 3D World has a better idea of its bosses. While none are hard, they are more charming and fun than Odyssey. The standouts are of course Hisstocrat, Motley Bossblob, King Ka-Thunk, and Boss Brolder being particular standouts. Every Bowser fight is also very fun and engaging and much better than Odyssey. So for that, I’d have to say that Mario 3D World’s boss fights are slightly more enjoyable except for Boom-Boom and Pom-Pom, but Odyssey still has great ones too, don’t get me wrong. However, I’d have to say that 3D Worlds wins here by the smallest inch. Super Mario 3D World ties this match with 3D World-2, Odyssey-2.
5. Final Level (2-2)
This is another category where there’s hardly any competition, but here it’s in Mario 3D World’s favor. Let’s start with Odyssey. Mario Odyssey doesn’t rely as much on a final level as it does the lava levels and boss fight. The Moon Kingdom is vast with a lot of open space. You’ll head up towards the lava stage inside the core of the Moon (which is pretty neat) but I personally don’t love this section. You’ll use a Dry Bones to progress across the lava, then a Sherm to easily break open a cage with a spark pylon. Then there’s a banzai bill section and a small Moe-Eye section which are pretty forgettable. After that is a fun but short-lived Chargin’ Chuck section and then a Madame Broode fight, which seems to have no place here. But after that and the Bowser fight, it’s pretty great. You’ll capture Bowser to break through rocks and boulders in a really climactic ending. But 3D World takes the cake. The level is exciting and everything before the boss fight is simple but gets you anxious for the fight. Then Bowser becomes Meowser as you both climb up a tower while Meowser starts clawing at Mario. You run through another tower with tons of Meowser clones trying to attack you. Then you run up the stairs of one more tower before knocking every clone out with a giant POW! block. The level isn’t very hard, but it doesn’t need to be. The Great Tower of Bowser Land was a fantastic way to end the game, and easily the winner for this category. In a surprising contrast of events, Super Mario 3D World takes the lead with 3D World-3, Odyssey-2: one away from the victory.
6. Secrets (3-2)
Modern Mario games are known for their secrets and hidden collectibles. It probably started when New Super Mario Bros. on the Nintendo DS had three star coins to find in every level. Super Mario 3D World is very similar. Each of 3D World’s levels have 3 green stars, usually in hidden or hard-to-reach places, as well as stamp in every level but two bonus worlds. These stamps are used to add an image to your stamp collection, which could be used in Miiverse posts on Wii U before the platform shut down. The concept was neat and it was fun and sometimes challenging to find or collect each star or stamp. Aside from collectibles, 3D World has hidden pipes to secret coin areas, a red pipe in two levels as a fast-travel to the next world, and of course the hidden 8-bit Luigi’s found in almost every level, which back in 2013 was to celebrate the Year of Luigi celebration. The secrets are fun, but Super Mario Odyssey is unbeatable. Each kingdom’s size and open spaces make for a ton of ways to find secrets. Most kingdoms have tons of Power Moons to find, which can be found like in 3D World where some are hard to find and some are difficult to collect. There’s also bonus stages in each kingdom with one or two Moons to find. These bonus stages are played like a smaller 3D World level. Most kingdoms also have 50 or 100 purple coins to find, which can be in really random places and used to buy souvenirs at the local gift shop. There’s hard-to-reach areas with coins as a reward too. Now throughout Mario Odyssey, there are a ton of other secrets – until Mushroom Kingdom. This kingdom is a love letter to Super Mario 64 and Mario’s career as a whole with tons and tons of secrets. The tanooki tree from Mario 3D Land, the mushroom-shaped lake, and all the Mario 64 references. For all of this, Mario Odyssey takes the cake in this category. Mario Odyssey ties this match at the very end with 3D World-3, Odyssey-3. Off to the final round: round 7.
7. Postgame (3-3)
Both Mario 3D World and Odyssey have fun postgames that constantly bring me back to the game after beating the final boss. In Super Mario 3D World after beating Meowser, the Sprixies you rescued will build you a rocket ship to the Star World. By beating that world, another rocket will take you to the Mushroom and Flower worlds. Altogether, that’s – extra levels to play. The Star world levels each 3 green stars and a stamp, and the other two have only 3 green stars. It makes for a bit of more time with the game. The Mushroom and Flower worlds consist of mostly levels from the first 8 worlds with a difficult twist. Then, once you find every green star, stamp, and touch the top of every flagpole in the game, the Crown world will be unlocked, which includes a Captain Toad stage, an insane mystery house, and the hardest level in the game: Champion’s Road. This level took me months to beat, and I had to finish with a power-up or there would be no feasible way I’d get anywhere. Then there’s Odyssey, which probably has the longest postgame I’ve ever seen. After beating Bowser in Moon Kingdom, the incredible Mushroom Kingdom will be unlocked, which includes the boss rush. There are so many cool Mario references, and this kingdom altogether is a love letter to Super Mario 64. There’s also a moon rock in every kingdom adding a bunch of extra Power Moons to find. Altogether, there are over 1,000 Power Moons to find in Super Mario Odyssey, which is insane. It’ll take you a while to find every Moon. Along the way, you’ll unlock two other kingdoms: Dark Side and Darker Side. Dark Side has a bunch of hint art and a Broodal boss refight compilation, while Darker Side is the ultimate challenge almost as hard as 3D World’s Champion’s Road. After that, there’s still a crazy amount of Power Moons to find, and the true ending is very underwhelming. While it was fun to explore every kingdom to find the Power Moons, it definitely dragged on after I collected like 500. And there was still more than twice as much! One more thing is the purple coins, where most kingdoms have 50 or 100 of them. The problem is that there’s no way to know where they are in-game, unless you have the Wedding Bowser Amiibo, which I sadly don’t. I had to explore every nook and cranny inside of every nook and cranny just to find every purple coin. It was annoying. Mario Odyssey had a fun postgame at first, but it definitely dragged on. For that reason, I’d say Mario 3D World has the better postgame — and you know what that means? 3D World wins this round, with the score being 4-3. Super Mario 3D World wins!
Winner: Super Mario 3D World
Obviously, both Super Mario 3D World and Super Mario Odyssey are fantastic video games, and I still like both pretty equally. But for this versus, Super Mario 3D World beats Odyssey by one point. What’s your favorite of the two? Let me know in the comments below, and check out our other posts for our Ultimate End to 2022 event, including re-reviews on Kirby and the Forgotten Land and Nintendo Switch Sports.