Summary

  • A new Nintendo survey suggests the company is already planning for more RPGs based on the Super Mario franchise.
  • Aside from Super Mario RPG, the questionnaire solicits fan opinions on the Mario and Luigi series, as well as the Paper Mario franchise.
  • Nintendo has released 20 Super Mario-based RPGs since the '90s, with another such game being scheduled to hit the market in May 2024.

Nintendo is already making plans for developing more role-playing games, as suggested by one recently surfaced survey. Specifically, Nintendo currently appears to be brainstorming ideas for new RPGs based on the Super Mario franchise.

RPGs starring Nintendo's mascot have been around for nearly three decades. Three such games have hit the market since 2020: Paper Mario: The Origami King, Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, and the critically acclaimed Super Mario RPG remake. Another such title will soon reach the Switch in the form of a remake of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door.

Paper Mario The Thousand Year Door Switch remake field screenshot with game logo
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door on Switch Has New Gameplay Features

Nintendo confirms that the Switch-exclusive remake of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door will include some new gameplay features.

But Nintendo already appears to be thinking about what comes next, having implied as much in a recent survey sent to some of its customers. The questionnaire, shared by Twitter user Aspharon (via ComicBook), asks fans to vote on their favorite elements from the Mario and Luigi and Paper Mario series, among others. It also solicits cast opinions by specifically asking fans whether they prefer to see new or familiar faces in Super Mario RPGs. Reading between the lines, it would appear that the Japanese group is currently in the process of deciding where to take its role-playing games next.

The notion of even more RPGs based on the Super Mario IP being in the works sounds well within the realm of possibility; Nintendo has greenlit 20 such titles since Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars was first released to critical acclaim and player adoration. The company's RPG spin-offs also haven't been more than three years apart since the '90s.

All Mario Role-Playing Games To Date

Game

Developer

Platform

Original Release Date

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

Square

SNES

March 9, 1996

Paper Mario

Intelligent Systems

N64

August 11, 2000

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga

AlphaDream

GBA

November 17, 2003

Mario Golf: Advance Tour

Camelot Software Planning

GBA

April 22, 2004

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

Intelligent Systems

GameCube

July 22, 2004

Mario Tennis: Power Tour

Camelot Software Planning

GBA

September 13, 2005

Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time

AlphaDream

DS

November 28, 2005

Super Paper Mario

Intelligent Systems

Wii

April 9, 2007

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story

AlphaDream

DS

February 11, 2009

Paper Mario: Sticker Star

Intelligent Systems

3DS

November 11, 2012

Mario & Luigi: Dream Team

AlphaDream, Good-Feel

3DS

July 12, 2013

Puzzle & Dragons Z + Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition

GungHo Online Entertainment

3DS

May 1, 2015

Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam

AlphaDream

3DS

December 3, 2015

Paper Mario: Color Splash

Intelligent Systems

Wii U

October 7, 2016

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle

Ubisoft Milan, Ubisoft Paris

Switch

August 29, 2017

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions (remake)

AlphaDream

3DS

October 5, 2017

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey (remake)

AlphaDream, Arzest

3DS

December 27, 2018

Paper Mario: The Origami King

Intelligent Systems

Switch

July 17, 2020

Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope

Ubisoft Milan, Ubisoft Paris

Switch

October 20, 2022

Super Mario RPG (remake)

ArtePiazza

Switch

November 17, 2023

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (remake)

TBA

Switch

May 23, 2024

The newly surfaced survey may also inspire confidence among the fandom that Nintendo hasn't forgotten about the Mario and Luigi series. While this RPG franchise has been treated to two remakes since the Switch hit the market, neither actually ended up on the popular hybrid console, but was instead released as a 3DS exclusive. The last original entry in the franchise was Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam, which is already pushing ten.

Much like the end of the 3DS life cycle was largely focused on reimaginings of some Nintendo classics, 2024 is projected to be the year of the Switch remakes. Specifically, some industry watchers are expecting that Nintendo will hold off on releasing many original AAA projects until the Switch 2 is out, which is rumored to happen circa March 2025. Any yet-to-be-announced RPGs that Nintendo may currently be working on are hence likely to be Switch 2 exclusives. In the meantime, the remake of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is scheduled to launch on May 23.

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Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (2024) Tag Page Cover Art
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
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Released
May 23, 2024
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WHERE TO PLAY

PHYSICAL
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Join Mario and friends on an epic paper adventure: A classic story unfolds on the Nintendo Switch system.


Collect the Crystal Stars before the bad guys do: The X-Nauts are after the treasure behind the Thousand-Year Door! With a map from Princess Peach—and the help of a few locals—Mario must journey through a colorful world made of paper to find it first.
  Surprises abound in this deep and engaging tale, where everyone’s got something to say and it’s often not what you’d expect! Here are just a few of the colorful characters you’ll encounter along the way.

Master your badges and timing-based attacks to impress the audience in a theatrical twist on turn-based RPG combat. Make use of all the abilities that come with being cursed—er, conveniently made of paper—like folding into a plane to cross big gaps or turning sideways to slip through narrow openings.

ESRB
E For Everyone Due To Mild Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes
Developer(s)
Nintendo
Publisher(s)
Nintendo
Franchise
Paper Mario
Platform(s)
Nintendo Switch
Genre(s)
RPG