There is Still One Mario Character Waiting for Their Time…

The Super Mario franchise is one of the largest and most iconic video game series in the world, and its characters have been Nintendo's mascots ever since their inception. They have appeared in a wide variety of genres over the years, and a Nintendo Direct rarely goes by without reference to one or more Super Mario games. This most recent Nintendo Direct was no different as almost every major Mario character has a game on the way, but one important side character seems to have been left out of the fun.

There will be no shortage of Mario content in the next couple of years. Mario will be starring in Super Mario RPG and Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Luigi will be appearing in a Luigi's Mansion Dark Moon remaster, Wario is getting a brand-new WarioWare game, and even Princess Peach is appearing in her own game in 2024. While it is great to see all these characters shine, some characters are notably absent from this release slate. Specifically, Princess Daisy seems to have been pushed off to the side, and that needs to be rectified.

A Princess Daisy Game is Long Overdue

Princess Daisy first appeared back in 1989 in Super Mario Land. She was the princess of Sarasaland and was kidnapped by the tyrannical alien Tatanga. Mario had to pursue the alien and save Daisy from his clutches. While she may not have been as iconic as Princess Peach, she quickly became a core part of the Mario franchise. She would make multiple appearances after her debut, but mostly as a playable side character.

Princess Daisy has had a recurring role in most Mario sports games since 2000's Mario Tennis. She also became a core part of the Mario Party roster after her debut in Mario Party 3, she has been a part of Mario Kart since Double Dash, and has appeared in every single Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games. She has been a major side character for years now, and will finally be making her playable debut in a mainline Super Mario Bros. Game with the upcoming Super Mario Bros. Wonder.

Princess Daisy has been a core part of the main Mario cast for a long time now, but she has yet to get her own game. Luigi has the Luigi's Mansion series, Princess Peach has had her own games and will be getting a new one in 2024, and Mario is the star of the show. While Princess Daisy has made appearances in many of these games, she is one of very few recurring characters without one of her own. She was also left out of The Super Mario Bros. Movie and has had almost no stories revolve around her since her debut.

Right now, Nintendo seems to treat Princess Daisy like it treats Waluigi. Both characters have been part of the Mario franchise for a long time, and both are frequently left out of the fun. While neither may be as popular as some of the main characters, Nintendo has not really given them the chance to get more popular.

Putting Princess Daisy front and center could lead to a brand-new unique experience in the Mario franchise. It could let Nintendo introduce new abilities, enemies, locales, and a whole new style of game. It could simply be another platformer, or it could be an entirely different genre. Whatever form it takes, it could be a fantastic treat for fans of the franchise. While it does not seem like it will ever happen, the slew of upcoming Mario games makes it the perfect time for Princess Daisy to take center stage and finally lead a franchise of her own.