Super Mario Odyssey Nintendo Switch REVIEW: Is it better than Zelda Breath of the Wild?

Super Mario Odyssey is out now on , and judging by early sales reports – it sold 2 million in just three days – it’s already a smash hit.

The iconic Nintendo character returns for his yearly scrap with Bowser, flying from kingdom to kingdom to stop his nemesis from marrying Princess Peach in the wedding from hell.

It’s an open-ended Mario game that hearkens back to the days of Super Mario Sunshine and Mario 64, as players journey through 3D worlds that are jam-packed with secrets.

It’s also a journey that unites Mario with Cappy, a magical spirit that possesses his famous red cap.

Cappy gives players the ability to transform into everything from Goombas and Bullet Bills, to Chain Chomps, rocket ships and even dinosaurs. You’ll use these transformations to solve puzzles, reach new areas and defeat bosses.

You probably don’t need us to tell you that , but is it better than The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild? Check out our review gallery below to find out…

Super Mario Odyssey is the freshest, most inventive Mario game since Super Mario Galaxy 2 on the Nintendo Wii. And it’s Cappy that makes Super Mario Odyssey feel like such a unique and innovative experience. 

Every few minutes you’ll discover a new transformation, which inevitably leads to hidden treasures and secret areas.

Throw your cap at a tank and you can plow through enemies and demolish walls, while Tokotoko-style statues can don the shades to reveal hidden walkways.

Kingdoms are absolutely littered with secrets, and the exceptional level design means that you’re constantly finding new places to explore and Power Moons to discover – the source of your ship’s power.

You’ll find one moon by playing Mariachi music in an exclusive nightclub, and the next at the end of a 2D gauntlet in NES-style sections accessed through special pipes. 

It’s a love letter to the entire Super Mario franchise, paying homage to everything from Donkey Kong to Super Mario Sunshine. Then there are the epic boss battles, which might just be the .

To reveal too much would spoil the fun, because Super Mario Odyssey is a true voyage of discovery. Even beating Bowser is just the beginning of a journey that we never want to end.

There are so many superlatives you could throw at Super Mario Odyssey, but no words that really do it justice.

Magical, mesmerising, inventive and enchanting are just a few that spring to mind, while ‘game of the year’ and ‘best of all time’ are phrases that are sure to follow.

It’s even better than The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and we didn’t think anything would top that in 2017. 

In a series with so many high points – Super Mario World, Mario 64 and Super Mario Galaxy, to name but a few – Nintendo has somehow managed to raise the bar to lofty new heights.

Put simply, Super Mario Odyssey is a voyage every Nintendo Switch owner should take.