Super Mario Odyssey is a 3D platform video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. An installment in the Super Mario series, the story follows Mario and Cappy, a spirit that possesses Mario's hat and allows him to take control of other characters and objects, as they set on a journey across various worlds to save Princess Peach from his nemesis Bowser, who plans to marry her. In contrast to the linear gameplay of prior entries, the game returns to the primarily open-ended, exploration-based gameplay previously featured in Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine.
Development began immediately after the completion of Super Mario 3D World in 2013. Various ideas were suggested during development, and to incorporate them all, the team decided to employ a unique, sandbox-style of gameplay. Unlike the casual-oriented 3D World, Odyssey was designed to specifically appeal to the series' core audience. The game was released worldwide on October 27, 2017, and received universal acclaim from critics, with many calling it one of the best games in the series.
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