Mario has become the face of the platformer genre over the years, and he has recently also become the king of crossover games thanks to titles like Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope and Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games. He has also headlined major crossovers like Super Smash Bros Ultimate and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Mario and his cast of characters seem to be everywhere, but Nintendo has barely scratched the surface of his crossover potential.
Many gamers did not know what to expect when the Mario + Rabbids series was first announced as these two sets of characters had never crossed over before. It was also going to bring Mario to a whole new genre, and give him a gun-like weapon for the first time. It seemed completely out of left field, but it seems to have paid off as players quickly fell in love with this wacky crossover. It has helped show that with the right developer wild crossovers like this can work, and Nintendo should consider doing even more with other iconic gaming characters.
Banjo-Kazooie
Banjo and Kazooie were once major parts of the platforming genre, but the Banjo-Kazooie franchise has remained dormant since 2008's Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts. The series was developed by Rare, and it followed the adventures of a bear named Banjo and a bird named Kazooie as they tried to stop the evil witch Gruntilda. They would bring players off on some crazy adventures, and many have been yearning for them to return for years. Their most recent appearance in Super Smash Bros Ultimate has only made fans miss them even more, and a Mario crossover game could help mark their grand return.
Crash Bandicoot
Crash Bandicoot has recently returned to the spotlight after a seven-year hiatus with the release of Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy and Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time. The series follows a bandicoot named Crash who fights back against his creator Doctor Neo Cortex, and it continues to be a staple of the platforming genre. There have been many titles following these characters over the years, and the series has even received its own Mario Kart clone with Crash Team Racing. While neither character has ever crossed over before, bringing together these two platforming icons is almost a must at this point.
Spyro
Spyro the Dragon was once a PlayStation mascot, but this series has branched out to other consoles since. The series follows the titular Spyro the Dragon as he tries to save all sorts of fantastical lands from whatever seeks to do them harm. There was a time when a Spyro game released every single year, but the series went on a 10-year hiatus before returning in 2018 with the Spyro: Reignited Trilogy. Players have fallen in love with the young purple dragon all over again, and it could be pretty cool if Mario teamed up with him for a brand-new wacky adventure.
Ratchet & Clank
A Mario and Ratchet & Clank crossover may be one of the least likely crossovers, but it would be pretty crazy if Nintendo and Sony signed off on something like this. Having one of the current PlayStation mascots crossing over with Nintendo's mascot could lead to all sorts of new hijinks, and could be an excellent time for fans of both series. The game would either have to mold Mario into the style of a Ratchet & Clank game, or vice versa. It could bring the characters to a whole new genre like Mario + Rabbids did, and it could be an experience like no other.
There are many characters that Mario could team up with for future crossovers, and Mario + Rabbids has shown that even the most unlikely crossovers can work with the right developers. While future Mario crossovers may be reserved for games like Super Smash Bros, Nintendo should really consider letting its mascot play around with other staples of the platforming genre. It could lead to all sorts of fun titles for fans to enjoy, and could further cement Mario as the king of crossover games.
Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope is available now on Nintendo Switch.
