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.

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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

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.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (2024)

A modern version of the classic 2004 RPG, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door for the Nintendo Switch features upgraded graphics along with other changes intended to make the game as accessible as possible.

Franchise

Paper Mario

Platform(s)

Switch

Released

May 23, 2024

Developer(s)

Nintendo

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

Genre(s)

RPG

ESRB

E For Everyone Due To Mild Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes

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See at Nintendo