Highlights

  • Super Mario Bros. Wonder is receiving fan-made mods, including one that replaces a playable character with Kirby, offering new power-ups and abilities.
  • The mod uses power-ups in the game for Kirby's copy abilities, adding a fun twist to the gameplay. Unique character models are a nice detail, as they ensure Kirby almost never looks out of place.
  • The modding scene for Super Mario Bros. Wonder is just beginning, with modders like Insidious_NX creating unique content and sharing previews on Twitter.

A mod for the recently released Super Mario Bros. Wonder replaces one of its playable characters with Nintendo's pink puffball hero, Kirby. The latest installment in the long-running franchise released earlier last week, and several fans have been falling in love with its gameplay and creativity. Highlights include the four player co-op mode, the multiple playable characters, and the new power-ups present in Super Mario Bros. Wonder. The playable characters in particular have been especially loved, as fan favorites like Princess Daisy finally got the chance to be playable for the first time in a mainline 2D platformer. Despite being out for only a little over a week, a modding scene is beginning to form around the game.

Mods of Super Mario Bros. games are common, going as far back as old ROM hacks of games like Super Mario World. As such, it's likely no surprise that modders are getting to work on bringing new content to Super Mario Bros. Wonder. The platformer has gotten various mods in the past week, such as swapping out some of the voice work of Kevin Afghani's Mario to replace it with that of his previous actor, Charles Martinet, as well as brand-new playable characters. One of these character mods replaces one of the playable cast members with Kirby.

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This mod was created by Insidious_NX on Twitter, who has made mods for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and Multiversus, among others. One of his recent mod showcases saw him add Kirby into Super Mario Bros. Wonder, which he demonstrates with two short videos posted to Twitter. The first video shows Kirby collecting three of the four power-ups introduced in the game, the Bubble Flower, Drill Mushroom, and Fire Flower. Unfortunately, these early previews didn't include a version of Elephant Kirby, which likely means the model for one hasn't been made yet.

The second video for this Super Mario Bros. Wonder mod shows Kirby swimming underwater, where he has a set of scuba gear and an inner tube. The video also shows how the power-ups translate into being similar to Kirby's copy abilities, where he gets hats based on what ability he is using.

With the Bubble Flower, Kirby wears a cap, similar to his appearance in the classic games that featured the bomb ability. The Fire Flower turns Kirby into Fire Kirby, wearing a flame-shaped crown atop his head. Finally, the Drill Mushroom turns him into Drill Kirby, which gives him the Drill Ability's hat from Kirby and the Forgotten Land. The video even briefly shows Kirby using a parasol from the ability of the same name when he uses the Parachute Cap. While it's still a work-in-progress, this project proves that the modding scene for Super Mario Bros. Wonder is already off to a good start.