At the moment, it isn't clear what's happening with the Super Mario franchise. Mario has been as active as ever in spin-offs and merchandising, but his mainline games have taken a backseat over the past few years. The most recent major release was technically the Bowser's Fury expansion included in the 2021 Switch re-release of Super Mario 3D World. Before that, there was Super Mario Maker 2 in 2019, and the famous Super Mario Odyssey in 2017. No one can accuse Super Mario of having no presence on the Switch, but as the console nears the probable end of its life cycle, it feels like Mario is missing.
There's no doubt that a new Super Mario game is in the works at Nintendo. No one knows what it is, and opinion is split on whether it's the rumored Super Mario Odyssey 2 or something completely different. There's also the possibility that Nintendo could be waiting to reveal it as a launch game for the Switch's successor. Regardless, there has been a noticeable change in Super Mario's major releases over the past decade. No new 2D Mario platformers have come out in a decade, and it feels well past time to revisit Mario's original dimensions.
There Has Been A Noticeable Lack of 2D Mario Platformers
In 2012, the two major Super Mario games released were New Super Mario Bros. 2 and New Super Mario Bros. U. Both of these games landed in the controversial New Super Mario Bros. line, though the Wii U title was more appreciated than NSMB2. Since then, Mario's 2D platformer offerings have consisted of the 2019 release of New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe for the Switch, and the two Super Mario Maker games. After such a concentrated effort to keep Mario's classic 2D look alive in the face of the growing 3D Mario titles, it seems strange for the effort to be relegated to spin-offs and lesser releases.
Mario has proven, perhaps more so than any other gaming mascot, that his games can work on 2D and 3D planes. His platforming rise to greatness was built on some of the best 2D level design at that time, and said design is still relevant today. Super Mario 64, meanwhile, led gaming into the age of 3D innovation and single-handedly defined the landscape of 3D platformers. These two styles of Mario have gone hand in hand for years, and nowhere better can this be seen than Mario Odyssey’s sidescrolling sections seamlessly blending with 3D action. There is more than enough room for high quality 2D and 3D Mario titles, and Nintendo should consider flipping between the two as lead Super Mario projects.
Now Is Perfect For A 2D Mario Revival
It seems likely that Nintendo has done all it can with the Super Mario Maker concept at the moment. After introducing NSMBU’s tileset and power-ups for Super Mario Bros. 2 and Super Mario Land, it seemed like adding Link's moveset was the only thing left for it to do. Where Mario appears to be headed next is towards a truly open world, as evidenced by the unbroken map of Bowser's Fury. However, after a decade of near-silence, 2D Mario should be given a chance to shine again. Metroid Dread proved that 2D games can still work in a modern context, and a great 2D Mario will leave no room for argument.
A decade removed from the New Super Mario Bros. formula may be just what 2D Mario needed. Those games had a high degree of similarity, and the players were beginning to tire of how little was really changing. Aside from the time gap giving a new 2D effort some breathing room, Nintendo would be able to design it with the full budget and strength of its development studios. A 2D Mario treated with the gravity of a system-selling 3D Mario feels like it hasn't happened since New Super Mario Bros. Wii, and whatever new mechanics and design tricks a new 2D title would bring to the table could impress just as much.