Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes made its debut at the latest Nintendo Direct with only a few months to go before it launches. Three Hopes in itself isn't particularly surprising; the original Fire Emblem Warriors was warmly received as a Nintendo-flavored Dynasty Warriors game, and Fire Emblem: Three Houses was so well-loved that it's more than worthy of a spinoff. What's really significant about Three Hopes is how it further cements Nintendo's interest in turning its IPs into hack-and-slash action RPGs. With Zelda and Fire Emblem so thoroughly steeped in the Warriors franchise, it only seems like a matter of time before Super Mario gets the same treatment.
A Super Mario spinoff with a Warriors angle may sound a little ridiculous to some. Mario and his friends aren't generally known for waging war, even if they do plenty of fighting in their time. However, with Nintendo repeatedly ordering new Warriors spinoffs from Omega Force, it seems more and more likely that Nintendo's less martial IPs will join the trend. Above all, Super Mario seems the ripest for such a spinoff, considering how many lucrative side franchises Mario has created so far. Super Mario has all the right pieces to create a surprisingly compelling Warriors game too.
Imagining Super Mario Warriors
Even if it's not a franchise about epic fantasy conflicts, Super Mario has all the necessary pieces to form a compelling Warriors game. For one thing, Super Mario has tons of core characters who could be converted into playable characters; Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Bowser would all certainly be playable, but Wario, Waluigi, Rosalina, Daisy, and many more recurring characters seem plausible too. If Bowser serves as the antagonist of a Super Mario Warriors title, then endless legions of Goombas, Koopas, and other famous Super Mario enemies could populate the game's battlefields. Even the battlefields could derive unique topography from Super Mario's many settings and biomes.
Perhaps most importantly, Super Mario Warriors would be an excellent opportunity to dig deep in the greater Mario universe in search of unique playable characters. The original Hyrule Warriors did this to great effect, making surprising characters like Agitha, Marin, and Ravio playable at various points of its life. Hyrule Warriors felt like a much more complete depiction of The Legend of Zelda thanks to that diversity. Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars' Geno may not be in Smash yet, but he could represent the RPG in Super Mario Warriors. The game's roster could consist of nostalgic stars like Pauline as well as niche picks like Mario Party 8's MC Ballyhoo, ultimately capturing the length and breadth of Mario history.
Why Super Mario Warriors Seems Likely
Super Mario Warriors would definitely be something of a deviation from the overall Mario brand, considering just how action-oriented it is, but that doesn't mean it's impossible. On the contrary, Nintendo seems more than willing to let Mario and friends leap into battle lately. Ubisoft's Mario + Rabbids series lets Super Mario characters take on tactical battles with high-tech weapons, offering a much more intense look at Mario. Similarly, the Mario Strikers revival allows for some major violence among Super Mario characters. If these games are possible, then Super Mario Warriors wouldn't be that strange at all.
If Nintendo keeps investing in Warriors spinoffs, then it seems unlikely that the trend will stay exclusive to Fire Emblem and The Legend of Zelda. Sooner or later, Nintendo will decide to experiment with another one of its major IPs, and Super Mario seems like a surprisingly good choice. A game that unites Super Mario regulars with one-hit wonders and sends them to battle in colorful locations based on Super Mario's most famous levels could be a serious hit. Nintendo just has to be willing to give it a try.