Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door: Nintendo Switch Review

Developed by Intelligent Systems
Published by Nintendo
Platform: Nintendo Switch

There is just something iconic about Mario and when it comes to the Paper Mario world, the RPG games are beloved.

As the game celebrates its 20th anniversary from its GameCube days, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door's Nintendo Switch version offers another triumphant return to the franchise with sharpened graphics, updated animation and music and just a general feeling that Mario is as permanent a fixture as is ever needed.

When Princess Peach is kidnapped by an alien group called the X-Nauts, it's all down to Mario to save the day, as he heads to find the treasure and get the princess from the clutches of the baddies.

It's as simple a story as is possible - but thanks to a return to Rogueport, what emerges from Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door's latest iteration is how dazzlingly beautiful the animation is and how different it feels from any other game out there.

There's a real tangible sense that you could touch and fold these characters as you head into their worlds, but with the OLED screens, the game looks quite sharp - even if occasionally frame rates drop.

There's a comedic tone running throughout as well and while it's there from the very beginning, the game keeps dropping moments in that amuse - from opening brawls to worldbuilding throughout, there's a sense that Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is staying faithful to its original tone and yet updating itself for 2024.

But what makes it stand out on Nintendo Switch is the depth - the game feels like it has lively background action happening as it plays out. It's an important distinction to stop it simply feeling 2D - a chance to move between objects and interact with them as well just gives it a fully formed feeling.

At times, it feels like live theatre given an animated once over - from moments such as being prompted to stomp on enemies to folding yourself into a paper airplane, there's just sparkle in this game.

Clever, charming, sweet and pleasurable, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is a game that you have to own on Nintendo Switch - it may come from a 20 year old property, but it feels fresh and as inviting as any a game in 2024 should.