Super Mario Underworld

Super Mario Underworld is a platform action-adventure game for the Nintendo Switch. It will be released worldwide on September 13, 2025, the 40th anniversary of Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario Underworld is intended to be a fresh revival of the 2D Super Mario games after a period of stagnation caused by the New Super Mario Bros. series. The game's story follows Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, and Toad as they explore new underground worlds, discover new power-ups, and encounter a new group of villains: the Goleminer Gang.
The game uses a distinct 2D artsyle, drawing from official 2D Mario artwork as well as the hand-drawn style of Wario Land: Shake It!
== Story==
One bright sunny morning in the Mushroom Kingdom, Mario steps out of his house in Toad Town. Going to his mailbox, he finds a letter from Princess Peach:
:Dear Mario and Luigi,
:We need you at the castle. Please come over as soon as possible!
:Princess Peach
Mario takes off running toward the castle. A moment later, a tired Luigi emerges from the house. When he sees Mario leaving, he yells in surprise and runs to catch up with his brother. What follows is a short tutorial level, where the player guides Mario though Toad Town and up to Peach's Castle.
When Mario and Luigi enter the castle, they find Princess Peach, Toad, Toadette, and a crowd of Toads and Yoshis waiting for them, along with a huge cake and many decorations.
:All: SURPRISE! 
:Peach: Teehee, confused? Today is the anniversary of your arrival in the Mushroom Kingdom, silly! I can't believe it's been so long since you two first rescued me—and all of us—from Bowser . . . On this day, legends were made!
:Toad & Toadette: Three cheers for our legends!
:All: HIP HIP HOORAY!
Mario hungrily eyes the cake, but then everyone freezes as a loud crash fills the room. The partiers slowly turn around to see Bowser standing in the collapsed front doorway. The feared Koopa King walks right up to Mario and friends.
:Bowser: I'm not mad. I'm just disappointed. I sincerely thought you—OH WHO AM I KIDDING?! I'M TOTALLY STEAMED! Picture this: I wake up bright and early, all smiles for the occasion, life is good! I skip to the mailbox—and guess what I don't find? MY INVITATION! Could one of you brick-brains pretty please explain how you managed to do a big fat anniversary shindig and leave out the most crucial element? The kingpin? The all-important, AND UNINVITED, me?! Oh wait, I apologize! It's not like I'm THE GUY BEHIND THAT MUST-SAVE-THE-PRINCESS THING YOU'RE CELEBRATING or anything! Way to forget the reason for the season!
While Bowser continues to rant, Wario and Waluigi tiptoe in unnoticed. As Wario takes a step, the floor shakes, and Waluigi gives him a look. But the shaking doesn't stop, instead intensifying until it reaches earthquake proportions. Decorations fall from the walls and ceiling as panic spreads through the gathered crowd. Suddenly, a giant sinkhole opens underneath Peach's Castle, and everyone screams as the castle plummets deep underground. Then, everything goes black.
----
A few seconds later, Mario opens his eyes and slowly gets to his feet. The other party-goers are still lying on the floor, knocked out. Bowser has disappeared, and Wario and Waluigi are sneaking off in the background. The castle is in a sorry state, with cracked walls and a crumbling ceiling. Mario looks out though a broken window, and what he sees outside prompts a shocked "Mamma mia!". Peach and Toad jump to their feet, followed by Luigi (after Peach calls his name). As the others start to come to, Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Toad step outside and find themselves in a massive underground chamber. Suddenly, a panicked cry rings out, and the four heroes run toward its source.
They find a small, humanoid creature whose body is made of gray rocks. The being is cowering in fear and clutching a coin. Looming over it are two large, burly, golem-like creatures with bodies made of tan rock. Mario shouts at the golems, who turn to face the heroes.
:Golem 1: Oi, what have we got here? Two dapper blokes, a sharp-lookin' shroom, and one fine princess! You fancy joinin' our gang, mates?
:Golem 2: Nah, per'aps they wanna scrap! Hyeh-hyeh-hyeh, there's a good one! You'd 'ave to be utterly batty to go up against us Goleminers!
:Goleminer 1: You got that right! . . . Ey, hold up! I think they're actually SERIOUS!
: Goleminer 2: Saltatin' stalactites! They are! What a buncha dum-dums!
:Goleminer 1: What's your gripe with the Goleminer Gang? We got it great down here! Diggin' for gold, and nickin' it from li'l wimps like that one there—well it won't be long before we're all swimmin' in the stuff! And then we'll rule the Underworld!
:Goleminer 2: Eh? Leave the runt alone? I don't like your attitude! Mind your own business, and we'll mind ours!
:Goleminer 1: They ain't listenin'! I say we clobbah dat dere greenie! 
:Goleminer 2: I say aye!
The Goleminers swing their giant fists at Luigi, but he freaks out and leaps out of the way. The Goleminers hit each other square in the face—which knocks the rocky ruffians out. The small gray creature, after thanking the heroes, introduces himself as a Pebbleian.
The Pebbleian tells the heroes where they are: Echo Cavern, part of a huge underground realm called the Underworld.
==Gameplay==
Like Super Mario Odyssey, this game has no lives or Game Overs (making this the first 2D Super Mario game not to feature them). Instead, 15 coins are lost when a character dies.
Nabbit from New Super Mario Bros. U returns and, like in the aforementioned game, must be chased through levels and finally caught, upon which the player will be rewarded with items.
4-player multiplayer returns and functions similarly to how it does in New Super Mario Bros. Wii and New Super Mario Bros. U. However, like in Super Mario 3D World, players' scores are displayed at the end of each level (though there is an option to turn off this feature).
===Gameplay differences from New Super Mario Bros. U=== 
*As in Super Mario Bros. 2, the characters' default forms are their Super forms (rather than their Small forms). Thus, the game begins with them in their Super forms, and they will respawn in their Super forms after dying.
* After crouching for a few moments, the player can perform a Backflip (as in Super Mario 3D Land and Super Mario 3D World)
*The Ground Pound Jump from Super Mario 3D World returns.
*The Spin Jump is more powerful; it can be used to bounce off hazardous enemies, as in Super Mario World.
*Also like in Super Mario World, the player can look (and throw items) upward.
*Yoshis can now aim their tongues upward. They can also spit items upward.
===Controls===
In a level
Action(s) 	Horizontal Joy-Con
Move 	/
Jump, swim, wall jump, double/triple jump (press right upon landing), Flutter Jump (Yoshi; hold)	
///
==Characters==
=== Playable characters===
Name 	Image	Advantages 	Disadvantages
Mario	 	Balanced 	Balanced
Luigi	 	
Jumps higher
Scuttles when jumping	
Runs slower
Low traction
Peach	 	Can hover after jumping	Runs the slowest
Toad 	 	Runs the quickest 	
Jumps the lowest
Falls the fastest
===Supporting characters===
Name 	Image	Description
Toadette 	 	
Bowser 	 	
Toads 	 	In the intro, many Toads appear in the streets of Toad Town and inside Peach's Castle.
Yoshis 	 	In the intro, many Yoshis appear in Peach's Castle.
Pebbleians	 	
==Enemies==
===New enemies===
Name 	Image 	Description
Clodds 	Not available (yet)	Small humanoids made of dirt. Upon spotting Mario, they chase after him. They are weak enemies that can be defeated with a single stomp.
Goleminers	 	Burly golems wearing mining helmets. When they see Mario, they swing their huge fists at him. They can be defeated with three Ground Pounds.
===Returning enemies===
Name 	Image	Notes
Blokkabloks 	 	
Buzzy Beetles	 	Some walk upside-down on ceilings and drop when Mario approaches.
Swoops 	 	
==Transformations ==
Small Mario		
Super Mario		
==Worlds==
World	Description	Boss
World 1
Echo Cavern	 	
 	 	
==Pre-release and unused content==
During development, the game was originally called Super Mario Bros. 4. The name change was made partly because Super Mario World is already subtitled "Super Mario Bros. 4" in Japan.
==References to other games==
*Super Mario Bros.: The opening's anniversary celebration commemorates the events of this game. In addition, Super Mario Underworld itself released on the 40th anniversary of Super Mario Bros.
*Super Mario Bros. 2: The same four playable characters (Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Toad) return, with similar abilities.
*Super Mario World: Underworld's title is a call-back to this game, and the logo somewhat resembles World's as well.
*New Super Mario Bros. U: Nabbit returns with a similar role.
*Super Mario Odyssey: Like in this game, there are no lives or Game Overs, with coins being lost upon dying instead.
==Trivia==
*This is the first Super Mario game in 33 years with a main villain other than Bowser. The last time was 1992's Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins, which introduced Wario.
Category:Nintendo Switch Games
Category:Mario (series)
Category:Super Mario (series)
Category:Games
Category:Fan Games
Category:Mario Games
Category:Super Mario Games
Category:Platforming Games
Category:Action Adventure Games
Category:2025
Category:Intrepid Games