We Want a New 3D Mario Game, but Will We Have to Wait Years?

As Nintendo Switch 2 players zoom around Mario Kart World, a question lingers in the back of their heads. When will we see a new mainline Mario game on the Switch 2? Previously, it was assumed that there would be one within a year, but there’s a possibility that we could be in for a longer wait.

When Will We Get a New 3D Mario Game?

Every Nintendo console has at least one mainline Mario game as one of its flagship entries. However, according to Games Radar, there’s a possibility that the upcoming Donkey Kong Bananza might delay the release of a new Mario game. As Games Radar points out,

“Nintendo has remained tight-lipped about exactly who is making Donkey Kong Bananza, but right from its reveal, many have speculated that it might be Production Group No. 8 – better known as EPD Tokyo – a team that’s produced nothing but bangers from Super Mario Odyssey to Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario 3D World. “

The Wait Might Be “Four, Five, Six Years”

Nintendo’s former senior manager of creator relations and original content, Krysta Yang, and former director of social media and original content, Kit Ellis, put out a video where they speculated that if EPD Tokyo is making Donkey Kong Bananza, then they likely have not been working on a new Mario game. The company takes its time, making sure they put out high-quality games, which could mean that, as Yang stated, we could see a wait as long as “four, five, six years.”

What Could This Mean for the Switch 2?

Nintendo has been taking its time on announcing a new 3D Mario game. If the wait really is going to be years, then Nintendo might be relying on the Switch 2 having staying power that goes beyond mainline Mario games. There’s a possibility that a new 2D game in the vein of Super Mario Wonder could come in the meantime, but Nintendo has been quiet about that as well. Perhaps this is also a strategy to keep Switch 2 sales up as it gets older. We’ll just have to wait and see.