How Long Does It Really Take to Beat Super Mario Odyssey? A Deep Dive
Super Mario Odyssey, a cornerstone title on the Nintendo Switch, has captivated players with its innovative gameplay and charming world. A common question prospective players have is: How long does it take to beat this sprawling adventure? The answer, as with many games, depends entirely on your play style. On average, focusing solely on the main story objectives will take you around 12½ hours. However, if you’re a completionist aiming for that coveted 100% mark, prepare to dedicate approximately 62 hours to the game. In this comprehensive guide, we will break down the factors influencing gameplay length and answer the frequently asked questions around this iconic title.
Understanding Play Styles and Their Impact on Game Length
The beauty of Super Mario Odyssey lies in its flexibility. You’re not forced down a linear path; you’re encouraged to explore, experiment, and collect. This freedom drastically affects the playtime.
Main Story Focus: The Speedrunner’s Route
If you’re primarily interested in experiencing the main story and defeating Bowser, you can efficiently navigate the kingdoms, collecting just enough Power Moons to progress. This approach involves minimal side exploration and a focus on the critical path. This is where the 12½ hour estimate comes from.
Completionist’s Quest: The 100% Journey
Achieving 100% completion in Super Mario Odyssey is a considerable undertaking. It involves:
- Collecting all 880 unique Power Moons scattered throughout the kingdoms.
- Purchasing the remaining 119 Power Moons from shops.
- Finding all Regional Coins in each kingdom.
- Acquiring all costumes for Mario.
- Unlocking and completing all post-game content.
This exhaustive approach requires meticulous exploration, puzzle-solving, and sometimes, a healthy dose of patience. Expect to invest upwards of 62 hours to achieve true completion.
Casual Explorer: A Balanced Approach
Most players fall somewhere between these two extremes. They enjoy exploring each kingdom, discovering hidden secrets, and tackling optional challenges, but without the obsessive need to collect every single item. For these players, a playthrough might last anywhere from 25 to 40 hours.
Difficulty and Its Influence on Playtime
Super Mario Odyssey is generally considered not particularly hard compared to some other Mario titles. However, it does contain some incredibly challenging moments.
Main Game Difficulty
The main story is designed to be accessible to a wide range of players. Most challenges are forgiving, and the game offers ample opportunities to recover from mistakes. However, some boss fights and platforming sections may require a few attempts.
Post-Game Challenges
Once you beat the main story, the game opens up with new Power Moons and significantly more difficult challenges. The Darker Side Kingdom, a hidden area accessible after collecting 250 Power Moons, is notoriously difficult and serves as the ultimate test of your Mario skills. Some of the bonus levels are frequently compared to the infamous Perfect Run and Champion’s Road.
The Challenge of 100% Completion
While the core game isn’t overly difficult, 100% completion is indeed challenging. Some Power Moons are cleverly hidden, requiring meticulous exploration and creative use of Mario’s capture ability. The purple coins are trickier; unless you’ve got a Bowser amiibo there’s no in-game help for them.
Post-Game Content: Extending the Adventure
Super Mario Odyssey offers a substantial amount of content after you defeat Bowser. This includes:
- New Power Moons: Each kingdom receives a fresh batch of Power Moons to discover.
- New Challenges: More difficult platforming sections and puzzles are unlocked.
- New Costumes: A wider variety of outfits become available for purchase.
- NPC Interactions: Characters from different kingdoms start visiting other locations.
- The Darker Side Kingdom: The ultimate challenge, unlocked after collecting 250 Power Moons.
- A More Difficult Bowser Fight: a re-match unlocks after you’ve found all 880 mission Power Moons.
These post-game additions can easily add another 10-20 hours to your total playtime, especially if you aim to complete them all.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions that provide further insights into the gameplay length and content of Super Mario Odyssey:
Is Super Mario Odyssey worth 100% completing?
While opinions vary, many players find the pursuit of 100% completion rewarding. The post-game content, including the Darker Side Kingdom, offers a significant challenge and pushes your skills to the limit. However, the coin grinding aspect can be tedious for some.
What is the hardest level in Mario Odyssey?
The Darker Side Kingdom is widely considered the hardest level in Super Mario Odyssey. Its relentless gauntlet of obstacles and challenges demands precision and mastery of Mario’s abilities.
What happens when you get every single moon in Super Mario Odyssey?
Upon collecting all 999 Power Moons, you unlock several rewards:
- Your ship’s sail turns gold.
- You can fight a more challenging version of the final Bowser battle.
- You can launch fireworks from the top of Peach’s Castle in Mushroom Kingdom.
- The end credits show you a new postcard.
Which Mario game takes the longest to complete?
According to HowLongToBeat, Mario’s Picross is listed as taking the longest to beat, followed by Mario & Luigi: Dream Team.
What is the hardest Mario game?
While subjective, Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels is often cited as the hardest Mario game due to its unforgiving level design and challenging platforming.
Which Mario game is the easiest?
The original Super Mario Bros. is generally considered the easiest Mario game, thanks to its simple mechanics and straightforward level design.
Is Super Luigi Odyssey a thing?
No. Super Luigi Odyssey isn’t an official product by Nintendo. The game can be purchased as DLC for Super Mario Odyssey for $39.95 if already owning the original Super Mario Odyssey.
Why is Mario Odyssey fun?
Super Mario Odyssey emphasizes discovery, playful interactions, and experimentation over pure challenge. The game rewards curiosity and encourages players to explore its vibrant world.
What is the hardest boss fight in Mario Odyssey?
While subjective, many players find Cookatiel or Mollusque-Lanceur to be challenging boss fights.
Who is the hardest Mario boss overall?
Again, it is subjective, but many players find Meowser to be the hardest Mario boss.
What is the smallest kingdom in Mario Odyssey?
The Cloud Kingdom is the smallest kingdom in Super Mario Odyssey, containing only a handful of Power Moons.
Is there a secret world in Mario Odyssey?
Yes, the Dark Side is a secret kingdom that becomes accessible once you have collected 250 Power Moons.
Can you get more than 999 moons in Mario Odyssey?
No, 999 is the maximum number of Power Moons you can obtain in Super Mario Odyssey.
What counts as 100% in Mario Odyssey?
- Collect all 880 Mission Power Moons + Buy 119 Power Moons in the postgame (999 Total)
- Defeat Bowser’s Harder Fight (Unlocked after getting all 880 Mission Power Moons)
- Collect all Regional Coins
- Buy all outfits
What is the best Mario game so far?
Super Mario Odyssey is widely regarded as one of the best Mario games ever released, praised for its innovative gameplay, creative level design, and overall sense of fun. You may also want to check out organizations like the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org for more information and research on the educational and cultural impact of video games.
Conclusion: Your Odyssey, Your Timeline
Ultimately, the length of your Super Mario Odyssey playthrough depends on your personal play style and goals. Whether you’re a speedrunner focused on the main story or a completionist determined to uncover every secret, the game offers a rewarding and engaging experience. So, grab your Joy-Cons, throw on your Cappy, and embark on your own unique Odyssey!