Nintendo games have performed admirably so far in 2022; the first half of the year was defined by major successes including Kirby and the Forgotten Land and Pokemon Legends: Arceus. Luckily for the company, the year still holds a lot of promise. Splatoon 3, Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Bayonetta 3, and a new generation of Pokemon are all on the horizon. This stands in contrast to Super Mario's relatively quiet 2022. Fans of the Super Mario franchise's sports spinoffs do get to enjoy Mario Strikers: Battle League this year, but a new core platformer in the Super Mario lineup hasn't been unveiled recently.
It's no secret that Super Mario Odyssey was a smash hit. Critics and fans alike were enchanted by Mario's next adventure in 3D platforming, and this acclaimed game deserves a lot of credit for giving the Switch a strong debut year, alongside other Switch champions like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Innovative platforming with the help of Cappy, open-world exploration through colorful new environments, and enough collectibles to keep players entertained for dozens of hours meant that Super Mario Odyssey stood out even in a franchise known for creative and influential 3D platformers.
Super Mario Odyssey released on October 27th, 2017, meaning October 2022 will mark the game's first major birthday as it turns five years old. It seems likely that Nintendo will acknowledge that day in one way or another, considering just how important Odyssey is to the Switch's reputation. Perhaps the best way to mark the occasion would be to announce a new Super Mario platformer that'll take up the mantle from Odyssey in the Switch's later years. Super Mario side games may have plenty of representation on the Switch right now, but a completely fresh platformer is overdue.