Switch 2 needs 3D Mario and it needs it in 2025 or 2026.

There are more possibilities than we might initially think. Odyssey 2 or a non-direct sequel 3D Mario game seem the most obvious. But there's also the possibility of Galaxy 3, 3D World 2 (so like 3D Land 3), or even Sunshine 2. I don't think we'll ever get a direct sequel to Super Mario 64, largely because DS already added some content and because of the very confusing naming reality of Super Mario 64 2.

I want a new 3D Mario or Odyssey 2 first, and not Galaxy 3 or 3D World 2. But I also think the time for remakes of Sunshine and the Galaxy duology are upon us. The graphics of those games could be modernized, some kinks of Sunshine could be worked out, and the control weirdness of Galaxy when playing with a normal controller could be fixed. 

What do you think?

A huge interconnected parkour type open-world.

Odyssey 2

It will be something different and divisive on the first trailer is my prediction.

I think (and hope) it will be a bigger, more expansive version of Bowser’s Fury.

Basically a seamless open-world with the free camera of Odyssey and the platforming sensibilities of the 3D Land/World sub-series. I honestly think this formula, if pushed to its full potential, could produce one of the best games of all time.

A castle under the sea. Shiny blue graphics & rays of crystal light penetrating down from the the upper surface. A new princess is introduced. Lot's of rooms with paintings. A spiritual successor of Mario 64 :)

Or an overworld of sky islands with rainbows that connect the islands together.

Wherever it'll be set, I bet it will be flashy, colourful and will show-off the Switch 2's 4K graphics.

First off, if 3D Mario isn't a launch day game that is a huge blunder for Nintendo. Nintendo needs to always launch with either 3D Zelda or 3D Mario, if all they've got is MK9 at launch that is a fail. So I expect we'll be playing the next Mario game in like 3 months.

No interest in remakes, every Mario game is already on Switch other than the strange exclusion of Galaxy 2 from 3D All-Stars, I expect them to release Galaxy 2 at some point but other than that Nintendo just needs to focus on new Mario games.

I'd like to see one of two options for the launch day 3D Mario: either a full open world game made like Bowser's Fury, or a "Galactic Odyssey" game that combines Galaxy's play with Odyssey's play to finish off both those formulas. Galactic Odyssey would be a mix of series of little worldlets with larger worlds like maybe most levels have a main planetoid but also have a bunch of satellite worldlets, and of course include cappy gameplay.

Of course I wouldn't mind something completely different that didn't continue Bowser's World or Galaxy or Odyssey at all.

And with a launch day Mario game, I'd expect one more 3D Mario 4-5 years later, 3D World 2. 3D World was soooo good it really perfected the 2D Mario formula (tho obviously in 3D). It would be a huge shame not to get a sequel to it, and at that point it'll have been more than 15 years since the original so it'll be a good time for a sequel.

4D Mario

That sounds like a Mario64 part 2 game.... Which I wouldn't be against.

I really loved the Galaxy games, so I wouldn't mind a return too that either.

The only thing that would bum me out would be a return to the Sunshine formula.

We'll likely find out in 21 days. 

Knowing Nintendo, they will do something fresh and unexpected, with some sort of new hook like the Capture mechanic in Odyssey or microgravity in Galaxy.

So long as it's something bold and ambitious, and not something whack like Sunshine, I'm here for it.