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Parent's Guide to Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury

Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury is a re-release of the popular four player Mario game from the Wii U that adds online play as well as a whole other game, Bowser's Fury, that combines 3D World elements with the more recent Mario Odyssey.

If you want to play a Mario game in a family Super Mario 3D World is a great option, whether on the Wii U or Nintendo Switch. This enables up to four players to play together to progress through the levels.

If one of the players gets stuck they are put into a bubble and floated forward to catch up with the others. This makes it an excellent game for groups of mixed abilities (and perhaps ages) to play together.

What You Need To Play Locally

You can play the Super Mario 3D World on Wii U or Switch. On the Wii U, each player needs their own Wii Remote controller. On the Switch you can play with one half of the Joy-Con pair. 

Joy-Con's are purchased as a pair, so an original Switch and one additional controller pair is all you need for four players. Note that if you are playing on the Switch Lite you will need additional controllers, as well as have to play by gathering around the portable screen.

What you Need To Play Online

The Switch version of the game enables you to play with friends and family in a different place. To do this you will each need your own Switch console and copy of the game. You also need a subscription to Nintendo Online to access this multiplayer feature.

Bowser's Fury

Much more than simple bonus material, this is a game in its own right. You play a world in the style of Super Mario Odyssey. Here though, it's much more of an open world with environmental hazards that change over time.

Every so often, Bowser emerges like Godzilla from the ocean and starts attacking you with fireballs. This not only adds a novel hazard, but grants access to special parts of the world only available during these night attacks.

It's an open world challenge that offers a different way to enjoy the running, jumping and exploring of Mario. It's not four players like the Super Mario 3D World game, but you can get a second player to help you by knocking enemies out of the way.

This makes it a great game to play with novice and expert players working together to beat Bowser. To do this you can each use one Joy-Con half.

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Andrew Robertson
Andy Robertson is the editor of AskAboutGames and has written for national press and broadcast about video games and families for over 15 years. He has just published the Taming Gaming book with its Family Video Game Database.