Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury is a 2021 platformer developed and published by Nintendo. The game is a Nintendo Switch rerelease of the 2013 title Super Mario 3D World, which was originally released exclusively for the Wii U.
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury was revered by critics, holding a score of 89 on Metacritic. The Switch rerelease had sold over 11 million copies as of March 2023, double that of the original release. There’s no two ways about it – Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury is a massive success for Nintendo.
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury Premise
Technically, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury are two separate games, although Bowser’s Fury is heavily based on the original game. Still, there are enough gameplay changes that we think it’s worth separating the two here.
Super Mario 3D World
The gameplay in Super Mario 3D World is a hybrid between the free-roaming of more recent releases, and the classic 2D side-scrolling style. Up to four players can play at any one time, taking control of one of Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Toad. All of these characters have their own unique abilities, which help in defeating enemies in a variety of ways.
One of the main objectives in each level is to find the three Green Stars, which allows you to progress further through the game. To help you find these, the game gives you a variety of power-ups that make it easier to beat the levels.
Especially when compared to the newer Bowser’s Fury, it’s clear that Super Mario 3D World is designed to be played with friends. You’re doing yourself a disservice to experience it solo.
Bowser’s Fury
At its core, Bowser’s Fury is extremely similar to Super Mario 3D World, so it makes sense that they’ve been bundled together with this release. The main difference here is the addition of Cat Shines, which add a series of challenges to complete throughout the game’s levels. This even changes the game’s environment, shifting and opening up new areas as you progress.
Another key mechanic new to Bowser’s Fury is, well, Bowser’s fury. At regular intervals, Bowser will rain down fire onto the level from above, changing the day into night and giving you new obstacles to avoid. This is in addition to the standard challenges that each level provides.
Bowser’s Fury is a much shorter experience than Super Mario 3D World overall, and you can see why Nintnedo chose to bundle them together. They compliment each other very well, even if Bowser’s Fury isn’t quite long enough to be a standalone title. Still, fans of the original will find lots to enjoy here.
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury Main Characters
While Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury are technically separate games as mentioned earlier, the characters across both are the same. As a matter of fact, Super Mario as a series tends to keep the same characters, putting them in new adventures with each release. It’s a series staple at this point.
Here are all of the main characters in Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury.
- Mario: The main hero of the games, Mario sets off on two separate adventures to save different people in Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury. The iconic plumber has his hands full in these games, but what’s new there?
- Luigi: Luigi appears throughout Super Mario 3D World as one of the playable characters, transported to the Sprixie Kingdom after Bowser captures the Sprixie Princesses. You can play as him while playing the game co-op, but unfortunately, he doesn’t show up in Bowser’s Fury.
- Princess Peach: Like Luigi, Princess Peach doesn’t appear in Bowser’s Fury, but is one of the playable characters in Super Mario 3D World. Instead of needing to be rescued, Peach here is along for the ride, helping Mario rescue the Sprixie princesses.
- Bowser: In Super Mario 3D World, Bowser has kidnapped Sprixie princesses, whom Mario must save. In Bowser’s Fury, Bowser is committing evil acts under the control of a strange black sludge, and Mario must release him from its grasp. Either way, Bowser is the overarching antagonist.
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury Titles in the Series
The Super Mario series of games transcends gaming at the point. It’s a household name, and has been for decades. Mario himself is almost the original gaming mascot, alongside names like Sonic and Donkey Kong.
Despite nearly four decades of constant releases, Super Mario remains as popular as ever. Nintendo has achieved this by ensuring that each game has its own unique mechanics, offering new experiences to even the most dedicated of fans. This has resulted in some unique side series too, such as Mario Kart and Mario Golf.
- Super Mario Bros. (1985)
- Super Mario Bros: The Lost Levels (1986)
- Super Mario Bros. 2 (1988)
- Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988)
- Super Mario Land (1989)
- Super Mario World (1990)
- Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (1992)
- Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island (1995)
- Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (1996)
- Super Mario 64 (1996)
- Paper Mario (2000)
- Super Mario Sunshine (2002)
- Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (2003)
- Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (2004)
- Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time (2005)
- New Super Mario Bros. (2006)
- Super Paper Mario (2007)
- Super Mario Galaxy (2007)
- Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story (2009)
- New Super Mario Bros. Wii (2009)
- Super Mario Galaxy 2 (2010)
- Super Mario 3D Land (2011)
- New Super Mario Bros. 2 (2012)
- Paper Mario: Sticker Star (2012)
- New Super Mario Bros. U (2012)
- Mario & Luigi: Dream Team (2013)
- Super Mario 3D World (2013)
- Super Mario Maker (2015)
- Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam (2015)
- Paper Mario: Color Splash (2016)
- Super Mario Run (2016)
- Super Mario Odyssey (2017)
- Super Mario Maker 2 (2019)
- Paper Mario: The Origami King (2020)
- Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury (2021)
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder (2023)
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury Cheat Codes
Sadly, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury don’t have any cheat codes to enter. However, it does have plenty of secrets and unlocks, so we can just go ahead and show you some of those instead!
How To Unlock Rosalina
While you can play as any of Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, and Toad in Super Mario 3D World, there’s actually a fifth character you can unlock – Rosalina. After beating the game for the first time, head to the Star World, and beat the second level. You’ll unlock Rosalina after this, who can then be used while replaying Super Mario 3D World.
How To Unlock Luigi Bros.
Once you beat World 8 in Super Mario 3D World, you unlock the ability to play the NES Classic, Luigi Bros. After you’ve achieved this, you can access it through the main menu of the game.
How To Unlock Cat Bowser Jr. and Super Cat Mario
First of all, you need to get all 100 Cat Shines in Bowser’s Fury. After this, you’ll gain the ability to face Fury Bowser again, in a fight that will be a little different than you’ll remember from earlier on.
If you manage to defeat him, you’ll get access to the Cat Bowser Jr. and Super Cat Mario costumes, which will be automatically applied to both characters.
How To Get Infinite Lives
You can get infinite lives in Super Mario 3D World early on in the game, in World 1-2. After passing the first Koopa, and entering the room with the second Koopa, smash through the breakable purple floor. You’ll fall into an underground room with a third Koopa, who stands in a small dip in the center of the room. Steal his shell, and jump to the right corner of the room. Position yourself in the doorway, and throw the shell so that it quickly bounces between the sides of the door. After you’ve done this, jump once. You should start to gain lives rapidly, although this might take a few attempts to execute perfectly. Now, wait as you accrue infinite 1 UPs. Eventually, you’ll run out of time to complete the level, but this takes a while, and you still keep the lives regardless.
How To Unlock 5 Save Profile Stars (Super Mario 3D World)
There are five different steps that you have to complete to get five Stars next to your save file in Super Mario 3D World. These aren’t too difficult, so here’s how you can achieve it:
- Beat World 8.
- Collect every single Green Star.
- Collect all of the stamps.
- Complete World Star, World Mushroom, and World Flower.
- Get every Gold Flag by reaching the top of the flag on every level, using every character. You can do this in co-op to make this much quicker to complete.
How To Unlock 5 Save Profile Stars (Bowser’s Fury)
Just like in Super Mario 3D World, you can also get five Stars for your save file in Bowser’s Fury, although this time around the challenges are a little different. These are:
- Defeat Fury Bowser while using the Lakeside Giga Bell
- Defeat Fury Bowser two times while using the Ruins Giga Bell
- Defeat Fury Bowser three times while using the Wasteland Giga Bell
- Find all 100 Cat Shines
- Defeat Fury Bowser one last time after finding all 100 Cat Shines
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury Cheat Code FAQs
Is There A Secret Boss Fight in Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury?
Yes – there is actually a secret boss fight that you can find in Bowser’s Fury. It’s actually the same boss fight in which you unlock the Cat Bowser Jr. and Super Cat Mario costumes, as we mentioned in the previous section.
After you’ve collected all 100 Cat Shines in Bowser’s Fury, the final Fury Bowser fight will be available once again. Fury Bowser will have a unique appearance just for this fight, and Giga Bellas won’t respawn to help Mario throughout.
Because of the requirements to face this version of Fury Bowser, many players will miss this boss fight.
Are There Cheats in the Wii U Version of Super Mario 3D World?
Unfortunately not – the cheats are the same across the board, meaning you won’t find any in the original Wii U version of Super Mario 3D World either.
Can You Unlock New Characters in Bowser’s Fury?
No. While Super Mario 3D World has a few different characters that you can play as, Bowser’s Fury focuses exclusively on Mario. There’s no way to unlock new characters, either.
However, if you’re comfortable with modding your Nintendo Switch, then there are some mods over on GameBanana that allow you to play as others such as Luigi and Peach. After all, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury are extremely similar games, so it makes sense that modders would be able to implement these characters.
We’d like to stress again that you should only use these mods if you’re already comfortable with modding your Nintendo Switch.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Nintendo.