Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury

GameSuper Mario 3D WorldBowser's Fury

Two games on one cartridge, including the first open-world 3D Mario. Released on February 12, 2021 for the 35th anniversary of Super Mario Bros., this Switch port enhances the 2013 Wii U 3D World and adds Bowser's Fury on top. This guide covers the cat-themed world playable by up to four, the open adventure in co-op and the giant Bowser you fight thanks to the Giga Bell.

Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury is one of Mario's landmark releases on Nintendo Switch. Launched on February 12, 2021 as part of the 35th anniversary of Super Mario Bros., it brings two adventures together on a single cartridge: the enhanced port of the Wii U classic Super Mario 3D World (2013), and a completely new, previously unreleased adventure, Bowser's Fury, the first venture by the 3D Mario series into a genuine open world.

Between four-player co-op, faster characters, a 100% cat-themed universe and titanic clashes with an unleashed Bowser, this title is far more than a simple re-release. Here is the complete guide to this two-faced game.

Contents

• From Wii U to Switch: a heavily upgraded return
• The heart of the game: the cat world of Super Mario 3D World
• Bowser's Fury: the first open-world 3D Mario
• Fury Bowser, the Giga Bell and Giga Cat Mario
• Bowser Jr. and Plessie, unexpected allies
• Where it sits in the 3D Mario lineage
• Quick facts
• FAQ

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From Wii U to Switch: a heavily upgraded return

Super Mario 3D World first came out on Wii U on November 29, 2013 in Europe (November 21 in Japan, November 22 in North America). On that modestly successful console, this platforming masterpiece went relatively unnoticed. The Switch port gave it a second life and a worldwide audience.

Nintendo did not simply port the game, it polished it. The main improvements are:

• Increased speed: every character (except Captain Toad) moves about 40% faster than on Wii U, making the action punchier.
• Online multiplayer: up to four players can now team up over local wireless or through Nintendo Switch Online, whereas the original was limited to local play.
• Photo mode, inherited from Super Mario Odyssey, plus the option to skip cutscenes.
• Support for amiibo, including the Cat Mario and Cat Peach figures released alongside the game.

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The heart of the game: the cat world of Super Mario 3D World

The main campaign stays faithful to the 2013 experience: a 3D platformer built for group play, with four playable heroes and distinct abilities: Mario (balanced), Luigi (high jump, slippery landings), Peach (hover) and Toad (the fastest). Captain Toad gets puzzle stages all to himself.

The real star of the gameplay is the Super Bell, which turns the heroes into Cat Mario: wall climbing, claw swipes and dive attacks. This feline power-up has its own detailed article on the blog. Alongside it you will find the series' classic items (Mushroom, Fire Flower, Super Leaf, Boomerang Flower) and brand-new ideas such as the Double Cherry, which clones your character to multiply the action on screen.

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Bowser's Fury: the first open-world 3D Mario

Bowser's Fury is a brand-new adventure, entirely separate from the main campaign. It takes place in Lake Lapcat , a vast archipelago where nearly everything is cat-themed, now smothered in an unsettling black goo.

Unlike the linear stages of 3D World, Lake Lapcat is one continuous open world, with no loading screens between areas. Mario roams a dozen main islands freely to collect Cat Shines. There are 100 in all, but you only need a minimum of 40 to wrap up the adventure. Every Shine you recover powers the lighthouses that push the threat back and opens up your progress.

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Fury Bowser, the Giga Bell and Giga Cat Mario

The great antagonist of this mode is Fury Bowser, a colossal, corrupted form of the Koopa king. At unpredictable intervals he erupts from the middle of the lake, whips up a storm and pelts Mario with beams of fire. Claiming a Cat Shine lights a lighthouse whose beam forces the monster to retreat.

To face him on equal terms, Mario has to activate the Giga Bells , the big sisters of the Super Bell. Each one demands a growing number of Cat Shines. Once activated, it turns the plumber into Giga Cat Mario, a giant feline able to trade blows with Bowser in battles on a titanic scale, gradually scrubbing the goo off the lake.

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Bowser Jr. and Plessie, unexpected allies

In a rare twist for the saga, Mario is not alone: Bowser Jr. comes along as his partner. The son, desperate at the sight of his out-of-control father, reluctantly lends the hero a hand. His magic paintbrush reveals items hidden inside the graffiti and attacks enemies. In solo play the computer pilots him; with two players, a friend can control him directly.

After your first victory over Fury Bowser, Mario unlocks Plessie, the aquatic creature that serves as a fast mount for crossing the lake. Finally, reaching all 100 Cat Shines unlocks cosmetic rewards: the Giga Cat Mario outfit, a feline form for Bowser Jr. and white spikes for Fury Bowser.

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Where it sits in the 3D Mario lineage

The game sits at a hinge point between two philosophies. The main campaign extends the structured-level formula inherited from Super Mario 3D Land, while Bowser's Fury foreshadows the open-world freedom popularized by Super Mario Odyssey. This new mode also runs without a traditional lives system: failing simply costs you coins.

The title keeps on living: a free update sharpens its visuals and smoothness on Nintendo Switch 2, stretching the lifespan of an already generous double bill even further.

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Quick facts

Developer / Publisher	Nintendo EPD, 1-UP Studio / Nintendo
Original release (Wii U)	November 29, 2013 (Europe)
Switch release	February 12, 2021 (worldwide)
Players	Up to 4 (3D World); 2 (Bowser's Fury)
Playable characters	Mario, Luigi, Peach, Toad, Captain Toad
Cat Shines (Bowser's Fury)	100 in all, 40 minimum to finish
Bowser's Fury setting	Lake Lapcat (open world)

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FAQ

• When did Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury come out?
  The game launched worldwide on Nintendo Switch on February 12, 2021, as part of the 35th anniversary of Super Mario Bros. The original game, Super Mario 3D World, had come out on Wii U on November 29, 2013 in Europe.
• What is the difference between the game's two halves?
  Super Mario 3D World is a classic stage-based platformer playable by up to four. Bowser's Fury is a shorter, brand-new open-world adventure in which Mario freely explores Lake Lapcat to take on Fury Bowser.
• How many Cat Shines do you need to finish Bowser's Fury?
  There are 100 Cat Shines in all, but you only need 40 at minimum to complete the adventure. The others go toward unlocking the Giga Bells and the bonus content, including the 100% rewards.
• What is Giga Cat Mario?
  It is Mario's giant transformation, obtained by activating a Giga Bell with enough Cat Shines. This colossal feline can then face Fury Bowser at his own size in titanic battles to cleanse the lake.
• Is Bowser Jr. playable in Bowser's Fury?
  Yes. Bowser Jr. accompanies Mario and helps him collect the Cat Shines with his magic paintbrush. In solo play the computer controls him; with two players, a second player can take the reins.

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