Parents' Guide to

Paper Mario: The Origami King

By Marc Saltzman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Highly enjoyable adventure folds up fun for all players.

Game Nintendo Switch 2020
Paper Mario: The Origami King Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

Community Reviews

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age 9+

Based on 4 parent reviews

Tori M.
Tori M. Adult
October 31, 2020
age 12+

Good game but...

I was surprised by the spiritual elements of the game. Since when does a Mario game talk about deities and idols? I would definitely use caution with that aspect of the game, I felt like it was a sneaky/cheeky way of normalizing idolatry. I also agree with the other review here that the character having to sacrifice himself to save another character, while noble, could be very upsetting to young kids. Not trying to spoil the ending but a similar situation takes place at the end of the game as well. I enjoyed the puzzle aspect of the game and finding all of the trophies and treasures was definitely a challenge, so for the game itself I give it 3 stars, but it lost 2 because of the spiritualism and sad parts, because who wants to play a game that's sad???

This title has:

Easy to play/use
Too much violence
1 person found this helpful.
Matt N.
Matt N. Parent of 12-year-old
July 25, 2020
age 8+

Surprisingly mature themes

I won't retread ground by other reviews, but one very surprising thing was that a character literally sacrifices themselves (to the death) for another character. I was playing with my 4yo in the room and we were both pretty upset (at the character's loss, not Nintendo specifically). One other thing to note for young children (if everything else is fine with you) is that it is a reading heavy game, so a reader chaperone will be needed at some point.

This title has:

Too much violence
1 person found this helpful.
See all 4 parent reviews

What’s It About?

The world famous mustached plumber is back in PAPER MARIO: THE ORIGAMI KING, a new action-adventure hybrid with light role-playing elements for the Nintendo Switch platform. Similar to previous Paper Mario games in the franchise, this game stars a paper-thin Mario who sets out on a grand quest -- this time to investigate the disappearance of his brother Luigi and what happened with Princess Peach's mansion, which was whisked away and wrapped in a ribbon, imprisoning everyone inside. The story evolves from there, as players discover it's "Origami King" Olly responsible for these wrongdoings instead of Bowser and his minions. Mario visits various indoor and (mostly) outdoor areas from a third-person viewpoint, fights against Folder Soldiers and other enemies, and gets to the bottom of these shenanigans with the help of a fairy-like character Mario can summon named Olivia (King Olly's sister, in fact). Olivia can chime in by giving clues and other information on what's going on to help players make progress in the adventure. Along with picking up colorful paper pieces to patch holes in this world, meeting characters and performing missions for them, and solving environmental puzzles to reach new areas, Paper Mario: The Original King employs a battle system when facing off against adversaries. When you encounter a foe, the screen flips to a ring and you manipulate them in order to best line-up enemies, whether they're in a row or side by side. You must then choose the most ideal item to defeat these threats in as few moves as possible.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (4 ):
Kids say (16 ):

This charming adventure is well worth the price of admission for its lengthy and gratifying gameplay, accessible controls, well-written dialogue, and high-quality presentation. Paper Mario: The Origami King offers many secret areas, collectible items, and other hallmarks of a triple-A Mario adventure. Along with the bright and colorful graphics, with Mario and others represented by paper thin characters, the first thing you'll notice is how good the game feels to play, Maneuvering your 1,000-Fold Arms ability relies on your Nintendo Switch's gyroscope, which takes a little getting used to, but its a welcome change to your regular arsenal of moves. Much of the strategy, though, is tied to the battle system, represented by a ring the enemies stand on, with you in the middle. You have a limited amount of time to manipulate the ring so that familiar enemies -- like Goombas, Koopa Troopas, and Shy Guys -- are lined up in a desired fashion, so that you can take them down with as few moves as possible (or else they'll have a turn to damage you, too). You can rotate the rings with your limited moves, or push and pull them across the board, which is where the tactics come in. You can also add extra power to your movies -- such as stomping on baddies for spiked boots -- by properly timing an extra button press when above their heads and getting into the rhythm of the sequence.

Especially earlier on in the game, the battle portions can get repetitive and tedious, but the combat does evolve once you start adding new items and abilities. Mixed feelings about the combat aside, Paper Mario: The Origami King is super fun, and those who love exploring every nook and cranny in a game will be rewarded with paper treasures, hidden characters, weapons, upgrades, and more. The game's also very funny, and you'll want to read every interaction with a character or object (like a sign) because it's so well written. There are platforming challenges and some mini-games, too, for those who enjoy those traditional Mario gameplay elements. Paper Mario: The Original King isn't "paper thin" but it does have some tears thanks to some of the combat issues. That said, it's still a super fun ride for fans of the franchise and newcomers to the series alike.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about violence in video games. Is the impact of the violence in Paper Mario: The Origami King affected by the lack of blood and gore in the game? Is the violence acceptable because it's cartoonish and light, especially because the characters are made out of paper?

  • Is Paper Mario: The Origami King another "damsel in distress" storyline, like many other Mario tales, or are women given stronger roles here? Should Nintendo games have stronger and more independent lead characters who are women?

Game Details

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