Paper Mario Celebrates 25th Anniversary: Reflecting on the N64 Classic's Enduring Legacy

Paper Mario 25th Anniversary: A Milestone for Nintendo's Beloved RPG Series August 11th, 2024, marks a landmark occasion for Nintendo fans and RPG enthusiasts alike: the 25th anniversary of Paper Mario, the classic turn-based role-playing game that debuted on the Nintendo 64 in 2000.

Developed by Intelligent Systems after an initial collaboration with Square fell through, Paper Mario established itself as a cornerstone not only of the Mario franchise, but also of Nintendo’s storied RPG lineage. Background: From RPG Roots to Papercraft Genius Originally, Square—best known for working with Nintendo on Super Mario RPG for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System—was rumored to lead development on Mario's next RPG outing.

Ultimately, Intelligent Systems assumed development duties, bringing a playful "papercraft" aesthetic and inventive gameplay that would define the series for decades.

The result was a whimsical, strategic adventure where Mario traversed a paper-thin world, encountering a colorful cast of companions and villains. Paper Mario innovated upon previous RPG mechanics, leveraging timed-button presses for attacks and defense, a mechanic reminiscent of Super Mario RPG.

However, the companion system received a unique twist: only one companion would join Mario in battle and exploration at any given time.

Memorable allies like Lady Bow the Boo and Sushie the Cheep Cheep not only added narrative flavor, but also offered essential exploration abilities—whether it was crossing gaps, swimming, or gaining context about the world from Goombario’s encyclopedic insights.

These skills extended beyond combat, emphasizing the game’s synergy between story, puzzle-solving, and action. A defining feature introduced in Paper Mario was the Badge system.

Equipable badges refashioned Mario’s abilities and provided stat boosts, special effects, and even entirely new moves.

This level of character customization broadened tactical options and contributed to the game’s enduring replay value. Celebrating the Franchise: Evolution and Current Availability Much of Paper Mario’s charm and mechanical depth endured in its sequel, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, released for the Nintendo GameCube and remade for Nintendo Switch in 2024.

While subsequent entries have experimented with gameplay and gradually shifted away from pure turn-based combat, the series’ combination of humor, puzzle platforming, and RPG mechanics remains influential. Today, fans can experience the original Paper Mario through Nintendo’s N64 Classics service, available to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers.

The latest mainline entry, Paper Mario: The Origami King, launched on Nintendo Switch in 2020, continuing the legacy with new storylines and inventive mechanics.

As of this anniversary, the series stands as testament to Nintendo and Intelligent Systems’ commitment to creative, accessible game design. Paper Mario’s 25-year journey from N64 origins to modern releases showcases the resilience and evolution of Nintendo’s RPG heritage, while providing new generations of players the opportunity to unfold their own papercraft adventures.

Nintendo Switch Nintendo Mario Switch Paper Mario N64 Intelligent Systems