If you're a Paper Mario fan, then there's one key thing that you probably share with all other Paper Mario fans: Disappointment.
Unfortunately for all of us who love the antics of Intelligent Systems' two-dimensional plumber, the Paper Mario series has been slowly declining in quality, taking the things we loved about the early games (turn-based combat! Witty writing! Incredible characters!) and turning them into things that... just aren't as good. Endless parades of faceless Toads, combat that relies too heavily on a gimmick that doesn't quite work, and writing that never quite reaches the heights of Paper Marios of old... this is what we've had to endure for a while (although, admittedly, Origami King was pretty good).
Luckily for us, game developers can be fans of Paper Mario too — and several of them have taken up the reins, creating Paper Mario-inspired games that harken back to the good ol'days of our flat friends. Here are the indie games you should check out if you're ever feeling nostalgic for Thousand-Year Door or the OG Paper Mario...
(Shout out to the excellent Paperverse, a community that keeps tabs on Paper Mario-like games, for helping us with this list!)
Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling (Switch eShop)
The most Paper Marioest of the Paper Mario-inspired games on this list, Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling isn't just a love letter to Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door; it's that GameCube classic's terrifying stalker. We can't stress it enough; this is Paper Mario.
From top to bottom, it's spiritually identical – from the writing style with its many little comical asides, the pop-up book graphics, the music (that "battle won" theme is shockingly evocative of Thousand-Year Door) all the way to the individual animations; bee protagonist Vi's little arm flail precisely recalls Mario's. It's so similar that it's almost unnerving; like Bug Fables has killed Paper Mario and is wearing its skin. But, you know, in a good way.
Tinykin (Switch eShop)
Tinykin's more obvious inspiration is Pikmin, but this 3D platformer also has a healthy chunk of Paper Mario DNA in there, too. This critter-wrangling puzzle game presents a lesson in appreciating the simple things in life, including the help from those around you (like Paper Mario's various NPC companions), with plenty of environmental puzzles that utilise the strengths of each of your tiny pals. It's a sweet game with low stakes, but charming writing and inventive level design make it well worth picking up.
Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion (Switch eShop)
This tax-avoidance action-RPG may be the only one of its kind, but it pulls inspiration from games like A Link to the Past to create a brilliantly-written, surprisingly gorgeous game that constantly delights players with weird and witty dialogue and puzzles. We wouldn't say Turnip Boy is as clearly inspired by the Papers Mario as, say, Bug Fables — but it certainly hits the spot when it comes to the writing.
UnderHero (Switch eShop)
UnderHero is, like one of its inspirations, Undertale, an anti-RPG. You play as a minion of the evil overlord, who starts off the game's story by accidentally killing the actual hero, and then going on his own quest. It's a 2D platformer with Paper Mario-like upgrades and coins to collect, and timing-based combat that builds on the foundations Mario laid. Like many other games on this list, the writing is a strong point, the visuals are cracking, and the soundtrack is filled with bangers. A true hidden gem of the paper-like genre!
Cat Quest II (Switch eShop)
The better of the two Cat Quest games, Cat Quest II does for cats what Paper Mario did for stationery. Get ready for puns-a-plenty, all to do with humanity's favourite feline friends, in this comedic action-RPG with simple but compelling combat. Now we just have to wait for Cat Mario and Paper Mario to be combined, at last...
Undertale (Switch eShop)
Where Paper Mario took the RPG formula and made it silly, weird, and self-referential, Undertale does the same in a more modern, meme-saturated, Earthbound-flavoured way. It's definitely not the closest analogue to the Paper Mario world, but its heart is full of similar charm, goofiness, and memorably unique moments — just be warned that it gets a fair bit darker than Mario would ever dare.
Skellboy (Switch eShop)
Link's Awakening's overworld meets Paper Mario's 2D-guy-in-a-3D-setting in Skellboy, a vibrant action-RPG that flew under the radar because of poor performance at launch. Since then, it's been patched significantly, and we're hoping that more people will give it a go as a result. You'll play a little skeleton lad named Skippy, with the ability to swap out your body parts for new effects and skills — so every battle is a potential new body part for you to pilfer.
Comments 23
Chicory is still in my backlog. Feels like a game I'll get to while traveling sometime as I think it might be better suited in handheld mode- perhaps painting using the touchscreen rather than docked with a pro controller as I primarily play.
A good "Paper Mario-like" (in gameplay, not art style) would be a new Super Mario RPG, Mario & Luigi or Super Princess Peach though tbh.
Edit: I'd also add Restless Soul to this list in terms of that 'Paper' look
... Wun can only hope.
My favorite paper mario like is the persona series followed by skullgirls. 😂
I absolutely love Tinykin, but no way would I say it gives a Paper Mario sort of gameplay experience, apart from flat characters. Even saying it's similar to Pikmin is really barely true at all. It's a platformer, plain and simple.
From what I've heard, Bug Fables is the most authentic Paper Mario-like experience out there.
I'll tell you which one I want to come to Switch:
I played the original Paper Mario for the first time via NSO EP when it originally came out back in December and wow: what an introduction. Lovely characters, an infectiously addicting battle system, collectables and upgrades up the wazoo and some brilliant music/moments (I'll never forget Tubba Blubba's chase for as long as I live). Definitely need to get around to games like Bug Fables and Chicory whenever possible.
Bug fables is better than any paper Mario game. Coming from someone who has the series in their top five of all time.
Waiting for The Outbound Ghost to come to Switch
My fave paper mario like games are both South Park games. Turn based rpg with action commands, check. Partners with overworld exploration abilities, check. Great, funny writing, check. Apply badges (patches) to get new augments for your main character, check. Lots of sidequests, check.
Check em out, on sale all the time because ubisoft
Cris Tales could be on this list
Paper Mario (NSO N64 app) 😉
...this article has an extremely loose definition of what a "Paper Mario Like" is. Turnip Boy is more like a silly little Zeldalike with not very good controls.
and Undertale... is its own beast entirely at this point.
I love how many paper mario like indie-games are coming out. Chicory is in my backlog and were just added to psplus, but it looks like it would be great on the OLED
Are the South Park games not on switch too? Stick of Truth and Fractured but Whole are also incredibly Paper Mario 1-2 esque in their game design as well.
The Outbound Ghost needs to be added to this list once it's released.
Ahh, I forgot to mention, I think fans of Paper Mario would also enjoy West of Loathing. It's surprisingly well-written, with an amazing sense of humour too.
@EarthboundBenjy
It seems as though anything with rpg elements is considered paper Mario like. Probably so their list wouldn’t have like three games on it.
If you want old school paper Mario and haven’t played bug fables, why?
It really is old school paper Mario, just with bugs
@blindsquarel
I've played through the console Paper Mario's each several times over, and I've played through Bug Fables before and after the big update......I think claiming that it's objectively better than 1,000 Year Door is a stretch. I do think it's a good game
Thought about Bug Fables but never got around to it...I dunno. It just makes me want TTYD on the Switch already or something. Why can't we get a remake/port? >.<
@blindsquarel I've been meaning to pick up that game for so long, your comment convinced me to get it. Thanks!
@daveMcFlave
It is just my opinion. But in reality most objective opinions are really subjective just due to personal biases, and whether they make you judge a game more harshly or are blind to its flaws.
Basically most “objective” opinions are really subjective. Some things in a game might be better for me than you and visa versa.
@Jimmy_G_Buckets
You won’t regret it. It takes all the good about thousand year door, and improves on everything wrong with thousand year door.
Bug Fables is great, just that right amount of comedic writing with good storyline, a lot of side quests too, some of the bosses were a bit of a pain, but once you learned them it was ok
I say absolutely more power to everyone who liked Bug Fables. You were able to have an aesthetic experience that I wasn't, so clearly you win, and I'm obviously in an extreme minority, but I found the "clever" dialogue so unbearably nails-on-a-chalkboard grating that I had to stop playing. It was just painful.
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