The extensive line of “Super Mario” 2D platformer games was updated late last year with “Super Mario Bros. Wonder,” perhaps the most inventive title in the series so far. Ever since Mario entered the 3D space, his adventures have always felt new and fresh. The 2D games, however, have gotten somewhat stale, so much so that Nintendo instead opted to let players create their own Mario levels in recent years with “Super Mario Maker” and its sequel. So, what does Nintendo do when it’s time for another 2D outing? They turn the Mario formula we think we know on its head for tremendous effect. 

On the surface, the experience is the same: When Bowser gets up to no good in the Flower Kingdom, Mario and friends have to journey across the land to collect Wonder Seeds and Royal Seeds in order to stop him. But in almost every level, collecting an extra Wonder Seed will have some kind of trippy effect: the player might turn into one of the level’s enemies, the level might turn into a giant musical number, or sometimes the dimensions and layout of the level itself are changed. It is wacky, unpredictable and delightful. Combined with the level of care and polish Nintendo applies to its first party releases, it’s a truly well-crafted experience. 

“Wonder” is also accessible to players of all skill levels. There are some genuinely challenging courses throughout the world that even seasoned gamers will struggle with, but younger or inexperienced players also have the opportunity to have fun without the difficulty some crave. Almost half of the 12 playable characters are completely immune to damage, meaning kids can have a good time on their own, and older players can have younger ones tag along without hampering their progress. 

“Super Mario Bros. Wonder” represents a milestone for Nintendo. For one thing, this is the first Mario game to feature a new actor in the titular role after the iconic Charles Martinet stepped down last year. That, the fresh ingenuity in the level design and some subtle artistic changes seem to herald a new era for the most recognizable face in gaming. 

“Wonder” is here to tell us that there’s much more to come, and we’re gonna love all of it.