Summary
The originalPaper Mariolaunched on the N64 in the early 2000s and has grown to become one of Nintendo’s most beloved RPG series. The earliest entries are known for their engaging turn-based battle systems and unique casts of characters, while the most recent entries throw those concepts away for divisive gameplay mechanics and stories.
Despite howsome might feel about titles like Sticker Star or Origami King, it’s hard to argue that Paper Mario isn’t one of Nintendo’s most compelling franchises. The company has plenty of other series that would benefit from having a game inspired by these foldable adventures, whether they borrow the aesthetic, the gameplay, or a combination of both.
8Yoshi
Don’t Lick The Page
Yoshi was introduced in Super Mario World as a rideable companion and quickly became popular enough to star in that game’s sequel a few years later. One of the few things the Yoshi series has become known for is its ability to employ different art styles in nearly every entry, from the soft and vibrant look in Woolly World to the DIY-inspired aesthetic in Crafted World.
While Crafted World certainly had paper-like elements throughout many of its levels, it would be interesting to see what a game would look like if it fully committed to the art style. Yoshi’s Story for the N64 already feels like you’re living inside a book, so Nintendo could possibly bring that idea back to create a “Choose Your Own Adventure” platformer starring the courageous babysitter.
7Kirby
Eats Books For Breakfast
Similar to Yoshi, the Kirby series is also known for exploring different art styles in games like Epic Yarn and Rainbow Curse. Though these titles don’t commit to variety as frequently as the adorable dinosaur, it’s always exciting to see the pink puffball in different forms, like clay or when hetransforms into another character in Super Smash Bros.
As interesting as it would be to play through an entire Kirby game that looks like it was drawn on paper, there are enough interesting characters in the series that it could also work as a turn-based RPG like Paper Mario. From recruiting party members like King Dedede to using Kirby’s inhale ability in turn-based combat, it could provide an exciting new way to explore Planet Popstar or somewhere completely new.
6Fire Emblem
It’s Almost Destiny
Fire Emblem is one of Nintendo’s longest-running franchises, with the first game launching exclusively in Japan in 1990. The series was eventually brought to the West in 2003 with the launch of Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade for the Game Boy Advance and has continued to grow in popularity with fan-favorite entries, like Awakening for the 3DS and Three Houses for the Nintendo Switch.
Unlike other Nintendo series, Fire Emblem has maintained a mature and realistic aesthetic that rarely leans toward being silly or cartoonish. It would be fun to see a game with a lighter tone that features the classic Fire Emblem turn-based battle system, but with characters represented as paper figures, similar to those found in older board games.
5Pokemon
Pokemon has been Nintendo’s most prominent RPG series since the original games took over the world during the late 1990s. Despite some road bumps along the way, Pokemon is still thriving, and while the mainline entries tend to follow a specific formula, thespin-offs are often much more experimentalwith their storytelling, gameplay, and design.
Following the blueprint established by Paper Mario, a Paper Pokemon game should follow a fixed cast of characters as they work together to grow stronger and defeat whatever evil threatens them. Instead of playing as a human, you should have a choice to play as a starter Pokemon of your choice, similar to how the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon games operate.
4Punch-Out
A One-Two Punch
The Punch-Out series has been stagnant for quite some time, and what better way to bring it back than to make it a turn-based RPG with an art style that resembles a pop-up book? It’s unlikely to happen, but there is a lot of potential for a boxing game that uses a unique aesthetic to help it stand out in the ring.
The most appealing aspect of this idea is how the characters could appear more crumpled or cut depending on how many punches they’ve taken. It probably wouldn’t work well as a pure turn-based experience, but this Punch-Out could still use the action command system from Paper Mario to help you deal more damage to exposed opponents or even parry certain moves to perform a super attack.
3Metroid
The Best Of Both Worlds
Metroid is another long-running Nintendo series that has stuck with a specific style for almost every entry, which is essential for creating a tense and mysterious atmosphere. Samus hasn’t starred in many spin-offs, but combining elements from the Paper Mario series with the rewarding and influential exploration of Metroid could lead to one of her greatest adventures yet.
A Paper Metroid could allow you to search for bosses and items at your own pace, but instead of fighting enemies in real-time combat, you could trigger a turn-based battle where Samus can defeat multiple foes to gain experience and grow stronger. She could even assemble a party of companions by saving unique creatures from danger, like the one who teaches her how to use the Shinespark ability in Super Metroid.
2Earthbound
Back Into The Fold
Earthbound, known as Mother in Japan, is a very unique series that has built a passionate audience of fans around it despite the fact that there hasn’t been a new entry since 2006. While most people are familiar with main characters like Ness and Lucas through Super Smash Bros., they starred in some of Nintendo’s strangest RPGs that would influence modern hits like Undertale.
Whether it’s a remake of one of the original three games or a new entry, long-time fans of Earthbound would be happy to see the series return in any shape or form, even if it shared a look with the Paper Mario series. The main mechanics would still work perfectly with the playful art style, and the world of Earthbound has always felt playful and silly, so this new look could be a perfect fit.
1The Legend Of Zelda
A Perfect Copy
Fans have been wanting to see Link and Hyrule get the pop-up book treatment since Paper Mario hooked audiences back in 2001. It’s almost too easy to imagine a paper version of Link having a similar adventure to Paper Mario as he travels between towns, befriending the locals, and completing side quests to get strong enough to defeat the boss in each region he visits.
From having a variety of party members to Link’s versatility in combat, there could be so many different ways to approach combat that it could match the freedom you feel while playing something like Breath of the Wild. The Legend of Zelda has never shied away from getting goofy from time to time, and following Link on a Paper Mario-inspired adventure sounds like the recipe to his funniest adventure yet.
