Mario & Luigi: Brothership brings Nintendo’s smashing siblings closer than ever - but Luigi still plays second fiddle

Am I my brother’s keeper?

Features By Josephine Watson published 10 October 2024

Following a nine-year void with no new role-playing games (RPGs) for the Nintendo franchise, Mario & Luigi: Brothership sees the plumber pair reunited for another adventure, and it’s a glorious return to form for a beloved series.

At a preview event hosted by Nintendo, I got to play just over an hour of the upcoming game, and judging by that alone, I’d wager it could easily chart among the best Nintendo Switch games to be released this year.

A lot has changed in gaming over the last decade, reflected wonderfully in Mario & Luigi: Brothership’s careful balance of sticking to its roots while adding shedloads of creativity and quirk that has been sorely missed in more recent titles. Mario and Luigi’s brotherly bond is at the front and center, with even the cover art showing the pair closer than ever in a shoulder embrace, with new Bros. Attacks, new game mechanics, and new friends to join the mustachio’d pair on their quest.

Its new, all-3D artwork is wonderful, allowing for far more expression both from its characters and the world itself. Speaking of which, the semi-open world is a delight to explore and brimming with life and activity, and as a Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker fan, it’s wonderful to see Nintendo return to the sea once more.

Bro, bro, bro your boat

For their latest caper, Mario and Luigi are seabound, transported to a new realm called Concordia, and sent on a mission to reconnect its scattered islands into one united land following the destruction of the Unitree which once held them together.

It’s hard to tell based solely on my preview, but it seems Mario & Luigi: Brothership has taken a similar approach to the semi-open world of Super Mario Odyssey - though it remains to be seen to what degree you can choose where you’ll venture next.

The main hub of the game itself is also an island; Shipshape Island, which is suitably ship-shaped. As such Mario and Luigi can use Shipshape Island to traverse the open sea, using a cannon to launch themselves to nearby islands.

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