Mario is here. Again. One of the most talked about games of the year is Super Mario Odyssey on the Nintendo Switch.
And that's fine if you have a Switch. Much of Mario's appeal is that it's both nostalgia-filled and family friendly. Xbox One has plenty of games that fit that bill, and here are six we've picked out to help you forget about that guy in the red hat.
Sonic Mania
Back in the day, Nintendo had Mario and Sega had Sonic. While Mario has grown up in his latest adventure, Sonic Mania is a retro throwback to the good old days of 2D side-scrolling platformers.
Only its now in high definition and running at a super-slick 60 FPS. We'll always have room for you, Sonic. Especially for $20.
Shovel Knight
You'd be forgiven thinking that Shovel Knight was an old game brought back to life for the new generation consoles. But you'd be wrong. Shovel Knight is a challenging platformer with the appeal of old-school 8-bit pixel art graphics.
You're a knight, with a shovel, on a quest to save Shield Knight. For fans of retro platformers, you can't do much better than this. All for the low price of $25.
Rare Replay
One retro game is fun, but how about 30? Rare Replay is a glorious trip through the archives of one of the most loved game studios ever to have existed.
It's not all the Rare classics (looking at you Goldeneye), but you'll find the likes of Banjo Kazooie in here along with some true classics, like Battletoads. One of the best value packages you can buy on the Xbox One today. At $30 you're paying $1 per game as well. And that's amazing value.
Unravel
Games like Mario have a unique visual attraction, and that's true of Unravel. One of the most beautiful platformers we've seen in recent years, EA's Unravel sees you take on the role of Yarny. Who is made of yarn.
Mario has his mushrooms, but he can't unravel his entire body to overcome an obstacle. Yarny can. $20 well spent.
Super Lucky's Tale
Launching on November 7, 2017, Super Lucky's Take is a 3D platformer that sees you take on the role of Lucky the fox who's on a quest to help his sister rescue the book of souls from that no-good villain Jinx.
It's fun for all ages and packed with mini-games to keep the fun rolling as the hours pass by. And it's only $30.
Minecraft
If you want exploration, you want Minecraft. You might not get the Nintendo exclusive Mario skin pack on the Xbox, but that's OK, there are still plenty to choose from.
Mine, build, craft, explore, kill zombies and creepers, Minecraft is adored by hundreds of millions of adults and children alike. Its blocky charm is irresistible, but it's also a game that will keep you coming back for years. Maybe even decades, who knows! Better still is that it's only $20 for the base game.
If all else fails, just buy a Switch
Xbox has a lot of great games, including a wealth of fun platformers, old-school names brought back to life and retro-inspired new adventures. But there is only one Mario. If that's what you want, go on and grab a Nintendo Switch.
Our buddies at iMore will be happy to help.
