Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Reviews
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is everything it needs to be. The original game was such a delightful entry that it has overshadowed every Paper Mario game since, and the remake captures all of that charm without losing an iota of what made the original great. It's easily the definitive version of the game, and it's a fantastic experience for newcomers and nostalgic fans alike. It's a strong contender for the best Mario RPG of all time, and if you're looking for a fun adventure, it's one of the best experiences on the Switch.
Sometimes I get excited and say "this is not only the best Paper Mario game, but the best Mario game" for The Thousand-Year Door. I don't think I'm wrong.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
That is probably a big part of the reason that Thousand-Year Door doesn’t feel like a “retro” game to play, despite being 20 years old and this “remake” being barely touched from the original. It’s rare for a game to be quite this timeless, and thank goodness it hasn’t been lost to the GameCube platform and now people can discover or rediscover it on modern hardware.
Everything that Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door entails is everything that is desired in this series - turn-based timed button battles, completely original characters in familiar and new species, witty dialogue, and an emphasis on story and greater lore. This is a unique adventure full of fun and clever gameplay ideas, offering a medium-length RPG that will satisfy Mario fans eager to see more than stomping on koopas and - in the case of the more recent Paper Mario titles - repetitive battle systems and generic characters. If all goes well, fingers crossed that the success of this game can pave the way for a brand-new entry in the same vein as this one - ideally without a paper joke in sight.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door for Nintendo Switch improves upon the GameCube classic in almost every way; not just with its impressive graphical overhaul, but with plenty of quality-of-life changes and additional content too. As long as you can handle some occasional backtracking and a reduced frame-rate of 30fps, this is undoubtedly the ultimate Paper Mario RPG experience. Mario games usually put the narrative to the wayside to focus on having fun and engaging gameplay, but The Thousand-Year Door manages to do both and succeeds at it in such a way that still hasn’t been topped 20 years later.
It is not a full-blown remake with overhauled graphics or new episodes. But deep within lies truly one of the best parts of the series to be enjoyed even 20 years later with excellent gameplay, sharp-wit writing and funny dialogues for long evenings or short bursts.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Behind its vibrant and cheerful appearance hides a great battle system and a memorable cast of characters and events in a world brimming with content. Just be aware that some patience is required to enjoy the ride fully.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is a classic RPG with a perfect blend of turn-based combat and adventuring complete with a rewarding unlockable abilities system that encourages you to explore every nook and cranny. Plus, its updated graphics, hilarious humour, and welcome gameplay improvements make it more accessible than ever. 🚪
The Thousand-Year Door remake is a timeless adventure whose improved visuals and new features keep it fresh, making it a must for every RPG fan.
Review in German | Read full review
So how does this 20 year old game stand up I hear you say? Its incredible. It’s everything I wanted and more. Puzzles galore, comedy out the wazoo and an emotional story that kept me hooked throughout it’s 30+ hours. I simply adore this game. As a pairing gamers are just plain spoilt to have these two Paper Mario games side by side on the Nintendo Switch. If you haven’t tackled any Paper Mario games so far, you are seriously missing out. Dive in right here and prepare to have your mind blown over and over again.
It’s a remaster of the original Nintendo GameCube title of the same name. Beyond the cleaner visuals and an aspect ratio optimized for modern TVs, then, there isn’t much else to add. And ultimately, that’s a good thing, because The Thousand-Year Door was already an excellent game 20 years ago.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Intelligent Systems has knocked it out of the ballpark with their quality of life changes, updated music for each chapter, incredible humour, and an all-around perfect experience for Mario RPG fans. Truly, this is the definitive edition of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door and an exceptional entry point for younger gamers to explore the world of RPGs while providing enough ways for experienced gamers to give themselves a challenge. I can't recommend Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door any more than this and it’s a must have for any switch owner or RPG fan.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door remains an exceptionally high-quality title that has aged remarkably well and still doesn’t hold back even today. The game captivates both longtime fans and newcomers alike. Numerous quality-of-life features, the new soundtrack, and its picture-book-like visuals successfully bring Paper Mario 2 into the modern era. The controller felt almost glued to my hands, and despite having played the title multiple times back in the day, I still couldn’t put it down. This is clearly Nintendo’s RPG hit of the year!
Review in German | Read full review
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door returns in a stunning HD remake that preserves the charm, humor, and tactical depth of the GameCube classic. While new content is minimal, the visual overhaul, quality-of-life improvements, and timeless gameplay make this a must-play for both newcomers and longtime fans.
Review in Finnish | Read full review
This polished update of the Nintendo GameCube classic is certain to attract a new generation of fans. Despite a few tell-tale signs of aging, it remains sharp, engaging, and conceptually impressive.
With gorgeous visuals that have aged gracefully, a stellar soundtrack, and a solid, perfectly playable experience right on the card, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is an easy recommendation. It’s yet another home run from Nintendo and their Switch console.
The remake of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door brings a freshness to what was already one of the best Mario's spin-off experiences. It's an impeccable recreation that maintains all the charm and charisma that the original had, but now with completely reinvigorated visuals and music.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
The Switch incarnation of Intelligent Systems’ RPG is a phenomenal feat of nostalgia fodder, and a joyous game in its own right. Spruced up visuals and music complement a brilliant and bizarre Mario adventure.
Paper Mario The Thousand Year Door on Nintendo Switch is a fantastic game. It breathes new life into what is widely considered the best entry in the series with a very tasteful graphical overhaul. While the main mechanics of the game remain unchanged, they were not broken or in need of any particular tweaking to begin with so it’s really a win-win for those purests out there with their 5HP Mario runs. This is also the first time TTYD has been available as a portable title so no matter what, this is a must have game for fans of Paper Mario or even just RPG fans. They really hit the right notes for this reviewer!
After finishing the Paper Mario remake, I envy those who were able to play the original release, as I can only imagine how happy those original fans would be with the Nintendo Switch release. TTYD offers the best Mario centric story I have ever experienced, with brilliant writing across the entire 30+ hour adventure. While some unnecessary backtracking and fairly easy combat do hinder the overall experience, it’s hard to play TTYD without a smile on your face due to the magnificent soundtrack and sleek visuals.