Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey Reviews

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey is ranked in the 91st percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
Metro GameCentral
Top Critic
9 / 10
Jan 24, 2019

One of the best portable role-players ever made and a joyful mix of bizarrely inventive gameplay and surprisingly sharp comedy.

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9 / 10
Jan 11, 2019

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey stands as a well-made remake of a game that was excellent to begin with, polishing up the original in small ways and adding some extra content that meaningfully establishes its own identity. If you've ever been a fan of the Mario & Luigi series (or are looking for a reason to dust off the old 3DS), do yourself a favour and pick this game up. Although Bowser Jr.'s Journey is just an ‘okay' addition, the inventive battles, great writing and creative gameplay of the main game make this one an easy recommendation.

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Jan 21, 2019

The effectiveness of the game's humor doesn't always tie back to the concept of Bowser as a frustrated, impotent vessel.

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9 / 10.0
Jan 14, 2019

The humor, dialogue, and characters all add up to a zany adventure that is sure to have you laugh out loud on more than one occasion. The remake stays faithful to the game released nearly a decade ago but gives a facelift to the visuals and music, putting fresh paint on a classic. Bowser Jr's Journey is a nice addition, but might prove to be a bit too passive and at times too uninspired for many to see it the entire way through.

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Drew Hurley
Top Critic
9 / 10
Jan 22, 2019

In an age where remakes and remasters are as hotly anticipated as the biggest AAA title, it's great to see yet another gem from yesteryear arrive, giving players who never experienced it the first time around a second chance and letting players who enjoyed it originally revisit just what made it stand out to them. The Mario RPG series is a perfect example. It is criminally underrated and deserves to be lauded far more. Any new opportunity to do that is a blessing. This was an awesome game almost a decade ago and now it has gotten a fresh lick of paint and it is looking better than ever.

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90 / 100
Jan 11, 2019

The Mario & Luigi series has seen incredible popularity since its debut with Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga and Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story is regarded as one of the best in the series. It brought back Bowser as a playing character and teaming him up, unknowingly, with Mario & Luigi; something that hasn't been done since Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars. Like the remake of Superstar Saga Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey brings back the original game with updated visuals, new content, and changes to the original game that makes it more accessible. For those who missed out on this gem of an RPG now is your chance to experience this outstanding adventure and if you did there's plenty of reasons to journey again with Mario, Luigi, and Bowser again.

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88%
Mar 10, 2019

Already the best game in the Mario & Luigi series, the new graphics and presentation raise it to new heights on the 3DS!

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87 / 100
Jan 14, 2019

A great new version for one of the most beloved Nintendo's RPG games. Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr's Journey is a most have to all 3DS owners.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

8.5 / 10.0
Jan 10, 2019

The excellent writing, silly premise, and fun combat all translate well to the updated visual style. The added Bowser Jr. mode is worth exploring, even if it's not the main attraction

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85 / 100
Feb 14, 2019

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr's Journey is a one-two punch of fun, casual and amusing gameplay, complete with all the expected charm, humor, and challenge expected of a game in the Mario Universe. Bowser's Inside Story is one of the more odd and varied titles I've ever played, but it is a little too easy. The overall product combines several of the best game styles into one, yet the final product feels incredibly cohesive and is a must play modern Mario experience.

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ZTGD
Top Critic
8.5 / 10.0
Feb 28, 2019

Bowser’s Inside Story is one of the best in the Mario RPG titles and should be played.

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8.5 / 10.0
Jan 15, 2019

Don't let Mario and Luigi's top billing fool you. This game is as much about Bowser and his spunky son as it is about Nintendo's popular plumbers. Bowser's Inside Story is a great remake of the DS classic, boasting JRPG gameplay that still feels fresh and fun a decade later. The addition of Bowser Jr.'s Adventure, meanwhile, gives the young Koopa prince a much-deserved turn in the spotlight along with the Koopalings. Battles in the main game can be a bit too long while Bowser Jr.'s skirmishes could be a bit more fleshed out. Overall, however, Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey is a must-have for your 3DS library.

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8.5 / 10.0
Feb 1, 2019

This 2009 classic is definitely worth playing. It's comical, quite varied, generally well-paced, and, most of all, fun!

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8.5 / 10.0
Jan 25, 2019

Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story + Bowser Jr.’s Journey is a great package that is buoyed by the superb Bowser’s Inside Story, but slightly let down by the mediocrity of Bowser Jr.’s Journey

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Nintendo News
Top Critic
8.5 / 10.0
Jan 20, 2019

Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story is a remarkably polished remake with well-balanced updates that makes the game all the more enjoyable. If you’ve been champing at the bit like a chain chomp to play another Mario & Luigi RPG, you can’t go far wrong with Bowser’s Inside Story. We’ll be here, keeping calm and chortling.

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8.4 / 10.0
Jan 28, 2019

The updated graphics and enjoyable Bowser Jr.'s Journey wonderfully complement a title that was already packed full of fun gameplay variety and hilarious absurdity.

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Spaziogames
DottorKillex
Top Critic
8.2 / 10.0
Feb 8, 2019

This is a great combo that ten years ago defined the apex of the series. Now the differences are not so many and they're not enough to justify the full price of the release.

Review in Italian | Read full review

8 / 10
Jan 20, 2019

One of the best of the modern Mario RPGs comes to 3DS with a few new tweaks and a cute new mode, and it's just as fulfilling as ever.

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8 / 10.0
Jan 22, 2019

It's tough to recommend this release to anyone who already owns the DS version, a game that is still completely playable no matter which member of the 3DS family you own. Everything that was great about the original is still great here. But if you're one of the dwindling number of people still rocking a 3DS and you have yet to take a trip to the bowels of Bowser, it's an unforgettable adventure full of wit, charm, and comedy. Bowser Jr's Journey may not add anything worthwhile in regards to gameplay, but it does reaffirm that the strength of the Mario & Luigi franchise lies in its writing.

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8 / 10.0
Jan 24, 2019

Mario & Luigi: Viaje al centro de Bowser + Las Peripecias de Bowsy arrives at Nintendo 3DS with the same magic, the same mechanics, and the same charm that a whole generation of players fell in love with a decade ago.

Review in Spanish | Read full review