Best Paper Mario-Likes On Switch – Games To Play If You Miss Old-School Paper Mario

Paper Mario Like Games
Image: Nintendo Life

We’ve updated this guide to reflect the upcoming release of the Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door remaster and also added Born of Bread to the list. Enjoy!


If you’re a Paper Mario fan, then there’s one key thing that you probably share with all other Paper Mario fans: Disappointment. However, Paper Mario is set to make a big return in 2024 with the remaster of the GameCube classic, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door.

Up until now, the series has been a little lacking, taking the things we loved about the early games (turn-based combat! Witty writing! Incredible characters!) and turning them into things that… just aren’t as good. Endless parades of faceless Toads, combat that relies too heavily on a gimmick that doesn’t quite work, and writing that never quite reaches the heights of Paper Marios of old…Origami King was pretty good, though.

It’s been a long time since we’ve had a special Paper Mario game. Luckily for us, game developers can be fans of Paper Mario too — and several of them have taken up the reins, creating Paper Mario-inspired games that harken back to the good ol’ days of our flat friends. Here are the indie games you should check out if you’re ever feeling nostalgic for Thousand-Year Door or the OG…

(Shout out to the excellent Paperverse, a community that keeps tabs on Paper Mario-like games, for helping us with this list!)

Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling (Switch eShop)

Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling (Switch eShop)

Publisher: DANGEN Entertainment / Developer: Moonsprout Games

Release Date: 28th May 2020 (USA) / 28th May 2020 (UK/EU)
Tinykin (Switch eShop)

Tinykin (Switch eShop)

Publisher: tinyBuild / Developer: Splashteam

Release Date: 30th Aug 2022 (USA) / 30th Aug 2022 (UK/EU)
Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion (Switch eShop)

Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion (Switch eShop)

Publisher: Graffiti Games / Developer: Snoozy Kazoo

Release Date: 22nd Apr 2021 (USA) / 22nd Apr 2021 (UK/EU)
UnderHero (Switch eShop)

UnderHero (Switch eShop)

Publisher: Digerati / Developer: Paper Castle Games

Release Date: 14th Feb 2020 (USA) / 14th Feb 2020 (UK/EU)
Cat Quest II (Switch eShop)

Cat Quest II (Switch eShop)

Publisher: PQube / Developer: The Gentlebros

Release Date: 24th Oct 2019 (USA) / 24th Oct 2019 (UK/EU)
Undertale (Switch eShop)

Undertale (Switch eShop)

Publisher: 8-4 / Developer: 8-4

Release Date: 18th Sep 2018 (USA) / 18th Sep 2018 (UK/EU)
Nobody Saves The World (Switch eShop)

Nobody Saves The World (Switch eShop)

Publisher: Drinkbox Studios / Developer: Drinkbox Studios

Release Date: 14th Apr 2022 (USA) / 14th Apr 2022 (UK/EU)

Paper Mario Like Games
Image: Nintendo Life

We’ve updated this guide to reflect the upcoming release of the Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door remaster and also added Born of Bread to the list. Enjoy!


If you’re a Paper Mario fan, then there’s one key thing that you probably share with all other Paper Mario fans: Disappointment. However, Paper Mario is set to make a big return in 2024 with the remaster of the GameCube classic, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door.

Up until now, the series has been a little lacking, taking the things we loved about the early games (turn-based combat! Witty writing! Incredible characters!) and turning them into things that… just aren’t as good. Endless parades of faceless Toads, combat that relies too heavily on a gimmick that doesn’t quite work, and writing that never quite reaches the heights of Paper Marios of old…Origami King was pretty good, though.

It’s been a long time since we’ve had a special Paper Mario game. Luckily for us, game developers can be fans of Paper Mario too — and several of them have taken up the reins, creating Paper Mario-inspired games that harken back to the good ol’ days of our flat friends. Here are the indie games you should check out if you’re ever feeling nostalgic for Thousand-Year Door or the OG…

(Shout out to the excellent Paperverse, a community that keeps tabs on Paper Mario-like games, for helping us with this list!)

Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling (Switch eShop)

Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling (Switch eShop)

Publisher: DANGEN Entertainment / Developer: Moonsprout Games

Release Date: 28th May 2020 (USA) / 28th May 2020 (UK/EU)
Tinykin (Switch eShop)

Tinykin (Switch eShop)

Publisher: tinyBuild / Developer: Splashteam

Release Date: 30th Aug 2022 (USA) / 30th Aug 2022 (UK/EU)
Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion (Switch eShop)

Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion (Switch eShop)

Publisher: Graffiti Games / Developer: Snoozy Kazoo

Release Date: 22nd Apr 2021 (USA) / 22nd Apr 2021 (UK/EU)
UnderHero (Switch eShop)

UnderHero (Switch eShop)

Publisher: Digerati / Developer: Paper Castle Games

Release Date: 14th Feb 2020 (USA) / 14th Feb 2020 (UK/EU)
Cat Quest II (Switch eShop)

Cat Quest II (Switch eShop)

Publisher: PQube / Developer: The Gentlebros

Release Date: 24th Oct 2019 (USA) / 24th Oct 2019 (UK/EU)
Undertale (Switch eShop)

Undertale (Switch eShop)

Publisher: 8-4 / Developer: 8-4

Release Date: 18th Sep 2018 (USA) / 18th Sep 2018 (UK/EU)
Nobody Saves The World (Switch eShop)

Nobody Saves The World (Switch eShop)

Publisher: Drinkbox Studios / Developer: Drinkbox Studios

Release Date: 14th Apr 2022 (USA) / 14th Apr 2022 (UK/EU)

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