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July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
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How It Works • Games & Tech

Paper Mario

Paper Mario is a role-playing video game series in the Mario franchise developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Paper Mario is a role-playing game series from Nintendo and Intelligent Systems, known for its paper-craft art style and mix of adventure and puzzle elements.

What it is

Paper Mario is a Nintendo series that blends turn-based RPG combat with platforming, exploration, and puzzles. Its signature look makes characters and environments appear like paper cutouts, which is central to the franchise's identity.

Key details

The series began with Paper Mario on Nintendo 64 in 2000. It includes six mainline games and one spin-off, with the latest release being a 2024 remake of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door for Nintendo Switch. Intelligent Systems develops the games; Nintendo publishes them.

Why it matters

Paper Mario stands out in the Mario franchise for its creative visual style and deeper role-playing mechanics. Canadian players have enjoyed it across multiple Nintendo console generations, as all main entries saw North American releases.

In short

  • RPG series with paper-themed visuals and puzzle elements.
  • Developed by Intelligent Systems, published by Nintendo.
  • First game: Paper Mario on Nintendo 64 in 2000.
  • Latest release: 2024 remake of The Thousand-Year Door.
Canadian angle

Paper Mario has been released in Canada as part of Nintendo's North American market, and its Nintendo console releases made it familiar to Canadian players across multiple generations.

Quick questions

What is Paper Mario?
A Nintendo video game series that mixes role-playing, adventure, and puzzle gameplay with a paper-craft art style.
Who develops Paper Mario?
Intelligent Systems develops the series; Nintendo publishes it.
How many Paper Mario games are there?
According to the sources, six mainline games and one spin-off or crossover title.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paper_Mario
    Supports: Series overview, developer, publisher, genre blend, first release, and latest remake mention.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paper_Mario_(video_game)
    Supports: Original game's release date, platform, setting, and re-releases.
  3. Mario Wiki — https://www.mariowiki.com/Paper_Mario_(series)
    Supports: Series description, gameplay structure, and series entry count.
  4. Mario Wiki — https://www.mariowiki.com/Paper_Mario
    Supports: Original game details, story premise, and art style description.