2023 is shaping up to be one of the most memorable years for gaming in quite some time. In just the first half alone, critically acclaimed games such asResident Evil 4remake andThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomhave delivered top tier experiences to gamers. This isn’t even mentioning what’s coming on the horizon, withStarfielddue for release in September andFinal Fantasy 16receiving glowing early reviews. However, one single day - that being October 20 - has not justMarvel’s Spider-Man 2due for release, but now a brand-new Nintendo game in the form ofSuper Mario Bros Wonder.
Not long ago during Summer Games Fest, thecreative director ofMarvel’s Spider-Man 2took to the stage to confirm that the highly anticipated PS5 exclusive would hit shelves on October 20. Currently standing as one of the biggest releases of the year, players marked their calendars and eagerly began to set aside time as the clock ticks down for the game’s eventual release. To the screaming woes of gamers' wallets everywhere, Nintendo has now also confirmed a brand-newMariogame due for the same day, guaranteeing a landmark day for the year and confirming players having plenty to enjoy during that time.
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Mario vs Spider-Man: Business is Business
It is possible that Nintendo saw a strategic possibility to boost sales ofSuper Mario Bros Wonderby tailing off the set release date ofMarvel’s Spider-Man 2. As mentioned before,Marvel’s Spider-Man 2is currently lined up to be one of thebiggest games of 2023, and will likely show up in multiple categories once the Game of the Year awards presentation rolls around. Naturally, being such a colossal blockbuster, other tent pole releases have decided to steer clear of it since it is likely to steamroll the competition. However, if any company could go toe to toe with Spidey, its Nintendo, something confirmed at the latest Direct.
It helps that theSuper Mario Brosfranchiseis one of the most popular and successful IP’s in gaming, so if anything could go toe to toe withMarvel’s Spider-Man 2, that would be it. However, funny enough, there isn’t much of an actual face-off here as both Nintendo and PlayStation can win from this. Although bothMarvel’s Spider-Man 2andSuper Mario Bros Wonderare high-profile releases, they are different enough in both genre and style, perfectly complimenting each other. Though gamers have varied tastes, it’s very likely fans of single player games looking forward toMarvel’s Spider-Man 2also have a fondness for Mario. Being released on the same day, players going to pick up one game may cave and grab the other at the same time, marking a win-win for both companies.
A Winning Day For Gamers
Business metrics aside, having these two games paired together is also a slam dunk for players. Both titles tick so many of the boxes for what satisfies players, and playing them together can be a great combination.Marvel’s Spider-Man 2will have high production value, a gripping narrative and huge open world to explore. However, if while playing the sprawling open world game players feel like they need a break and something lighter,Super Mario Bros Wonderappears to be the perfect palette cleanser. It’s colorful landscapes and oddball Elephant Mario power-ups provide a delightful change of pace from the high-flying action of Marvel’s iconic wall crawler.
At a first glance, October 20 seems like a daunting day for players with twohuge upcoming video gamesbecoming available. However, once the dust settles (and the wallet recovers), the day should prove to be a great one for gamers. It is such a rare treat to receive not one, but two stellar and totally different games so close together, something that will keep fans busy for weeks after launch.
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