A short guide to the Paper Mario series' papercraft style, turn-based combat, and where new players should begin.
Paper Mario takes the series in a very different direction from platforming: a role-playing game built around a distinctive papercraft art style, where Mario and the world around him are rendered as flat, foldable paper cutouts.
Combat uses a turn-based system with an "action command" twist — timing button presses during attacks and defenses for bonus effects, which keeps otherwise simple turn-based battles engaging.
Every entry leans into the paper conceit visually and mechanically — Mario can turn sideways to slip through gaps, fold into paper airplanes, or roll up into a tube, using his paper-thin nature as an actual gameplay mechanic rather than just an art choice.
Newer entries on Nintendo Switch are generally the most accessible starting point, with self-contained stories that don't require familiarity with earlier games in the series.
No, Paper Mario is primarily a role-playing game with turn-based combat, distinct from the side-scrolling platforming of the mainline Super Mario Bros. series.
No, most entries in the series tell self-contained stories and don't require prior series knowledge.
The paper-thin design is used as an actual gameplay mechanic, letting Mario slip through gaps, fold into shapes, and interact with the world in ways a normal character couldn't.
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