Nintendo’s Mario and Zelda franchises are arguably their most popular of all time. While they are from vastly different genres, many of the same gamers enjoy playing both. Two of the top-selling games for the Nintendo Switch are Zelda: Breath of The Wild and Mario Odyssey, two games that have been out for more than a year and are still selling incredibly well.
If you are wondering which one is the best or even if you are fans of both of them, then it’s worth finding out five things Mario Odyssey does best and five things that Breath of The Wild does best.
10 Mario: Levels
Mario is a platformer that uses a variety of different settings to keep interesting levels that players love to look at. From the sprawling desert to prehistoric lands where dinosaurs roam, Mario has it all. While Zelda is diverse, Mario has better level design overall with more unique settings.
If you are looking for a constant barrage of changing levels, then Mario is best.
9 Zelda: Open World
While Zelda may not have the incredible open world that many RPG fans have always dreamed of, it’s still great. From rolling hills to vast grasslands, there is a lot of ground for Link to cover. No worrying about having to switch between different levels, because all you need to do is walk to wherever you want to go.
If you like to freely roam around and find destinations on your own, then you are likely to enjoy Breath of The Wild a bit more.
8 Mario: Transformations
Mario has long used an interesting list of techniques to kill his enemies. In Odyessy, he uses Cappy, a sentient hat, in order to obtain the power to take over the bodies of those who oppose him. This gives players a wide variety of interesting moves, ways to solve puzzles, and new bodies to try out.
If you love the idea of taking over the minds and bodies of those who stand in your way, then Mario is the way to go.
7 Zelda: Weapons
Zelda is a game that is known for its sword, and Breath of The Wild takes it a step further by introducing a roster of new weapons to choose from. These weapons all have durability and different strengths and weaknesses. This allows Link to be freed from using swords and experiment with other weapons.
If you like the idea of weapon-based battle systems, then Zelda certainly has Mario beat for you.
6 Mario: Replayability
One thing that Mario games have always had is a pull that makes fans want to play through them again and again. Even more casual games enjoy replaying through their favorite Mario games and trying to collect all the stars or, in this case, moons, faster than they did last time they played.
Mario Odyssey is a game that is easier to pick up and quickly play through, and that’s what makes it so easy to replay for all ages of gamers.
5 Zelda: Story
While Zelda may not have a large number of players replaying through it, it does have a far better story. Players all over the world found themselves shocked by just how good Breath of The Wild’s story is. From the champions to the journey that Link is forced to go on to conquer Ganon, everything is told well.
Zelda has always had a stronger game storywise, and the Switch title is no exception to this rule.
4 Mario: Family-Friendly
If you are looking for a game that everyone in your family can play, then Odyessy will be the better choice. Odyssey is far easier to play and understand than most Zelda games will ever be. The challenge scales in Odyssey, making it perfect to introduce to children who have never played a game before.
Mario is a more leisurely play and perfect for families who just want to have fun.
3 Zelda: Difficulty
If you are a gamer that is looking for a challenge, then you want to pick-up Breath of The Wild. From the start, Breath of The Wild can be an incredibly difficult endeavor, especially if you wander into the wrong area. The developers let players wander wherever they wanted to make the game more challenging.
If you want, you can even go straight to the final boss for an ultimate challenge.
2 Mario: Creativity
Mario is one of the most creative games in terms of both environments and enemies. There is everything from evil turtles to hats that are able to talk. At the very least, most gamers are able to appreciate just how innovative the game series is and how unique the series assets are.
If you want a fun adventure full of cute enemies and bright colors, then Mario is your game.
1 Zelda: High Fantasy
If you love games that feature high fantasy, then Breath of The Wild has a ton of it. The inhabitants of Hyrule are all unique and would fit the medieval fantasies checklist. The Zoras, Gorons, and Hylians are all unique cultures and people that help define the game’s fantasy setting.
Even the enemies have their own cultures.
NEXT: Link’s Awakening vs. Breath Of The Wild: Which Is The Best Zelda Game On Switch?
