Another updated Wii U port has arrived on the Nintendo Switch in the form of Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker. While mainline Super Mario titles have stuck to platforming in both 2D and 3D environments, this is a puzzle game starring the Mushroom Kingdom’s hapless Captain Toad and Toadette as they venture around to gather treasure whilst shrieking “time for adventure” at the player. It’s easy to overlook the discounted romp that just recently arrived on Switch and 3DS, but those that have avoided it this long should reconsider.

Sure, puzzle games are a dime a dozen these days, but Treasure Tracker does something that others don’t – it ropes you into the fictional world it takes place in. Every floating plaza embodies the cutesy nature of the series in which it originates from, complete with familiar faces and items. Better yet, it firmly places you into the roles of Toad and/or Toadette, stripping users of their ability to jump ludicrous heights or handily dispatch baddies like the iconic Mario.

In that light, you’re very much left to spearhead challenges in a way that only a Toad can, which in turn adds depth to the Super Mario Bros. universe. This additional insight into the adventures of a new character is great, but shifting aside the cutesy surface and engaging worlds leaves some of the best core mechanics found in any Nintendo title.

The 3D plain that Captain Toad explores and solves puzzles is more or less a giant floating plaza for the purpose of being able to rotate the camera around with the right stick. This then allows users to reveal hidden items and solve some of the more intricate puzzles present in the game. Of course, those that already played the title on Wii U will know this all too well, but fortunately those that have already experienced Treasure Tracker on its original console have a handful of new content to look forward to.

Taking direct inspiration from Super Mario Odyssey, players can now explore four stages based on areas found within the aforementioned title. Exploring New Donk City and raising the Sand Kingdom’s upside down pyramid into the sky in miniature recreations of both Odyssey worlds is nice for those that have played the game, but there really aren’t all that many of these bonus quests for gamers to tackle. Truthfully, yhe detail of each locale is noticeably exceptional even when stacked up against every other level pre-built into the original game, but a little bit more in terms of extra content would have gone a long way in adding value.

At a discounted cost, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker still provides the best value for those looking for something a little different. The wholesomeness of the characters and the raw charm of the world combined with the expertly crafted puzzles will keep fans hooked for hours. Plus, with additional challenges and collectibles occupying each level, there’s an added incentive to keep revisiting areas after they’ve been completed.

So with all of that said, grab a knapsack, a headlamp, and check your watch; if there was ever a time for adventure then this is it.

---

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is available now on Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Wii U. Nintendo provided a code of the game to Okay, Cool for coverage purposes.

You can actually find Riley on Twitter at @TheRileyLittle. That’s not a hint to go follow him or anything, that’s just a fact we felt should be shared.