In the series, Mario is tasked with a quest to explore the Mushroom Kingdom. Each game divides the kingdom into a number of explorable areas, known as worlds, that contain puzzles and interactive elements. For example, Mario can hit objects with his hammer,[1] which need to be completed to progress in the story. The locations are designed to look as if they are made out of paper,[2] and contain coins and other various collectibles, such as hidden trophies.[3] There are also non-playable characters (NPCs) which Mario can talk to.[4] All games except Super Paper Mario feature a turn-based combat system, where Mario and one or more opponents take turns attacking one another.[1][5]
Turn-based combat as seen here in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
The first two titles, Paper Mario and Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, feature elements similar to that of a typical role-playing video game (RPG). Mario will encounter multiple allies that will join him on his journey and can aid in either completing tasks in the worlds or helping fight in combat. Combat is similar to those of other RPG games; when Mario and his present allies encounter an enemy in the overworld, they will enter a combat phase. The player can either perform a regular attack, where they time a button-press on the controller to deal more damage, or use a special attack, which is more powerful but uses up flower points (FP), an in-game statistic, when used.[4] When defeating an enemy, experience points (XP; known in-game as Star Points, or SP) are rewarded, which makes Mario and his allies more powerful as they continue.[6] Upgrades to special attacks can be found in the overworlds.[7]
Super Paper Mario, the third game in the series, differs itself from the RPG genre and rather focuses more of a platform game instead.[8] Unlike the previous two games which use a turn-based combat system, Mario does not enter a combat phase and instead fights the enemy in the overworld in real-time.[9] XP is still awarded for defeating enemies.[10][11] Although Mario does not fight alongside unique partners, Luigi, Princess Peach, and Bowser are playable and a part of Mario's party.[12][13] In addition, allies known as Pixls, which grant abilities for combat and traversing levels, can be summoned and used.[14]
Starting from Paper Mario: Sticker Star, the Paper Mario games are more aimed towards the action-adventure genre.[15] RPG elements, such as experience points, allies, and a complex plot, were reduced. Instead, the games focused on puzzle-solving and replaced its experience point system with new strategic gameplay around combat.[
