Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 102 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 72 out of 102
  2. Negative: 0 out of 102
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  1. Dec 19, 2024
    100
    Overall, Mario & Luigi: Brothership is a sensational game that features the well-worn mechanics of Mario RPGs but takes them to a higher level, keeping each new step fresh, yet consistent. As you explore, you keep on encountering new characters, new lands, and battles that keep you hooked for almost the whole game, an extremely impressive feat across the many hours it takes to finish. Bros. Moves and Attacks allow you to continue to explore new avenues for the brothers, and Luigi Logic gives you more freedom than ever in a Mario & Luigi game. Power Plugs allow you to take control of battles, deal massive amounts of damage, or gain amazing buffs for the brothers, which may change the outcome of battles. Each enemy and boss brings something new to the table, continuously testing your comprehension of the skills you’ve acquired. For anyone with a Switch, you should play Mario & Luigi: Brothership.
  2. Nov 4, 2024
    100
    Brothership keeps the series' spirit alive with smart battles and a funny story.
  3. Nov 4, 2024
    95
    Mario & Luigi: Brotherhood Connection is one of the most complete games of 2024 that you can enjoy on Nintendo Switch. Although it has an interesting variety of content beyond the story, the main thing that stands out is the quality of the content, offering entertainment in abundance. Those who love the RPG genre will feel how the game hooks them, inviting them to continue constantly to reach the highest possible levels. If you are looking for an entertaining story, with minigames, challenges, and charismatic characters, this is the perfect game that will fulfill everything I mention. Nintendo once again hits it off through a wonderful installment of the Mario franchise.
  4. Nov 4, 2024
    95
    With so many bespoke moments for each little mini-story, complete with unique minigames and interesting character arcs, Brothership is bursting at the seams with fun things to do.
  5. Nov 4, 2024
    93
    Brothership is everything you knew about the series taken to the next level. If you like RPGs with a great sense of humour, you shouldn’t miss it.
  6. Nov 12, 2024
    90
    Mario and Luigi: Brothership delivers yet another solid Mario RPG outing. Riding high on waves of clever writing, charming humour, engaging exploration, and addictive combat, this is an odyssey well worth undertaking.
  7. Nov 12, 2024
    90
    Mario & Luigi: Brothership is the comeback that this franchise deserves, with stunning visuals, a great soundtrack, and smooth gameplay. Aside from minor issues with monster variety and repetitive battles, it’s highly recommended for both new players and returning fans.
  8. Nov 5, 2024
    90
    Mario & Luigi: Brothership is an adventure RPG for Nintendo Switch that stands out for its snappy storytelling, charismatic characters and charming humour. Players explore different islands, solve puzzles and engage in turn-based combat that requires good timing.
  9. Nov 4, 2024
    90
    Mario & Luigi: Brothership is such a great return for the beloved series. Acquire understood what makes this king of games so special and also, found elements to make them better. Nintendo having another extraordinary year.
  10. Nov 4, 2024
    90
    Mario & Luigi Brothership has made it to the top of my favorite Mario RPGs, a feat that I never thought would be achieved. Everything is constantly entertaining throughout the experience, from the creative animations to the energetic sound effects and wonderful roulette of activities; the game provides a revolving door of engaging fun at every step.
  11. Nov 4, 2024
    90
    Mario & Luigi: Brothership is the biggest and most ambitious game from the franchise, and it was worth the wait. It maintains the soul of the Mario & Luigi games and it also adds a lot of interesting things that makes it a complete and sublime experience. It can be the beginning of a new and bright future for the brothers.
  12. Nov 4, 2024
    90
    Mario and Luigi: Brothership brings together the best elements of the previous titles in the crumbling Concordia. It plays great, is again sharply written and looks beautiful. When fighting, it is mainly the exciting boss battles that stay with you, partly due to the extra layer of strategy that the new Battle Plugs bring with them. But it is the characters that you meet along the way that make Brothership an unexpectedly emotional experience.
  13. 90
    A game geared towards younger players, but that doesn't mean that hardcore RPG fans should necessarily ignore it: with a volcanic dose of inventiveness that will make you laugh more than once and an enchanting artistic direction, the game is the perfect bedtime story to end the Switch's extraordinary career with a bang.
  14. Nov 4, 2024
    90
    Mario & Luigi: Brothership is an exceptional adventure that’s just as much about the journey as it is the destination. Whether you’re new to the series or have played every Mario & Luigi game up to this point, the captivating narrative with well-written and comedic characters is sure to keep you thoroughly engaged as you travel from island to island to help reconnect the land of Concordia. From the brain-stimulating puzzles to the extensive RPG battle mechanics, there is a boatload of fun to be had around every turn.
  15. Nov 4, 2024
    90
    Mario & Luigi: Brothership is an absolute delight, all told. Strong themes and art direction buoy a light, well-meaning narrative that is further enhanced by dynamic combat, and a real sense of cohesion in overall game design. The Mario & Luigi franchise has a daunting legacy. Acquire has crafted a tale that more than lives up to it.
  16. Nov 4, 2024
    90
    Mario has ventured to massive worlds before. He's even surfed the cosmos across different galaxies. Rarely has a world in any of his games felt this connected. Mario & Luigi: Brothership is a game about building bonds, the kind that Mario shares with his cherished brother.
  17. Nov 4, 2024
    90
    Mario & Luigi: Brothership brings fresh humor and plenty of creativity to this somewhat forgotten RPG series, with a combat system that’s fun and interactive. Exploring the world of Concordia offers a true sense of adventure and a uniquely charming Nintendo experience that many will enjoy, though the game’s pacing and rhythmic battles may not appeal to everyone.
  18. Nov 4, 2024
    90
    Mario & Luigi: Brothership is the grand return of the franchise that so many fans have been waiting for. The game brings together everything that made the series fun, and enhances it with gorgeous graphics, a fun cast of characters, and addictive, action-packed turn-based combat.
  19. Nov 4, 2024
    90
    Mario & Luigi: Brothership takes this long-running RPG series to new heights in a high-seas adventure that's packed full of top-notch combat, inventive variety, a positive and thoughtful story, and lots signature comedy from the dynamic duo themselves. This is a big game, packed full of surprises and fun, and the all-new Battle Plug system, alongside lots of flashy specials, a fittingly emotive art-style, and a world that brimming with puzzles and challenges, make for a must-play in our book.
  20. Nov 4, 2024
    90
    It takes a while, but when The Brothership is in full swing, it is an excellent action RPG after all these years: exploration, arcade elements, tactical strategy and the mix of gameplay is top-notch. We are so glad that the Switch has its entry in the series.
  21. Nov 4, 2024
    90
    This is the first Mario & Luigi on Switch and it very much feels like the series’ first big-budget home console entry. It's so much bigger than any of the older games, not just in terms of play time, but in terms of ideas too. The only bad thing about Brothership is that it sets the bar so high there’s no going back to the originals now.
  22. Nov 4, 2024
    90
    Mario & Luigi Brothership is a joy to play, as well as an excellent entry in the Mario & Luigi series. Even as the Switch era is sailing towards new waters, it is a real treat to see them release such amazing games. I hope it gets all the attention it deserves in spite of being released on the tail end of the Switch's lifespan. If you haven't had the opportunity to play a game from the Mario & Luigi series, this is as good a jumping-in point as any, and this is a must-own for long-term fans of any of the Mario RPG entries.
  23. Nov 4, 2024
    88
    Mario & Luigi: Charged Brothers enriches the already rich Nintendo Switch offering with an adventure that has its roots in the brand's role-playing tradition, but manages to modernize it in practically every aspect. Despite some uncertainties on the technical side and an unbalanced level of challenge, this is a great event for all Mario Brothers fans that could also be a great surprise for those simply looking for a role-playing game to spend a few dozen hours of lighthearted fun.
  24. Nov 4, 2024
    88
    Nintendo has made the return of Mario & Luigi in Brothership the most complete and entertaining entry in the series, blending strategic gameplay with immersive exploration in a new world. Although its story may feel a bit childish, its adaptation to Switch and the complexity of its mechanics make it a very solid and enjoyable RPG experience.
  25. Nov 4, 2024
    87
    Mario & Luigi: Brothership is a delightful return for the beloved series, with deep gameplay and vibrant worlds that make it a must-have on Nintendo Switch, despite a few minor design shortcomings.
  26. Nov 4, 2024
    87
    Mario & Luigi: Brothership is a great combination of Super Mario RPG and Paper Mario in a unique floating island world. Although it is a solo game, the RPG succeeds in preventing an inimitable co-op-like experience with a high variety in combat, puzzles and skill based challenges. Just one of the best Switch games in 2024 and a must have for any Mario fan.
  27. Nov 4, 2024
    86
    Mario & Luigi: Brothership is a fantastic adventure that prioritizes a top level combat.
  28. Nov 13, 2024
    85
    Mario & Luigi: Brothership is a colorful and exuberant new entry in the RPG series. It offers dynamic and fun combat, some decent humor, and a surprising amount of replay value in branching choices and side quests. Despite that, there are some poorly implemented features, such as the Battle Plugs and Power Tap, as well as the sometimes glacial pacing of the adventure. Still, fans of turn-based RPGs will absolutely find something worthwhile in this Switch exclusive.
  29. Nov 8, 2024
    85
    Despite a few stumbles, Mario & Luigi: Brothership manages to deliver a comeback worthy of the franchise. The game strikes a balance between fun and challenge, and it's a great duo job to control Mario and Luigi at the right time to progress through obstacles and face enemies in an exciting combat system.
  30. Nov 5, 2024
    85
    After a long time, the brothers from Nintendo's original family are back in Mario and Luigi: Brothership, bringing a colorful world, solid combat mechanics, and a fun gaming experience. Along with many dad jokes that might make you laugh, it may not be the best game in the series, but it has all the elements to have a very entertaining time.
  31. 85
    Part of what makes Mario & Luigi: The Brothership compelling is the momentary rush of joining each island to create a power grid. There are unapologetic puns galore, and leveling up is all about learning patterns.
  32. Nov 4, 2024
    85
    Mario and Luigi: Brothership is an excellent entry in the RPG franchise. It's beautifully crafted, colorful and lively, but also fun and carefully balanced around an interactive combat system.
  33. Nov 4, 2024
    85
    Mario & Luigi: Brothership is like a perfect representation of the Bros themselves: even though one might trip up here and there, everything works so well together that it makes it an unforgettable experience.
  34. Nov 4, 2024
    85
    Mario & Luigi: Brothership resurrects a long-dead franchise from the grave, and we’re so glad Nintendo decided to give this series another chance. It’s a great game, although our biggest gripe can be summed up as ‘…but it takes a while to get really good’. The story starts off a bit shaky, but gets a lot better after a certain point. The islands are very unique and the level design is great, but the early islands are a bit small and limited compared to the later locations. The combat is also incredibly addictive, although you’ll have to wait a while before you unlock the most fun and in-depth features. Don’t let that spoil your fun, though, because Mario & Luigi: Brothership is definitely worth the time, for both newcomers and old fans. One tip: make sure you’re ready to fire your cannon in time when you sail past an island, because having to wait for your ‘Sail Island’ to sail an extra lap before you can fire again is quite annoying.
  35. Nov 4, 2024
    85
    Mario & Luigi Brothership feels like the series never left. AlphaDream may no longer be at the helm, but Acquire respectfully takes up the mantle. The lighthearted humor, interesting characters, world-building, and recognizable gameplay all feel as familiar as ever. Yet, despite the enjoyment I had throughout the lengthy storyline, the poor performance leaves a bitter aftertaste that will stay with me.
  36. Nov 4, 2024
    85
    Mario & Luigi: Brothership is one of many unique video-game series that features beloved Nintendo characters making a strong comeback featuring a super fun and humorous adventure.
  37. Nov 29, 2024
    83
    Mario & Luigi: Brothership was on the verge of greatness, and it was largely due to some content balancing flaws that prevented the game from firing on all cylinders.
  38. Nov 4, 2024
    82
    Faithful to the spirit of previous installments and with some great ideas to keep it afloat, Mario & Luigi: Brotherhood Connection is a game that sails the ocean of RPGs with fun and variety as its flag.
  39. Jan 7, 2025
    80
    The game has bit of a slow start, but despite this, I thought the pacing was mostly good, especially compared to Mario & Luigi: Dream Team. Despite a few other issues like the frame rate and some mild frustration with muscle memory, Brothership is one of the better games in the series. It’s fun, it’s engaging, it’s creative, and it’s even full of heart. It may not be as laugh-out-loud funny as prior games, but for the first time, this game went for an overarching theme and a good but basic message of bonds and connections. It certainly warmed my heart. If Acquire were to continue developing Mario & Luigi games, I’d say it’s in good hands.
  40. Nov 19, 2024
    80
    Mario & Luigi: Brothership is a fun addition to the series and for the Switch. It has fun gameplay and great humour, but feels repetitive at times and quite long.
  41. Nov 8, 2024
    80
    Mario & Luigi: Brothership is packed with well-written humour, clever puzzles, and excellent level design. Though it's not without issues, such as limited enemy variety and long loading times, its charm and fun factor are undeniable.
  42. Nov 7, 2024
    80
    Mario & Luigi – Brothership captures Nintendo's signature charm with vibrant graphics and a feel-good atmosphere. While it doesn’t revolutionize the RPG genre, it delivers a well-paced adventure, blending combat, puzzles, and exploration into an enjoyable experience lasting 35-40 hours.
  43. 80
    A little too conservative and talkative here and there, but a thoroughly fun comeback with smartly amended combat mechanics and a backpack full of nonsense.
  44. 80
    A familiar journey into an alternative world, with established mechanics and new developments that make for an enjoyable and challenging experience.
  45. Nov 4, 2024
    80
    In a year that has given us not one but three Mario-themed RPGs, I was ready to be underwhelmed by Brothership. Yet thanks to captivating combat, varied platforming and well-judged difficulty, Brothership not only lives up to my childhood nostalgia for this series, but improves upon it. It is an inviting serving of sun-soaked delight at the beginning of a gloomy November.
  46. Nov 4, 2024
    80
    Mario & Luigi Borthership is a surprise on Nintendo Switch. This new opus brings back, not without brio, a license dear to the hearts of fans. The change of studio behind the scenes is somewhat noticeable, particularly in terms of visual harmony. However, Acquire pulls it off very well, appropriating a formula that it manages to refine in many respects. The story may not be the most memorable in the series, but the experience is even funnier and more intense than before. While old-time fans will easily find their way back, we can only hope that this episode will win over a new audience, in the hope that we won't have to wait another ten years for a new opus to see the light of day.
  47. Nov 4, 2024
    80
    Nintendo games are at their best when they’re approachable and polished to a sheen, and Mario & Luigi Brothership is great at both of these. This is a sizeable RPG that contextualizes classic turn-based mechanics in a platformer framework. This isn’t anything new, but it shows that this current run of Mario RPG remakes wasn’t a fluke. The mechanics are strong, and even as someone who doesn’t usually like RPGs like this, I had a pretty great time. Brothership might be a bit on the longer side, but I think this is a fantastic game to give to a younger gamer looking to understand the appeal of the genre. There’s a ton of personality on display that I think will make people of any age smile, and the systems are flexible enough to keep most of your time enjoyable.
  48. Nov 4, 2024
    80
    The game plays well enough, just like the Paper Marios before, with a near top-down viewpoint for the puzzle sections. And the visual style is a little different, more cartoony than many of the recent Mario efforts. The brothers are as cute together as ever and their joint fighting is a highlight.
  49. Nov 4, 2024
    80
    Mario & Luigi: Brothership is a silly and surprisingly challenging RPG with a unique world traversal mechanic and a superb variety of puzzles. However, the unavoidable enemies and lengthy battles might put off folks who are looking for a more casual affair.
  50. Nov 4, 2024
    80
    It's a decent sequel for everyone who enjoys the unique quirks of Mario & Luigi.
  51. Nov 4, 2024
    80
    Although the formula is bordering over-familiar at this point, it’s been long enough between entries that this return to the Mario & Luigi series is incredibly welcome. It manages to feel fresh enough with interesting new wrinkles that play on this new world and story’s overall themes, and its obsession with fraternal bonds results in probably my favourite take on the Bros. to date.
  52. Nov 4, 2024
    80
    With tight battle mechanics, engaging puzzles, and new characters that become more endearing as the story goes on, Mario & Luigi: Brothership has all the hallmarks of a great RPG. It’s still no Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, but it’s not far off.
  53. Nov 4, 2024
    80
    Brothership is a fun time, but has frustrating moments. It's not an easy recommendation like Paper Mario, but you'll have a good time nonetheless.
  54. Nov 4, 2024
    80
    Despite a few lurches here and there and some so-so exploration, Mario & Luigi Brothership offers an enjoyable voyage with smooth sailing, and a punderful script that brings the laughs. It has a new developer and an extra dimension, but the same dedication to humor and brotherly love.
  55. Nov 4, 2024
    80
    A relatively minor instalment, but in a series this magical, that's still good news.
  56. Nov 4, 2024
    80
    For those who do decide to delve in and grind to the end, Brothership has a message about how we’re all in this together. And seeing the classic brothers get up to all sorts of creative hijinks is always a fun nostalgia trip, providing just enough cuteness to see this journey through.
  57. Nov 4, 2024
    80
    Mario & Luigi: Brothership is the plumbers' first RPG outing on the Nintendo Switch, and it's an adorable and merry high-seas adventure filled with side quests.
  58. Nov 4, 2024
    80
    While Mario & Luigi: Brothership doesn’t reinvent the wheel, it’s a solid RPG with fun mechanics and lovable characters. New additions like Luigi Logic and Plugs make for satisfying combat, while overworld exploration benefits from the new Bros Moves and ample puzzles with a decent amount of variety. However, the game does suffer from what is emerging as the Nintendo Switch generational curse; frame rate drops, as well as some pacing issues in the late game.
  59. Nov 4, 2024
    80
    Mario & Luigi Brothership is a triumphant return for the series, maintaining the spirit and action-oriented platforming of its predecessors, coupled with fantastic exploration and satisfying battle mechanics.
  60. Nov 25, 2024
    78
    Mario & Luigi: Brothership is a role-playing game with a compelling combat system, beautiful graphics, and catchy melodies. While the blanketing narrative comes off as assertively obnoxious with interminable conversations mixed with a tiresomely obtuse progressive system, the flow of the game and everything in between is just peachy.
  61. Nov 4, 2024
    78
    A fantastic role-playing game with fun fights and great story, but the gameplay becomes a test of patience.
  62. Nov 20, 2024
    75
    Mario & Luigi: Brothership falls into that odd zone of being fine but not exceptional. I think it's comfortably the third best Mario & Luigi game, but it's a distant third and a far cry from the franchise's heights. I had a lot of fun, and I don't regret playing it, but it lacks that certain special something that made the first and third games in the franchise really shine. It's still a fun RPG adventure with some fantastic combat, but it's the weakest of all the Mario RPGs released this year.
  63. Nov 19, 2024
    75
    At the end of the day, Mario and Luigi: Brothership has plenty of great elements to it that are also trapped behind a game that just wants to take its time and squeeze as much juice out of itself as it can.
  64. Nov 15, 2024
    75
    Mario & Luigi: Brotherhood is a solid game that brings humor and classic gameplay to the saga's fans. It is an entertaining option, even though it takes a while to show off its best features, but it is still a relaxing and captivating game with a very attracting visual.
  65. Nov 4, 2024
    75
    Friendly as it may be, Mario & Luigi Brothership will have a hard time making an impression. Overly talkative and riddled with technical problems ranging from long loading times to poor framerate, Acquire's title never really gets off the ground. What's left is gameplay with fun combat and a sibling cast that's more animated than ever, helping to sweeten the trip to Connexia.
  66. Nov 4, 2024
    75
    Although the first few hours of gameplay were fun, Mario & Luigi: Brothership was a slightly disappointing experience. Despite good art direction and many exciting mechanics, especially the combat system, the gameplay seemed too repetitive and not up to the standards of other recent RPGs.
  67. Nov 4, 2024
    75
    So is Mario & Luigi: Brothership a must-have? Definitely. But only if you like turn-based battles and have the patience of a saint. If you want to get straight into the action, deep puzzles and that sort of thing, Mario & Luigi: Brothership is not for you. But us? Well, we recommend it. Teamwork makes the dream work!
  68. Nov 4, 2024
    75
    This game suffers when subjected to a reviewer’s brutal pacing. Maybe if I hadn’t been racing towards the finish line, the endless tiny loading screens wouldn’t have bothered me as much. I was also forced to discard a lot of the side content. It’s not super compelling stuff, but the act of completing it can be pretty relaxing. Searching for Sprite Bulbs scratches that completionist itch in a big way. Plus, the game is beautiful and the battles are a lot of fun. I still wish the puzzles weren’t so frustrating for me. But again, they benefit from more patience than I could spare. My momentum while playing felt wobbly and uneven, but this is still a well-crafted game. Perhaps your time (if you can offer more of it than me) will be well-spent playing Mario & Luigi: Brothership.
  69. Nov 4, 2024
    75
    I'm incredibly glad that Brothership was made, and despite its unimpressive beginning, I don't regret a single moment spent with the title (apart from the optional volleyball minigame on the first ocean, but I'm guilty of that suffering myself). I wish interested readers a happy trip to Concordia and I hope you finish the first sea as soon as possible.
  70. Nov 4, 2024
    75
    Mario & Luigi: Brothership has its heart in the right place and delights with its combat and charme. But a flood of tutorials and noticable pacing-problems are weighing down the fun.
  71. 75
    Mario & Luigi: Brothership is the classic Mario & Luigi experience fans have longed for since Bowser's Inside Story. While there are significant pacing issues that really drag down the first half, an incredibly intriguing second half and a simple, engaging battle system help keep Brothership on course.
  72. Nov 4, 2024
    75
    Mario & Luigi: Brothership brings back one of the plumbers’ more underappreciated series, offering plenty of visual pizazz, an impressive array of inventive maps, and a solid amount of RPG depth. It’s not a perfect relaunch, as Brothership’s writing lacks the snap of the best entries in the series and some unfortunate padding results in a game that arguably overstays its welcome, but overall, those still on board the aging Good Ship Switch ought to find this a charming-enough twilight cruise.
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  1. Jan 2, 2025
    We miss Mario & Luigi adventures and this light RPG feels like a great return. [Recommended]
  2. Nov 4, 2024
    It’s been a long wait for a new Mario & Luigi game, so Brothership is welcome in at least bringing the franchise back. But Nintendo’s new game takes fewer, far less interesting risks at reimagining the Mario & Luigi brand of action-RPG gameplay compared to its predecessors. Instead, Mario & Luigi: Brothership, with its roughly 25-hour story and an endless list of things to check off, seems to have learned an unfortunate lesson from other RPGs, favoring bloat over reinvention.
  3. Nov 15, 2024
    Games like Brothership occasionally demonstrate why its hybrid nature doesn’t always serve that fantastic library as well as it could.
  4. Nov 4, 2024
    What has always separated the Mario RPGs — aside from all of the Nintendo trappings — is their sense of humor. These games are funny. And Brothership is just as goofy as its contemporaries, with communities suffering from chronic hair gel shortages and characters that include a floating pig (who definitely isn’t a pig) and an old turnip who gives terrible advice and makes even worse puns.