Paper Mario: Color Splash

Platforms

• Nintendo Wii U

  Oct 7, 2016

  ---

  8.0

  playscore

  7.8

  46 Critics

  8.7

  4.92K Players

46 critic reviews · 1 community reviews across all platforms

Critic Reviews

• 

  GameSpew

  9.0

  Paper Mario: Color Splash is a gem. A look back into what Nintendo can do, and a shining example of why they should never be counted out. It’ll keep you laughing, engaged, and having a blast. It truly took my breath away at times, and looks and plays with staggering beauty. It is fluid and wonderfully executed. If you want your Wii U to be used again, pick this title up.

  Reviewed on Wii U

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• 

  Polygon

  6.5

  Color Splash had moments of greatness — clever levels that changed up its formula, mostly sharp humor that actually made me laugh (a rarity in games, to be honest), handcraft-reminiscent visuals that made me want to spontaneously adopt arts and crafts as a hobby. It’s a shame that despite all these positives, in the end I found the game to be a chore; my pleasure often undercut by frustration and annoyance.

  Reviewed on Wii U

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• 

  Giant Bomb

  4.0

  With more traditional RPG mechanics and a real progression system, Paper Mario: Color Splash could have been one of the best games in the series. Because of some unfathomably ill-conceived decisions during the development process, it’s one of the very worst.

  Reviewed on Wii U

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• 

  COGconnected

  9.0

  Paper Mario: Color Splash is an excellent addition to any Wii U library. If you’re a fan of past Paper Mario games and can overlook the lack of some RPG elements, then you’ll love this game. While the game does not bring anything significantly new to the Paper Mario franchise, it does bring a nearly perfected Paper Mario experience which in itself is worth the price of admission.

  Reviewed on Wii U

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• 

  Games Radar+

  7.0

  Despite its flaws, it’s very difficult to dislike, perhaps because every niggling issue is quickly followed by a moment of grin-inducing silliness or awe-inspiring beauty. This might not be the return to classic Paper Mario that its devotees have been awaiting, nor is it a bold reinvention that vindicates Nintendo’s need to innovate. It is, however, one of the most heartwarming games you’ll play this year.

  Reviewed on Wii U

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• 

  Shacknews

  6.0

  Paper Mario: Color Splash is the kind of simple, lightly enjoyable experience that I might have willingly gotten lost in at one point in my life. It's mostly inoffensive, usually charming, and a visual treat. The battle system is a drag, but it's emblematic of a larger problem that is also reflected in the quests: it simply doesn't respect the player's time. With more aggressive story editing and less desire to reinvent the wheel, this may have been something truly special. Instead it's merely fine.

  Reviewed on Wii U

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• 

  ZTGD

  8.0

  While I’m still wishing the RPG elements of Thousand Year Door were back here, I still had a pretty great time with Color Splash. It looks amazing, plays great, and has some really great pacing that kept me coming back knowing I was just one more step away from another paint star. Wii U owners have been looking for a new game for a while now, well you just found a great one here and I highly suggest picking it up.

  Reviewed on Wii U

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• 

  Wccftech.com

  7.8

  Paper Mario: Color Splash is the Wii U game you shouldn’t write off. Though it has issues, its fun, funny and looks excellent. If you’re looking for a lighthearted, casual RPG-style experience then look no further, this is the best Paper Mario game in years.

  Reviewed on Wii U

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• 

  IGN

  7.3

  Paper Mario: Color Splash is a step in the right direction for the series after the 3DS’s Paper Mario: Sticker Star, continuing its shift from RPG to action-adventure game while also introducing some smart changes to its battle system. The beautiful Wii U graphics and playful humor stay true to the spirit of the Paper Mario franchise, but the story is straightforward and a bit bland.

  Reviewed on Wii U

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• 

  GameSpot

  7.0

  At its most imaginative, Color Splash's visual gags and thoughtful manipulation of 2D objects rival any "wow" moment from Sony's Tearaway games. What Color Splash lacks in moment-to-moment paper tricks, it more than makes up for in persistent visual appeal and a wholly adorable cast, including antagonists from all pay grades.

  Reviewed on Wii U

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Community Reviews

About the game