Cappy's main function is the "capture" ability, letting Mario possess enemies and other objects, helping him solve puzzles and progress in the game.

After completing the main story mode, other post-game kingdoms are unlockable as well as an additional minigame, "Luigi's Balloon World".

[6][9] When the cap is thrown at certain objects, enemies, or non-playable characters, Mario is able to take possession of them, referred to as "capturing", allowing him to use unique abilities.

The game also features cooperative play, in which a second player takes control of Cappy and can move more independently of Mario.

[13][14] The game requires a minimum number of Power Moons to be collected from each Kingdom to move onto the next, though these may be obtained from any source, making major objectives largely optional.

The other is a platforming gauntlet called Darker Side that combines many elements of the game, and requires 500 Power Moons to enter.

This level allows Mario to face harder versions of previously defeated bosses and earn additional Power Moons by completing in-game achievements.

[16] The game features a photo mode that allows players to use a free-moving camera to take and save screenshots, with additional options such as filters and stickers.

[23] Bowser kidnaps Princess Peach from the Mushroom Kingdom and takes her aboard his airship, intent on forcibly marrying her.

Mario, also aboard, attempts to rescue her but is knocked off the ship by Bowser's hat after a brief fight and falls into the neighboring Cap Kingdom.

Upon landing deeper in the moon, Mario takes control of an unconscious Bowser using Cappy and escapes to the surface with Peach and Tiara.

[30] In an interview with Koizumi, he stated that every core gameplay concept was decided on very early into the game's development cycle, with the philosophy of creating an entirely new experience for the series; these ideas consisted of traveling between kingdoms, collecting Power Moons, and other settings.

To bridge the two, the game was balanced to allow gameplay in short bursts or long sessions to satisfy both fields.

[26] Kenta Motokura mentioned at an interview at E3 that the game was made possible to play in these two ways; the player has the choice of either following a set storyline or can find power moons simply by exploring.

Since the kingdoms were also open-world areas, the developers filled them with diversity and small details to give them a sense of empathy by making the player feel connected to them.

[33] Cappy was created into a character a little later after the hat throwing mechanic was introduced because the developers wanted a "buddy" to travel alongside Mario.

They wanted a familiar aspect from the series to anchor players in the novel setting, and so chose Pauline, a character who first appeared alongside Mario in Donkey Kong, to be the mayor of New Donk City.

Super Mario Run had previously featured a track with vocals[35][36] that was added in an update released one month prior to Odyssey.

[9][49] Two weeks before the game's release, Nintendo uploaded a Broadway inspired promotional music video of "Jump Up Super Star!

[51][52] The game officially released October 27, 2017,[53] alongside Amiibo of Mario, Peach, and Bowser in their respective wedding attire.

[55] Later that December, Nintendo partnered with food manufacturing company Kellogg's to release a limited quantity breakfast cereal⁠—"Super Mario Cereal"⁠—in the United States.

The back of the box contains an NFC tag that can be scanned like an Amiibo toy, which provides exclusive in-game extras.

[83] Andrew Webster of The Verge thought that the structure of the game lent itself well to the portable nature of the Switch, which players could play for either long sessions in order to follow the missions, or in short bursts while collecting "Power Moons", which the author compared to the "shrines", or hidden mini-dungeons, which were scattered throughout Breath of the Wild.

[73][68] In contrast, Ian Dallas, the creator of What Remains of Edith Finch, gave Super Mario Odyssey a lukewarm review.

[85] Phil Hornshaw of Digital Trends gave the game 4/5 stars, saying that "Mario's first turn on the Switch is fun, but lacks the innovation and creativity of Nintendo's best."

[98] In the United States and Europe, it became Nintendo's fastest-selling Super Mario game ever, with 1.1 million copies sold in the US within five days.

[102] By December 2017, Super Mario Odyssey had sold 9.07 million copies worldwide, making it the bestselling game for the Switch at that time.

[128] A preliminary study conducted in Germany found that playing Super Mario Odyssey significantly reduced depression symptoms more than a cognitive training program ("CogPack") or standard treatments.

The study, involving 46 individuals with depression, compared the effects of the video game, the cognitive program, and standard treatments, including medication and psychotherapy, over six weeks.

Participants playing the video game reported higher treatment motivation and showed notable improvements in depressive symptoms.