Super Mario Odyssey helps kids practice and improve the following skills:

Working Memory: Recalling and retaining information in our minds while working.

In Super Mario Odyssey, players need to remember which buttons are mapped to which actions on screen. They then need to execute these actions by pressing the buttons in a timely manner. Occasionally failing to execute these moves on time will result in Mario being knocked out by an enemy, falling from a platform, or missing a necessary jump. Furthermore, if the player is using the Joy-Cons to execute physical actions in the real world, they also need to know what motions they make correspond to the actions on-screen in real-time. For players who struggle with working memory, taking the time in the earlier levels to get comfortable with the control schemes will come in handy for harder levels where decisions will need to be made quickly without thinking too much about button mapping. 

Flexibility: Adapting and adjusting to changing conditions and expectations.

Each world in Super Mario Odyssey is different and requires the player to think of how Mario needs to navigate it using what is around him. This means the player needs to think about the type of world they are in, the creatures around them, and what their end-goal is. All of this information together should allow the player to make some choices about how to move forward. Being open-minded and not expecting to do the same move over and over again will help the player to find the solutions they need much more quickly. For players who struggle with flexibility, taking the time to move slowly through the first level of the game will allow them to get comfortable with exploring the world of the game and how to use Mario and Cappy’s moves to earn coins, explore, and take down enemies.