A recent psychological study has revealed that Super Mario Odyssey may be effective in alleviating certain symptoms of depression. While research often focuses on the effects of video games on aggression or intelligence, this particular study explores the potential of a specific game in treating a specific illness.

Despite being released late in the console's launch year, Super Mario Odyssey remains one of the best and best-selling Nintendo Switch games. Its combination of 3D and 2D platforming, along with the acclaimed capture mechanic, helped Super Mario Odyssey become a memorable title of the generation. Beyond accolades and impressive sales, a study has uncovered the potential mental health benefits of spending time with Super Mario Odyssey.

German researchers conducted a study published in the Frontiers of Psychology journal, testing whether 3D video games could help reduce symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). The study found that 3D video games have the potential to increase subjective well-being, motivation for treatment, and improve visuo-spatial memory functions for those suffering from MDD.

The study divided 46 clinically depressed individuals into three groups: a video game group that trained by playing Super Mario Odyssey on the Nintendo Switch, a treatment-as-usual group, and an active control group that used a cognitive exercise program. The study found that the video game group specifically saw a significant decrease in the proportion of participants who showed clinical levels of depressive symptoms, as well as an increased motivation to continue with treatment. However, the researchers caution that the results should be interpreted with caution due to the unblinded nature of the study.

While more research is needed, this study indicates that video games could be a cost-effective means of training to potentially be used in conjunction with regular treatment and therapy. Despite the need for increased sample sizes in future studies, these findings provide promising results. Super Mario Odyssey isn't the only game under scrutiny by psychology professionals and enthusiasts; another recent study claimed that Skyrim is the best game for mindfulness.

With Odyssey having been released in 2017, many anticipate a new 3D Mario game. While the franchise's latest 2D adventure launched this year in Super Mario Bros. Wonder, the promise of a Switch successor suggests a new 3D game could be on the horizon.