Metacritic (69)
OpenCritic (68)
Console Creatures (no score):
GameSpace (9/10):
Shacknews (9/10):
WellPlayed (8.5/10):
Destructoid (8/10):
COGconnected (80/100):
NintendoWorldReport (8/10):
Nintendo Enthusiast (8/10):
DualShockers (8/10):
SelectButton (8/10):
Hey Poor Player (4/5):
Video Chums (7.4/10):
VideoGamer (7/10):
God is a Geek (7/10):
Stevivor (7/10):
Nintendo Life (7/10):
Game Revolution (3.5/5):
Seafoam Gaming (7/10):
My Nintendo News (6.5/10):
IGN (6.4/10):
USgamer (3/5):
Trusted Reviews (3/5):
Screen Rant (3/5):
Critical Hit (6/10):
Gameblog (6/10, review in French):
Metro GameCentral (6/10):
Hardcore Gamer (3/5):
Rocket Chainsaw (3/5):
TheSixthAxis (5/10):
VGC (2/5):
Game Rant (2/5):
OpenCritic (68)
Console Creatures (no score):
Sega has delivered this fall's premier party game. This crossover between Mario and Sonic characters is such an accessible delight to experience with friends. If you are playing Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, the story mode offers some incredible character moments, those moments outweigh the core gameplay. However, the minigames included are exceptional. While not every single game holds the same weight as the others, there are is enough variety to keep you engaged. The game offers a multitude of control schemes and while motion controls didn't enhance my experience, the immersion could speak to some players.
There's a lot of care and respect for the characters and the Olympics as a whole in this game. To see Sega put time and effort to develop a new true-to-life 8-bit experience for fans is welcomed. You'll also have the chance to gain some additional knowledge of the Olympics while playing.
GameSpace (9/10):
Whether you like Mario, or whether you like Sonic best, one thing is for sure. You are going to love playing this game. The amount of events is just right to get the most fun for your money. Coming out on November 5, 2019, for $59.99 USD, you will get the absolute most fun out of this game by playing with your family and friends. It merges two of the greatest console game character lineups together and gives you a lot of characters to choose from. I loved the game, and I hope you will too.
Shacknews (9/10):
Sega has done a great job as ambassadors for the city of Tokyo, and the 1964 retro 2D mini-games and events are nostalgia-filled romps that will leave players smiling from ear to ear.
WellPlayed (8.5/10):
Sega and Nintendo join forces once again to bring their beloved mascot characters to the world's stage, The Summer Olympics.
Destructoid (8/10):
I'm as surprised as you are that I had so much fun with this one. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020's retro suite is compact but it kicks everything up a notch, which is an easier sell for newcomers. Just make sure you have at least one friend to prolong the fun with once the story is over and done.
COGconnected (80/100):
Overall, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 is an enjoyable experience that's jammed-packed with Olympic-sized fun. With so many events and modes to choose from, all presented in Nintendo's signature welcoming style, there's something for everyone here. Just don't expect a deep and engrossing experience; while there are nice extra touches like Story Mode and an added retro element, this is mostly a game meant for casual, bite-sized fun on the go.
NintendoWorldReport (8/10):
A surprisingly fun game with a lot to offer. The Story Mode is somewhat amusing and easily goes by in five hours. While I wish there was more interaction with the modern world, I can't deny the effort at least. That being said, the real star of the show are the activities themselves. With 34 minigames to choose from, this is one of the most packed games in series history. It helps that the button controls work quite well, and help to sell the experience just that teensy bit more.
Nintendo Enthusiast (8/10):
Ultimately, that's where a lot of the fun in Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 lies. Yes, some of the sports are fun to play and even more fun to replay. I'll never get tired of seeing Donkey Kong and Metal Sonic skateboarding. The real magic of the game, though, is how it serves as a perfect casual entry point into the world of the Olympic Games. Have a child or little cousin who knows every Sonic game in existence but doesn't care about sports? Spend an afternoon playing this with them, and you might just end up helping them discover a fascination with the Olympics. Or Nintendo sports games. Hopefully both!
DualShockers (8/10):
Overall, Mario & Sonic is a welcoming surprise that I can see myself playing with friends regularly. Even with such a diverse option of events and mini-games, in reality, I will likely be returning to play soccer more than anything else. The game is wonderfully polished with a triumphant soundtrack that I always took notice of. Learning more about Tokyo and its timeline with the past and present is an unnecessary addition, but it solidifies the amount of care that went into the development of the game. Twelve years later, I can confidently say that the Mario & Sonic franchise has evolved into a series that I think is worth the time of every Switch owner.
SelectButton (8/10):
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 is an enjoyable collection of Olympic event mini-games that feature local and online play. The story mode is undoubtedly the star this time around. Although it starts a bit slow, I enjoyed the interactions between the characters and the lightheartedness of the entire situation. I think there are some big holes in the lineup that certainly have been overlooked, as limiting guest characters to only a single event is just not fun. Even so, playing with friends locally is certainly the best way to play the games outside of the story. Sadly there isn't any way to set up a tournament or multiple events for multiplayer.
Hey Poor Player (4/5):
For all my enjoyment, I can't help but worry if long-time fans might find all this a little too familiar; yes, there's plenty else to keep us occupied in Challenge achievements the series' first-ever online play (alas, I'm still unable to comment on the latter, as not even the game's prior Japanese release unearthed any opponents, but I imagine fans will have fun competing in Ranked Match), but while the game supplements certain matches with "guests" such as Rosalina and Rouge the Bat, the main roster remains nothing new. (An issue, I understand, that has pervaded previous entries) Meanwhile, in a move I'm certain will bum out gaming audiophiles, I'm saddened to report I encountered very little of the series' famed remixes. This is not to minimize the terrific original blend of orchestral and chiptune songs accompanying the various sub-games, but with how highly-regarded SEGA's sound efforts have been for this series, that there's not so much as a proper Sound Test is a definite head-scratcher.
Video Chums (7.4/10):
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 offers varied family-friendly fun. With so many sports and mini-games to enjoy, it's easy to find something to like about this star-studded package.
VideoGamer (7/10):
Everything here is lovingly presented; an exuberant smile-inducing package that's likely to appeal to kids and adults alike. The story portion of the game can get a bit dull, save for the 8/16-bit segments, but beyond that, this is a lovely big mélange of colourful sporting events. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 is also a joyful celebration of SEGA and Nintendo's present, as well as its glorious past, harbouring a stupidly enjoyable rugby event and an extremely competent footie mini-game that gives FIFA a run for its money (not really, but y'know). You'll be boxing, fencing, running, jumping, shooting, and hitting things until the real 2020 Olympic Games start, in July. Maybe.
God is a Geek (7/10):
Like its package of events, Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 is a bit of a mixed bag. It's a very nice game to look at, it's well put together, has oodles of that Nintendo and SEGA charm, and, for the most part, it's a lot of fun. You'll have your event favourites, and conversely those you'll want to avoid, often because of the daft controls. The inability to create your own tournaments is a big miss and dampens the local multiplayer experience. The Story Mode is a plus, and does a great job of showcasing the events and the 2020 Olympics itself. Sadly, it's likely most people will have moved on long before next summer.
Stevivor (7/10):
At the end of the day, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 is serviceable, a bit boring for adults but likely to be engaging for little ones. In addition to mini-games galore — which will likely take mature players one instance to blunder before things clicking and then becoming an expert in the event — players can also explore Story mode and collect trivia facts on not only the games themselves but both the Mario and Sonic franchises.
Nintendo Life (7/10):
Its 34 events provide welcome variety and there are far more hits than misses in its line-up, but once you're finished with Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020's four-hour Story mode it becomes notably less enticing for solo players. With no real incentives or unlockables to aim for, this should be considered a strictly multiplayer affair if you want to still be playing it by the time the actual Tokyo 2020 Olympics roll around.
Game Revolution (3.5/5):
Ultimately, Sega has produced yet another solid Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games installment. However, it's far from the must-own that it could have been with some further refinement. The middling story mode wastes a really solid concept, and the best events lack the structure that could make them appealing to play for hours rather than just a few minutes. It's a fun party game to whip out at social gatherings, which is what it was designed to be after all, but it could have been so much more.
Seafoam Gaming (7/10):
If you can get past the bumpy story mode, you'll get one of the most enjoyable minigame compilations that I've played to date on the Switch, and those who like picking these games up to play with friends or family, or for those who want to take on the online leaderboards or play with friends online, you'll be very satisfied with this game's quality. For those hoping for the story mode to be super engrossing and worth the price by itself however, you should hold off on this one.
My Nintendo News (6.5/10):
All things considered, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 is essentially more of the same with a small handful of minor additions. It's still a sight to behold to witness the unity of a couple household names in gaming, especially in retro-inspired settings, but two of the most iconic faces in the entertainment world deserve better.
IGN (6.4/10):
This latest entry in the Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games series sports the best collection yet of minigames and events, but is hampered by a tedious story mode and overall poor execution.
USgamer (3/5):
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 offers a glimpse of what the series could be if it fully committed to a story mode or really invested in becoming a sportier companion to Mario Party. Most of the minigames are fairly strong and the whole package is dripping with polish. As far as minigame collections go, this one can carry the torch just fine—but maybe it's not the one you pick to light the fire at game night.
Trusted Reviews (3/5):
With a charming campaign, dynamic score and pleasing graphics, this 2020 instalment is a worthwhile purchase for fans of the series looking for more Olympic fun. Yet, given the fluidity of the focused sports games already available on the Switch, and the brilliance of those on previous Nintendo systems, it pales in comparison and becomes a hard sell unless you particularly enjoy the mini-game structure – or want a game that will keep a sports-mad family busy this holiday season.
Screen Rant (3/5):
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 is a mixed bag. It's a sure way to get your sporty friends into gaming and your gaming friends excited for next summer in Tokyo. The delightful campaign has a lot of great single-player content, but unfortunately the game doesn't sustain that momentum when it comes to the really important thing: multiplayer. As a mini-game focused title, it just can't compete with similar offerings, it's games either too obtuse or too quick and easy to capture the hearts of players. If it went to the Olympics, it would get bronze at best.
Critical Hit (6/10):
Mario & Sonic at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games has this little extra something compared to the previous games, namely retro events, eminently sympathetic to the most nostalgic, and an aspect of an interactive tourist brochure on Tokyo and the Olympic Games. is pleasant for those who love to cultivate on these two topics. For the rest, to know what is still the heart of the game, Mario & Sonic at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 does not yet seem to be able to win among the classics of the family multiplayer genre, the fault of the gameplay sometimes too complex challenges at other times too basic, not allowing any one to really stand out and leaving on the face of those who participate a pout rather than a smile in most cases.
Gameblog (6/10, review in French):
Mario & Sonic at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games has this little extra something compared to the previous games, namely retro events, eminently sympathetic to the most nostalgic, and an aspect of an interactive tourist brochure on Tokyo and the Olympic Games. is pleasant for those who love to cultivate on these two topics.
Metro GameCentral (6/10):
Despite being the best in the series, by virtue of having the most content, Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 still carries the same baggage as the previous entries. Many of the mini-games are stale, the best moments come with annoying caveats, and you'll probably be reminded of far better games throughout the whole experience. If you're craving a multiplayer party title Mario & Sonic isn't necessarily a bad choice, but it's hardly up to Olympic standards.
Hardcore Gamer (3/5):
Despite the addition of retro 2D events and a story mode, Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 does little to improve the franchise thanks to middling minigame design and an empty, lackluster campaign. The more creative and deep gameplay arises in the story and dream minigames, but convoluted controls and brief runtimes hold back the majority of the events from entertaining players for more than a couple of attempts. The simplistic story will likely amuse fans of a younger age, but for most Mario, Sonic, Olympics and minigames fans, this crossover continues to disregard its potential and does little to justify its $60 price tag by offering only a few hours worth of polished but mostly mediocre minigames.
Rocket Chainsaw (3/5):
In the end, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 is a fun mini-game collection to bring out when you have some friends over, but beyond that, it falls flat. The short and surprisingly difficult story mode fails to meet its potential and doesn't do enough to elevate the game. However, while there certainly are better games you can pick up for your Switch, there are also worse ones as well.
TheSixthAxis (5/10):
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 brings a raft of new and returning events with it, but manages to both reduce and overcomplicate everything to the point where it simply isn't that fun to pick up and play with others. Younger fans may get a kick out of a few of the events, but overall this is a tiresome and drab tie-in that you'll have forgotten about long before the real world opening ceremony next July.
VGC (2/5):
Though bold and colourful and accompanied with a dazzling score, Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games 2020's clumsy gameplay lacks the polish we've come to expect from games emblazoned by that iconic little plumber.
Game Rant (2/5):
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 looks good and does offer some fleeting moments of fun with the Dream Events, but most everything else about the game falls flat. It's consistently dull and its new ideas fail to make it any more compelling than previous games in the series. Nintendo Switch owners have plenty of other quality games to play, and so there's not really any reason to bother with Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.
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