The Nintendo Switch launch is almost upon us, and almost all attention is on the system’s flagship launch title, Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. As well it should be—it’s the most ambitious game Nintendo has ever made, full stop. But it’s far from the only big first-party game for the Nintendo Switch this year. We’re also getting Splatoon 2 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. But the Nintendo Switch’s biggest other release this year won’t come out until the holiday season… but it’s truly worth waiting for. That game, of course, is Super Mario Odyssey.

The Super Mario Odyssey Release Date Will Rival Zelda’s Launch

First up, let’s face the facts: Based on the game’s sheer scope, Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is probably the largest and most in-depth game the Nintendo Switch will ever see. It’s that big of a game. But Zelda is a serious endeavor, and that’s not the only kind of game we need. Sometimes, you just want some old-school fun.

And that’s what Super Mario Odyssey is all about. Spoiler alert: Super Mario Odyssey isn’t going to have an in-depth storyline, nor will it demand nuanced survival skills, nor will it be a sprawling open world extravaganza. It will just be a new classic Mario game, and chances are—like Super Mario Galaxy or New Super Mario Bros U before it—will define what a platformer can be for years to come.

Okay, that one level with the real humans looks just terrible. You take risks, not everything works out. But everything else about Super Mario Odyssey looks great. That’s because it’s basically Super Mario 64 all over again, a full four console generations later. It’s a return to an older style, before Super Mario Galaxy introduced more modular levels and Super Mario 3D Land unveiled a new form of sidescroller.

Super Mario Odyssey is going to be the highest-profile take on open world 3D platforming on any console in years. That’s the philosophical viewpoint. The more practical one? It’s going to be an amazing Super Mario game, and it will debut on the Nintendo Switch later this year. It won’t be Zelda, but that doesn’t make it any less exciting. It’s the twin pillar of the Nintendo Switch launch, and it should be out in time for the holiday season.