Super Mario Odyssey is full of nostalgic references and hidden easter eggs:
- Super Mario 64 Homage (Mushroom Kingdom): The entire Mushroom Kingdom is a loving tribute to Super Mario 64, complete with Peach's Castle and familiar music.
- NES/SNES References: Many 2D sections throughout the game are designed to evoke classic Mario games.
- Donkey Kong References (Metro Kingdom): New Donk City is a giant homage to Donkey Kong, with Pauline as the mayor and references to the original arcade game.
- Hidden Characters: Keep an eye out for characters from other Nintendo franchises, like Captain Toad, who often hide Power Moons.
- Luigi's Balloon World: A post-game online activity where you can hide and find balloons for coins, featuring Luigi.
Exploring every corner often reveals these delightful nods to Nintendo's history.