Paper Mario fans, still eagerly awaiting news of a new game, often revisit classics like Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, recently re-released on the Nintendo Switch. Between the beloved Thousand-Year Door and its resurgence, however, lies Paper Mario: Sticker Star—a title that met a less enthusiastic reception. Now, over a decade later, a rediscovered artifact sheds new light on this often-overlooked entry: the lost E3 2010 trailer.
Initially showcased at E3 2010, this trailer vanished into obscurity, unavailable to those who missed its brief debut. For years, it remained a lost piece of Paper Mario history.
An early look at Paper Mario: Sticker Star from the rediscovered E3 2010 trailer.
That is, until recently. YouTube channel Marionova, a hub for Mario-related content, unearthed and shared this long-lost glimpse into Sticker Star‘s early development. Simply titled “Paper Mario Preview,” the trailer showcases gameplay footage, concluding with a “Thank You” and no platform mention. While the Nintendo 3DS, Sticker Star‘s eventual home, was also announced in 2010, the trailer offers no explicit confirmation. Nevertheless, the showcased gameplay clearly foreshadows what would become Paper Mario: Sticker Star.
Given Nintendo’s reputation for protecting its intellectual property, the trailer’s longevity on YouTube remains uncertain. Fortunately, it appears to have been archived elsewhere, ensuring its preservation for Paper Mario enthusiasts and gaming historians.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKdcu5g0lfc[/embed]
Exploring the Legacy of Sticker Star and the Future of Paper Mario
While not necessarily a bad game, Paper Mario: Sticker Star failed to capture the magic of its predecessors, Paper Mario and Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. Its core gameplay mechanic, the sticker system, proved divisive. Intended to drive both combat and puzzle-solving, it often felt tedious, encouraging players to avoid battles—a stark contrast to the engaging turn-based combat of earlier titles. The absence of companion characters, a staple of the first two games, further contributed to the game’s mixed reception.
The sticker-based combat system in Paper Mario: Sticker Star proved controversial.
The most recent mainline Paper Mario game, 2020’s Paper Mario: The Origami King, while not reaching the heights of the originals, was generally considered a step up from Sticker Star and Paper Mario: Color Splash. As of now, Nintendo has not announced any future Paper Mario projects. However, with the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 on the horizon, the timing seems ripe for a new installment in this beloved franchise.
