Super Mario Odyssey is actually the best location for virtual hide and seek ever

Super Mario Odysseyy is one of the most delightful 3D Mario games. Highlights like Mario being able to ride a moped through a place called New Donk City, or the fact that you can turn into a whole damn dinosaur and smash through worlds, set it apart from even the stiff competition of other Mario games. It’s always been good, but now a group of content creators are taking it in a whole new way by turning its colorful world into a giant playground for hide-and-seek.

In a video called “Mario Odyssey Hide and Seek is now CLASSIC,” YouTuber and streamer Cjya, a creator known for speedruns and challenge runs of Mario games, joined in for a lighthearted stream where they played a modified version of the game with five other streamers: SmallAnt, Fir, GrandPooBear, EazySpeezy, and CraftyBoss925.

The group is a chaotic mix of players with high technical skills who love to put unique spins on streaming Nintendo games. GrandPooBear became known for his ability to beat super difficult Mario ROM hacks and his completion of a marathon of expert levels in Super Mario Maker 2. SmallAnt became popular for modded content and challenges in Pokémon. Everyone finds ways to put their own spin on classic games, making them the perfect group to come together for a game of hide and seek.

Super Mario Odysseyy features countless nooks and crannies to hide the game’s many Power Moons, virtual collectibles that Mario must find in the game, and which now make up the best hiding spots. The seekers count, the rest of the players hide, and then it’s up to the seekers to find and tag the other players to win the round.

In a striking moment, Cjya chases SmallAnt through the Cascade Kingdom, leading to a spectacular chase where SmallAnt jumps into the air with a hat. At one point, SmallAnt narrowly escapes with a perfectly timed roll.

Being able to hear everyone at once makes it feel like you’re hanging out with friends. Plus, viewers can switch between streams, so when one person is searching, viewers can see where the others are hiding.

“I love Smant and Fir as Goombas because on the other’s screen, Smant looks all relaxed and walking through the air, while Fir is a graceful flying angel who brings Mario down to take out Crafty,” BabygirlCupid wrote in the YouTube comments.

Playing hide and seek in Super Mario Odyssey is an age old tradition that goes back years with this particular group. SmallAnt commissioned the mod from CraftyBoss and the two released a mod in 2022 that added online multiplayer to the game. Since then, this form of content has become a mainstay for Mario-focused content creators. In another version of the game, some of the group played “Prop hunt,” which allows players to dress up as random objects in the environment, adding an extra challenge.

With the current lull in releases, there’s never been a better time to find new ways to enjoy old games. Not everyone is going to want to go to the trouble of installing modded games on their Nintendo Switch, but that’s okay. Streams and videos like these require no downloads, and can provide the perfect combination of awkward recess-ready antics and spectating on highly skilled gamers.