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Nearly four years since its debut, Universal Studios Japan has confirmed a major revamp for SUPER NINTENDO WORLD.
Since its grand opening, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD has been a game-changer, capturing imaginations with a vibrant recreation of Nintendo’s beloved Mushroom Kingdom. The world’s first theme park land inspired by Nintendo, it brings the Super Mario universe to life with meticulous, colorful details, from Peach’s Castle to Bowser’s Fortress.
Credit: Universal
Its headline attraction, Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge, uses augmented reality to put guests in the driver’s seat, delivering an immersive Mario Kart experience. For families, the Yoshi’s Adventure ride offers a charming journey through playful landscapes, giving guests scenic views of the entire park from the back of Yoshi himself.
As with all successful theme park attractions, Universal soon got to work replicating the land. Universal Studios Hollywood launched its own version in 2023, thrilling California visitors with a slice of the Mushroom Kingdom in the Lower Lot.
Credit: Universal
A third version is set to open at Universal Orlando Resort’s new Epic Universe theme park in May 2025, and a fourth is planned for Universal Studios Singapore, although an official date hasn’t yet been announced.
Enter Donkey Kong Country: The First Expansion
Before Orlando’s Epic Universe welcomes its own SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, Japan’s park will debut an exciting new area: Donkey Kong Country. Inspired by the Donkey Kong video game series, the area has faced a few delays but is officially scheduled to open on December 11, 2024.
Credit: Universal
At the heart of Donkey Kong Country is Mine-Cart Madness, a family coaster where guests embark on a quest to protect the Golden Banana. This ride, also planned for Epic Universe, is designed to thrill with an innovative feature that gives riders the sensation of “jumping” the track mid-ride.
This expansion also brings a significant rebranding for the original land. Universal Studios Japan has confirmed that the current Mushroom Kingdom area will be renamed SUPER MARIO LAND, distinguishing it from the newly introduced Donkey Kong Country.
Credit: hung.ch, Flickr
Interestingly, marketing materials for Epic Universe still present both lands as a unified SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, suggesting that other parks may follow different naming conventions.
With the addition of Donkey Kong Country and splitting the two Nintendo lands into two, Universal Studios Japan will soon have 10 lands, including New York City, San Francisco, Minion Park, Jurassic Park, Amity Village, Universal Wonderland, WaterWorld, and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
What do you think of SUPER NINTENDO WORLD’s new name?
