E3 2012: Three Mario games makes a crowd on Nintendo 3DS

The Mario maker has gone Mario mad. Nintendo showed off three new Mario games for its 3DS handheld game console. New Super Mario Bros. 2 is due out this August, and places a major focus on a gaming trope that Mario helped create: gold coins. Nearly every action in the game generates the goodies--talk about a strong feedback loop.

Next up is Paper Mario: Sticker Star, another entry in the famed sub franchise that focuses on 3D visuals and special stickers that players can use to advance in each stage. Finally, Nintendo touted a bit more of Luigi's Mansion for 3DS and tacked on a subtitle: Dark Moon. According to Nintendo, players will explore multiple mansions with a heavier focus on ghost catching, boss fighting and mission-based play hooks.

It looks like Mario (and his bro) will be all over the Nintendo map this year, with a new Super Mario Bros. game in the works for the Wii U console as well. Of course, more details to come from the show floor this week.

Are you hyped about new Mario jams on the 3DS? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment.