Mario and pals will be brought to life in Orlando as it's confirmed that Universal will open a Super Nintendo World in its new Epic Universe theme park.

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A Super Nintendo World, like the one in Universal Studios Japan, will open in Orlando in 2023 (c) Universal Studios

A Super Nintendo-themed world is slated to open at Universal Orlando Resort in 2023. The world will be based on Nintendo's mascot Mario, and will be found in the resort's new Epic Universe theme park, which Universal Parks and Resort's CEO, Tom Collins, said will be "the most immersive and innovative theme park we've ever created."

Map of Universal Orlando Resort's theme parks
Map of Universal Orlando Resort's theme parks with Epic Universe at the bottom

In 2015, Universal announced a partnership with the video game giant, promising themed lands featuring beloved characters like Mario. The first will open in Osaka, Japan later this year – just in time for the Tokyo Summer Olympics – and will feature a real-life Mario Kart ride and a more sedate, Yoshi ride that takes visitors on a journey throughout the Mushroom Kingdom, collecting blue coins along the way.

Super Nintendo World will also be brought to California and Singapore, although there are no plans for a similar outpost in the upcoming Universal Beijing. That park, however, will have attractions based on fan favourites like Harry Potter, Transformers, Minions, Jurassic Park, and Kung Fu Panda Land when it opens in 2021.

Back in Orlando, Universal will also open a Pokemon-themed area in its KidZone this summer, as well as a Jason Bourne-themed live-action stunt show and more than 2000 new hotel rooms. 

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