Introduction
Basic information
Developer Name: Nintendo
Full Name: Princess Peach: Showtime!
Release Date: March 22, 2024
Released on: Nintendo Switch
Cross Play: No
Initial thoughts
My wife was immediately drawn to Princess Peach: Showtime! And was excited to see Peach finally taking center stage again. It’s rare for her to get a solo outing, so we were hopeful this would be a solid return. The game surprised us—not just with its charming gameplay and themed levels—but also with how over-the-top it gets near the end. We weren’t expecting Peach to go full transformation anime finale, but we welcomed the chaos.
Story and setting
Plot overview
The game starts with Princess Peach attending a performance at the Sparkle Theater, only for it to be hijacked by the Sour Bunch, a troupe of villainous performers. Peach teams up with Stella, a star-shaped companion, to save the performers and reclaim the spotlight—literally. Each level plays out like a different stage play, giving Peach unique roles and abilities along the way.
World building and immersion
The stage play concept is executed well. Each area has a theatrical flair, from dramatic lighting to cardboard props that set the tone. It gives the game a whimsical, yet clever presentation.
Character development
Peach doesn’t have complex dialogue or a deep emotional arc, but she exudes personality in every role she takes on, from swordfighter to pastry chef. Stella adds some charm too, though the real development is seeing Peach embrace each role confidently.
Emotional impact
It’s lighthearted throughout, with a finale that feels almost satirical in how big it goes. There isn’t much emotional depth, but there’s definitely a sense of empowerment and fun watching Peach shine in a variety of roles.
Rating for story and setting
I have visited multiple aspects of the story and after some thought and objective thinking, I rated the story and setting with a 7.
Gameplay and mechanics
Core gameplay mechanics
The core gameplay revolves around exploration, puzzle-solving, and interacting with the environment. You’ll spend a lot of time climbing, jumping, and Every level has Peach don a new costume that grants her unique abilities, such as ninja stealth, sword combat, detective investigation, or baking challenges. The mechanics are simple and accessible, which makes the game easy for newcomers and younger audiences, but it may feel too easy for more seasoned players.
Difficulty and balance
Very easy overall. Enemies are rarely a threat, and levels are forgiving. The emphasis is more on fun and spectacle than challenge.
Pacing of the game
The game moves briskly, with short levels that keep things fresh by constantly changing Peach’s abilities. Nothing overstays its welcome.
Innovation and uniqueness
The costume-switching mechanic and stage theme give Showtime! A unique identity within the Mario universe. It’s refreshing to see a game centered around Peach that isn’t just about platforming.
Controls and user interface
Controls are responsive and straightforward. Each costume’s controls are well-tuned and require little adjustment, keeping the experience fluid.
Microtransactions
None. Everything is included in the base game.
Rating
After combing through many of the mechanics, the pacing and other factors of this game, I rated the gameplay and mechanics with a 7.5.
Graphics and art style
Quality of graphics and art direction
The game is bright, colorful, and beautifully staged. Costumes are distinct and packed with personality. There’s a theatrical sheen to everything, with stage lights, crafted props, and costume changes that pop.
Technical performances
Runs smoothly with no major hiccups. Transitions between levels and costume changes are snappy and polished.
Environment and design uniqueness
Each level looks and feels different depending on Peach’s role, which keeps the environments fresh and imaginative.
Rating
It took me some time to give the graphics and art style an objective rating. There are many things to consider, but ultimately, I rated this section with an 8.0.
Sound and music
Music score and how it contributed to the game
The music adapts to each stage’s theme—be it mysterious for detective scenes, dramatic for sword fights, or upbeat for baking. It’s fitting and catchy, though none of the tracks stood out as iconic.
Sound effects quality
Peach’s attacks, costume changes, and interactions all sound crisp and satisfying.
Voice Acting
Minimal, as is typical for Mario titles. Peach gets a few grunts and reactions, but there’s no full voice acting.
Rating
After a lot of consideration, I rated the sound and music section with a 7.
Replayability
Game Length and content volume
The game takes about 6-8 hours to complete, depending on how thorough you are. This excludes getting every item for new costumes.
Extra Content
There are hidden items and medals in each level to collect, but the incentives for 100% completion are minor, mostly some dresses and alternate outfits.
Replay value
While fun the first time through, the game doesn’t offer a lot of replay depth once you’ve seen every transformation. Still, it’s enjoyable to revisit your favorite roles.
Rating
After thoughtful consideration, I decided to rate the replayability and game length of Princess Peach Showtime with a 6.5.
Suggestions and comparisons
Suggestions and feedback
Increase difficulty slightly or offer optional challenge modes.
Add more post-game content or new transformation modes.
Include more depth in Peach’s dialogue or personality.
Comparisons
Compared to Super Princess Peach on the DS, this game feels far more creative and modern. It lacks the complexity of Mario Odyssey, but it offers a unique identity of its own through its stage-play format.
Personal experiences and anecdotes
The costume system was a hit—Simone especially loved the detective levels, and seeing Peach take on so many roles had her smiling the entire time. We laughed when the final transformation went full overboard, like a magical girl anime finale we didn’t know we wanted. Peach gets her moment, and she absolutely owns the stage.
Rating
Taking in all the personal experiences with Princess Peach Showtime, I give it a personal rating of 6.5
Last words
Pros
- Princess Peach is finally playable in a starring role again
- Fun, creative costume transformations
- Vibrant visuals and charming stage design
- Smooth controls and gameplay suited for all ages
- Wholesome tone and empowering moments
- Cute and catchy soundtrack
- No microtransactions or DLC gimmicks
- Perfect for short, casual play sessions
- A surprisingly epic final transformation
Cons
- Very easy difficulty might bore veteran players
- Not much replay value beyond completion
- The story could use more substance
Princess Peach Showtime is a charming, delightful game that finally gives Peach the spotlight in a fun and creative way. While it doesn’t push many boundaries in terms of gameplay complexity, it delivers a colorful and empowering experience that’s especially great for younger players or fans looking for something lighthearted. Peach might not save the world with a fireball, but she’ll bake, fence, and dance her way through danger in style.
FINAL RATING
7.5
Please let me know what you think of Princess Peach Showtime in the comments!
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Easy to play game with vibrant and nice visuals. I also know Simone like stealth and detective games and nice decorations so he may like such games more then Sven.
I think Simone loved this game more than Sven. MAybe cuz of short game or Cute and catchy soundtrack.
I think this game is well designed for children. But why deprive yourself of it if you’re a fan of Mario and his princess?
I like that peach gets some solo screentime now =). According to your review this game seems perfect for a after work couch gaming session ^^
Nothing to add, waiting first for your reply 😉 If my guess was right and such 😉 PS – Despite logging (im logged on index page) but this page dont see me logged.
I didnt really like it. It felts like the game was just made for the sake of being there.
I only knew the name.
After watching the video, I decided it looked like a good game and became interested in it.
The game sounds like a fun and refreshing change of pace with Peach finally getting the spotlight.
The game certainly looks really charming! Thanks for yet another great review! 🙂
I normally don’t like easy difficulty games and only play them if the story visuals audio and art direction are exceptionally good. Not sure this game is for me but really appreciate the effort to keep producing useful reviews!
The Princess Peach games to sound kinda cute, and I’m happy for fans they finally got another outing for her. Difficulty seems kinda aimed at a younger audience… maybe getting younger Girls more into gaming?
I remember a screenshot of the week 😀
hm… sounds a bit like it is aimed at young ones. In this case it might be to frustrating if the difficulty is higher?
The game looks nice, but for casual gaming.
Yeah, I’d probably rate it quite a bit lower, probably a 5.5, I played the demo, and I was extremely disappointed, paying 60$ for a game that offers such a small amount of pathetically easy playtime was just not right for me, I was initially excited, but man was it a letdown, but overall a good review, thanks!
Unsure what the demo for the game is for but I’m sure they are out there.
I just love how many roles Peach takes in this game! It can make you feel like you’re playing multiple games in one game, and each one is brilliant. I know Simone enjoyed this one. 😀
Looks super fun and creative, I love all the themed plays and how she gets different abilities based on her role! The puzzles sound really well done too!
I think this game looks charming and not bad, but perhaps female gamers will like it more.
Haven’t played any Peach game, should try some day
Not for me but thank you for the review.
The setting is really interesting as it allows the stages to have a theatrical flair 🙂
I like this review. The atmosphere and music in this game are amazing!
I like this review. I think this game is masterpiece for dynamic gameplay and amazing music.