《超級瑪利歐3D世界》是3DS《超級瑪利歐3D樂園》的後續作品，也是第六部3D立體俯視的《超級瑪利歐》系列。遊戲有三個存檔檔案，最多有4人參戰，可選擇瑪利歐、路易吉、皮諾奇奧與碧姬公主等 4 名角色，可同時出現螢幕上。瑪利歐移動速度較穩定，路易吉跳躍力強，碧姬公主可空中浮游，奇諾皮歐的衝刺速度快。 關卡除了跳動的板子及翻轉格子外，更加上複雜的觸發陷阱，考驗著玩家技術，因此透過教學了解及練習相對重要。之前三代有飛天狐狸功能，在3D World來說，新功能則加入可愛變身姿態的「貓咪瑪利歐」變身，擁有跟貓一樣的攀爬牆壁、快爪攻擊能力。另外傳統綠色水管也變成透明，讓玩家可以先研究行走路線，用最快方法避開敵人通過關卡。每關都有時間限制，吃到黃色鈴鐺就化身貓咪，移動速度大增，許多水管內藏有道具，看到大型動物一定要抓住，通常都有大香菇，拿到可變身超級大瑪利歐，到處搞破壞。若遇到烏龜，跟一代一樣只要不斷碰撞龜殼就可以一直加分加台，並無限制那個關卡才能使用。故事描述小精靈們都被庫巴抓走了，於是瑪利歐、路易吉、皮諾奇奧與碧姬公主等，全部跳入透明水管進入精靈王國展開救援行動。

"Super Mario 3D World" is the successor to the 3DS game "Super Mario 3D Land" and the sixth installment in the 3D overhead view "Super Mario" series. The game features three save files and supports up to four players. Players can choose from four characters: Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Princess Peach, all of whom can appear on the screen simultaneously. Mario has balanced movement speed, Luigi excels in jumping, Princess Peach can float in mid-air, and Toad has the fastest sprint speed.

The levels in the game include various elements such as bouncing platforms and flip panels, as well as more complex triggered traps that test the player's skills. Therefore, understanding and practicing through tutorials is relatively important. Unlike previous games that featured the flying raccoon power-up, "Super Mario 3D World" introduces the adorable "Cat Mario" transformation. In this form, players can climb walls and perform quick claw attacks like a cat.

Traditional green pipes have been replaced with transparent ones, allowing players to observe the path and plan their moves to avoid enemies efficiently. Each level has a time limit, and collecting a yellow bell transforms the character into a cat, significantly increasing movement speed. Many pipes contain hidden items, and capturing large animals often yields a giant mushroom, transforming the player into a super-sized Mario capable of causing widespread destruction. When encountering turtles, players can repeatedly kick their shells to continuously gain points and extra lives, with no restrictions on which levels this can be done.

The story revolves around small fairies being captured by Bowser. Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Princess Peach all jump into a transparent pipe to enter the fairy kingdom and begin their rescue mission.