Modern Paper Mario Is a 3D Mario game where platforming challenges are swapped out for puzzle solving, and battles are turn based.

A thread.

Exploration focused gameplay where the end goal is to collect a MacGuffin at the end of a stage.

The player needs to observe and explore the game world finding secrets and collectables to progress or add to the completion total of the game.

Battles are only as important as the player wants them to be, and can largely be ignored aside from bosses.

Modern PM instead makes them a side activity the player can perform to shake up gameplay, but also work on gathering more collectables should the player want more to do.

This is emphasized by the chosen battle method. Cards and stickers are things to collect. The player is encouraged to find them for display in a museum.

Plenty of variety has been added to their use in battle to let the player have fun by experimenting in encounters.

RPG mechanics have been removed so the players only restrictions on exploration is their own curiosity.

There is never a number wall that hinders the players ability to progress until they have done enough grinding to handle a specific battle challenge.

Because of this standard encounters have been made very fast and even reward the player for handling all enemies in a single turn with proper usage of their inventory.

While I agree story and characters should not have been toned back to the level they were, I personally feel this was to guide the players towards the world itself, and imply the return to a more traditional Mario title where story was less of a focal point.

Like a 3D Mario title the games have numerous secrets and hidden mechanics that give the player a sense of accomplishment when new discoveries are made. Understanding those mechanics give players access to much better tools and easier progression by simply knowing them.

I believe this decision was made as a response to player outcry that modern Mario titles held the players hand too much. These games explain very little about the underlying systems and requirements, then ask the players themselves to learn about how things work with only hints.

There are still some kinks with all of the things discussed, but overall I feel going into these titles with a more open mind and accepting their desire to subvert gameplay expectations leads to a very fun and engaging expierence unlike any other part of the Mario franchise.