Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ The Games, Movies, TV & Comics You Love
UK EditionUK US EditionUS CA EditionCanada AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Total Film
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Total Film
Gaming Magazines
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe from just £3
  • Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12
Subscribe now
Don't miss these
Coven of the Chicken Foot gameplay screenshot
Adventure Games Ex-Naughty Dog director says Zelda: Wind Waker was the main inspiration for his new game's art style
An anime-style character with their shibe in sunglasses, fishing on a dock in Starsand Island
Simulation Games Starsand Island let me be a skateboarding rabbit farmer, so you better believe it's at the top of my wishlist
A screenshot from Out of Words showing two stop-motion characters falling through a purple sky
Co-op Games Co-op stop motion adventure Out of Words could be the next It Takes Two
A picture of a Nintendo 3DS console next to several of the best 3DS games and Nintendo cards.
Games The 25 best Nintendo 3DS games of all time
Some of the village gathers around with Tom Nook and Kapp'n's family in Animal Crossing: New Horizons for Nintendo Switch 2 celebrate the Resort Hotel opening - with the GamesRadar+ On the Radar branding frame
Animal Crossing Six years later, the Animal Crossing: New Horizons Switch 2 and Update 3.0 have hooked me back into this cozy world thanks to these five fresh features
Coven of the Chicken Foot
Adventure Games The Last of Us co-director wants to deliver a "unique type of storytelling" with Coven of the Chicken Foot, a lush love letter to ICO
Duck Tales box art
Retro Almost 10 years after launch, Capcom's NES Disney compilation could finally come to Switch as ESRB rating emerges
Key art for Skate Story showing the glass skater boarding through a dark underworld filled with spikes towards a door of light
Action Games Skate Story review: "A beautiful and unique skateboarding game with great, stylized visuals set in a grungy underworld"
Art from Octopath Traveler 0 showing Alexia walking down some steps and examining statues
JRPGs Octopath Traveler 0 review: "The strongest entry in this retro-styled JRPG series yet, I love the greater focus on tactical battles"
The best Nintendo Switch Games with the Nintendo Switch console overlaid.
Nintendo The 25 best Nintendo Switch games to play right now
Tiny Bookshop screenshot showing the small mobile bookshop decorated with lights and plants set up on the beach as a customer walks inside. A dog can be seen sitting on a couch outside of it
Games The 20 best Switch indie games you should play right now
Donkey Kong Bananza DK angry at Pauline who won't sing, saying "I can't do it!"
Platforming Games 10 Donkey Kong Bananza tips we wish we knew before going to the Planet Core
Donkey Kong punching through rocks in Donkey Kong Bananza
Donkey Kong Donkey Kong Bananza is a Switch 2 delight, but I wish I'd known these things when I got started
Donkey Kong Bananza screenshot showing Pauline on DK's shoulder as they both whistle a tune and Pauline wears a small crown
Platforming Games Donkey Kong Bananza is my game of the year, and I'm convinced it's one of the greatest platformers in Nintendo history
A crop of the Metroid Prime 4: Beyond key art showing Samus Aran - in her sci-fi style red and yellow power suit armor - on a purple background reaching out her hand to use purple psychic powers while statues of aliens loom in the background
Metroid Metroid Prime 4: Beyond review: "The series' atmosphere has never been better, while being dragged down by a boring overworld and clunky psychic powers"
Trending
  • New Games for 2026
  • CES 2026
  • 2026 Preview
  • The Forge codes
  1. Games
  2. Captain Toad Treasure Tracker

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker finally makes Toad a superstar

News
By Henry Gilbert published 17 June 2014

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

When you wish upon a star...

When you wish upon a star...

When reviewing Super Mario 3D World last year, I wrote, Of special note were Captain Toads 3D puzzles, an exploratory minigame about shifting perspective thats strong enough to be its own separate release. When I brought this up to Nintendo employees during E3, they joked that Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is a full fledged spin-off made just for me, and thats what it feels like when playing. After exploring five imaginative levels, this puzzle platformer seems like the start of a whole new Mario subseries.

The game stars Captain Toad, a brave member of the Mushroom Kingdom thats known to search for treasure in dangerous areas. You realize just how courageous he is when you notice that he lacks almost all of Marios offensive capabilities. Instead of running and jumping, Captain Toad uses timing and logic to avoid enemies and complete puzzling stage that take advantage of the Wii U GamePads motion controls and touch screen. The captain goes all around the Mario-verse, including the desert and a haunted mansion where Luigi would feel right at home.

Theres even room for a boss stage, though the battle with a massive dragon is all about avoiding attacks until he reaches the top (all while collecting extra coins as you go). In a way, Treasure Tracker reminds me of a mash-up of Portal and Donkey Kong for Game Boy, mainly through its clever use of level design and 3D space. The retail release will be out by the end of the year, so I better start writing my wish list for that review now. Maybe Ill ask for a unicorn

Check out the following screenshots for additional info!

Page 1 of 10
Page 1 of 10
This dragon is one of the first bosses that Captain Toad will face

This dragon is one of the first bosses that Captain Toad will face

Page 2 of 10
Page 2 of 10
Like several upcoming Wii U game, Captain Toad makes interesting use of the GamePad

Like several upcoming Wii U game, Captain Toad makes interesting use of the GamePad

Page 3 of 10
Page 3 of 10
This looks like it could be a very pretty stage

This looks like it could be a very pretty stage

Page 4 of 10
Page 4 of 10
Toad polishes up his turnip-tossing skills from Super Mario Bros. 2

Toad polishes up his turnip-tossing skills from Super Mario Bros. 2

Page 5 of 10
Page 5 of 10
Aw... Goombas look so cute when they're sleeping

Aw... Goombas look so cute when they're sleeping

Page 6 of 10
Page 6 of 10
Captain Toad even smiles in the face of a deadly Magikoopa

Captain Toad even smiles in the face of a deadly Magikoopa

Page 7 of 10
Page 7 of 10
The game also borrows some of the touch-based puzzle elements from 3D World

The game also borrows some of the touch-based puzzle elements from 3D World

Page 8 of 10
Page 8 of 10
If he falls from a great enough height, Toad can do some damage

If he falls from a great enough height, Toad can do some damage

Page 9 of 10
Page 9 of 10
Look forward to playing this spin-off by the end of the year

Look forward to playing this spin-off by the end of the year

Page 10 of 10
Page 10 of 10
CATEGORIES
Wii-u Platforms Nintendo
Henry Gilbert
Henry Gilbert
Social Links Navigation

Henry Gilbert is a former GamesRadar+ Editor, having spent seven years at the site helping to navigate our readers through the PS3 and Xbox 360 generation. Henry is now following another passion of his besides video games, working as the producer and podcast cohost of the popular Talking Simpsons and What a Cartoon podcasts. 

Share by:
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Whatsapp
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Read more
Captain Wayne screenshot showing the titular character
This nautical take on the boomer shooter is filled with 90s cartoon absurdity, and it's already one of my favourite games of the year after only playing an hour
 
 
Donkey Kong Bananza screenshot showing Pauline on DK's shoulder as they both whistle a tune and Pauline wears a small crown
Donkey Kong Bananza is my game of the year, and I'm convinced it's one of the greatest platformers in Nintendo history
 
 
Donkey Kong, Cranky Kong, and Pauline stand together in a Donkey Kong Bananza screenshot badged with GamesRadar+'s best of 2025 branding
After 44 years as second banana, Donkey Kong Bananza makes Nintendo's first star a mascot to rival Mario and Link in the Switch 2 era
 
 
A picture of a Nintendo 3DS console next to several of the best 3DS games and Nintendo cards.
The 25 best Nintendo 3DS games of all time
 
 
Buster Jam screenshot showing a cursed looking baby clapping at a rattle
This is not a drill: the ghost of WarioWare returns in the form of this bizarre minigame free-for-all on Steam
 
 
Donkey Kong punching through rocks in Donkey Kong Bananza
Donkey Kong Bananza is a Switch 2 delight, but I wish I'd known these things when I got started
 
 
Latest in Games
Assassin's Creed Brotherhood
Ubisoft hits "major reset" button, cancels 6 games, delays 7 more, and confirms 4 new IP
 
 
Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 VR modder isn't ruling out making it free following DMCA, but says people are pirating it to "punish" him
 
 
Donkey Kong and Dixie Kong in Returns HD
Out of nowhere, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD gets updated with new content a year since launch
 
 
Arknights Endfield
Arknights: Endfield release times and dates explained
 
 
Screenshot of RuneScape character in pirate hat and eyepatch
Ex MMO dev allegedly hacked 68 players for in-game gold worth over $700,000 and sold it for Bitcoin, UK court finds the gold legally counts as "property" and can be stolen
 
 
Crimson Desert: Macduff looking out into the distance during the new game, Crimson Desert.
Crimson Desert has finally gone gold ahead of its March launch
 
 
Latest in News
A Meta Quest 3 headset next to two pairs of wireless earbuds
"We are not getting out of VR," says Meta Developer Advocate just one week after mass layoffs
 
 
Squid Game Season 2 on Netflix
Netflix just unveiled its 2026 Korean content lineup, featuring romantic comedies, reality TV, and Blackpink's Jisoo
 
 
Nicholas Galitzine as Adam in Masters of the Universe
Masters of the Universe trailer offers up first looks at Battle Cat, Eternia, and Idris Elba's Man-At-Arms
 
 
Pal wields a massive turret in a screenshot from Palworld
Palworld finally stops Summoning Altars from self-destructing after every raid in new update that also buffs swords
 
 
A screenshot from Fallout 4.
Bethesda originally wanted Fallout 4 to be set in New York, but too many other games had the same idea
 
 
Image of the Samsung P9 Switch 2 SD card sitting on a light green GamesRadar+ background.
This 512GB Samsung Switch 2 SD card deal is a breath of fresh air amidst the sea of rising storage prices
 
 
  1. Origin Story box and cards laid out on a wooden surface
    1
    Looking for a good 2-player board game? This superhero adventure is worth suiting up for
  2. 2
    Trails Beyond the Horizon review: "This JRPG's thrilling real-time and turn-based combat evolves Metaphor ReFantazio's hybrid battles, making up for a poorly paced adventure"
  3. 3
    Scythe review: "This alt-history board game is still a gold standard for modern strategy"
  4. 4
    Skate Story review: "A beautiful and unique skateboarding game with great, stylized visuals set in a grungy underworld"
  5. 5
    Octopath Traveler 0 review: "The strongest entry in this retro-styled JRPG series yet, I love the greater focus on tactical battles"
  1. Return to Silent Hill protagonist James Sunderland
    1
    Return to Silent Hill review: "Neither an impressive adaptation nor coherent enough to act as a standalone film"
  2. 2
    28 Years Later: The Bone Temple review: "The wildest and weirdest entry into the franchise yet"
  3. 3
    Avatar: Fire and Ash review: "Still a technical marvel, with some of the year's best action filmmaking"
  4. 4
    Five Nights at Freddy's 2 review: "We have waited two years for a Five Nights at Freddy's 1.5"
  5. 5
    Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery review: "Brings Knives Out back to its roots for a sequel that's almost on a par with the original"
  1. Holly Hunter as Captain Ake in Starfleet Academy.
    1
    Starfleet Academy review: "It may feel a little different to what we're used to, but this is Star Trek through and through"
  2. 2
    A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms review: "This Game of Thrones spin-off is a heartfelt and fun return to Westeros"
  3. 3
    Stranger Things season 5 finale review: “Shows off both the best and the worst of Hawkins”
  4. 4
    Stranger Things season 5, Volume 2 review: “All set up for a finale that has so much to deliver”
  5. 5
    Fallout season 2 review: "A hell of a lot of fun despite being overcrowded and convoluted"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...