The story of Super Paper Mario begins with Bowser and Peach being forced into a marriage by the evil Count Bleck. This union is foretold by the book, the Dark Prognosticus, which threatens to engulf the entire universe. However, a second book, the Light Prognosticus, tells the story of a hero dressed in overalls who possesses the power to stop certain destruction.
Players take control of Mario, joined by Peach and Bowser, as they journey through eight worlds in search of Pure Hearts. Each character has a unique ability that helps solve puzzles throughout the game. Mario can flip between dimensions to find items, secret pathways, and defeat enemies. Peach's parasol allows her to float long distances and defend against attacks, while Bowser uses his fire breath to light things and fry enemies.
Super Paper Mario retains some RPG elements from its predecessors. Players receive points for defeating baddies, which can be used to level up Mario and friends. Items can also be used to attack enemies or gain lives, collected through coin purchases.
Additional gameplay features include the ability to shake the Wii remote after jumping on bad guys to earn extra experience points. The Pixl Tippi can be used to point the remote at the screen to find secrets. Other Pixls, which aid in other ways, can be found along the way and used by pressing the 1 button.