Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 works best when you treat it as a collection of different sports, not as one system you can master in a single sitting. It mixes standard Olympic events, Dream Events, retro-style 2D events, and a Story Mode that steadily introduces characters and match types.
The easiest way to get comfortable is to build a repeatable routine. Learn one controller style, spend early sessions on a few event families, and use Story Mode as a guided tour instead of skipping straight to random multiplayer chaos.
Essential Tips
1. Pick one control style and stick with it first
This game supports both button play and motion controls, and many events feel very different depending on which one you choose. Start with the controller style that feels most natural to you and use it for several events in a row before experimenting.
2. Use Story Mode as your first real tutorial
Story Mode gives structure to a package that can otherwise feel like a long list of separate minigames. Working through it early helps you see how events are introduced, how the Tokyo 2020 and Tokyo 1964 ideas connect, and how guest-character unlocks fit into your progress.
3. Practice by event family, not by the whole menu
Do not try to learn sprinting, climbing, surfing, archery, Dream Events, and 2D events all in one pass. Group similar activities together. Your improvement becomes much faster when you focus on the kind of input an event wants instead of bouncing randomly between unrelated mechanics.
4. Treat Quick Match as a lab, not just a party mode
Quick Match is the cleanest place to repeat an event without extra distractions. If an event keeps beating you in Story Mode or multiplayer, pull it into Quick Match and run it a few times with the same character and controller setup.
5. Learn the difference between standard, Dream, and 2D events
Standard Olympic events usually reward straightforward timing and control execution. Dream Events layer in stage chaos and more exaggerated rules. The 2D events simplify the presentation but still demand good rhythm and consistency.
6. Use Story progress to unlock before you chase mastery
The roster structure is broader than it first appears, and Story Mode progression is part of how guest characters open up. Early time spent there pays off twice: you get more familiar with the game, and you expand your selection naturally.
7. Keep multiplayer expectations realistic
This game is excellent for short local sessions because different players can jump into recognizable sports quickly. Before a local or online session, agree on a small set of events, decide who is using motion or buttons, and let everyone get a rematch or two.
8. Save advanced optimization for Ranked Event practice
Once the basics feel comfortable, then you can start caring about repeated event runs, tighter starts, cleaner execution, and stronger times. First learn how an event wants to be played. Then worry about shaving off mistakes.
How to Learn the Event Families
The fastest path to confidence is to notice that this is really several small sports games living inside one package. Some events are about rhythm, some ask for directional precision, and others turn into reaction tests.
That is why early practice should be narrow. Pick one running or race-style event and focus on starts and pace. Then pick a precision event and work on input control rather than speed. After that, try one Dream Event and one 2D event so you can feel how those categories shift the rhythm.
This approach keeps your brain from resetting every few minutes. It also helps you identify which event types come naturally to you and which ones need deliberate practice.
One more useful habit is to repeat the same event with the same setup before changing characters. Character choice matters later, but your first big gains usually come from cleaner starts, better pacing, and fewer wasted inputs.
Using Story Mode and Unlocks Well
Story Mode is the best place to convert a huge sports collection into a digestible sequence. It gives context to the Tokyo 2020 and Tokyo 1964 split, rotates you through different event types, and naturally exposes you to parts of the game you might ignore if you only live in Quick Match.
It is also a sensible way to pace unlocks. Guest characters are tied to Story Mode progress, so time spent there is not a detour from the rest of the game. If you jump straight into multiplayer and feel like the roster is thinner than expected, the answer is often to move Story Mode forward instead of grinding random rematches.
The right mindset is to use Story Mode for familiarity, not perfection. Do not get stuck replaying every event there until it feels optimal. Use it to understand how the game introduces challenges and which activities you want to revisit in Quick Match later.
If you are playing with friends, Story Mode also helps you become the person who can explain why one event feels easy to read and another feels chaotic.
Controller and Multiplayer Habits
Because the game supports multiple controller styles, setup discipline matters more than many players expect. If you are using a single Joy-Con, spend time learning exactly how much movement an event really wants. If you are using a button-focused setup, stay conscious of rhythm so you do not trade one kind of inconsistency for another.
The important part is not which control style is universally best. The important part is that you choose one and give yourself enough repetition to understand its strengths.
For local multiplayer, narrow the playlist. A smaller event rotation creates better rivalries and fairer rematches. Dream Events are especially good once everyone understands the basics, because their chaos becomes fun instead of confusing.
For online play, remember that the available structure is narrower than the full game. Go in expecting a more focused set of modern events instead of the entire package.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Do not change controller style after every bad result - You learn less when every retry uses a different input method.
- Do not skip Story Mode if the event list feels overwhelming - It is one of the cleanest ways to understand the game’s structure and unlock pace.
- Do not judge the whole game from one event family - A weak precision event does not mean you will struggle in races, Dream Events, or 2D competitions.
- Do not jump between unrelated events without repetition - Repeating one event teaches timing far faster than constant variety.
- Do not blame character choice for every loss - Beginner improvement usually comes from cleaner execution first.
- Do not treat Dream Events like normal rule sets - Their extra chaos changes positioning, pacing, and decision-making.
- Do not expect every multiplayer session to work well without setup - A little structure makes local and online play much smoother.
- Do not chase advanced times before your inputs are stable - Consistency is the base for every stronger run later.
Summary
| Category | Top Tip |
|---|---|
| First session | Pick one control style and keep it for several events |
| Learning route | Use Story Mode to understand the structure and unlock pace |
| Practice | Repeat events by family instead of jumping randomly around the menu |
| Quick Match | Use it for focused retries and timing cleanup |
| Event types | Adjust for standard, Dream, and 2D events instead of treating them the same |
| Characters | Improve execution before worrying about roster optimization |
| Local multiplayer | Use a short playlist so rematches stay fair and fun |
| Online play | Expect a narrower setup and warm up on modern events first |
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4 checked for this guideEvery factual claim in this guide was checked against at least two independent sources before publication. These are the references used for Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.
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