The new Super Mario Bros. Movie is a huge hit, and it’s bringing a lot of players back to the classic Mario games. This is great timing, as the movie was announced during the celebration of the franchise’s 40th anniversary.
With over 300 games to choose from, the biggest challenge with the Mario franchise is deciding where to begin. Mario has appeared in all kinds of games – from classic platformers and kart racers to role-playing games and party titles. While there’s plenty to pick from, only a select few Mario games truly stand out as perfect masterpieces that everyone should play at least once.
Super Mario Bros. 3
Perfected The Series’ 2D Platforming Formula
The original Super Mario Bros. is often considered the most important and influential video game of all time, as it essentially launched the home console industry. But playing it now, you quickly realize how basic and straightforward Mario’s first adventure is – it really shows its age. In reality, it was Super Mario Bros. 3 that truly demonstrated how amazing this style of game could be.
Building on the success of the original, this game took everything people loved and made it even better. It introduced creative and challenging new levels, a fantastic soundtrack, and enjoyable power-ups like Tanooki Mario and Frog Mario. While the first Super Mario Bros. introduced the world to Mario, Super Mario Bros. 3 cemented his place in gaming history, and many longtime fans still consider it the best game in the series.
Super Mario RPG: Legend Of The Seven Stars
The Perfect Mix Between Mario And Final Fantasy
By the mid-1990s, Mario was already known for branching out into games like kart racing and puzzles. However, no one expected him to appear in a traditional role-playing game. Luckily, the collaboration between Nintendo and the creators of Final Fantasy, Squaresoft, resulted in a surprisingly successful and enjoyable adventure called Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars.
When Super Mario RPG first came out, it was unlike anything else in the Mario series, and rightfully so. Its gorgeous 3D graphics and fantastic soundtrack by Yoko Shimomura made it a truly memorable game. The turn-based battles were also easy to pick up, thanks to smart changes to the usual formula – there were no random battles, and well-timed button presses could make your attacks even more powerful. While the original game for SNES still holds up today, the 2023 remake for Nintendo Switch is also a great way to experience it.
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury
Two Amazing 3D Platformers For The Price Of One
When Super Mario 3D World was released in 2013, opinions were divided. While it was a new 3D Mario game after Super Mario Galaxy 2, it felt more similar to the New Super Mario Bros. series and Super Mario 3D Land. This shift in gameplay might have been well-received at a different time, but the Wii U desperately needed a blockbuster title, and 3D World didn’t quite reach that level of expectation.
Luckily, fans eventually grew to love this game, particularly after it was re-released on the Nintendo Switch as Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury. The original game was improved and updated, letting players finally enjoy its incredibly fun gameplay. This was great news, because the game features some of the most creative level design in any traditional Mario title. And there’s more: the Bowser’s Fury addition brought back the open-world 3D Mario style that hadn’t been seen since Super Mario Odyssey in 2017, complete with exciting battles against Fury Bowser.
Super Mario World
The Best 2D Platformer In The Franchise
With Super Mario Bros. 3, Mario truly became a platforming legend, and its follow-up, Super Mario World, perfectly adapted that winning formula for the newer 16-bit consoles. Using the power of the Super Nintendo, Nintendo crafted what was, for a long time, the most visually vibrant and detailed Mario game, and it remains incredibly appealing even now.
Super Mario World really raised the bar with its improved gameplay, level design, and music. But what truly made it a classic were the incredible power-ups – like the Cape Feather, Power Balloon, and, of course, Yoshi, who quickly became a fan favorite. While many excellent 2D Mario games followed, none quite matched Super Mario World’s exceptional quality. It’s widely considered the best 2D platformer in the series, and anyone curious about Mario’s history should definitely give it a try – they won’t be disappointed.
Super Mario 64
An Absolute Classic That Changed 3D Gaming Forever
Mario has repeatedly changed the video game world, and a prime example is the 1996 release of Super Mario 64. While 3D games existed before then, they still felt new and many developers found it difficult to create realistic movement within a 3D environment. Nintendo, however, excelled with Super Mario 64, and its innovative design heavily influenced nearly every 3D game that followed.
Man, playing Super Mario 64 was a game-changer for me. That analog stick on the N64 let Mario move anywhere, which made exploring those huge levels so much fun and really blew my mind back then. But it wasn’t just the movement – the levels were brilliantly designed, the power-ups felt amazing thanks to the N64’s power, and the music? Unforgettable. Okay, it might feel a little dated compared to newer Mario games, but honestly, it’s still a blast to play even now.
Super Mario Galaxy 2
An Excellent Sequel Worthy Of The ‘Galaxy’ Name
Super Mario Galaxy 2 is the only direct sequel in the 3D Mario series. Before its release, some fans feared it would just be a slightly expanded version of the first game. Thankfully, those worries were unfounded. Super Mario Galaxy 2 is a fantastic sequel and stands out as one of the most refined and impressive 3D platformers in the entire Mario franchise.
Super Mario Galaxy 2 improves on the first game with even tighter platforming and fun, useful power-ups like Rock Mario and Cloud Mario. Though some players still enjoy the story and open-endedness of the original, Super Mario Galaxy 2 is another fantastic game that lives up to its predecessor. Ideally, both games should be played one after the other for the complete experience, so it’s best to start the second game right after finishing the first.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
The Most Complete Mario Kart Experience To Date
The Mario Kart series is easily the most well-known and beloved of all the Mario spin-off games, making any of its installments worthy of recognition. Each Mario Kart title, from the innovative co-op of Double Dash to the expansive world of World, delivers hours of entertainment. But Mario Kart 8 Deluxe still reigns supreme as the best, and it’s held that position for over eight years.
Originally released on the Wii U, Mario Kart 8 was a critically acclaimed game celebrated for its stunning graphics, well-designed tracks, and unique features like antigravity racing. However, the Wii U wasn’t very popular, limiting the game’s reach. Fortunately, Nintendo released Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for the Switch in 2017, and it was a huge improvement. This version featured refined gameplay and tons of extra content, including new characters, karts, and courses, plus a greatly improved Battle Mode. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe quickly became the best-selling game on the Switch, offering endless fun for solo players and groups. Its popularity led to a major expansion pack released in 2022, five years after the initial launch.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
One Of The Best Turn-Based RPGs In Gaming History
While Super Mario RPG first showed that Mario could succeed in the role-playing genre, Nintendo needed to continue that success after their partnership with Square ended. They teamed up with Intelligent Systems and created the Paper Mario series. The first Paper Mario game was a hit, but the second one became a critically acclaimed classic that people still love and praise today.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door remains a classic RPG thanks to its charming characters, diverse abilities, and a surprisingly engaging story. It features memorable locations and a unique battle system that makes combat more interactive and fun. Many consider it not only the best RPG in the Mario series, but one of the greatest turn-based RPGs of all time. The good news is that the 2024 remake for Nintendo Switch has made this beloved game available to even more players, whether they’re revisiting it or discovering it for the first time.
Super Mario Galaxy
A Beautiful Platforming Masterpiece That Proved Mario Games Can Be High Art
The Mario series owes a lot of its current success to Super Mario Galaxy. In the early to mid-2000s, the franchise was struggling a bit, despite games like Super Mario Sunshine and Luigi’s Mansion being well-made. Nintendo needed to revitalize Mario with something innovative and impactful, and they achieved that with this fantastic 3D platformer for the Wii, released in 2007.
Visually, Super Mario Galaxy is a truly magical and memorable game, surpassing anything that came before it. The levels are bright, beautiful, and are accompanied by a stunning orchestral soundtrack often considered one of the best in gaming. Beyond the graphics and music, the 3D platforming is incredibly fun, and the new power-ups – like Bee Mario, Boo Mario, and Flying Mario – add creative twists to the gameplay. The story is surprisingly touching for a Mario game, particularly if you read Rosalina’s Storybook. Many consider Super Mario Galaxy to be the ultimate Mario experience, and it’s easy to see why.
Super Mario Odyssey
A Flawless Globe-Trotting Adventure That Proves Why Mario Is Gaming’s Biggest Icon
Following the success of Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2, the Mario series experienced a bit of a slump during the Wii U years. While games like Super Mario 3D World and New Super Mario Bros. U were popular, they didn’t quite reach the level of the Galaxy titles. Nintendo was looking for a fresh, innovative game to revitalize the series and also boost sales for their new Nintendo Switch console.
Many consider Super Mario Odyssey to be the best Mario game of all time. It brilliantly combines everything that made previous 3D Mario games great, then takes it further with huge, open levels full of surprising designs. A new ability lets Mario take control of almost any enemy he finds, which is a fun change from typical power-ups and keeps the gameplay fresh. The game also looks and sounds fantastic, and features an incredibly memorable ending. It was such a success that Nintendo hasn’t released another major 3D Mario platformer in nearly nine years.
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2026-04-17 01:38