Nintendo Consoles With The Most Mario Games

As a lifelong Mario enthusiast who has spent countless hours navigating Mushroom Kingdom and beyond, I must say that the Nintendo 3DS holds a very special place in my heart (and collection) for being home to an incredible array of Mario games. With 21 original titles, it’s hard to imagine any other console offering such a diverse range of experiences, from platformers and party games to sports, puzzles, RPGs, and even a remake of the hit mobile game Puzzle & Dragons.

It’s worth noting that Nintendo boasts some iconic series like Pokemon and The Legend of Zelda. But it’s debatable whether the company would still be thriving as it is today without Mario. Super Mario Bros. undeniably laid the groundwork for other franchises to grow in popularity, particularly on the NES. Over time, Nintendo has indeed leveraged Mario and his companions extensively.

Despite being developed over several decades with numerous iterations, the Mario platformers and their spinoffs continue to feel innovative and remain popular. For instance, “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe” remains a significant selling point for the Nintendo Switch, seven years after its initial release. Given this extensive history, which video game systems have hosted the most unique Mario titles?

5 GameCube (12 Original Games)

Mario Dances And Gets Into The Sun

Super Mario Sunshine
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Mario Kart: Double Dash
Mario Party 4
Mario Party 5
Mario Party 6
Mario Party 7
Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour
Mario Power Tennis
Mario Superstar Baseball
Super Mario Strikers
Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix

In the realm of GameCube, Super Mario Sunshine stands out as its prominent platformer, equipping Mario with a water-spraying backpack to clean up grime and restore his reputation. On the other hand, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door served as the system’s significant RPG, often praised as the finest in the Paper Mario series, even earning a remaster on the Switch. As for Mario Kart: Double Dash, it offered a distinctive touch to the series by being the sole game that lets two characters ride each vehicle, introducing an engaging dynamic between cooperative play and AI companions.

At the gathering, we had the typical abundance of party games such as Mario Party 4, Mario Party 5, Mario Party 6, and Mario Party 7. Apart from Mario Kart: Double Dash, there were numerous sports titles available too, including Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour, Mario Power Tennis, Mario Superstar Baseball, and Super Mario Strikers. Lastly, one of the most peculiar Mario spin-offs on the GameCube was Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix, which was a DDR spinoff featuring Mario and his companions. This game even had a sort of campaign as players danced through the Mushroom Kingdom.

4 N64 (14 Original Games)

Mario Learns To Party And Become An Artist

Super Mario 64
Paper Mario
Mario Kart 64
Mario Golf
Mario Tennis
Dr. Mario 64
Mario Party
Mario Party 2
Mario Party 3
Mario Artist: Talent Studio
Mario Artist: Paint Studio
Mario Artist: Communication Kit
Mario Artist: Polygon Studio
Mario no Photopi

In essence, Super Mario 64 laid the foundation for what we now understand as a 3D platformer, and every game in this genre that followed was influenced by its groundbreaking design on the N64. The spiritual successor to Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, named Paper Mario, was released and brought active combat to players with fresh, vibrant graphics. Mario Kart 64 became a beloved party game for children everywhere, and it continued to be popular in college dorms alongside other sports games such as Mario Golf and Mario Tennis.

Dr. Mario 64 represented an enhanced version of the classic puzzle game from the NES, boasting improved graphics and additional game modes. The Nintendo 64 marked the inception of the Mario Party series, with Mario Party 2 and Mario Party 3 swiftly emerging due to its popularity. A number of Nintendo 64 games served as spiritual successors to the SNES’ Mario Paint, including Mario Artist: Talent Studio, Mario Artist: Paint Studio, Mario Artist: Communication Kit, and Mario Artist: Polygon Studio. In Japan, they were gifted with Mario no Photopi, a photo editing software.

3 Wii (14 Original Games)

Mario Goes Universal And Joins The Olympics

Super Mario Galaxy
Super Mario Galaxy 2
New Super Mario Bros.
Super Paper Mario
Mario Kart Wii
Mario Strikers Charged
Mario Super Sluggers
Mario Sports Mix
Mario Party 8
Mario Party 9
Dr. Mario Online Rx
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games
Mario & Sonic at the Olympics Winter Games
Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games

The games Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 were massive successes for the Mario series on the Wii, transporting Mario to entirely new galaxies and experimenting with gravity concepts. However, New Super Mario Bros. Wii marked a more significant leap forward since it reintroduced classic 2D Mario gameplay with a four-player cooperative mode for the first time. Super Paper Mario, on the other hand, took a different approach to the series by adopting a conventional platformer style rather than a turn-based RPG format. The sports genre was completed with the releases of Mario Kart Wii (which sold exceptionally well), Mario Strikers Charged, Mario Super Sluggers, and Mario Sports Mix.

The Wii didn’t have as many Mario Party games as earlier versions, but Mario Party 8 and Mario Party 9 were enough to satisfy fans. Dr. Mario Online Rx was another addition to the series, not significantly altering the puzzle gameplay formula. Notably, the Wii and DS were the first two Nintendo consoles to introduce the crossover Olympic Games between Mario and Sonic, starting with Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, followed by Mario & Sonic at the Olympics Winter Games and Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

2 Switch (16 Original Games)

This Console Cannot Be Stopped

Super Mario Odyssey
Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Super Mario Bros. 35
Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope
Paper Mario: The Origami King
Mario & Luigi: Brothership
Mario Golf: Super Rush
Mario Strikers: Battle League
Mario Tennis Aces
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020
Super Mario Party
Mario Party Superstars
Super Mario Party Jamboree
Super Mario Maker 2

On the Nintendo Switch, you’ll find one of the finest Mario consoles yet, boasting an array of fresh games and revamped ports. Kicking things off was Super Mario Odyssey, a captivating 3D platformer, followed by the peculiar 2D platformer, Super Mario Bros. Wonder. In addition, there’s Super Mario Bros. 35, a Battle Royale interpretation of the original NES game, and Super Mario Maker 2, where players can design their own games once more. Notably, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was a re-release from the Wii U, but it wasn’t the only Switch exclusive, as there was also the augmented reality spinoff, Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit. Lastly, a new Mario RPG crossover series debuted on the Switch, playing more like X-Com.

Initially, there was “Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle,” which later led to “Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope.” Also included is the release of “Paper Mario: The Origami King.” Although “Mario & Luigi: Brothership” isn’t out yet (releasing in November), it’s worth mentioning. There have been numerous sports games like “Mario Golf: Super Rush,” “Mario Strikers: Battle League,” “Mario Tennis Aces,” and “Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.” The party-centric titles include “Super Mario Party” and “Mario Party Superstars.” October will see the arrival of “Super Mario Party Jamboree” as well.

1 3DS (21 Original Games)

The Greatest Mario Console Of All Time

Super Mario 3D Land
New Super Mario Bros. 2
Mario Party: Island Tour
Mario Party: Star Rush
Mario Party: The Top 100
Mario Vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars
Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again
Mini Mario & Friends: Amiibo Challenge
Dr. Mario: Miracle Cure
Mario Sports Superstars
Mario Tennis Open
Mario Golf: World Tour
Mario Kart 7
Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games
Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympics Games
Mario & Luigi: Dream Team
Paper Mario: Sticker Star
Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam
Puzzle & Dragons Z + Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition

There’s an overwhelming amount of Mario content on the 3DS, it’s truly amazing. For instance, “Super Mario 3D Land” was a top-down platformer that skillfully utilized the 3D effect, while “New Super Mario Bros. 2” provided a solid 2D experience. Additionally, games like “Mario Party: Island Tour”, “Mario Party: Star Rush”, and “Mario Party: The Top 100” offered enjoyable multiplayer experiences when played in groups.

These captivating games, namely “Mario Vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars“, “Mario, and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move“, “Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again“, “Mini Mario & Friends: Amiibo Challenge“, and even “Dr. Mario: Miracle Cure” skillfully utilized their respective properties, offering delightful puzzle experiences. Similarly, “Mario Sports Superstars“, “Mario Tennis Open“, “Mario Golf: World Tour“, “Mario Kart 7“, “Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games“, and “Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympics Games” catered well to sports enthusiasts, delivering satisfying portable gaming experiences.

For the first time, the RPG series crossed some fresh boundaries. Initially, “Mario & Luigi: Dream Team” and “Paper Mario: Sticker Star” followed their usual patterns within their respective franchises. However, an innovative step was taken by merging these two popular series into a single game titled “Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam”. Lastly, the widely-popular mobile game in Japan, “Puzzle & Dragons”, was reimagined for the 3DS and then integrated as a distinct “Mario” campaign called “Puzzle & Dragons Z + Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition”.

2024-09-16 12:34