Since Super Mario single-handedly save the gaming industry 40 years ago, he’s taken part in a bevy of different types of games. From standard platformers to RPGs to kart-racing to sports, he’s basically done it all at this point. I’ve ranked the mainline games before, but what are my favorite Mario games overall? Well, here’s my list of (both objectively and nostalgically) my favorite Mario games of all time. By ‘Mario games’, I’ll be limiting it to games featuring Mario as the star. Things like Super Smash Bros. games won’t be included. Essentially, any game with the word “Mario” in the title is eligible for the list. So without further ado, let’s-a-go!
#10:
“Mario Kart 64” (1996 – N64)
Since the original Super Mario Kart on the Super Nintendo in 1992, the Mario Kart series has only expanded in its tracks, characters, and controls in every entry. While the newer Mario Kart games have much more polished controls and prettier graphics, it’s always nice to go back to the classics, especially with how much more complicated racing can be in the newer games. Mario Kart 64 is easily the most nostalgic Mario Kart game to me, and I still enjoy playing it from time to time. Something about the 64-bit tracks and charming voice-acting make it such a memorable game from the Nintendo 64, not to mention how much it expanded on the original game. The difference from racing in Super Mario Kart and Mario Kart 64 is massive, and while the controls still aren’t perfect, they feel much better (especially with a joystick rather than the d-pad) and make for a more enjoyable experience. Plus, tracks like Choco Mountain, Yoshi Valley, Kalimari Desert, and Rainbow Road are still some of the most beloved and revisited tracks in Mario Kart history. Now, while newer Mario Kart games may be more fun due to the better controls and graphics, you can’t deny that Mario Kart 64‘s battle mode still is and will probably always be the best battle mode. Mario Kart 64 is not only such a nostalgic game for me, but it still holds up fairly well and I always enjoy taking a break of the modern games to play some 64-bit Mario Kart.
#9:
“Super Mario Sunshine” (2002 – GCN)
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again — Super Mario Sunshine may be the most devisive Mario game ever made, as its audience is split by people who love it and people who hate it with no in-between. Despite some of its shortcomings in its controls and odd gameplay choices, Mario’s tropical-themed adventure still remains one of his most enjoyable. Something really neat about Super Mario Sunshine is that the game is set on one island known as Isle Delfino, with every level Mario visits on that island. Every level has a tropical or vacation theme, including multiple beaches, tropical towns, a seaside amusement park, and more. You can even see some levels from other ones, which is a super cool touch. Part of the game’s control scheme is the use of the mechanical water-nozzle device called F.L.U.D.D. who provides some extra moves for Mario including hosing down the mysterious goop left by the game’s impostors, as well as allowing Mario to hover in the air to reach higher areas. Using F.L.U.D.D. can be a bit finicky at first, but he ultimately adds some fun charm to the game. Super Mario Sunshine may not be perfect, especially with its weird controls and structure, but it overall provides an enjoyable and memorable Super Mario experience that every Mario fan should play at least once.
#8:
“Paper Mario” (2000 – N64)
When it comes to the Paper Mario series, everyone talks about The Thousand-Year Door and basically forgets about the original on Nintendo 64. Now, no matter what game you prefer, Paper Mario is still a great game and, for me, is very close in its level of quality to its predecessor. The game introduced many feature that the series’ first couple of games would carry, including a set of eight chapters which a collectible of some sort at the end of the first seven, an intuitive battle system, and likable partner characters that add new layers of strategy in battle and while exploring the worlds. The battle system is the big part of the game, proving a simple and complicated experience when fighting enemies depending on their difficulty. In Paper Mario, Mario must venture through seven regions to unlock the Star Spirits from their prisons under enemies led by Bowser, who can only be stopped by the combined force of the seven Star Spirits. The game is an incredibly enjoyable one, especially with how fun it is to explore each level.
Check out my ranking of all 19 mainline Mario games:
#7:
“Super Mario Maker” (2015 – Wii U)
The Wii U didn’t get many chances to show off the unique ways its TV and GamePad could be used together creatively during games, but Super Mario Maker may have been the biggest chance. To celebrate Mario’s 30th anniversary in 2015, Nintendo created a game that allowed players to create their own Mario levels using a slick and simple interface, share those levels online, and play other creators’ levels from all across the world. It was an experience unlike any other from Nintendo, and the Wii U GamePad was used brilliantly with the game, allowing players to design their levels on the GamePad before immediately being able to play in full HD on their TV. It felt like the Wii U was made for Super Mario Maker, and it provided an intuitive and highly enjoyable way to get creative in the world of Super Mario. Plus, like I said, the interface was not complicated, making the creative process much more fun. And of course, being able to play other peoples’ levels was super neat. Sure, many of the great parts of the game have been replicated in Super Mario Maker 2 on the Switch, but the original game gave players and uniquely charming experience with perfect controls not quite matched with the sequel. You really had to be there to understand the beauty of Super Mario Maker.
#6:
“Super Mario Bros. 3” (1990 – NES)
Personally, I’m not a huge fan of Super Mario Bros. or Super Mario Bros. 2 for a lot of reasons. Part of the reason, however, is that I’ve just played way too much of this game that it’s hard to go back. Super Mario Bros. 3 takes everything that came before it and just expanded. More levels, secrets, a world map, amazing power-ups, and great controls. Super Mario Bros. 3 is near-perfect in basically every way, delivering an experience almost no other 2D platformer at the time could match. Almost every level feels like it was delicately crafted to offer the most fun and encourage exploration. Moving around the world map was really novel, especially with all of the Toad houses and minigames scattered around. Touching a Super Leaf and becoming a raccoon that can take flight is really fun and encourages even more exploration. Like I said, nearly every aspect of this game is masterfully created, and there’s no doubt how influential this game was and still is to this day.
#5:
“Mario Kart 8 Deluxe” (2017 – NS)
While Mario Kart 64 bleeds the nostalgic energy of the original Mario Kart games, newer titles like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe have expanded the series so many ways to make racing even more enjoyable and chaotic. The controls feel perfectly precise, drifting is easy to pull off but more rewarding the more difficult you make it, and tricking off ledges adds a lot more charm and fun to racing. There’s also the tracks, which not only includes all of the tracks from Mario Kart 8 as well as its four DLC cups free of charge, but it has even more tracks with the recent Booster Course Pass. In total, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has 96 different courses, including brand new tracks, great new iterations of classic tracks, and some tracks otherwise only playable on a handheld system or mobile device. The track selection even without the Booster Course Pass is still amazing, with each course being highly-detailed, well-structured, and super fun to race on. Plus, the battle mode – while not quite as good as Mario Kart 64 – does a lot to improve Mario Kart 8′s by adding new game modes and creative exclusive courses. It’s no wonder why Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has sold as well as it has.
#4:
“Super Mario 3D World” (2013 – Wii U)
Part of my love for Super Mario 3D World may come from the nostalgia, as the game came pre-packaged for with my Wii U deluxe set, and was one of the titles that made me fall in love with video games. Still, this game is fantastic. Across its eight main worlds and four bonus worlds, the game’s over 100 stages are all, for the most part, a pure delight to venture through. Part of this comes in the fun power-ups. Returning from the 3DS title Super Mario 3D Land are the Tanooki Suit, Boomerang Flower, and of course, the classic Mushroom, Fire Flower, and Super Star. New to the lineup are the Cat Suit, allowing Mario to swipe enemies, dive, and even climb walls, and the Double Cherry, which creates a clone of Mario that can be helpful in specific circumstances. Super Mario 3D World may have the strongest power-up lineup of any Mario game ever, rivaling on Super Mario Bros. 3. The gameplay itself is super fun, borrowing the classic structure overused by the New Super Mario Bros. series and makes it fun. The fully-3D maps are fun to explore, the minigames (while simple) can be enjoyable, and special levels like the boss refights and Captain Toad stages are a blast to play. Super Mario 3D World may not be a huge sandbox adventure like its 3D predecessors, but it still delivers a wildly fun experience that both casual and hardcore players can enjoy.
Check out my review of Mario Kart World on Nintendo Switch 2:
#3:
“Super Mario Galaxy” (2007 – Wii)
This game is one of those quintessential video games of its era everyone should play at some point, whether or not you’re a Mario fan. Super Mario Galaxy expanded on the gameplay and creativity from the previous 3D Mario games by introducing an intergalactic premise that still provides players a magical experience to this day. Super Mario Galaxy quite possibly is magical, whether it’s from the beautiful visuals (despite being standard-definition), memorable orchestral soundtrack, or the creative gameplay. The concept behind the levels in the game are that each one is a galaxy consisting of planets for Mario to explore. Mario can freely roam up and around each planet, which while a bit clunky at first, is easy to get used to and encourages more exploration than any Mario game before. Super Mario Galaxy has some of the best levels in any Mario game to date, which is one of the reasons I still prefer it to the also amazing Super Mario Galaxy 2. Super Mario Galaxy is an excellent video game and one that will most likely stand the tests of time in the decades to come.
#2:
“Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door” (2004 – GCN)
There’s nothing like experiencing Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door for the first time. That title alone is one that basically every Mario fans knows, regardless of whether or not they’ve ever played it. That was me for many years until the Switch remake just last year, and what I discovered was an experience I never expected to have. All that Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door does is expand on the good and bad of its predecessor. The battle system was polished even more, each chapter provides even more creative experiences like no Mario game before, the partners are even more likable and well-designed, and the story is touching, unexpecting, and engaging. That’s the perfect word for this game: engaging. It’s addicting gameplay and exciting side-stories make it a game that you won’t want to stop playing for hours. Plus, this game makes it entertaining just reading dialogue boxes, especially with how raunchy this game can get. I mean, seeing the noose in the middle of the game’s main area is not something Nintendo does too often. If you’ve never played this game, play it. Even if you’re not a huge RPG fan, play this game, because trust me, it doesn’t matter. I’m not a huge RPG fan either, and yet this is now one of my favorite video games of all time – so play it. You won’t regret it.
#1:
“Super Mario Odyssey” (2017 – NS)
Sure, I could put some obscure, unexpected game as the #1 game on this list. However, Super Mario Odyssey is objectively and subjectively my favorite video game of all time. Not only does this game still make me feel nostalgic for the Christmas I got it with the Switch in 2017, but it’s such a great game that I love playing just in general. Super Mario Odyssey is another quintessential Mario gameplay even more well-designed and levels even more creative than any other locations across the Mario universe yet. Sticking closer to the structure of Super Mario 64 but with a further emphasis on open-world gameplay, Super Mario Odyssey allows players to explore its massive kingdoms (for the most part) however they please. Players can focus more on exploration and find new paths or follow the list of objectives more directly. Nearly every kingdom is created with such attention-to-detail that it’s fun to just explore them with no purpose. Places like New Donk City, Fossil Falls, Tostarena, and Mount Volbono are such creative and well-designed destinations that it makes for an enjoyable experience that gives players more freedom than ever before. Even after 600+ hours with the game I’m still finding things I haven’t before.
What is your favorite Mario game? Let me know in the comments below.
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