My goal over the past couple of years has been to play every main-line Super Mario game. So far, there’s a small number I haven’t played, so while I’m not ready to rank them, it’s time for my new opinion on the best Mario games. Today I’ll be remaking my top 10 Mario games list after more time with games I’d played back in January of 2022 as well as new games. Like last time, this list only includes the main-line platformers. So, let’s-a-go!
#10: “Super Mario Bros.” (1985 – NES)
You can’t talk about Super Mario without his original game. Super Mario Bros. really was an influential piece of software, as not only did it single-handedly save the video game industry, but it also started a multi-billion dollar franchise that would become the most popular gaming series ever. But the game itself. While it isn’t very unique with similarly-feeling levels and simple platforming, I still feel like the game has aged pretty well over the years. The controls aren’t completely fluent but they still work fine. Some of the levels are inventive and fun to go through. The introduction of the power-ups was a game-changer and the 32 levels can be exciting. This game might not be close to the best 2D Mario game, but it definitely was and still is a fun 2D platforming game that also holds a ‘super’ legacy.
#9: “Super Mario 3D Land” (2011 – 3DS)
Super Mario 3D Land was simple. It felt like Super Mario 3D World but with bite-sized stages making for a quicker game. Every level had a different concept, which some don’t like, but I honestly don’t mind. If you don’t see it as each world being one theme, this Mario game is much more accessible. One moment you’re running around a typical grassy landscape, and the next you’re jumping across giant 2D Mario characters. I like the uniqueness of the levels. And even though the game is roughly half the size of Super Mario 3D World, there’s still a lot of bonus content. After you defeat Bowser in World 8, an entire bonus campaign will unlock, with 8 more worlds. Each special world is pretty much a clone of the standard worlds, which I didn’t love, along with some levels being either almost exact clones or new levels that are boring or too difficult in an unenjoyable way. However, the main campaign is a more joyous experience, and is fun in its own way.
#8: “Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins” (1992 – Game Boy)
Out of every Mario game I’ve played, I’d say Super Mario Land 2 was the biggest surprise. It’s arguably the most unique 2D Mario game, and it’s a really fun, short & sweet Mario title. The sequel to Super Mario Land involves Mario exploring 6 worlds around Mario Land to collect six large coins to unlock the doors of his castle to defeat Wario who has taken it over. And yes, this was the introduction to one of the best Mario spinoff characters, Wario. I also thought the change of pace with Mario doing something for himself instead of for a princess. What was cool about Super Mario Land 2 is that you can explore the world in any way you want. All six worlds are available at the start, so you can complete any of them in any order. It was a neat way to play a 2D Mario game and I thoroughly enjoyed it. This is one unique title every Mario fan should play at some point, even if you skip its predecessor.
#7: “Super Mario 64” (1996 – N64)
Super Mario 64 is a unique game to me. When I first played it, I hated it. After several times playing it since, as well as playing it on the original hardware instead of the Switch, I enjoyed the game more and more each time while appreciating everything it did back in 1996 when it was released. Many game series had trouble switching from 2D to 3D, but Mario showed that it could be done, and be done very well. The final product was one of the most iconic games of all time. Bigger, explorative levels and environments, Peach’s Castle and everything inside its walls, unforgettable music, So Long, Gay Bowser, L is Real statue, wonky physics, all of its flaws, and everything else. Honestly, its gripes make it great.
#6: “Super Mario World” (1991 – SNES)
Listen. I hear all of you who think that Super Mario World should be in the top 5 or top 3 of this list. I get it. Just because I put it at #6 doesn’t me I dislike this game more. I did have some little gripes, with a few levels that I didn’t find very interesting as well as controls that were difficult to get used to. But besides those little flaws I have, I still agree with most people that Super Mario World is spectacular and one of Mario’s best 2D games. Outside of the few levels I didn’t like, most of the others are really well-designed. Plus, there’s the cape feather which is a joy to use, along with Mario’s new moves and Yoshi, who is one of the most likable characters in the world of Mario. Once the overworld theme changes to the Yoshi version, I can’t help but smile. This game is great in almost every way: great levels, great new stuff, a fantastic overworld map with tons of secrets, terrific music, and so much more. Super Mario World really is a super game.
#5: “Super Mario Galaxy 2” (2010 – Wii)
Another one of my unpopular Mario opinions is with Super Mario Galaxy 2, as I don’t prefer it to the first game. But like with Super Mario World, this doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy the game. Super Mario Galaxy 2 is one of the best video game sequels I’ve played. It takes many of the great things and bad things about its predecessor and just expands. The levels are somehow even more creative than the first game, the new power-ups are a joy to use, and Lubba the luma is the greatest Mario character of all time with no competition. Ok, anyway, Super Mario Galaxy 2 definitely does a lot right especially with a sequel to an already amazing game, but there are a few things that make me dislike the game a little bit less. First is the world map, which I didn’t prefer to Super Mario Galaxy’s system as it made the game feel more linear. Also, the hub world is a big downgrave to the Comet Observatory. But otherwise, the levels make up for those dislikes and I thoroughly enjoyed this stellar Mario adventure.
#4: “Super Mario Bros. 3” (1990 – NES)
I know there’s the Super Mario Bros. 3 people and there’s the Super Mario World people. Even though I love both games, I’m with the Super Mario Bros. 3 side of players. Super Mario Bros. 3 has the best power-ups in the series that are all fun to use (even the frog suit), every level is really well-made, there are world maps with many different secrets, minigames, shops, and more. It’s just a near-perfect game. The addition of the overworld maps were a big deal back when this game launched, and it’s still a highlight of the 2D Mario series. This game inspired basically every 2D Mario game to follow, with the New Super Mario series and even 3D Land and 3D World. The Mario series would be totally different without this game, and for that reason I’d say it’s better than Super Mario World.
#3: “Super Mario 3D World” (2013 – Wii U)
While I still adore Super Mario 3D World and think that nostalgically it will always be my favorite Mario game, I don’t think I can keep it at #1 for this list. Now I grew up with this game and it was one of the first Mario games I played thoroughly, so I definitely have a soft spot for it. Otherwise, it’s a fun family Mario title with creative levels, fun worlds to explore, one of the best Mario game power-up lineups we’ve seen so far, and an epic final boss to top it off. Super Mario 3D World has to be the most underrated Mario title ever. It’s just brilliant. I also believe that it did a better job with the 3D Mario played like 2D concept than 3D Land simply for the levels and worlds. While they aren’t very big and unique, the world maps are completely 3D and free-roaming with secrets everywhere. The cat suit and double cherry are great new abilities added to Mario’s slate of power-ups while keeping the mushroom, fire flower, and 3D Land’s tanooki leaf and boomerang flower. Overall, Super Mario 3D World is a very great game that should be remembered much more.
#2: “Super Mario Odyssey” (2017 – Switch)
While this is another nostalgic game for me as I also grew up with it, Super Mario Odyssey also holds a special place in my heart. But it’s more than that. This game as a whole is spectacular and epic all the way through. Mario could not have returned to the sandbox-3D gameplay in a better way. Every world, or kingdom, is really unique. Large, open environments with so much exploration to behold. Most of the kingdoms are like this, and they feel perfect for a Mario title. There’s also the new controls, especially with Cappy. Mario feels perfectly fluent and Cappy adds new moves that make precise platforming really satisfying and rewarding. Across the game is an absurd amount of power moons and purple coins to collect, which perfectly rewards you for concrete exploration. And you’ll need to look in every nook and cranny of every nook and cranny to find some of them because of how dubiously hidden they can be. While it can feel too overthrown, it was still a fun adventure all throughout. Super Mario Odyssey is undoubtedly a super star.
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
“Super Mario Bros. 2” (1988 – NES)
“Bowser’s Fury” (2021 – Switch)
“New Super Mario Bros. Wii” (2009 – Wii)
“Super Mario Sunshine” (2002 – GCN)
“Super Mario Land” (1989 – Game Boy)
#1: “Super Mario Galaxy” (2007 – Wii)
When I first played Super Mario Galaxy it was an incredibly magical experience. From the moment I first heard the excellent orchestrated soundtrack, exploring the imaginative worlds, buzzed around as a bee around honey walls, hopped around a giant toy robot to detach its screws, floating in and out of walls to find Luigi, sling across pull starts to beat a large boo in a race, swim around the beautiful waters of the bowl-shaped tropics, and even search for stupid rabbits in snow. All of these are a small part of the magic that is Super Mario Galaxy. In your hunt to find the green stars around inventive worlds to help the protector of the cosmos herself travel to the center of the universe to defeat Bowser’s efforts of creating a galaxy-overtaking world was a plot I didn’t know I needed to experience in a Mario game. Super Mario Galaxy is terrific, and a no-doubt must-play for any Mario fans out there. Just the fact that Nintendo was able to fit this much magic and imagination into a 3-gigabyte Wii disc just blew me away, and makes this my new favorite game in the Super Mario series by far.
What’s your favorite Mario game? Let me know in the comments below, and happy Mario day!