Entertainment
10 Mario Bros. Games That Are Perfect From Start to Finish
Many iconic and popular video games, such as Red Dead Redemption 2, innovated the medium with immersive new gameplay and gaming experiences. When games get popular, they become franchises, and there are many faces in the industry, like Master Chief in Halo. However, there isn’t a more iconic and legendary face of gaming than Mario, everyone’s favorite mustachioed plumber.
Whereas most video games try to stay in their lane, Mario has no problem delving into unexplored territory with new genres every year. That is why this list will celebrate the Super Mario Bros. games that are truly perfect based on aspects such as gameplay, design, influence, originality, variety, entertainment value, fan opinion, critical acclaim, and overall quality. This list will aim for a variety of franchises, including spin-offs and mainline platforms.
‘Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle’ (2017)
Nintendo and Mario are synonymous, mainly because the character is a figurehead of the company. However, they have outsourced it a couple of times, and the result was a game like Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle. When a time machine warps the two franchises into one, the two groups of characters must team up in order to defeat the mega-Rabbid and get back to their own reality.
Nintendo leaving their biggest franchise in the hands of another company is rare, and the pressure to make a good game is bigger than ever, so the developers must have had a sigh of relief when Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle turned out well. The strategic turn-based combat is something completely different yet welcome for Mario, creating a tactical shooter with engaging gameplay and a fun Mario vibe.
‘Super Mario Strikers’ (2005)
Mario + Rabbids isn’t a major spin-off, but Nintendo has a few other popular side adventures, such as Mario sports games. Mario sports games are very hit or miss, but one that was a massive hit was Super Mario Strikers. In this game, players team up into a group of 5 and take on other teams in underground soccer/football competitions with extreme gameplay.
There are a few other sports games that could be here, but Super Mario Strikers stands out because it abandons the traditional vibe for something more aggressive and edgy. Fast-paced action paired with cinematic power-ups and surges of extreme gameplay, Super Mario Strikers is an addictive title that establishes itself as the best Mario sports video game.
‘Super Mario Sunshine’ (2002)
There are a handful of spin-off games on this list, but everyone knows and loves Mario because of mainline 3D platformers, such as Super Mario Sunshine. Going on vacation to a beach city, Mario doesn’t get any time to relax when he is framed for polluting the city. Now needing to clean it up, he sets out to find the one framing him for this crime and take them down.
While this may be seen as a controversial choice, especially since every 3D platformer is phenomenal, Super Mario Sunshine is an underrated yet beloved cult classic. The graphics were ahead of their time, specifically the water motions and attacks. However, more than that, this nostalgic video game boasts an engaging core mechanic while also highlighting an interconnected set of levels in a world that is fun to explore.
‘Super Mario Party Jamboree’ (2024)
Nintendo has a lot of new ways to put a new coat of paint on Mario, as evident from this list, but that also includes party games. Mario Party is a board game-style franchise that has players roll dice to make their way around a map and compete in mini-games in order to collect enough coins to purchase a star. At the end of the game, the player with the most stars wins, but there are plenty of mini-games, twists, and roadblocks to make the outcome unexpected.
There are so many fantastic Mario Party games, especially nostalgic ones, but the best is arguably the most recent one, Super Mario Party Jamboree. It remasters plenty of classic mini-games and board game map styles to bring back what fans love while still being something new. As one of the most fun Nintendo video games, it is an absolute delight that is even better with friends or family, even if it might make some enemies.
‘Super Mario Bros. Wonder’ (2023)
Mario originally started as a 2D platformer, but the longer the franchise has gone on, it has transitioned into the 3D realm. However, Super Mario Bros. Wonder brought back that 2D style with a modern twist to make it better than ever. Bowser has grown tired of the Mushroom Kingdom, now setting his sights on the Flower Kingdom, which he takes control of using the powers of the Wonder Flower to fuse himself with the castle. Luckily, Mario and Luigi are here to stop him.
The Nintendo Switch is one of the best Nintendo consoles, especially for Mario, since it added so many new games and remakes. Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a must-play 2D platformer that reinvented the franchise with wacky gimmicks and bizarre unpredictability. But this fresh twist made Mario better than ever, using its imaginative mechanics to create an invigorating sense of play unlike anything else in the franchise.
‘Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door’ (2004)
Mario is mainly a platforming franchise, and this list proves it, since half of the entries are either 2D or 3D platformers. However, the franchise also consists of some magnificent RPG titles, such as Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. The game follows Mario as he travels to a port town in order to help Princess Peach open the titular door. However, once he arrives, he discovers that the princess has been kidnapped by an alien race known as the X-Nauts.
There are so many Mario spin-off titles, but no one expected the RPG genre to be so prolific for the plumber, delivering multiple masterpieces. However, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door stands above the rest because of its engaging timed button gameplay that adds a nice sense of flow to the game. Compelling and charming, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is an underrated Mario gem that is one of the best turn-based RPG titles.
‘Super Mario Odyssey’ (2017)
As mentioned with Super Mario Sunshine, 3D platformers are easily the peak of the franchise, and the newest entry is still one of the greatest. Super Mario Odyssey follows the traditional Mario storyline with Bowser kidnapping Princess Peach to serve as his bride. Mario must now travel around multiple kingdoms to find and save her.
Fans are still waiting for the next 3D platformer from Mario, but Super Mario Odyssey is still the most expansive and ambitious project, making the wait more manageable. The many sandbox worlds are jam-packed with collectibles and platforming genius, making traversal fluid and fun. The capture mechanic changed the game, literally, adding another layer of gameplay that made everything even more compelling.
‘Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’ (2017)
The Wii U is one of Nintendo’s worst-selling consoles of all time, nearly bankrupting the company. When the Nintendo Switch came along and proved successful, Nintendo found an opportunity to port most of the Wii U exclusives; such was the case with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Players can select an array of racers and embark on trials, cups, tournaments, and battles. This game offers a large range of courses and races to compete in online, single-player, or couch co-op.
Every Mario game is fun, but there is a different level of enjoyability that comes with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe because of the number of levels, customizability, characters, and mechanical depth. The intricate design of the courses made it so they not only look impressive, but also offer a wide variety of surprises, routes, and fun. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is chaotic and endlessly replayable, highlighting its prestige as one of the most essential Nintendo video games.
‘Super Mario Bros.’ (1985)
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is arguably the best 2D platformer in the franchise according to modern-day standards, but there is no more iconic and legendary game than the first Super Mario Bros. Very similar to every Mario game, the titular plumber travels throughout the Mushroom Kingdom, jumping on Koopas and going to the wrong castle in order to find and rescue Princess Peach, who has been captured by the evil King Koopa, Bowser.
It may not be the best Nintendo video game, but that is only because the Mario franchise has evolved into bigger things. Super Mario Bros. changed the way gaming is handled, partly because it single-handedly saved the industry with its popularity. Even if it is dated, Super Mario Bros. still holds up as an influential classic with game design 101 techniques that define the franchise and industry.
‘Super Mario Galaxy’ (2007)
This list has proven that Mario has a plethora of incredible franchises, from Mario Party to Mario sports games. However, when it is all said and done, nothing beats a 3D Mario platformer, and the best of that bunch is undoubtedly Super Mario Galaxy. After Bowser kidnaps Princess Peach, Mario sets off on a planet-hopping quest around the galaxy in order to find her. With the help of Rosalina, he can travel around the cosmos and rescue Peach before it is too late.
Every 3D Mario platformer is essential, but Super Mario Galaxy is a step above the rest, remaining a nostalgic icon that innovated an already flawless franchise. When it comes to Mario, Super Mario Galaxy should be the first game that comes to mind simply because of its profound beauty, gameplay innovation, and representation of the character. The Red Plumber has never played better than in this game, proving it isn’t just the best Mario game, but one of the most fun video games of all time.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login