Entertainment
The 10 Greatest Mario Video Games of All Time, Ranked
In terms of immediate recognition combined with consistent quality and influence throughout the gaming industry, no singular video game franchise comes close to the impact and importance of the Super Mario series. Whether it be the hundreds of memorable spinoffs or the timeless platforming experiences that made the character an icon, each generation of gaming manages to have its own must-play Mario masterpiece that defines the generation.
These platformers, both 2D and 3D, are often the immediate examples of perfection within the genre, elevating and defining the strengths of the genre as they influence just about every other platformer ever made. Many of Mario’s most acclaimed and recognizable outings have stood the test of time as some of the greatest video games ever made. Video gaming as an art form simply wouldn’t be the same without Nintendo’s iconic plumber mascot, as these games see the character at his absolute best.
10
‘Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury’ (2021)
Super Mario 3D World was already a prominently underrated entry in the Super Mario franchise, building upon the strengths of the level-based 2D platformers while utilizing seamless controls in a 3D multiplayer environment. It was massively limited due to its release on the failing Wii U console, making its Nintendo Switch port all but inevitable. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury proves to be much more than just a simple port, however, including an entirely new 3D Mario experience alongside the original underrated gem.
Bowser’s Fury takes a completely different approach to 3D Mario compared to 3D World, acting as a short yet highly engaging proof of concept for an open-world Mario game, where all of the levels and platforming seamlessly connect in a single area without any major loading screens. While this concept will hopefully be explored even more in the next big 3D Mario game, it still stands now as one of the best games that the Switch has to offer.
9
‘Super Mario Bros. Wonder’ (2023)
After so many 2D Mario games under the “New Super Mario Bros.” banner were released and felt like extensions of the same game, Super Mario Bros. Wonder reintroduced vibrant creativity and originality to 2D Mario not seen since the SNES era. It takes the best attributes of modern and classic Mario platformers to create a true evolution of the formula, with each level delivering an unpredictable blast that constantly reshapes gameplay mechanics and rules.
It also helps that the game has a truly stellar art style, overflowing with personality and charm in every way, even to the point of actual gameplay with goofy new power-ups like Elephant Mario. It made for a truly great return to form for 2D Mario that paints a great picture for the future of the character in the post-New Super Mario Bros. and post-Super Mario Maker world.
8
‘Super Mario Sunshine’ (2002)
While considered by some to be the black sheep of 3D Mario platformers due to several distinct choices it makes in its design and evolution of the formula, Super Mario Sunshine has grown to be an undeniable fan favorite for many fans, as an absolute must-play GameCube title. The game sees Mario traversing the tropical Isle Delfino, clearing his name as he is framed for the crime of polluting the island while collecting Shine Sprites and restoring the Island’s beauty.
It’s all the little things that come together to make Super Mario Sunshine such a memorable and endearing experience, from the core dynamic of utilizing the water jetpack F.L.U.D.D. for platforming to the intricate worldbuilding of each of the main levels of the game. Even if some of its gameplay elements haven’t aged the best, there’s so much underlying charm and passion to this game that it still makes it a delight to revisit all these years later.
7
‘Super Mario Bros. (1985)
It’s impossible to have a list of the best Mario games without including the one that put him on the map as an inescapable icon of gaming. While not his first appearance in a video game, Super Mario Bros. is a platformer so timeless and exceptional in its craft that it nearly single-handedly revitalized the entire video game industry following its notorious crash in 1983. The game’s influence and stature in the realm of platformers and video games as a whole are still felt to this day, with it easily being one of the most important video games of all time.
The only thing that holds it back in the context of this list is that Mario as a franchise has evolved and grown so much since these humble early days. That isn’t to take away from the timeless strengths and impactful level design of this original masterpiece, only to say that this formula has grown and evolved so much that what was originally a savior of the industry helped pave the way for games even greater and even more exceptional.
6
‘Super Mario Galaxy 2’ (2010)
One of the only times that a 3D Mario platformer received a direct sequel, Super Mario Galaxy 2 really can just be boiled down to more of what made the original game such a masterpiece. While some may look at the game and take issue with it not forging its own identity or doing much to separate itself from the original, the absolute fun factor that comes from playing Super Mario Galaxy 2 cannot be ignored. With even more creative galaxies to explore and new power-ups galore, the game continued to deliver the same greatness as the original in the eyes of many gamers.
The game features constant memorable levels back to back to back, always keeping things fresh and finding ways to be inventive with the level design to keep the game from feeling too similar to the original title. The level of polish is also absolutely immaculate, having some of the best graphics on the Nintendo Wii and adding small quality-of-life improvements to the flow and feel of the game.
5
‘Super Mario Odyssey’ (2017)
After a long string of more linearly designed 3D Mario games, Super Mario Odyssey was a glorious return to form for the classic style of 3D Mario platformer, with vast open worlds filled with collectibles and secrets to explore. With exceptionally fluid controls and personality exuding from each of the game’s worlds, Super Mario Odyssey is a 3D platformer delight that may just be the most approachable and endlessly replayable Mario game to date.
The movement controls play a major part in the game’s continued success and legacy, finding this perfect balance between being simplistic enough for those unfamiliar with platformers to enjoy while having the depth that allows skilled gamers to express themselves in the game’s movement. Time has only been kind to this icon of modern Nintendo mastery, with this easily being one of the best Nintendo games of the past 10 years.
4
‘Super Mario World’ (1990)
Upgrading the classic 2D Mario style into 16-bit graphics and the new SNES system, Super Mario World is, to many, still the absolute standard for 2D Mario platformers, as one of the most timeless and well-crafted platformers ever made. This amazing Nintendo game delivers exactly what one wants out of a 2D Mario experience, with a wide variety of levels and a great progression of difficulty, making it an unmistakable classic of the era.
From the introduction of beloved series icon Yoshi to the exceptional execution of its level design and visual charm, Super Mario World is one of the most important Mario games ever released and still greatly influences the entire franchise all these decades later. There is a good reason that there are still original ROM hack experiences that utilize Super Mario World as the baseline game, as it executes upon classic 2D platforming gameplay better than any other game of the 90s and beyond.
3
‘Super Mario 64’ (1996)
With the advent of 3D graphics in the 90s completely revolutionizing the gaming industry, it soon became the standard for many popular franchises to make the jump to 3D. Super Mario 64 is arguably the absolute best of these shifts to 3D, with the platforming fun and vast creative worlds of the Mushroom Kingdom working perfectly for a 3D platforming collectathon. The game is undeniably the most important and influential 3D platformer ever made, completely revolutionizing the concept in the same way Super Mario Bros. did for 2D platformers 11 years prior.
While other early 3D games have faced some difficulties with stilted and awkwardly aged controls, Super Mario 64 is still incredibly fluid and fun to play in the modern day, feeling timeless in its execution as it perfectly understood how to make platforming in 3D both fun and engaging. While the game technically received a remake in Super Mario 64 DS, its lack of analog controls makes it pale in comparison to the fluid feeling of the original game.
2
‘Super Mario Galaxy’ (2007)
More than just one of the greatest Mario games ever made, Super Mario Galaxy is an absolute masterpiece of the platformer genre that is often celebrated as one of the greatest gaming achievements of the 21st century. With exceptional gravity physics complementing the level design and platforming perfectly, Super Mario Galaxy is a constant display of creative ideas brought to life with even more impressive execution. Its more linear design sets it apart from previous 3D Mario games while allowing for even more variety of levels and worlds to explore.
The space thematics and otherworldly feel of the game prove to be much more than just gravity gameplay mechanics, as it works in tandem with the tone and feel of the game to create one of the most beautiful gaming experiences that Nintendo has ever released. The game has been celebrated as one of the very best Nintendo games ever since its release, to the point of it even being the focal point of the second animated Mario movie, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
1
‘Super Mario Bros. 3’ (1988)
With so many masterpieces to choose from, it really does feel like any number of these games have a justification for taking the top spot on this list thanks to their endless qualities and strengths. However, in terms of which singular Mario platformer most distinctly exemplifies and symbolizes the greatness of the Mario series as a whole, it’s difficult to deny the stature of Super Mario Bros. 3. One of the very best games on the NES, Super Mario Bros. 3 pushed the console to its absolute limits and improved upon the already influential previous games in every possible way.
The controls and gameplay mechanics are more responsive and fun to play; the worlds and level design are much more varied, with each level and world feeling vastly different from the last; and the game helped define and set in stone the visual style that would define the franchise going forward. When gamers think of truly great Mario games, Super Mario Bros. 3 is one of the first that comes to mind, whether it be the NES original or one of the many great remasters for the SNES and Game Boy Advance.
Super Mario Bros. 3
- Released
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October 23, 1988
- ESRB
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E For Everyone
- Developer(s)
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Nintendo R&D4
- Publisher(s)
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Nintendo
- Multiplayer
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Local Multiplayer
- Franchise
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Super Mario
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