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When Nintendo first introduced Mario in 1981 Donkey Kongnot only did they create what would eventually become the company’s mascot, they created a mascot for the entire gaming industry.
The gentle Italian plumber is one of the most instantly recognizable characters in the world and has been a mainstay of gaming culture for over 40 years.
When it comes to the official super mario franchise games, Nintendo has done a great job of ensuring that every title starring Mario is a unique, polished and fun experience. Yet mistakes can be made. Not every game is perfect, and some are downright better.
Here are our picks for the absolute best games in the Super Mario franchise! We’re only focusing on the main series entries, not spin-offs or crossovers. (Sorry, Smash Bros and Mario Kart lovers!)
6.Super Mario 64 (N64)
Super Mario 64 actually doesn’t hold up very well when you go back and compare it to modern titles in the franchise. However, it was Mario’s first foray into 3D environments – and the impact is still felt.
This was the game that stunned people when it was first released. On the world’s first true 64-bit gaming system, Super Mario 64 gave players the opportunity to roam through Peach’s Castle (which served as the game’s overworld) and explore a world unlike anything before.
Jumping into paintings and falling through portals allowed Mario to just about go everywhere and discover something. The camera controls and 3D player navigation were revolutionary for the time and influenced how all future third-person 3D games were designed and presented.
Just because of his legacy, Super Mario 64 will always earn a spot among the best games in the franchise. Gaming wouldn’t be the same without it.
5. Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (SNES)
Two of the biggest names in gaming joined forces in 1996 to release a new kind of Mario game with JRPG mechanics. Developed by Square and published by Nintendo, Super Mario RPG took us in a whole new direction.
While the graphics are horribly outdated, the gameplay mechanics and expansive story of Super Mario RPG remain firm even after all this time. It combined an isometric 2.5D world with turn-based RPG combat, complete with levels, skills, items, gear and more.
Narrative, it was the first game to bring Mario, Peach, and Bowser together in an effort to defeat a common enemy: an extra-dimensional warlord named Smithy. The experience was amazing.
It’s an absolute shame that Nintendo hasn’t produced more Mario-Themed JRPGs. The slightly successful Paper Mario series had potential, but has since moved away from RPG elements, leaving a void that can still be filled.
4. Super Mario Bros 3 (NES)
Super Mario Bros 3 may not have introduced the concept of an overworld to gaming, but it refined it to such a tight degree and gave us an overworld design we hadn’t seen before.
Players could choose from many paths in their quest to rescue Princess Peach, including the shortcuts offered by the Warp Whistle, which opened up various creative speedrun strategies.
In Super Mario Bros 3Mario could fly through the air, slide down ramps and don a frog suit for the first time, all to the tune of some of the most iconic music in gaming history.
Many fans believe that 2D platformers peaked with Super Mario Bros 3, and it is difficult to find fault with their position. Every element of this game holds up to this day as evidenced by the number of them still playing it.
3. Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)
While not every game developer has made good use of the Nintendo Wii’s motion controls, Super Mario Galaxy acted as a showcase for all the different ways you could leverage the console’s gimmick.
As the name implied, Super Mario Galaxy sent Mario into the stars, giving him more freedom to explore than ever before. It was a vast, open universe – literally – with a stunning appeal.
But the aspect that set it apart from other games of its day was how creative it got with its level design, especially with Mario jumping between gravitational fields and bouncing off planets.
Super Mario Galaxy was a remarkable title that still holds up just as well on modern consoles as it did on release.
2. Super Mario World (SNES)
The Super Nintendo was the opportunity for the gaming giant to prove that the success of their previous console was not just a fluke.
Of the many elements that came together to signify Super Nintendo’s victory, the most winning move was bundling the system with Super Mario World at launch.
This game took a lot of the mechanics introduced in Super Mario Bros 3 and packages them into a 16-bit package. Some of the franchise’s best art and music came from this game, not to mention the replayability that came from the non-linear path to Bowser’s Castle.
But most of all, Super Mario World introduced us to the iconic and adorable Yoshi, who would be Mario’s faithful companion for decades to come. Super Mario World was a huge step forward for the franchise.
1. Super Mario Odyssey (Switch)
Gaming is an art form that is constantly evolving, advancing and improving. The technology used in video games hasn’t hit a real wall yet, which is why the latest and greatest is always enticing.
anyway with Super Mario Odyssey, Nintendo proved that in video games there is still a lot of room for innovation and improvement beyond the graphics. They’ve completely revamped the gameplay by letting Mario now possess the bodies of his most iconic enemies, including Koopas and Goombas.
The wide array of levels to explore, each with its own feel and multiple goals to complete, make this one of the most ambitious platform games of all time.
New Donk City is the best celebration of Mario’s history we’ve ever seen, plus it gave us the incredibly catchy “Jump Up, Super Star!” theme song. For this reason, Super Mario Odyssey is our all-time favorite Mario game.
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