It’s a me, Mario rankings!
This may sound funny coming from people who clearly took the time to write this list, but… how do you rankMariogames?
Everything said about rankingZeldagames applies here. Except, also, what is aMariogame? I mean, we all know the big ones count, likeSuper Mario Brosfor the NES orSuper Mario 64. Yet doesSuper Mario RPGcount as aMariogame? DoesCaptain Toad’s Treasure Tracker? IsDonkey KongaMariogame? This isn’t a new question, but it does impact this entire list to an extent. Not only are our opinions subject to debate (as they should be), but the very qualifications of what belongs on the list can be contested.
For the sake of some consistency, we’ve limited this list to games thatmostwould agree areMariogames. That said, we’d be remiss not to give honorable mentions toPaper Mario,Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door,WarioWare Inc., andDonkey Kong (1994).Heck, even our honorable mentions could gomuchlonger. Regardless, let’s just agree there have been alotof greatMariogames and dive into one of the most hotly debated rankings in gaming history.
15:Super Mario RPG(1996 Original, 2023 Remake)
Super Mario RPGmostly breaks away from the typical Mario formula and sets our favorite plumber into a journey that has been a classic since the 90s. While it’s more in the same realm of aFinal Fantasygame (funnily enough, having been developed by what is now Square Enix), this is a must-play.
It maintains some Mario game mechanics like platforming, but this takes a more narrative and turn-based approach.Super Mario RPGis one of the best games to get you into turn-based RPGs, let alone just the general RPG genre.
14:Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins(1992)
Super Mario Land 2is an impressive feat. This GameBoy title stacks up remarkably well to the console counterparts of its time, especially compared to the firstSuper Mario Land. Yet the thing that makesSuper Mario Land 2so memorable is howweirdit is.
Powerups? How about little bunny ears that let Mario glide? Levels? How about a vaguely Halloween-themed world and a giant Mario robot that we’ll call Mario Zone? Even the title, 6Golden Coins, implies that the dozens of coins Mario collects in each level are counterfeits. Only a game as weird as this could add Wario to theMariocanon, so honestly, there’s no reason anyone should dislike this one.
13:Super Mario Bros. 2(1988)
Heck yes we’re countingSuper Mario USAas a realMariogame. Even discounting how this game codified the platforming abilities of Mario, Peach, and Luigi while introducing enemies like Shy Guys,Super Mario Bros.2 is great game on its own merits. The levels are fun to traverse, the platforming feels great, and chucking vegetables at enemies is just iconic.
Besides,Super Mario Bros 2is way better than its Japanese counterpart. I Googled “that Doki Doki game” before writing this article and all I got is some girl named Monika who held my computer hostage.
12:New Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo DS, 2006)
New Super Mario Bros.on the Nintendo DS reminded us that there are still many new ways to create a fresh spin on 2D platformers. As the next iteration of the series after the SNES and GBA era of rehashing the first four mainline 2D games, it was a strong start for many other games in this format to thrive.
It even borrows mechanics from the 3D era of the Mario games, specifically the wall-jumping mechanic, which opened up so much more speedrun tech and movement options. The stars of it all were the new powerups, namely the Mega Mushroom. It hasn’t seen much use other than screentime since that and a few other games.
Then, once you grew tired of the platforming, the game had that whole minigame section which was just a continuation of more things from theMario 64DS remake.
11:Super Mario Sunshine(2002)
Much has been said aboutSuper Mario Sunshine, both good and bad. While it’s not as impressive as other major 3DMariotitles, that bar is so high thatSunshineshould be appreciated on its own merits. It is also, without question, one of the funniest games I have ever played.
Even briefly revisiting the game for this list, I could not stop laughing at the outlandish moments and awkward dialogue inSunshine. Even as a young lad, the “Mama Peach” cutscene was so uncomfortable that my friends and I spent weeks unpacking it. To me,Sunshinewill always have a place in history for this reason. It captures all the awkwardness of 2002, and it should be preserved long after we leave this mortal coil.
10:Super Mario Bros.(1985)
The real OG. This is a pretty good game. Chris Pratt starred in this movie about it and it was okay.
9:Super Mario Maker 2(2019)
Super Mario Maker 2is technically more of a game browser akin to something likeRobloxorFortnitecustom maps. While you may sift through a bunch of trash, there are a lot of great levels created by people who like the 2D eras of Mario games.
Those great levels greatly outweigh some of the head-scratching levels you’ll inevitably come across. Still, playing the game through five different 2D eras of Mario with different mechanics is such a treat.
While the game is no longer receiving any more updates like new widgets or game styles, there are still thousands of courses to try out.
8:Super Mario 3D World / Bowser’s Fury(2021)
When it comes toMariogames, you’ll inevitably find those who prefer the 3D games and those who prefer the 2D games.Super Mario 3D Worldis a valiant attempt to merge the sensibilities of both by morphing the level-by-level structure of the classicMarioseries into a 3D format.
This could have easily been a fillerMariotitle, but there’s a lot of love on display. The aesthetics and music are great, and the level design provides ample exploration while following a straightforward design. This package is particularly elevated on the Switch withBowser’s Fury, a genuinely fantastic title that combines elements of3D WorldandOdysseywith its own unique ideas. Though I wishBowser’s Furycould be purchased separately for those who already own3D Worldon the Wii U, it’s a title everyMariofan should experience.
7:Super Mario 64(1996)
It is a miracle that the game that first put Mario in a truly 3D world could make it so high on this list.Super Mario 64isn’t just a landmark moment in gaming history, it is a great game. Period.
There is so much here to love. The level variety from the upbeat Bob-omb Battlefield to the frantic Tick Tock Clock is fantastic. The music is memorable, down to the earie jingle you hear when climbing an endless staircase. The atmosphere of the castle that links each level together is evocative, even if it’s the limitations of early 3D that accidentally make the whole thing feel like aliminal space.Super Mario 64can show its age, but anyone who plays video games owes it to themselves to experience it.
6:Super Mario Odyssey(2017)
Before we go any further, let’s get one thing straight: we’re in 10/10 territory here. If I tell someone I like lobster more than fillet mignon, that doesn’t mean I dislike steak. To conclude this questionable analogy,Super Mario Odysseyis an exquisite cut of red meat.
This is the best Mario has ever felt to control in 3D. Possessing other enemies is genius and bouncing off of your own hat is always satisfying. The level design also compliments Mario’s capabilities while allowing players numerous choices in how they collect each moon. It’s a game that sells itself the minute you look at it, so I probably don’t need to explain why this game you already own is fantastic.
5:Super Mario Galaxy 1 & 2(2007 & 2010)
Many preferGalaxy 2over1or vice versa, but my memories of them are too close to separate. Maybe if both were included in a theoretical limited-run All-Stars collection of 3DMariogames, I’d have an easier way to distinguish them.
Cheek aside,Super Mario Galaxy1 & 2 are genuinely special titles. I don’t thinkMariogames need story, butGalaxy‘s setting meaningfully adds to the experience without stealing the spotlight. The innate melancholy and whimsy here pay homage to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’sThe Little Prince, which is the most interesting thing I’ve ever said about aMariogame. This bleeds into the gameplay too, which places Mario in so many unique gimmicks and environments that play well with his relatively limited movement options.And the music. My goodness the music.If a minute of this game’s soundtrack doesn’t make you want to play it, I don’t know what will.
4:Super Mario Bros. Wonder(2023)
Super Mario Bros. Wonderis the amalgamation of a lot of untapped ideas from the revival of 2D Mario games all thrown into one great package. TheNew Super Mario Bros. games were fun in their own right, but Wonder turns everything up to 11 in a fun package that never stops innovating.
The typical Mario game is all about going from left to right with some challenges along the way. It still stays true here, but there’s a lot more packaged here. From the Wonder Flower stuff and the badges, there’s a lot of incentive to go back to previous levels to find new paths and get all the collectibles.
And with the successor to the Switch on the horizon, you still will have a viable way to play this without scrounging for money to buy it off resellers or sailing the open seas to obtain it.
3.Mario Kart Wii(2008)
While many may argue thatMario Kart 8 Deluxeor evenDouble Dashare peakMario Kart, we’ll have to respectfully disagree and say thatWiiwas the best. Down from the iconic levels and the mechanics (like the Bikes, drifting, and tricking), this feels like whatSuper Smash Bros. Meleeis toMario Kartsweats.
And yes, while the meta boils down to either Funky Kong on the Flame Runner (the Bowser Bike) or Daisy on the Mach Bike, the game still rules.
It rules so much that despite the servers now being officially down via Nintendo, there’s still an ongoing player base behind it via Homebrew calledCTGP. With over 150 courses to choose from and supported by fairly large content creators, the game still lives on with loads of new courses to get into.
Even without the unofficial stuff, the game just feels good to the touch.
2:Super Mario World(1990)
The sheer existence ofSuper Mario Worldis awe-inspiring. It is an absolute mic-drop game the defined the Super Nintendo/Famicom so definitively that I have to remind myself it was a launch title. Not only doesSuper Mario Worldtake the establishedMarioformula to new heights, it brings the joy of discovery from RPGs and distills it into a platforming adventure that anyone can enjoy.
On a basic level,Super Mario Worldis fun if you just make a straight shot to Bowser. Yet uncovering all the hidden exits and levels adds enough depth for seasoned gamers to enjoy time and time again. I can remember first discovering the Special Zone and feeling amazed that there were still so many levels to complete.Even the background music held a secret I didn’t uncover for another 15 years.This is such a wonderful game that I struggled deciding if it should be crowned the best. Yet by the thinnest of margins, I have to give it to the only other game that makes sense by now.
1:Super Mario Bros. 3(1988)
There is an often-stated belief that lists like this should be objective. Clearly,Super Mario Odysseyhas a bigger budget, bigger levels, and better graphics. By this definition, I should discard my memories of huddling together with my cousins in front of a small TV as we took turns playingSuper Mario Bros.3. Or maybe I should forget marathoning this game at the dentist’s office, showing other kids how to get two warp whistles and go to the final world immediately.
Except… why was itSuper Mario Bros. 3in those memories? The first game that myself and countless others remember playing, even if it wasn’t the first game we actually played? The truth is,Super Mario Bros. 3is pure, absolute joy. The sheer acts of moving and jumping are fun. The creative levels that both teach and iterate on gimmicks are masterpieces. The adventure of collecting items and exploring each world captures the imagination. Even as a kid who adored cheat codes, I would full clearSuper Mario Bros. 3over, and over, and over because I knew this game was a treasure. Playing each level and uncovering its secrets was its own reward, and I’ve yet to encounter a person who wasn’t immediately captivated by playing this game.
You can point to several games on this list as landmark achievements for video games. Yet for me,Super Mario Bros. 3is different because it shows why video games themselves are special. Anyone can pick up this game and learn it in a handful of minutes. Yet uncovering its secrets and overcoming its challenges captures the core of why we play video games. Even its stage play aesthetics indicates games should not merely be experienced, but analyzed as a form of art.
Super Mario Bros. 3is why I’m writing about video games professionally. It is pure fun distilled to its most basic possible form. It is, and always will be, the heart of gaming as we know it. Subjectively speaking, of course.
