Super Mario has been an icon in the video game industry for an ungodly amount of time now. Throughout his history, the plump Italian plumber has provided us gamers with some of the finest games in existence. Below are my top ten.
10) New Super Mario Bros.U Deluxe (Nintendo Switch)
Although this is certainly not the most innovative 2D Mario title on this list, it is still one of the best. Arguably, there is not much more that can be done in terms of innovation, so perhaps I am being a little harsh in putting this one in 10th.
New Super Mario Bros.U Deluxe is an updated version of the Wii U release, with a bunch more content and a slight graphical overhaul.
In terms of gameplay and graphics, there is not a colossal lot that is new here, but Mario Bros U. Deluxe is a lotta game for your buck. This one comes with all the DLC of the previous title, plus a new Luigi expansion (a total remix of the initial game). The latter really changes the way we play this game.
For this alone, it is one of the most complete 2D Mario experiences, and perhaps unfairly (I can hear you in the comments) just makes it onto my list.
9) Mario Kart DS (Nintendo DS)
Sure, there might be titles more deserving to be on this list, but nostalgia bias has swayed me here.
Following on from the immense Double Dash, the Mario Kart found true mainstream appeal with the DS entry. Selling over 23.6 million units, Mario Kart DS is the 3rd best selling title of all time on Nintendo's ambitious handheld console.
With a selection of fantastic tracks, nailing all the classics from the Mario Kart franchise (Rainbow Road especially), Mario Kart DS was a hell of a lot of fun.
Alongside the grand prix mode, there were a host of other game modes. Most notably, mission mode saw you collecting coins, attacking enemies, or numerous other tasks. This was a great break from the traditional lap after lap repetitiveness of Mario Kart, and for some reason this is the only time mission mode was in a Mario Kart title.
With the unique DS multiplayer features, you and a group of friends could all play Mario Kart together, even if only one of you had the game cartridge. This is such a cool mechanic that just wouldn’t be seen today. With this in mind, it’s a testament to the game that it still sold so many copies.
The roster was great too, with a few odd expectations (ROB??). It was Mario Kart on the go, and arguably in the top two Kart titles, the other is coming later in this list...
8) Yoshi’s Island (SNES)
A sequel to Mario World in name but not much else, Yoshi’s Island sees you take control of a band of Yoshi’s, who carry a fallen baby Mario throughout 48 levels on a journey to save baby Luigi.
Unlike the other Mario titles, Yoshi’s Island has a colouring book aesthetic, but this isn’t all that makes it stand out. This is arguably an entirely new world in terms of how many new enemies, locales and mingames are to be found in this one.
Yoshi’s Island boasts a host of incredibly fun new power ups, such as swallowing enemies and subsequently using them as projectiles.
The game puts slightly more emphasis on puzzle and exploration than other titles in the series however. So,if you love speedy platforming in your Mario titles, then this one might not be for you. However, this is an incredible game that deserves to be on this list.
7) Super Mario 64 (Nintendo 64, Nintendo DS, Nintendo Switch)
If it wasn’t for Super Mario 64, 3D gaming might never have gotten so good. Released back in 1996, Mario 64 is a 3D platformer that sees Mario once more fight to free the Princess (no prizes for guessing from whom).
The game sets you off in a HUB world of Princess Peach’s castle. This is a great addition, allowing you to roam this open area freely and come to terms with the controls. The triple jump was first introduced to the series here, and has since been a mainstay in all major 3D Mario titles.
The controls are so incredibly smooth here, which make the platforming such an absolute joy. As you enter the various portals throughout the castle, collecting power stars, you will be shocked at just how tight and innovative the gameplay feels to this day.
Fans complained that this game received no real updates with its Switch release, but did it really need any? Mario 64 is a near flawless game, a 10 star dive into 3D gaming that few expected, but all appreciate.
The one negative that is holding this one back from a higher spot is the camera. Eurgh. Enough said the better!
6) Super Mario Bros 3 (NES, SNES, Nintendo DS, Wii U, Nintendo Switch)
This one was so big there was a movie to promote it. Yep, that’s right: The Wizard (1989), check it out.
Super Mario Bros. 3 was very much the big step forward the series needed. Although 2D titles since its release have in my opinion improved on the formulalayed down here, there is no denying that this 2D side scroller was iconic.
This is some of the greatest, most challenging 2D side scrolling that is known to the series (I’m not forgetting the Japanese Mario 2, of course). The art style was perfect here, as were the additions to the power ups and a HUB world that was wonderfully smooth to traverse.
There is no smoother feeling than diving into the end of a level on Mario Bros. 3, with a full P meter, hitting a third star in a row and watching the level ups flood in.
Who can remember the first time they were told to hold down on the platform in 1-3 for the first time? I can. I remember the sound of that warp whistle, as well as my introduction to the ginormous enemies of world 4. From the curtains falling open as the game boots up, to virtually everything else, Mario Bros 3. Is more than a nostalgia trip.
This is one for the ages. NES or SNES version though?
5) Mario Maker 2 (Nintendo Switch)
Why buy one Mario game when you can own a virtually endless supply of Mario games?
Mario Maker 2 is not only an incredible 2D side scroller, but it is an extremely deep game creation tool. This blows the likes of Dreams and other similarly ambitious titles out of the water.
With the assets from virtually every 2D Mario game at your hands, the limits for this game are basically endless. Everything is so tight in this one and in the sequel, you can even create your own overworld maps; this is the difference between creating levels and creating fully fledged games.
However, not all gamers are interested in spending hours creating one level. Luckily for these gamers, it is easy to search through a range of community titles, all of which have to be beaten by their creator to ensure fairness.
There is also a fully fledged story mode in the sequel. In terms of content, this one is jam packed.
4) Mario Kart 8 (Wii U, Nintendo Switch)
The ultimate Mario Kart. No questions. There’s a reason this has done record breaking numbers across 2 generations of consoles.
Mario Kart is a series that started back in 1992 on the SNES. What we have on the Switch today is a world away. This game is absolutely beautiful.
The drifting mechanic is the best it has ever been in the series, second only to (in my opinion) CTR. The addition of anti-gravity mode was genius, and puts a brand new spin on virtually all the tracks.
There are 4 new items (my favourite is The Crazy Eight) in Mario Kart 8, all of which transform the way we play.
The mainstream appeal of Mario Kart 8 is a testament to the quality of its gameplay. If you’re looking for a good time, solo or co-op, then this is a guarantee of endless enjoyment. Trust me.
3) Mario Galaxy (Nintendo Wii, Nintendo Switch)
It was a joy to replay Mario Odyssey for the first time in over a decade recently, thanks to the Super Mario 3D All Stars collection on Switch (RIP).
Bowser has once more captured the Princess, and Mario is left stranded out in space. With the help of a new friend Rosaline, Mario fights his way through a plethora of new challenges to save the Princess once more.
This game is the first Mario title to be set in out of space, which is a truly great gimmick. The levels see you jumping from planet to planet, circumnavigating planetoids. Although it sounds simple, this feature makes Galaxy a blast to play. The silky smooth controls make something as simple as jumping from one planet to another a joy.
Mario games are always renowned for their innovative level design, but Galaxy really takes things to the next level; from the interactive hub world, you travel to a variety of galaxies, of about every theme imaginable. This has to be the greatest variety of playable locations in a Mario title to date.
The music is also exceptional here. The full orchestra really makes this game feel epic. In the HUB world, the music slowly gets louder and more instruments are introduced as you progress. It is a wonderful touch that makes this game world feel completely organic.
However, it is only, in my opinion, the second best 3D Mario game...
2) Mario Odyssey (Nintendo Switch)
There is a reason this is considered to be a generational game. In terms of sheer gameplay, Mario Odyssey is my favourite Switch title.
Again, a simple plot: Mario chases Bowser, who has caught the Princess with the intent of marrying her. With Mario quickly defeated, Bowser boots him off into Cap Kingdom, a desole, monochrome land, wherein sentient Hat creatures (Bonneters) reside. Thus begins Mario’s alliance with Cappy, a Bonneter, who functions as the game’s main gimmick.
In Odyssey, Mario’s normal cap is replaced by Cappy, who essentially acts as a possession technique. This lets you take control of nearly all sentient creatures in the world of Mario Odyssey. From Goombas to Bullet Bills to Dinosaurs, Cappy’s possession technique really puts a whole new spin on the Mario platforming formula.
You can take control of a staggering 52 enemies/inanimate objects across the game’s many worlds. This is staggering. Usually, gameplay mechanics like this are exciting but leave us wanting more. The same cannot be said here. Like the rest of the game, Cappy is fully realised and is some of the most fun you can have with the Italian plumber. The anthropomorphised creatures also don a moustache/red cap, which is a nice touch.
I rate this one above Galaxy for two main reasons. Firstly, the camera angle didn’t cause me a single problem, but the same cannot be said for my replay of Galaxy. Secondly, Odyssey does not kick you out of a mission and back into the HUB world once you have collected Power Moons (the equivalent of Stars in Mario 64 and Galaxy). This is such a welcome addition, and makes the gameplay feel like much less of a slog.
Finally, the sheer amount of Power Moons and variety of challenges mean you can spend months on end playing this week. In fact, I think I'm going to pick my Switch up now and start a new save file.
1) Super Mario World (SNES, Nintendo DS, Wii U, Nintendo Switch)
This is the pinnacle. Released back in 1990, Super Mario World still stands above all other Mario titles for me, over 30 years after its original release.
The set-up is as to be expected in Mario titles; Bowser captures the Princess while Mario and Luigi are holidaying in Dinosaur Land. We then journey through the land in a range of environments, fighting Boswers minions to get the Princess back.
Simple, but Mario games aren’t known for their plot. What makes this one so good is the gameplay. The platforming is at its smoothest here, and the range of powerups (most notably the cape and the debuting Yoshi) give you completely new ways to explore levels. This means Mario World is massively replayable.
Alongside the gameplay and power ups, Mario World is absolutely rife with secrets. Alongside certain switches that, when pressed, add new content into levels, there is a whole secret world, which introduces a variety of new Yoshis, platforming challenges, and much more.
For such an old title, it is full of content and so rewarding to hunt through every nook and cranny.
Much like The Simpsons, Super Mario World is well loved across generations. I remember loving this game in my childhood, but playing it over and over again in my adult life has made me appreciate Mario world for the work of art it is.
