{"id":293743,"date":"2024-03-10T01:14:39","date_gmt":"2024-03-10T06:14:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.etrafficlane.com\/60dollarmiracle\/the-22-best-mario-games-of-all-time"},"modified":"2024-03-10T01:15:00","modified_gmt":"2024-03-10T06:15:00","slug":"the-22-best-mario-games-of-all-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.etrafficlane.com\/60dollarmiracle\/the-22-best-mario-games-of-all-time","title":{"rendered":"The 22 Greatest Mario Video games of All Time"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

If the Super Mario Bros. Movie<\/em> proved anything in the spring of 2023, it\u2019s that Mario is the biggest draw in gaming! Kids and adults alike are entranced in the whimsical, carefree world of the Mushroom Kingdom. Its colors, characters, and themes of heroism are universally adored. Since the 1980s, Mario has been like a chameleon for Nintendo. His mainline platform games are his bread and butter, but other titles in genres ranging from sports to racing have also been home runs with gamers worldwide. It may seem impossible, but we\u2019ll rank the 22 best games Mario has ever starred in, regardless of genre. <\/p>\n

1 – Super Mario Odyssey<\/h2>\n
\"Super
Image Credit: Nintendo EPD.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The only mainline Mario game on the Switch is everything Shigeru Miyamoto could have ever dreamed of when the character originated back in the day. An open world with relative limits, enough collectibles to play the game for 100 hours, and a sandbox style that honors everything previously in the series make this the best game Mario has ever starred in. <\/p>\n

2 – Super Mario World 2: Yoshi\u2019s Island<\/h2>\n
\"Yoshi\u2019s
Image Credit: Nintendo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There isn\u2019t any other word to use when describing Yoshi\u2019s Island other than magical. You can tell that the people who worked on this puzzle-platform game did so with infinite love and affection for the universe they created. The gameplay and youthful aesthetic of this version of Mario\u2019s world are enough to prove to anyone in the world how special gaming is as an entertainment medium. <\/p>\n

3 – Super Mario World<\/h2>\n
\"Super
Image Credit: Nintendo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The first game Mario stars in for the Super Nintendo<\/a> refines everything that Nintendo wanted to do on the NES with the franchise if they had the technology to do so. More items, the ability to ride on Yoshi, and the bright color palette are as vibrant today as when it came out. Many fans of 2D Mario still have Super Mario World<\/em> as their favorite title. <\/p>\n

4 – Super Mario Bros. <\/h2>\n
\"Super
Image Credit: Nintendo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It\u2019s hard to balance the importance of a game with the execution of it when ranking stuff like this, but the first Super Mario Bros.<\/em> remains high on the list because it has aged incredibly well for a nearly 40-year-old game. The controls are still responsive, the music blends nostalgia and wonder, and the eight-bit world is full of life, just like in the 1980s. <\/p>\n

5 – Super Mario Sunshine<\/h2>\n
\"Super
Image Credit: Nintendo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

One of the more controversial titles in Mario\u2019s library is this GameCube<\/a> classic. Not everybody enjoyed the mechanics that Nintendo introduced here, such as the F.L.O.O.D. water pack that served as weaponry for our favorite plumber. The island vibes and new characters are enough to make this game stand above so many others in the series. <\/p>\n

6 – Super Mario Galaxy 2<\/h2>\n
\"Super
Image Credit: Nintendo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sequels in film often don\u2019t capture the beauty of the first movie. In gaming, especially Nintendo\u2019s world, the sequel is usually much better than the original. This is undoubtedly the case with Super Mario Galaxy 2<\/em>. More inventive level design, evolved musical choices, and grand side quests make this space odyssey something you\u2019ll never want to put down. <\/p>\n

7 – Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door<\/h2>\n
\"Paper
Image Credit: Nintendo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Certain video games make you get butterflies in your stomach the second you turn them on. The Thousand-Year Door<\/em> is the experience that brings you back to a simpler time in life, whether you\u2019ve played the game in your past or not. This RPG<\/a> sees you collect crystal stars with Mario, a fun cast of sidekicks, and a mix of action-oriented, turn-based combat techniques. Nintendo refuses to give us a sequel to this game, which remains an outright tragedy. <\/p>\n

8 – Super Mario Galaxy <\/h2>\n
\"Super
Image Credit: Nintendo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Bringing Mario into space could seem like an idea that would quickly go awry, but there are no science fiction elements to dissociate the character from his origins. All of the Mushroom Kingdom’s goodies are intact and heightened in this Wii classic. New suits like Bee Mario bring a whimsy previously not found in Mario\u2019s adventures. The linearity of this game is also an excellent device to allow newcomers into gaming. <\/p>\n

9 – Mario Party 2<\/h2>\n
\"mario
Image Credit: Nintendo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Mario Party<\/em> is Nintendo<\/a>\u2019s longstanding board game multiplayer franchise, creating fun and arguments since the 1990s. The second game in the series remains the pinnacle of party fun due to the immersive board design and classic minigames. Seeing Mario and his friends dress up like cowboys, astronauts, and pirates on the corresponding boards never gets old. <\/p>\n

10 – Mario Kart 8 Deluxe<\/h2>\n
\"Mario
Image Credit: Nintendo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe<\/em> is so thorough, complete, and utterly vast that it\u2019s almost eliminated the need for more games in the series. The sheer number of stages and drivers gives you the feeling that you can race through any conceivable part of Mario lore. This game remains the Switch\u2019s highest seller for good reason. <\/p>\n

11 – Super Mario 64<\/h2>\n
\"Super
Image Credits: Nintendo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Mario\u2019s first game on the Nintendo 64 is one of the most important titles in gaming history, as it opened the doors to 3D gaming for the entire world to enjoy. Even though it\u2019s a little dated, especially the camera, Super Mario 64<\/em> is still one of the more enjoyable games on a 1990s console and is a true icon in Mario\u2019s library. <\/p>\n

12 – Super Mario Maker 2<\/h2>\n
\"Super
Image Credit: Nintendo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nintendo finally grasped that the fans who play Mario\u2019s games have a seemingly infinite supply of creativity waiting to be unlocked. With Super Mario Maker 2<\/em>, the company gave gamers the keys to the car, allowing boundless stages and many goodies to contribute to the Mario zeitgeist. Going online and playing everyone else\u2019s stages from around the world feels like a true celebration of the platform genre. <\/p>\n

13 – Mario & Luigi: Bowser\u2019s Inside Story<\/h2>\n
\"Bowser\u2019s
Image Credit: Nintendo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Alpha Dream\u2019s buddy RPG series, developed for Nintendo\u2019s handheld consoles, is a childhood favorite of anyone who grew up on the merits of the Nintendo DS, and the third game of the bunch is clearly the best one. Not only do you control Mario and Luigi as they explore Bowser\u2019s internal machinations, but you also adventure through the Mushroom Kingdom with the baddest Koopa in town!<\/p>\n

14 – Super Mario Bros. 3<\/h2>\n
\"Little
Image Credit: Nintendo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The third NES Mario side scroller has a pristine reputation. It went back to the basics after a controversial change of pace with Super Mario Bros. 2, and its quirky new characters and items were popular with fans. Stage designs are a little trapped in their day, making this more of a fun retro romp than a truly timeless classic. <\/p>\n

15 – Mario Kart: Double Dash!!<\/h2>\n
\"Mario
Image Credit: Nintendo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The first Mario Kart<\/em> title for the Nintendo GameCube is a truly wild and crazy affair that puts multiple racers on the back of one kart. You get double the items, double the hectic energy, and some incredibly creative stages to drive through on your way to victory! This may be more of a nostalgia play for young millennials, but it\u2019s truly fun for anyone who loves Mario Kart<\/em>. <\/p>\n

16 -Paper Mario<\/h2>\n
\"paper
Image Credit: Nintendo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The childlike sense of wonder in Paper Mario<\/em> is something that Nintendo seems to have lost in some of their most recent AAA titles. The quests, worldbuilding, and endearing folks you meet in this version of Mario\u2019s RPG life are something you\u2019ll never forget, and it spawned an even better sequel (the aforementioned Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door<\/em>).<\/p>\n

17 – New Super Mario Bros. U<\/h2>\n
\"New
Image Credit: Nintendo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Gaming is a very cyclical activity, with players wanting to be introduced to new genres, then brought back to the past. New Super Mario Bros. U<\/em> is an ode to the classic sidescrollers of Mario\u2019s history. The HD graphics and heightened technology to advance the gameplay make it feel novel instead of just an homage to yesteryear. <\/p>\n

18 – Mario vs. Donkey Kong<\/h2>\n
\"Mario
Image Credit: Nintendo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If there is one character who has always been linked to Mario since the beginning, it\u2019s Donkey Kong. Seeing the two frenemies reunite in this unique puzzle game is good for the heart and the mind. The brain teasers blend perfectly with traditional Mario platforming action, and DK is a great antagonistic force for the plumber yet again! <\/p>\n

The game was remade for Nintendo Switch in 2024. <\/p>\n

19 – Mario Golf<\/h2>\n
\"Mario
Image Credit: Nintendo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Mario is something of an athlete, believe it or not. Mario Golf<\/em> is one of his finest sporting hours, with an incredible amalgamation of real-life golfing mechanics and Mushroom Kingdom aesthetics in the background. This game spawned many other golf games with Mario and friends, showing that Mario is a perfect subject for sports titles. <\/p>\n

20 – Mario Party 4<\/h2>\n
\"Mario
Image Credit: Nintendo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The first Mario Party<\/em> entry in the GameCube catalog features some of the best minigames in the series. The graphical upgrades did the series wonders, with lush environments making the boards much more immersive and lifelike than ever before. New items included mini and mega mushrooms. <\/p>\n

21 – Super Mario 3D Land<\/h2>\n
\"Super
Image Credit: Nintendo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nintendo always seems to understand how to take full advantage of its gimmicks, and the 3D effect on Super Mario 3D Land<\/em> does nothing but add to the immersive platforming experience of the game. The stages in this title perfectly combine the past, present, and future of Mario\u2019s game design for something fresh and old-school. <\/p>\n

22 – Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games<\/h2>\n
\"Sonic
Image Credit: SEGA.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For those who grew up in the 1990s during the rivalry between Mario and Sonic, seeing the two superstars come together for this sports\/party game series did good for the heart and soul. The gameplay is also pretty clever, with a wide variety of games and sports that took place during the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing.<\/p>\n


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