Summary
Mariohas been bringing smiles to faces since Nintendo launched their NES console withSuper Mario Bros.in 1985 in North America. It forever changed video games, and thanks to Nintendo’s brave step forward after the Atari video game collapse, fans are still enjoying video games to this day.
If there is one mascot for video games that everyone can recognize, it’s Mario, and that’s not just because of the 2023 movie. Most of Mario’s games can be considered fun, but there are specific titles that can imbue that feeling more than others due to their party-centric nature or creative whimsy. Let’s rankMario’s best games based on quality, creativity, and fun-factor.
Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mixis one of the wildest games that Nintendo has ever lent their Mario license to. True to its name, this is a typicalDDRgame wherein players use a dance pad controller for the GameCube and dance through mostlyMario-themed music.
There is an adventure mode included, which is a hoot but not particularly groundbreaking. The joy of watchingMariocharacters break out in dance, though, issomething GameCube ownerswill never forget.
Dr. Mariois an NES classicthat players still love in its initial form. There have been sequels and revamps, but this game is as iconic to the NES as the originalTetrisis to the Game Boy.
Players go through puzzles alone or go up against a friend in a heated competition. As good as the gameplay is,Dr. Mariowouldn’t be anything without its iconic music, and it still rips decades later in all of its normal and remixed forms.
Super Mario Bros. 35was released to coincide with Mario’s 35th anniversary in 2020. It was a reworked version ofSuper Mario Bros.that let 35 players fight against each other in classic NES levels, but with a few twists.
Based on how players were doing, they could sabotage others with items. Gettingthat hard-fought victorywas as sweet and as satisfying as any modern Battle Royale game. Unfortunately, this game can no longer be played, but it was fun while it lasted on the Switch.
Mario Golf: World Tourmay not be the highest-rated entry in the series, but it was portable perfection on the 3DS. The controls and graphics were improved from the Game Boy days, pushing the 3DS’s hardware to the point that it was as if players had a home console in their hands.
It was easy enough to flip the 3DS open, play a round or two on the bus, and then close it for later. Like many 3DS games, there were actual benefits to leaving the system on to get SpotPass and StreetPass bonuses from passersby, too, but the core golfing experience was pure bliss and made it a must-have.
Super Mario Makerwas kind of a jaw-dropping moment when it was revealed for the Wii U during a Nintendo Direct. Level creation tools had been around for a while, but this was Nintendo’s first outing forMario, unless players countMario Painton the SNES.
It wastheone game that effectively utilized the Wii U’s GamePad, allowing players to easily edit a level with the stylus and then test it out on the TV. While there was a sequel on the Switch, it could not match the heights of popularity thatSuper Mario Makerreached on the Wii U, even with its more limited tool set.
Mario Kart Worldis a short game, technically, that players have probably beaten by now on their new Switch 2 consoles. However, thanks to online support, it’s a game that can never truly go away unless the player base evaporates.
Whether players go online for normal races, go head-to-head in Battle Mode, explore the world in couch co-op, or check out the newKnockout Tour,Mario Kart Worldis a blast, pure and simple. Watching all the characters bounce around in the character select screen will help get players jazzed before the racing even starts.
Super Mario 3D Landmade3D a selling point for the 3DS. Other games had cool effects on the top screen, but the 3D in this title could actually help players navigate through levels. Like VR, it’s challenging to describe the experience to anyone who hasn’t played the game.
Unless Nintendo releases some sort of 3D add-on to the Switch 2,Super Mario 3D Landcan only be played in its fullest form on the 3DS which still rules to this day in small or large spurts thanks to its mesmerizing use of the hardware.
Super Mario Bros. Wonderis almost like a reboot of theMariofranchise, in more ways than one. The voices are recast which has not been done in decades. The appearance of the characters is slightly altered as well, along with their movements, immediately making it stand out from the entire series that preceded it.
The true magic ofSuper Mario 3D Landlies in theWonder Flowers hidden on each level,which drastically change gameplay in constantly surprising ways, from turning Mario into a blob to making Piranha Plants sing. It created a joy in discovery that players may not have experienced since the NES days.
