I can’t even recall when Mario first entered my life. He’s been around for a while, with fresh hits coming out every few years. But which are the very best? This proved to be a considerably more tough issue than I had anticipated, yet we at iMore took on the challenging challenge of rating the best Mario games of all time. In fact, my favorite Mario game didn’t even make the list since we tried to rate them using a method rather than simply our own tastes.
New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii 2009): This amazing Mario multiplayer sold over 30.32 million units on the Wii. The game wasn’t particularly revolutionary, but it did bring traditional sidescroller gameplay into the current era with 3D visuals while also paying respect to Mario’s previous releases. Not to mention how much fun it was to play with family and friends of all ages.
Bowser’s Fury + Super Mario 3D World (Switch 2020): It may appear unusual to have Super Mario 3D World on this list, but the game wouldn’t fit if it weren’t linked to Bowser’s Fury. Super Mario 3D World did not significantly alter the Mario series. In some respects, it was even a step backward as Nintendo sought to capitalize on the success of the New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Don’t get me wrong: running through Mario courses with up to four people is a lot of fun, but it’s also a lot of work.
Super Mario Maker 2 (2019, Switch): Super Mario Maker was one of the finest Wii U titles, and while it was pioneering, it suffered from a number of constraints. So, when Super Mario Maker 2 was published on the Switch, it filled in all of the gaps from the original game, allowing gamers to get even more creative with their nasty death traps.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (2004, GameCube): A list would be incomplete without Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. We had to give it to TYD after a tough struggle between the original Paper Mario and the fantastic Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars. There’s a reason this game is so popular.
Mario Galaxy (Wii, 2007): Following the failure of Super Mario Sunshine, which separated the Mushroom Kingdom’s fandom, the Wii brought the Mushroom Kingdom back together with a game that pushed 3D platforming to new heights. Super Mario Galaxy refined and spiced up everything excellent about Mario 64.
Super Mario Odyssey (Switch 2017): You could tell from the start that Super Mario Odyssey was going to be fantastic. It begins with a dramatic battle between Bowser and Mario. Following Mario’s defeat, we proceed through the traditional Mario-game plot beats until we arrive in the Cap Kingdom and team up with Cappy to harvest Power Moons. However, this Kingdom is only the tip of the iceberg.
Super Mario Galaxy 2 (2010, Wii): It’s difficult to talk about Super Mario Galaxy 2 without mentioning the groundbreaking original. The notion of exploring space and bouncing from planet to planet had been an intriguing new method for Mario, but the sequel expanded on that foundation, delivering more intricate settings and innovative challenges for players.
Source: imore
