7 Best Handheld Mario Games, Ranked

As one of the longest-running and most successful video game franchises of all time, the Mario series has made a name for itself on home consoles. Dating all the way back to the NES in 1986, up until the Switch in 2017, the Mario franchise has seen some landmark game releases, but his handheld exploits have been just as compelling. Sometimes, they've even been more engaging than the home console releases.

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By  Maddie Fisher

Whether it's the impressive selection of sports titles made in conjunction with Camelot, or the selection of quality platform titles, handheld Mario games have proven themselves to be some of Nintendo's strongest output over the years. From the early days of the Game Boy Color, all the way through his adventures on the Game Boy Advance and 3DS, Mario feels right at home in the handheld scene.

7 Mario Golf

Portable Version Of Camelot's Sports Title Shines On Game Boy

• Platform: Game Boy Color
• Release Date: October 5, 1999
• Developer: Camelot Software Planning

The N64 version of Mario Golf, also developed by Camelot, is one of the best games on the system. And the same can be said of the Game Boy Color iteration, a completely and wholly unique golf game for the classic handheld. In the GBC version of Mario Golf, it plays similarly to an RPG and features exploration, leveling up and a terrific story mode.

It also features some of the best golfing one can find on the Game Boy Color, just from a pure gameplay perspective. Camelot is a talented bunch, and they used their ability to create fantastic feeling sports games to great results in the GBC version of Mario Golf. This outstanding game is currently available on Nintendo Switch Online.

6 New Super Mario Bros.

Debut Of New Super Mario Bros. On The Nintendo DS

These days, the New Super Mario Bros. Line has been largely forgotten by Nintendo outside a few ports and remasters, but it was the closest to traditional side-scrolling games one could find for the IP back in 2007. With New Super Mario Bros. On the DS, Nintendo went back to the roots of the series and crafted an absolutely spectacular side-scrolling platformer.

New Super Mario Bros. Has fantastic stage design and some incredible new power-ups in the form of the Mini-Mushroom and the Blue Shells, each of which debuted on this DS title. The music is also a highlight, with chipper tunes and a sense of playfulness that the franchise is known for. New Super Mario Bros. For DS continued to ground the iconic series in its roots throughout the DS and Wii lifespan, keeping the 2D spirit alive when games like Galaxy were dominating the 3D platformer discussion.

5 Mario Vs. Donkey Kong

Spectacular Puzzle Game Is One Of The GBA's Best Titles

At E2 2002, Nintendo showed a game called Donkey Kong Plus, where players could create levels on the GameCube, then transfer them to the Game Boy Advance to play. This unique title went quiet until 2004, when it was re-introduced as Mario Vs. Donkey Kong, a fabulous puzzle-platform game that saw the little plumber from Brooklyn solve a series of challenging levels centered around finding a key and getting it to a door to proceed.

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Mario Vs. Donkey Kong has some truly inventive puzzle design and is aesthetically one of the most adorable games on the GBA, with delightful sprite work and a sense of charm that is unmatched on the system. It was recently the recipient of a complete remake on the Nintendo Switch, as the popularity of the series can't be denied. It saw multiple releases on the GBA, 3DS and Wii U, but the original remains its greatest iteration.

4 Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins

Outstanding Game Boy Color Platformer Sees The Debut Of Wario

Nintendo was looking for any reason to develop titles for the Game Boy, as the massively popular handheld system created by Gunpei Yokoi was a dominant force in the late 80s and early 90s. And after the success of the first Super Mario Land game, a sequel was a no-brainer. The end result was Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins, a spectacular platformer that is still one of the best original Game Boy games ever.

6 Golden Coins was the debut of Wario, who would go on to star in several spin-off titles, and sees Mario attempt to reclaim the island that was stolen by his new archnemesis. Featuring some wonderful stage design, outstanding music and some beautiful sprite work, Super Mario Land 2 is a fantastic handheld platformer that is worth checking out today. It is currently available on Nintendo Switch Online.

3 Mario Kart 7

Handheld Racing Game Is One Of Mario Kart's Best

Despite the success of Mario Kart on the GameCube and Wii, the huge number of 3DS systems on the market couldn't be ignored, as Nintendo dropped the next mainline entry of the long-running racing series on the handheld platform. With Mario Kart 7 on the 3DS, Nintendo succeeded in creating not just one of the best games in the series, but one of the finest handheld racing games ever made.

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Mario Kart 7 would add gliding when the racers get some air, as well as the ability to drive underwater, features that would return in subsequent entries. The new tracks are excellent and the sense of speed is unrivaled on the machine, as the weight of the cars is perfect. Mario Kart 7 is still one of the franchise's best entries, and is worth re-visiting today if one still owns a 3DS.

2 Super Mario 3D Land

3DS Title Is One Of The Franchise's Best Platformers

Developed by the team that created Galaxy 1 and 2, Super Mario 3D Land is easily one of the best games on the 3DS and a celebrated entry in the series. And for good reason, as Super Mario 3D Land is an expertly-crafted, brilliantly-designed game that is worth owning a 3DS for, as it was one of the console's most popular and successful titles.

With Super Mario 3D Land, Nintendo took inspiration from a style of Chinese comics that introduced a new mechanic, refined it, then altered its perception before tossing it aside for something new. It kept all the stages and worlds in 3D Land feeling fresh, as the player never feels like they're doing the same thing over and over again. It is a masterpiece of game design and level structure, a game that would do well with a remaster on Switch or its rumored successor.

1 Mario And Luigi: Superstar Saga

Debut Of Mario RPG Series Is A Game Boy Advance Classic

Despite the success of Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars on SNES in 1996, the partnership between Nintendo and Square ended not long after and a sequel never saw the light of day. Not wanting to let the delightful concept of a Mario RPG die, Nintendo worked with Alpha Dream, made up of several ex-Square employees, to produce Superstar Saga for the Game Boy Advance in 2003.

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It paid off, as this incredibly charming RPG starring Mario and his hard-luck brother Luigi is one of the best games one can find on the GBA and an absolutely phenomenal title. The writing and quirky humor would become a trademark, one backed up by some addictive combat and stupendous sprite art. It was remade for the 3DS in 2017, but the original is available on Nintendo Switch Online, which means there are multiple ways to play this classic GBA game today.

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