Summary
- Mario games, including spin-offs, are known for being short and easy to beat, with varying lengths due to different genres.
- Despite their brevity, Mario games are perfectly portioned to not overstay their welcome, offering just enough content.
- The longest Mario game on average is Dream Team, offering a lengthy gameplay experience with unique gimmicks and engaging content.
Games in the Mario series are not exactly known for their length. Both the main series of platforms and all the various spin-offs rarely take too long to beat. Most casual players can finish a Mario game within a day fairly easily. However, since there are so many different spin-offs in different genres, the length of a Mario game does tend to vary. A mainline title might not take a week, but a Paper Mario game will.
Of course, length is hardly the only factor of quality in games. Mario games tend to be perfectly portioned to not overstay their welcome. Even the spinoff titles will only offer as much content as necessary. So, based on the average main story playtime on HowLongToBeat, which is the longest Mario game?
Updated June 12, 2024 by Mark Sammut: 2024 has produced a couple of Mario games already, including a remake of an RPG that deserves an honorable mention. This article has been updated with a few more of the longest Mario games.
15 Super Mario Sunshine
How Long To Beat: 15 Hours
Super Mario Sunshine
- Released
- August 26, 2002
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo EAD
- Platform(s)
- GameCube
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
While generally longer than the 2D adventures, Mario's mainline 3D masterpieces are still fairly short, at least when it comes to their campaigns. Super Mario 64, Galaxy and its sequel, and Odyssey can all be beaten in under 15 hours, and Sunshine is just slightly longer than its older and younger siblings. More polarizing than usual for a Mario game, this GameCube classic is nevertheless fantastic and has aged well like most of the console's best releases.
In terms of content, Sunshine is comparable to the other 3D Mario games; however, the requirements to unlock the final main stages are harsher, requiring quite a lot of shinies (the main collectible) that can be frustrating to collect. Even without pursuing a 100% completion, Sunshine can threaten to overstay its welcome, despite its main positive elements.
14 Super Mario RPG: Legend Of The Seven Stars
How Long To Beat: 18 Hours
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
This is the one that started it all, proving Mario could hold its own as a "traditional RPG" and giving players access to a different side of the franchise they'd never seen before. Thanks to Squaresoft's (Now Square Enix) brilliance in the genre, Super Mario RPG stands as one of the best RPGs ever made, and it's easily a fan-favorite Mario release for players who enjoy turn-based battles and lengthy storylines.
It had beautiful visuals for the time, some engrossing combat, and some of the best side-quests and hidden secrets to ever grace the series.
The Switch remake clocks in at a much shorter 12 hours, streamlining the campaign a fair bit in the process. That said, it is still an enjoyable and satisfying RPG.
13 Super Paper Mario
How Long To Beat: 19 Hours
Super Paper Mario
- Released
- April 9, 2007
- Developer(s)
- Intelligent Systems
- Platform(s)
- Wii
The Wii holds a special place in many Nintendo Fans' hearts. It's definitely one of the best systems that the company has ever produced, and it featured some of the most amazing and successful Nintendo games ever produced. A prime example is Super Paper Mario, which took the series to new heights thanks to its beautiful visuals, entertaining story, lengthy gameplay time, and beloved characters.
The sidescrolling to 3D perspective swap allowed developers to pack some fascinating levels and secrets into the release, making it a playground for players who like to explore every nook and cranny of a game.
12 Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions
How Long To Beat: 20 Hours
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions
- Released
- October 6, 2017
- Developer(s)
- AlphaDream
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo 3DS
- Genre(s)
- RPG
The Mario & Luigi games are a beloved part of the franchise, offering turn-based gameplay similar to Paper Mario but with a unique mechanic that uses both brothers in tandem to solve puzzles and progress through areas. Superstar Saga is the first iteration of the series, popping up on Gameboy Advance back in 2003. Those who love the newer titles should revisit the franchise's roots.
The visual style is charming, the story is engrossing, and it offers all the gameplay elements that fans have come to know and love. Best of all, it's pretty lengthy.
The base version of Superstar Saga comes in at 18 hours.
11 Mario + Rabbids Sparks Of Hope
How Long To Beat: 21 Hours
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope
- Released
- October 20, 2022
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft Milan, Ubisoft Paris
- Platform(s)
- Switch
- Genre(s)
- Strategy
The sequel to a game that nobody knew they wanted, Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope is a natural continuation of Kingdom Battle, albeit one that shakes up a few key ingredients. Compared to its predecessor's grid-based system, the 2022 release provides a less restrictive combat experience, at least visually. At its heart, the gameplay is still turn-based, just the game tries to not make it as obvious.
Sparks of Hope also emphasizes exploration a bit more than the first game. While the story is probably a bit more divisive than Kingdom Battle, the sequel is still generally a great spin-off that carries the Mario and Rabbids names proudly.
10 Paper Mario: Sticker Star
How Long To Beat: 21 Hours
Paper Mario: Sticker Star
- Released
- November 11, 2012
- Developer(s)
- Intelligent Systems
- Platform(s)
- 3DS
When Paper Mario: Sticker Star dropped for the 3DS, it was met with critical acclaim from many journalistic outlets and websites. Unfortunately, that critical claim didn't translate well when it came to the general public. There were many players that lambasted Paper Mario: Sticker Star for "dumbing down" the formula, by completely scrapping the level-up system and making extra battles "useless" as they didn't offer any sort of progression.
If someone prefers the turn-based battles of Paper Mario but doesn't want to deal with character leveling and grinding, they will probably find a lot to enjoy with Paper Mario: Sticker Star.
9 Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
How Long To Beat: 22 Hours
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
- Released
- August 29, 2017
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft Milan, Ubisoft Paris
- Platform(s)
- Switch
- Genre(s)
- Strategy
When the idea of a Mario and Rabbids game was first announced, it was met with a healthy dose of skepticism. The "fears" weren't unwarranted, considering there were many individuals who found the Rabbids a bit "annoying" or "lackluster.' Thankfully, those fears were completely dispelled when the game eventually came out.
The result was a fantastic addition to the Mario franchise, with addictive gameplay similar to X-Com. It's a blast to play, offers a lengthy story, and the Rabbids themselves are pretty hilarious.
8 Mario's Picross 2
How Long To Beat: 24 Hours
Mario's Picross 2
- Released
- October 19, 1996
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Game Boy
- Developer
- Jupiter, Nintendo
- Genre(s)
- Puzzle
Mario's Picross 2 (or just Picross 2) is a puzzle game that never left Japan, so most Western fans are likely not familiar with this small footnote in the mascot's long and legendary history. The player uses logic and numbers to uncover various pictures, except Mario is there watching.
It's portable and loaded with puzzles. Mario's Picross 2 would make any long car ride melt away, and it's a shame the game never officially made it to the West. It's just a fun puzzle game.
7 Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey
How Long To Beat: 25 Hours
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey
It's entirely possible that fans of the Mario & Luigi series are unaware that this game even exists. The 3DS remake of the third entry in the series, this game was released at an awful time. The 3DS was already taken out to pasture, and no one at Nintendo informed AlphaDream. Despite that, Bowser's Inside Story is still an absolute classic and the remake loses none of the charm.
As an RPG, there are many titles that have more meat than Bowser's Inside Story; however, it's a perfectly paced RPG that keeps things fresh at every turn. There are still sidequests and collectibles, and the side game in the 3DS remake also offers a bit of extra meat to the complete package. The art style might not be as clean, but everything else the game offers is spot-on. It's also likely the last time the beloved bros will be together in an RPG.
6 Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam
How Long To Beat: 27 Hours
Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam
- Released
- January 22, 2016
- Developer(s)
- AlphaDream
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo 3DS
- Genre(s)
- RPG
In what may be the last new title from developer AlphaDream, Mario and Luigi Paper Jam merged two spin-offs into one RPG. This game packs the charm of both franchises but doesn't entirely deliver fresh gameplay. It's a shame that a true Mario RPG only exists in dreams these days.
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The game is certainly more Mario and Luigi than Paper Mario. For one, it's still an RPG. However, the world and its characters, for the most part, stick within AlphaDream's established canon. The battles are fun and snappy, and it's pleasant to complete. However, it's still far from the quality of the first three Mario and Luigi games.