Summary
- Mario games hold a special place in fans' hearts thanks to creativity and high-quality gameplay.
- Super Mario Maker shines with unique level creation features, utilizing the Wii U GamePad effectively.
- Super Mario 3D Land for the 3DS is a standout title due to its immersive 3D effects and engaging gameplay.
Mario has been bringing smiles to faces since Nintendo launched their NES console with Super 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.
8 Most Beloved Mario Characters, Ranked
There are many a fan favorite characters in Nintendo's most iconic IP.
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 rank Mario's best games based on quality, creativity, and fun-factor.
8 Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix
Bust A Groove In The Mushroom Kingdom
Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix
- Released
- October 24, 2005
- ESRB
- e
- Developer(s)
- Konami, Nintendo SPD, Hudson Soft
- Genre(s)
- Rhythm
Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix is one of the wildest games that Nintendo has ever lent their Mario license to. True to its name, this is a typical DDR game wherein players use a dance pad controller for the GameCube and dance through mostly Mario-themed music.
There is an adventure mode included, which is a hoot but not particularly groundbreaking. The joy of watching Mario characters break out in dance, though, is something GameCube owners will never forget.
7 Dr. Mario
A Jingle That's Hard To Forget
Dr. Mario
- Released
- July 27, 1990
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Puzzle
Dr. Mario is an NES classic that players still love in its initial form. There have been sequels and revamps, but this game is as iconic to the NES as the original Tetris is 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. Mario wouldn’t be anything without its iconic music, and it still rips decades later in all of its normal and remixed forms.
6 Super Mario Bros. 35
Battle Royale!
Super Mario Bros. 35
- Released
- October 1, 2020
- ESRB
- e
- Developer(s)
- Arika
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
Super Mario Bros. 35 was released to coincide with Mario’s 35th anniversary in 2020. It was a reworked version of Super 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. Getting that hard-fought victory was 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.
5 Mario Golf: World Tour
Sports On The Go
Mario Golf: World Tour
- Released
- May 2, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone due to Comic Mischief
- Genre(s)
- Sports
Mario Golf: World Tour may 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.
4 Super Mario Maker
Group-Based Fun
Super Mario Maker
- Released
- September 11, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone due to Comic Mischief
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
Super Mario Maker was 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 for Mario, unless players count Mario Paint on the SNES.
It was the one 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 that Super Mario Maker reached on the Wii U, even with its more limited tool set.
3 Mario Kart World
A Great Switch 2 Launch Game
Mario Kart World
- Released
- June 5, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Everyone // Mild Fantasy Violence, Users Interact
- Genre(s)
- Racing, Open-World
Mario Kart World is 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.
Mario Kart World: 8 Best Characters, Ranked
From newcomers to long-time mainstays, out of the massive roster of characters in Mario Kart World, these are the best of the bunch.
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 new Knockout Tour, Mario Kart World is 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.
2 Super Mario 3D Land
The Reason To Get A 3DS
Super Mario 3D Land
- Released
- November 13, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone // Mild Cartoon Violence
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
Super Mario 3D Land made 3D 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 Land can 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.
1 Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Wonder Is In The Name
Super Mario Bros. Wonder
- Released
- October 20, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone // Mild Fantasy Violence
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is almost like a reboot of the Mario franchise, 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 of Super Mario 3D Land lies in the Wonder 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.
Mario Kart World: 7 Best Costumes For Mario, Ranked
Does Mario have the rizz in Mario Kart World? These costumes make Nintendo's iconic plumber look like a star on the racetrack.