The cultural impact of Super Mario and his colourful companions on the world is pretty monumental. And it all stemmed back to the release of Donkey Kong back in 1981.
Has it really been that long? Not that I was alive, of course, but if I were, you can pretty much guarantee I would have been there in those arcades dumping all my pocket money for just one more chance.
This cultural relevance, oddly enough, is still as huge as it was all those years ago, and with the quality of Nintendo’s games, it doesn’t seem like that trend is showing any signs of stopping. Mario is here for the long haul, folks, so buckle in and get those nostalgic memories running. This list covers the best of the best, the consoles of your childhood, and the finest that gaming has to offer.
12
Super Mario Land
GameBoy
While Super Mario Land came out after Super Mario Bros., and perhaps in many eyes, doesn’t look as good, you have to remember that this was one of the launch titles for the original GameBoy.
No more playing linked up to a big boxy screen in your living room. No. Now you could take Mario on the go with you… anywhere! Obviously, this doesn’t sound like too big a deal for us now, but back in the 80s and 90s, this was pretty groundbreaking stuff.
Super Mario Land takes a lot of inspiration from Super Mario Bros, but instead takes place in Sarasaland and introduces the now-staple character Daisy. It was rather short, yet had enough popularity to receive a sequel title in Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins. While these days it may not have aged so gracefully, back in the day, it was a revolution.
11
Mario Kart World
Nintendo Switch 2
When we first heard “Open World Mario Kart”, I think most of us had these incredible visions of Grand races across the globe, terrific minigames and true, unfettered freedom to explore those originally out-of-bounds areas we always wanted to discover.
Did we get that? Kind of. Mario Kart World certainly gives you the freedom to explore the way you wish… but it was definitely a little underwhelming. Perhaps it was due to how remarkable and polished Mario Kart 8 was that this little fell a little bit flat.
That isn’t to say Mario Kart World is a bad game. It’s actually a great title. The racing feels tight, the characters are brilliant, and there’s a good amount of customisation, but it’s just up against some ridiculously high levels of competition. I just wonder what it would have been like if they had just focused on making quality tracks instead of a pseudo-open world.
10
Super Mario 3D Land
Nintendo 3DS
To anyone who thought they were about to get the standard Mario fare, they were about to get a major shock.
Super Mario 3D Land offers the perfect transition from 2D gameplay to 3D, expertly using the new technology offered by the 3DS. If you never bothered to fiddle around with the 3D settings of this device, this game might just make it worth your while.
Not only do you get some fantastic levels, rivalling the quality of major TV console releases, right in the palm of your hand, but you have one of the Mario games with the largest amount of postgame content of all time. Honestly, this one is a completionist’s dream come true… or nightmare, who’s to say?
9
Super Mario Sunshine
Nintendo Gamecube
Super Mario Sunshine was the second true 3D Mario title released on home consoles, after Super Mario 64. Tough act to follow up, am I right? And yet, this game was filled with charm and personality.
While it certainly has its detractors, Sunshine introduced so many things that would set off a chain reaction for years to come. The movement was brilliant, and the FLUDD device offered a totally unique style of gameplay. When you compare the graphics to what came before, well, it’s truly night and day.
This game actually attempted to have a storyline, which is pretty odd for a Mario game, seeing as though you usually just run around aimlessly through worlds trying to save Peach. But its addition makes this game stand out as even more unique, filled with new ideas, unafraid of being itself.
8
Super Mario Bros
NES
Here it is. The one that really kicked off Mario’s solo career. You didn’t really think there could be a list about Mario without this absolute classic, right?
There’s just something about the original Super Mario Bros that makes it so timeless. You can quite easily go back and play this today, and it’s still just as good as it was. Just look at the speedrunners who dedicate their lives trying to get an unbeatable time on this gem.
It had great art direction, the colours popped, there were secrets and shortcuts, and an absolute banger of a soundtrack. And what’s more, it was simple, so everyone could play regardless of age. That doesn’t mean it was easy. Of course, we found that out the hard way!
7
New Super Mario Bros
Nintendo DS
Here comes the Nintendo DS, and what’s it equipped with? A brand-new Super Mario Bros experience. Sometimes it’s hard to think how you can top a classic, but you can easily argue that this title revolutionised the handheld formula.
I mean, I have a distinct memory of transforming with the mega mushroom and just ploughing through the stage, breaking everything in my path. And as a child, used to the classic platforming fare, well, that’s a pretty special exercise.
Of course, this title brought more than new power-ups. The stages had interesting new gimmicks, and the graphics were gorgeous for the time, while utilising both screens of the DS pretty well. This game truly revitalised the 2D platformer experience, and to this day, the genre is booming.
6
Super Mario Bros 3
Gameboy Advance
While Super Mario Bros. 3 originally came out on the NES, it received a major upgrade in the remake for the GBA. While both titles are functionally similar, the graphics have undergone a substantial upgrade, making them brighter and smoother for all our eyes to see.
This game was really revolutionary for the time, introducing many things, like the overworld map, that became a staple in games to come, and power-ups like the Super Leaf, which still see a lot of love even today. Oh yeah, and the Koopa kids, they’re from here too!
The worlds were stunning and unique, and the gameplay even smoother and refined. And there was even that signature difficulty that made the game brilliant for all ages. I remember braving the horrors of World 8 when I was a child. It was a truly character-forming experience, let me tell you.
5
Mario Kart 8
Wii U
Mario Kart 8 is the definitive Kart racing experience. While many might claim that to be a bold statement, I can’t think of anything else that even comes close.
Amazing performance, brilliant tracks, anti-gravity, a giant roster of characters, stellar online play, super-catchy tunes, DLC’s and booster passes, I mean, this game has really got everything you can imagine.
It’s telling that this game came out in 2014 and even in 2023, it was still getting updates! If push came to shove, I would happily ditch Mario Kart World to go back and relive Mario Kart 8 all over again from scratch.
The magic is here, and when you get a good group to play with, it’s hard to even think about anything that matches such a brilliant formula. Even for people who don’t care, or don’t even know who Mario is, they can still see what makes this title shine.
4
Super Mario World
SNES
I have to say, choosing between Super Mario World and Super Mario Bros 3 was a particularly tough choice for me. Both games are right at the top of the 2D Mario Game list, being seriously high quality and endlessly replayable.
World just squeezes past by an inch. Is it an extremely detailed world map, filled with secrets and hidden levels? Is it the awesome art direction and great utilisation of Yoshi in the levels? Or is it a feeling? A feeling of wonder you get from just being in the world.
It’s all of that, and more! I can’t describe the feeling of childlike joy I felt when I discovered the 8 hidden Star World levels in Super Mario World. This game is just so full of surprises, and in terms of monster design and colour work, I struggle to find a Mario Game I appreciate more than this one.
Speedrunners love it for a reason. And while that speedrunning world seems alien to me, it’s a sign that one of the few games I’ve actually attempted to speedrun is this one. If you’ve never played Super Mario World, you’re seriously missing out. Go back and give it a whirl; you might just be pleasantly surprised.
3
Super Mario 64
Nintendo 64
From looking at a flat 2D plane, left, right, up, and down, to looking at a fully realised 3-dimensional space. Nothing really prepares you for that sensation when you see it for the first time.
Super Mario 64 changed the game in more ways than you can imagine. You could even say it was the progenitor to basically every single 3D title around these days. Is that hyperbole? Maybe. But it definitely set the standard, a standard many games even today struggle to live up to.
Whether it was the Secret Slide or even the appearance of Yoshi, this game is full of mysteries and secrets for the player to discover, turning the whole world into a playground for those of us who had only played 2D titles to revel in.
While it may not be my favourite Mario title of all time, it’s hard not to appreciate the groundwork that this title laid for everything else that was to come.
