There is no official ranking of the best Super Mario games, and the right choice depends on whether you want side-scrolling stages, 3D exploration, multiplayer, or the freedom to make your own levels. This curated ten-game list spans those styles, from classic platformers to modern adventures. Nintendo’s chronology starts with Super Mario Bros. in 1985 and reaches Super Mario Bros. Wonder in 2023; release order, however, is not a quality ranking. Nintendo’s official history provides the series timeline.
10 best Super Mario games
1. Super Mario Bros. 3
Super Mario Bros. 3 is a strong pick for classic, stage-based 2D platforming. Its place in the series’ early chronology makes it a useful starting point for readers who want the traditional format: move through distinct courses, overcome obstacles, and advance through a larger adventure.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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Mario Vs. Donkey Kong™ - US Version | $48.98 | Buy on Amazon |
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New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe - US Version | $52.98 | Buy on Amazon |
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Best for: Players looking for classic side-scrolling stages.
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Super Mario World brings a substantial early Super Nintendo-era entry to this list. It suits players who enjoy 2D platforming with a sense of exploration alongside straightforward stage progression.
#1 Best Overall
- Jump and climb your way through over 130 puzzling levels as Mario to retrieve the Mini-Marios stolen by Donkey Kong
- Overcome obstacles like spikes, lava, and falling bricks to make it to the end of each level
- Revisit the original challenge in Classic Style, or try Casual Style for a more relaxed experience
- Play through two new worlds, featuring new environments, enemies, and game mechanics
- Join the action as Toad and work together in the newly-added co-op mode
Best for: Players who want to explore within a 2D platformer.
3. Super Mario 64
Super Mario 64 marks an early shift into 3D movement and exploration. Instead of only moving along a side-scrolling route, players navigate three-dimensional spaces, making it a natural choice for anyone curious about how Mario’s adventures changed with the move to 3D.
Best for: Players who want an early 3D exploration experience.
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Super Mario Sunshine offers a distinct GameCube-era setting and a different feel from the series’ other 3D adventures. It belongs here as an alternative for players who want to sample a particular chapter of Mario’s 3D history rather than simply repeat the same style of game.
Best for: Players interested in a distinctive 3D-era adventure.
5. Super Mario Galaxy
Super Mario Galaxy is a Wii-era 3D entry that provides another route into Mario’s three-dimensional adventures. It is a good fit if you prefer a 3D game to a side-scrolling one but want something different from the open-ended exploration associated with Super Mario Odyssey.
Best for: Players seeking a 3D adventure outside the classic 2D format.
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6. Super Mario Galaxy 2
Super Mario Galaxy 2 is a separate sequel in Nintendo’s chronology, making it the next pick for readers who already like the idea of Galaxy and want another 3D adventure. Its inclusion recognizes that a sequel can be a worthwhile choice in its own right, not just a footnote to the first game.
Best for: Players who want another 3D adventure after Super Mario Galaxy.
7. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury
The Nintendo Switch release combines two adventures with different emphases: Super Mario 3D World is a multiplayer 3D adventure, while Bowser’s Fury is a separate bonus adventure. That package makes it a useful pick if you want a 3D Mario game that includes a multiplayer option as well as an additional way to play.
Rank #2
- A variety of playable characters are available, some with unique attributes that affect gameplay and platforming physics.
- Younger and less-experienced players will love playing as Toadette, who is brand new to both games, and Nabbit, who was formerly only playable in New Super Luigi U. Both characters offer extra assistance during play.
- Multiplayer sessions are even more fun, frantic, and exciting thanks to entertaining character interactions. Need a boost? Try jumping off a teammate’s head or getting a teammate to throw you.
- Features a wealth of help features, like a Hints gallery, reference videos, and a Super Guide in New Super Mario Bros. U that can complete levels for you if they’re giving you trouble.
- Three additional modes—Boost Rush, Challenges, and Coin Battle—mix up gameplay and add replayability, while also upping the difficulty for players who want to try something harder. Players can use their Mii characters in these modes.
Best for: Players who want multiplayer 3D stages and a separate bonus adventure. Nintendo describes the package and its format on its Mario games retrospective.
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Super Mario Odyssey is a globe-trotting 3D adventure built around exploration and Mario’s capture ability. Nintendo highlights capture as a defining mechanic, giving players a clear reason to choose it over a more traditional side-scrolling game.
Best for: Players who want 3D exploration and a distinctive capture mechanic. Nintendo describes it as a globe-trotting 3D adventure in its Mario games retrospective.
9. Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a modern 2D side-scrolling adventure. Wonder Flowers can bring unexpected changes to courses, making it a good choice if you want familiar side-scrolling movement with surprises built into the stages.
Best for: Players who want contemporary 2D platforming and unpredictable course changes. Nintendo’s US store lists the game for Nintendo Switch and also lists a separate Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park; check the edition and platform before buying, since they are distinct products. Nintendo’s US store listing.
10. Super Mario Maker 2
Super Mario Maker 2 is the choice for players who want to create courses, not only play through a conventional adventure. Building and sharing courses makes it the most creator-focused option here and a different kind of recommendation from the other nine.
Best for: Players who want to design and share their own courses. Nintendo describes course creation as the game’s defining feature in its Mario games retrospective.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which Super Mario game should you play first?
Choose by the experience you want rather than by release date. If you want classic side-scrolling stages, start with Super Mario Bros. 3; for 2D exploration, choose Super Mario World. If you want 3D, pick Super Mario 64 for an early example, Odyssey for globe-trotting exploration and capture, or 3D World + Bowser’s Fury for multiplayer stages plus a separate adventure. Choose Wonder for modern 2D play, or Maker 2 if making courses is the main attraction.
What is the difference between 2D and 3D Mario games?
In 2D games such as Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, and Super Mario Bros. Wonder, play centers on side-scrolling courses. In 3D games such as Super Mario 64, Super Mario Galaxy, and Super Mario Odyssey, Mario moves through three-dimensional environments; the emphasis can vary from game to game, with Odyssey highlighting exploration and capture. Super Mario 3D World adds a multiplayer angle, while Super Mario Maker 2 shifts the focus to creating courses rather than following a single conventional adventure. These format distinctions are reflected in Nintendo’s descriptions of the games.
How big is the Super Mario series?
Nintendo UK reported in 2010 that the Super Mario Bros. series had sold more than 240 million units globally at that time. That is a historical figure, not a current lifetime sales total. In the same 2010 anniversary article, Nintendo attributed this reflection on the series’ creative process to Shigeru Miyamoto, then identified as General Manager of Nintendo’s Entertainment Analysis and Development division: “Stimulated by advancements in technologies, we have always enjoyed creating the Super Mario Bros. games. The series has always taken advantage of the latest technological advancements and is the fruit of creativity of many of my hard-working friends working closely as a team”. Nintendo UK, “Super Mario: 25 years as part of the family,” 13 September 2010.
Quick Recap
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