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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteFor a balance of expressive movement, inventive levels, and reasons to keep exploring, Super Mario Odyssey is the best 3D Mario game. This ranking covers the seven main 3D platformers, from Super Mario 64 through Super Mario Odyssey. It is a critical judgment, not a universal consensus: players who prefer open exploration, demanding obstacle courses, nostalgia, or multiplayer may order them differently.
How this ranking weighs the games
3D Mario has never meant just one kind of platformer. Some entries give you broad spaces with several goals to pursue; others send you through tighter, more focused courses. Retro Gamer draws this distinction between the multiple-goal levels of Super Mario 64 and the more platforming-focused approach of games such as Super Mario Galaxy, Super Mario 3D Land, and Super Mario 3D World (Retro Gamer’s comparison).
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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Super Mario 3D All-Stars - Nintendo Switch | $119.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Super Mario 3D All-Stars - Nintendo Switch (Renewed) | $133.94 | Buy on Amazon |
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Super Mario 3D All-Stars (EU Region-Free Version) | $119.99 | Buy on Amazon |
The order below weighs movement and control, level variety, how well each game uses its defining idea, and the appeal of returning to explore or tackle more challenges. The chronology and release context come from Nintendo’s history and catalogue (Nintendo’s Mario history; Nintendo’s catalogue).
- Super Mario Odyssey
- Super Mario Galaxy 2
- Super Mario Galaxy
- Super Mario 64
- Super Mario 3D World
- Super Mario Sunshine
- Super Mario 3D Land
1. Super Mario Odyssey
Odyssey earns the top spot by making its central mechanic a source of movement, experimentation, and discovery. Cappy lets Mario capture enemies and objects, turning familiar encounters into opportunities to try new ways through a world. Its varied settings give those experiments room to feel different from one kingdom to the next. GamesRadar+ likewise put Odyssey first in its broader Mario franchise ranking and praised the capture mechanic; that is one publication’s view, not a definitive 3D-only consensus (GamesRadar+’s ranking).
#1 Best Overall
- Discover (or rediscover) three of Mario’s most memorable adventures all in one package—available on the Nintendo Switch system
- Take these three adventures on the go with the Nintendo Switch system’s handheld or tabletop mode
- Jump into paintings to collect Power Stars and save Princess Peach in the Super Mario 64 game
- Spray away paint-like goop with the help of your water-spouting friend, FLUDD, in the Super Mario Sunshine game
- Travel from planet to planet and power up Rosalina’s Comet Observatory in the Super Mario Galaxy game—motion controls and a two-player Co-Star mode included
The trade-off is that players looking for a tightly directed sequence of platforming challenges may prefer the more focused stages lower on this list. But as a flexible combination of movement and exploration, Odyssey is the most complete entry here.
2. Super Mario Galaxy 2
Galaxy 2 takes the planetary-stage foundation of the first game and pushes it toward a succession of varied star challenges. GamesRadar highlights its new ideas, range of challenges, and Yoshi (GamesRadar+ on Galaxy 2). That variety makes it the strongest pick for players who want inventive, forward-moving platforming rather than long stretches of open-ended searching.
Its focus is also its limitation: it offers less of the leisurely, exploratory feel found in Odyssey or Mario 64. Nintendo lists its release in 2010 (Nintendo’s Mario history).
3. Super Mario Galaxy
The original Galaxy makes each planet and themed stage feel like a compact idea with its own identity. Stars give those courses clear goals, while suit power-ups help vary how Mario moves through them. GamesRadar’s overview emphasizes the themed planets, Stars, and stage variety (GamesRadar+ on Galaxy).
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- Does not come with original case or manuals; game cartridge only
- Discover (or rediscover) three of Mario’s most memorable adventures all in one package—available on the Nintendo Switch system
- Take these three adventures on the go with the Nintendo Switch system’s handheld or tabletop mode
- Jump into paintings to collect Power Stars and save Princess Peach in the Super Mario 64 game
- Spray away paint-like goop with the help of your water-spouting friend, FLUDD, in the Super Mario Sunshine game
It ranks just below its sequel because Galaxy 2 offers a broader run of challenges and new ideas. Still, the first game’s distinct planetary concepts make it one of the series’ clearest examples of focused level design. GamesRadar identifies it as a 2007 Wii release (GamesRadar+ on Galaxy).
4. Super Mario 64
Super Mario 64 is the series’ 1996 3D debut, and its open-ended levels remain a defining alternative to the course-based games that followed. Rather than simply moving forward along one route, players pursue multiple goals within the same spaces. GamesRadar notes its 120 Power Star quests, while Retro Gamer contrasts its multiple-goal structure with more linear platforming entries (GamesRadar+ on Mario 64; Retro Gamer’s comparison).
That freedom is its appeal: a level can reward searching and revisiting as much as precise jumps. It places fourth because the later games deliver more varied mechanics and, in some cases, more focused platforming. For players who prize exploration above all else, however, Mario 64 could reasonably rank first.
5. Super Mario 3D World
3D World favors distinct, stage-based challenges over the large, multi-goal spaces of Mario 64 or Odyssey. Its place here reflects the strength of that focused approach, but also how much this ranking favors individual movement and discovery over a level-by-level course structure. Nintendo’s Switch catalogue groups it with Bowser’s Fury in Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury; the bundle’s separate component should not be mistaken for part of the original 3D World campaign (Nintendo’s catalogue).
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Rank #3
- Back of box is in Spanish, but games are all fully playable in English
- Includes Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy
- All 3 games are playable in English, Germany, French, and Japanese
6. Super Mario Sunshine
Sunshine distinguishes itself with F.L.U.D.D., the water-powered tool Mario uses on Isle Delfino. The device affects both the game’s setting and how Mario moves, giving it a character unlike the other entries. GamesRadar describes F.L.U.D.D.’s cleaning role and mobility functions (GamesRadar+ on Sunshine); whether that movement expands the fun or makes it feel more constrained is a matter of player preference.
It lands sixth because its identity is so bound to that one tool, while the higher-ranked games offer a broader mix of stage ideas or ways to explore. Nintendo dates Sunshine to 2002 (Nintendo’s Mario history).
7. Super Mario 3D Land
3D Land is the most focused and compact-feeling game in this ranking. Its emphasis on moment-to-moment platforming makes it a natural fit for players who want clearly defined courses rather than the wider spaces of Mario 64 or Odyssey. Retro Gamer groups it with Galaxy and 3D World as part of that more platforming-focused tradition (Retro Gamer’s comparison).
It finishes seventh not because focused stages are inherently worse, but because the other six entries make a stronger case through broader exploration, more distinctive movement, or greater variety in the experience. Nintendo lists 3D Land in 2011 (Nintendo’s Mario history).
Where Bowser’s Fury fits
Bowser’s Fury is worth considering alongside the ranked games, but it is a distinct experience packaged with the Switch release Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury, not one of the seven core entries ranked above. Nintendo’s official page says it supports compatible amiibo figures; it does not establish that a particular figure is required (Nintendo’s Bowser’s Fury page). Nintendo lists the combined Switch release in 2021 (Nintendo’s Mario history).
Quick Recap
Which 3D Mario should you play?
- For exploration and experimentation: start with Super Mario Odyssey; choose Super Mario 64 if you want the classic multiple-goal approach.
- For varied, focused platforming: try Super Mario Galaxy 2 or Super Mario Galaxy.
- For a distinctive movement tool: Super Mario Sunshine builds its identity around F.L.U.D.D., while Odyssey uses Cappy’s capture mechanic.
- For clearly bounded stages: Super Mario 3D Land and Super Mario 3D World lean more toward moment-to-moment platforming.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
