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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesThe best Mario game on Nintendo Switch for most players is Super Mario Odyssey, but the right pick depends on whether you want exploration, side-scrolling levels, racing, role-playing, or a party game. This is an editorial ranking of standalone Mario-led games with a Nintendo Switch release—not an objective review-score list or a claim that every Mario-adjacent game and subscription classic is included.
How this ranking works—and what counts
The order weighs broad appeal, distinctive design, and the kind of experience each game offers. Nintendo does not publish this ranking, and the available official catalog information does not establish a comprehensive review consensus or numerical score.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe - US Version | $52.98 | Buy on Amazon |
The main list covers standalone games led by Mario or his core cast that have a Nintendo Switch release. It excludes downloadable expansions, upgrade packs, and classic games available through subscription apps. Character-led spin-offs appear in the main list when Mario is central to the game; the broader Mushroom Kingdom section identifies related series that are not Mario-led. Nintendo’s US Mario Games catalog is useful for discovery, but it mixes Switch and Switch 2 listings, add-ons, and subscription apps. Check the platform and edition on the product page for your region before buying.
Every Mario game on Nintendo Switch, ranked
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Super Mario Odyssey
The strongest all-around pick for players who want a substantial 3D adventure built around curiosity. Mario travels through distinct kingdoms, using Cappy’s capture abilities to interact with enemies and objects, while Power Moons help power the Odyssey airship. Nintendo’s Switch product page describes those central mechanics. Choose it for freedom to explore rather than a sequence of purely linear courses.
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New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe - US Version- 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.
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Super Mario Bros. Wonder
A lively side-scrolling platformer with imaginative course changes and a strong shared-play option. Nintendo lists single-system and online play for one to four players; its product page also notes that additional accessories may be needed for multiplayer. See the Nintendo Switch edition specifically: a separate Switch 2 Edition and upgrade pack are not additional Switch games.
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Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury
A particularly good choice if you want two flavors of 3D Mario in one release: the more compact, course-based platforming of 3D World alongside the more open-ended Bowser’s Fury. It makes a natural bridge between traditional level design and exploration.
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Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
The clearest recommendation for racing and repeat multiplayer sessions. The base game is the standalone game; the Booster Course Pass is optional extra content, not another Mario game. Nintendo’s catalog also lists a game-plus-DLC bundle, so check what a listing includes rather than assuming the pass comes with every copy.
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Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Best for a story-driven role-playing adventure with turn-based battles and a distinct paper-world presentation. Pick it when dialogue, characters, and RPG progression matter more than platforming.
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Super Mario RPG
A more compact, classic-style role-playing option. It is a good alternative if you want Mario in an RPG framework without choosing a conventional platformer.
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New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
The straightforward pick for familiar side-scrolling Mario: courses, power-ups, and a traditional platforming rhythm. The exact catalog title is New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe; it is one game, not a second entry under a shortened name.
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Super Mario Party Jamboree
Choose this for a newer board-game-and-minigame party experience. Nintendo lists a separate Switch 2 Edition and upgrade pack; those are not additional original-Switch base games.
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Mario Party Superstars
Another good group-play choice, and the natural comparison if you are deciding between the Switch’s two listed Mario Party games. Your preference for the board and minigame selection will matter more than a universal ranking can capture.
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Paper Mario: The Origami King
A story-led adventure for players who want Paper Mario’s humor and exploration, but with a battle structure distinct from traditional turn-based RPGs. It offers a different feel from The Thousand-Year Door.
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Mario & Luigi: Brothership
A Mario role-playing adventure centered on the brothers. It fits players looking for a character-driven RPG rather than a mainline platform game.
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Mario vs. Donkey Kong
A puzzle-platforming option that rewards planning and solving compact challenges instead of relying only on reflexes. The Nintendo catalog lists it as a Switch title.
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Super Mario Maker 2
Its main draw is creating and sharing courses, so it is best for players who want to make their own Mario challenges as well as play them. It is less suited to someone looking only for a conventional linear campaign.
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Mario Tennis Aces
A sports spin-off for players who want competitive tennis matches with Mario characters. Consider it when a head-to-head sports game is more appealing than racing or party minigames.
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Mario Golf: Super Rush
The golf option in the Switch sports lineup. Choose it over tennis if golf’s pacing and modes are a better fit for your group or solo play.
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Mario Strikers: Battle League
A team-sports spin-off built around soccer-flavored matches. It is a more specialized pick than the broadly accessible racing and party games above.
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Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
A puzzle-and-exploration spin-off starring a character from the Mario universe. It earns a place here under a broad Mario-franchise definition, though it is less directly a Mario-led game than the entries above.
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Which Mario game should you play first?
| If you want… | Start with |
|---|---|
| Open-ended 3D exploration | Super Mario Odyssey |
| Side-scrolling platforming, alone or with others | Super Mario Bros. Wonder |
| Two contrasting kinds of 3D platforming | Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury |
| Racing and repeat multiplayer | Mario Kart 8 Deluxe |
| A story-focused RPG | Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door |
| Party boards and minigames | Super Mario Party Jamboree or Mario Party Superstars |
| Course creation | Super Mario Maker 2 |
| Puzzles rather than conventional platforming | Mario vs. Donkey Kong or Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker |
For multiplayer, verify the specific game’s supported modes and the controllers your group needs on its product page. For example, Nintendo lists Wonder for one to four players both on one system and online, and cautions that extra accessories may be required.
Mario-adjacent games and other catalog entries
Some games appear in Nintendo’s Mario-and-friends catalog without being standalone Mario-led games. Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD and Luigi’s Mansion 3 lead with Luigi; Yoshi’s Crafted World and WarioWare: Move It! are led by Yoshi and Wario. They are reasonable choices for a broader Mushroom Kingdom list, but not additional entries in this Mario ranking. The catalog also includes arcade releases and classic-game apps, which are outside this list’s standalone-release scope.
Check the edition before you buy
Nintendo’s US catalog includes both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 products, as well as DLC, bundles, upgrade packs, and subscription apps. A Switch 2 Edition or upgrade pack should not be mistaken for a separate game playable on the original Switch. In particular, distinguish Mario Kart 8 Deluxe from its Booster Course Pass, and select the original Switch product page when that is the system you own. Catalog availability, stock, and digital or physical editions vary by region and can change; confirm the local eShop or retailer listing.
Quick Recap
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.
