Eat a mushroom, swallow a star, and prepare to torture some turtles. Here are the top 10 Mario games of all time.
10) New Super Mario Bros
Play it on the DS, play it on the Wii. Just play it. New Super Mario Bros is a 2D platformer that took us back to the old glory days of Mario without feeling like a boring rehash of yesteryear. New Super Mario Bros introduced new power-ups like the Ice Flower and Penguin Suit, true co-op multiplayer, and a graphical/processing boost that has to be seen to be appreciated.
Many old school gamers balked when Mario made the transition to 3D and spent a lot of time praying for a title like this to come along. New Super Mario Bros doesn’t disappoint. We don’t care if you’re an old school gamer or a youngblood player – this is a must-play title. New Super Mario Bros takes the number 10 spot on The Top 10 Mario Games countdown.
New Super Mario Bros Video
9) Super Mario Bros 2
Beloved and reviled in equal measure, it’s undeniable that Super Mario Bros 2 made its mark on the Mario history books. A stylized Mario title with gameplay unlike any Mario title that came before or after. Super Mario Bros 2 gave you the option to choose between three other protagonists besides Mario, and actually managed to make the Princess and Luigi appealing for once. And all it took was the power of levitation!
The game designers passed the dutchie to the left hand side and swapped out our regular cast of Mario villains for such memorable foes as Birdo, Mouser, Tryclyde, and Wart. Spoiler alert – the whole game turns out to have been just a dream. Inception might owe our beloved plumber a royalty check. If the Mario series was an episode of Behind The Music, Super Mario Bros 2 would be the 60s. Whether you love it or love to hate it – this game will not be forgotten. Super Mario Bros 2 takes the number 9 spot on The Top 10 Mario Games countdown.
Super Mario Bros 2 Video
8) Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour
Oh, golf. So boring in real life, so addictive as a video game. Long before Tiger started getting up to shenanigans, Mario and his gang were acting a fool on the back nine. Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour was a surprisingly solid golf title developed by Camelot Software Planning for the Nintendo GameCube.
This sequel to the much beloved N64 title Mario Golf boasted 16 playable characters and a great gameplay experience. The multiplayer tournaments were without question the star of the show. Wash your balls, polish your club, and aim for the hole. Man…golf is dirty. Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour takes the number 8 spot on The Top 10 Mario Games countdown.
Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour
7) Super Mario World
Released for the Super Nintendo in 1990, Super Mario World is still widely considered one of the best Mario games of all time. Mario and his friends take a vacation on Dinosaur Island and, wouldn’t you know it, Princess Toadstool (Peach) gets snatched. Someone needs to stick a LoJack on that girl.
Although Super Mario World features a familiar plot and side scrolling platformer action, there are several improvements made to the series. New power-ups like the cape, featured Koopalings, and of course, most notably, Yoshi. Your trusty dinosaur mount who eats everything, breathes fire, flies, and appears in a host of other Mario titles following this game. Yoshi and a little SNES nostalgia move Super Mario World up to the number 7 spot in The Top 10 Mario Games countdown.
Super Mario World Video
6) Super Mario 64
A Mario game in 3D! How’s your mind? Blown? It’s difficult to convey the combination of excitement, confusion, and rage the gaming community felt when 3D Mario burst onto the market on the N64. Think of your first day of high school. Now add a plumber.
It was tough for the old school gamers to deal with Super Mario 64 when it first released. Such a fully-immersing departure from the 2D side scrollers everyone knew. But once people got comfy rotating the camera they found there was a lot to love in this game. A definite shift in the framework of the franchise and a decision that’s still being felt today. One small hop for Mario, one giant leap for mankind. Super Mario 64 takes the number 6 spot on The Top 10 Mario Games countdown.
Super Mario 64 Video
5) Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
A Mario RPG? Oh yes, it happened. Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars was released for the Super Nintendo in 1996. This game slipped past a lot of gamers because of the hybrid nature of the title, but it’s a surprisingly wonderful title. A streamlined RPG that’s a must-play for any fan of the Mario universe.
Mario, Princess Toadstool, Bowser, Geno, and Mallow must team up to Final Fantasy their way through this Square-developed title. With excellent graphics, gear upgrades, streamlined RPG gameplay, and a soundtrack composed by Yoko Shimomura, Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars is a super solid title that’s worth heading over to the Wii Virtual Console to check out. This game is still a fun way to burn through a weekend. Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars takes the number 5 spot on The Top 10 Mario Games countdown.
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars Video
4) Super Mario Galaxy
Super Mario Galaxy is one of the greatest platformers ever made. Following after Super Mario Sunshine, which many gamers consider to be a major flop in the series, Super Mario Galaxy had a lot to prove when it was released on the Wii. And it did not disappoint.
Our first runs at Super Mario Galaxy 2 make us believe the sequel may be even better, but we want to let the dust settle and make sure it’s true love and not just a new crush. If you own the Wii – the Super Mario Galaxy games are required purchases. An amazing amount of care and craftsmanship was put into this game. Super Mario Galaxy takes a well-deserved number 4 spot on The Top 10 Mario Games countdown.
Super Mario Galaxy Video
3) Super Mario Bros
They say the first cut is the deepest. Do you still remember the first time you blew inside your NES and shoved in the Super Mario Bros / Duck Hunt cartridge? Ahh, memories.
What can we possibly tell you about Super Mario Bros that you don’t already know? This game imparted an entire generation with warp tunnel blueprints, persistence bordering on madness, hidden 1-Up mushrooms locations, and mad jumping skills. Super Mario Bros isn’t just a landmark in our gaming history, it’s a pioneer that helped blaze the trail to the gaming world we know & love today. Bow down and give thanks to two little ethnic stereotypes, some devilishly hard levels, and a legion of mangled turtles. Super Mario Bros takes the number 3 spot on The Top 10 Mario Games countdown.
Super Mario Bros Video
2) Mario Kart 64
Super Mario Kart was amazing when it came out, but Mario Kart 64 is the game that really raised the bar. For everyone.
Features included 4 player split screen play, 4 game modes, 16 tracks, and 8 playable characters. The balloon popping Battle Mode alone was worth the price of admission, but Grand Prix slipped the cake under the icing with three different levels of difficulty, 2-4 player co-op, and the ability to run tracks backwards. And let us not forget the cornea-burning Rainbow Road. Mario Kart 64 snaps silly plastic steering wheel peripherals and roars into the number 2 spot on The Top 10 Mario Games countdown.
Mario Kart 64 Video
1) Super Mario Bros 3
The Wizard made sure no other game on this list even had a chance. If you don’t like this pick blame Fred Savage. Get the star Jimmy! Get the star! We’re all in agreement he was cheating at Video Armageddon, right? How else could he have known that whistle was up there.
Super Mario Bros 3 continues to hold a spot as one of the greatest video games ever created. Bar none. The graphics, the music, the story, the co-op, the gameplay, the nostalgia. If Super Mario Bros 3 doesn’t touch your heartstrings a little you need to make an appointment with the cardiologist, Tin Man. All these years later and Super Mario Bros 3 is still a masterpiece. And the Power Glove is still so bad. Super Mario Bros 3 takes the top spot on The Top 10 Mario Games countdown.
Super Mario Bros 3 Video
Resources:
Nintendo
YouTube
Square Enix
