Top 10 Mario Games

Ok, due to the hectic condition of my home at the home (five children younger than 11) this may not be the most exciting list. With that said, I love Mario games and have been meaning to rank the top ten all season, so here we go. This includes any game that includes Mario in a starring role... I do NOT count Super Smash Brothers because it isn't his game but rather all of nintendo, but I do count mario karts and yoshi based games, due to the fact they exist in the mario universe.


10. Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (Gameboy): Super Mario Land pushed the gameboy more so than any other prior game, but that was solely because no one knew how to make a strong 8-bit game that wasn't a puzzle game (like tetris). However, by the second Mario Land, they knew how to improve the quality, and we were left with an extremely impressive (and lengthy) experience, that truly stepped outside the typical mario platforming experience. First off, you could choose what stage you wanted to do, whenever you wanted, and the worlds were more themed, like haunted house, forest, space, etc... There were gravity effects, things that the gameboy had never done before. Sure, there are possibly better Mario games, but for what it was at the time, I couldn't leave it off the list.

9. Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour (Gamecube): My favorite of the Mario Sports series. Golf is made to be Mario-ized because it is one sport you can make outright crazy, without making it seem cliche and repetitive. First off, the courses have fun obstacles like warp pipes, chain chomps, and other traps out of the Mario Universe. Also, each stage really has its own flair along with the wide array of characters. Just a fun game with more variety than the other sports games, so definitely a deserving entry.

8. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Story (SNES): There is always one game on the list that you have to wonder if it counts. This was a controversial sequel, because this time you played the entire game on Yoshi's back, and adult mario wasn't even present (but baby mario was). Similar to all the great mario's there was such a change of pace that made it memorable. First off the platforming was difficult, and each stages gave you extra goals to reach beyond just finishing the level. Also, there were things thrown in, like skiiing and digging. It was one of the more difficult mario games, but also one that kept you coming back.

7. Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door (Gamecube): The first thing I noticed when I planned out this list is that there are easily twenty or so games that truly deserved to be on it... Because of that, some great games got left out, many of which whom were part of the Mario RPG universe. However, the best of the Mario RPG's still made the cut, as it possessed some of the greatest worlds in RPG gaming. For example, there is a colliseum, a mystery train, and of course the token snow world. You also gain numerous sidekicks (one thing I love about the paper mario games) who have their own uses and skills, and enhance the experience. Mario truly has transcended beyond simple platformer, as he has basically tackled every area of gaming, especially RPG's.

6. Super Mario Galaxy (Wii): I haven't played Super Mario Galaxy 2 yet, only because I am currently in a Metroid phase, and New Super Mario Bros. Wii, while great, isn't anything ground breaking. So that leaves the first Super Mario Galaxy is the best mario incarnation so far on the Wii (which may be one of the best systems ever for Mario based games). The thing that holds this game back from the echelon is that it isn't extremely revolutionary. There are a few stages that use the motion controls superbly (like the ball roll) and the changing gravity can at times be magnificent, but in the end it is still using the same 3D Mario formula, including collection 120 stars. However, just because something isn't revolutionary doesn't mean it isn't splendid, with absolutely amazing worlds and experiences.

5. Super Mario World (SNES): I struggle with where I should put this game on the list. It is the first mario game to have battery pack saves so the game could be huge, but also beatable without needing to do it in one sitting. The one issue, is that the worlds themselves are not as drastically different as they were in other mario games. Also many of the great items like the frog suit and tanaka suit vanished (although they did add a cape). So in some way it took a step back. However, there were also many step forwards like the addition of Yoshi, and multiple solutions to stages, and the final goal of *96. In the end, a great platforming experience, but not as monumental as the games above it.

4. Mario Kart 64 (N64): Mario Kart is the easily the most famous of the Mario spinoff titles, and there was never any doubt that it would sneak into my top 10. It is one of the greatest party games, and the learning curve really isn't that steep. I mean, my college experience was rooted in Mario Kart. So the question at hand... Why Mario Kart 64? The reason I chose it was because it was the greatest single game improvement over the prior games. Now the original mario kart was a hit, but it wasn't really that fun of an experience. The stages were all fairly similar, and the items not nearly as chaotic. However, the N64 version changed all that with one of the best collection of stages (Chocoland, Yoshi, etc.) and much better items. I still have fond memories of that version of Mario Kart to this very day.

3. Super Mario Bros. (NES): Possibly the most critical game in videogame history, it took platforming to new heights. I still play this game at least once every month I am home, and that needs to count for something. First off, its an extremely quick pick up. To literally play through and have a jolly good time, you need only 30 minutes max. But what really stuns, is the controls. The speed that mario moves, and yet still responds quickly to jump, is dead on. This makes it possible for the creators to create difficult stages to plow through, because if the player dies it is not because of a glitch in the game. Despite it being the oldest game on here (easily) it still entertains, and there is nothing like finding out that the princess is in another castle.

2. Super Mario 64 (N64): The first 3D Mario, and the first great 3D platformer ever. People wondered how a 3D Mario game could work, and there were alot of worriers when it first came out. However, that didn't last for long, as it was absolutely perfect for a launch game, showing the capabilities of the Nintendo 64. 120 stars was absolutely mammoth for a game of that time period, and each world was drastically different, with at least 6 hidden stars within that world. There were sled races against penguins, tornado launching, and the famous clock tower. Also experiences like the dreaded magic carpet ride. This game changed the videogame world, and created one of the best genres ever, the true 3D platforming, were jumping and running is still critical to avoid death, instead of just shooting your enemies.

1. Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES): I just don't see how this game doesn't win a Mario list. This game was leaps and bounds better than most original nintendo games, and is literally a full day affair to beat from world 1 all the way to world 8 (as I learned the painful way during college). However, it isn't length that makes this game great, but rather the variety of content. For example. there is one stage where you can hop around in a shoe! There is also a stone suit, and a world where Mario is miniaturized. The fact that a game made in the early 90's had all this polish was amazing, and it is why people still play it to this day. Easily one of the greatest games ever, and it is the game that put Mario truly on the map.

~Looking at this list surprises me, because I truly wanted to put New Super Mario Bros. Wii on the list because it is a great trip back to 2D sidescrolling, but there are no games I could eliminate. Mario truly has been iconic in videogaming, and I think every person can find something to like in this series.