An overwhelmingly positive release of Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a perfect opportunity to dig through video gaming history. Let’s pick the best, the most influential, and the most memorable games featuring the Nintendo icon and his friends.
Super Mario Bros.
- Release date: September 13, 1985
Mario debuted as the protagonist known only as Jumpman in 1981’s Donkey Kong. Two years later, Nintendo released Mario Bros., featuring Mario and Luigi. However, it was 1985’s Super Mario Bros. that turned out to be a milestone for both the character and the company. It virtually pioneered the platformer genre. Players enjoyed the side-scrolling levels that featured secret passages and unlockable power-ups like the Super Mushroom that let characters grow larger. Hidden warp zones could teleport players ahead a few levels, while coins scattered in each stage acted as bonus items.
Its combination of action, exploration, and puzzle-solving was revolutionary in comparison to earlier games like Pac-Man or Space Invaders. Super Mario Bros. had an unprecedented level of depth for its time. Furthermore, it introduced the Mushroom Kingdom and other elements that became the foundations of Mario lore.
Super Mario Bros. 3
- Release date: October 23, 1988
Super Mario Bros. 3 was initially released exclusively in Japan in 1988. Players in North America had to wait until 1990 and in Europe until 1991 for the premiere. However, it was worth the wait as Super Mario Bros. 3 expanded the Mushroom Kingdom with eight varied worlds and mid-level hubs and introduced an incredible range of new power-ups, weapons, and moves to utilize. Exciting new abilities, for instance, flying in a raccoon suit and jumping in a frog suit, were other enjoyable additions that made it one of the best classic platforming adventure games.
With 17 million copies sold, Super Mario Bros. 3 was the best-selling NES game. Furthermore, its success spawned a TV animated series, The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3.
Super Mario 64
- Release date: June 23, 1996
Super Mario 64 is one of the best Mario games, and without a trace of exaggeration, one of the most significant titles in video game history. This 1996 classic let Nintendo defeat Sega in the console wars. This colorful platformer used all the Nintendo 64 power to generate 3D graphics and an open world. The competition didn’t have an answer to this.
The game didn’t just take the industry by storm. It also captured the hearts of Mario fans worldwide. Super Mario 64 offered a variety of levels and creative ideas that no one had ever seen before. Players also loved the ability to collect stars to unlock new worlds. Critics praised the gameplay for its level design, fluidity, and creativity. Players also praised it for its vibrant colors and great soundtrack. Super Mario 64 was a revolutionary title in many ways. Needless to say, it became the world’s best-selling video game and retained this title until 2002.
Paper Mario
- Release date: August 11, 2000
Nintendo continued to ride the success of Super Mario 64 with Paper Mario. Paper Mario was a unique title that utilized 2D sprites in a 3D world. It also allowed players to explore different worlds, collect items, and battle enemies in turn-based combat. Its bright colors and vibrant graphics made it stand out from other games at the time.
Additionally, its creative storyline and engaging characters gave players a reason to keep coming back for more. The game was praised by critics and gamers alike, with many citing its deep RPG elements as the highlight of the experience. Overall, Paper Mario was another great success for Nintendo that helped them stay at the top of the video game industry.
Super Mario Sunshine
- Release date: July 19, 2002
Super Mario Sunshine was another 3D action-adventure game released for the Nintendo GameCube. It featured a new cast of characters and a brand-new storyline but kept many of the core elements that had made Super Mario 64 so successful.
This time, players were tasked with cleansing a tropical paradise island from a mysterious goop called “goo.” The game kept the 3D exploration and platforming elements from its predecessor but added a unique twist with F.L.U.D.D., Mario’s new water-based invention that allowed him to reach otherwise inaccessible areas of the island. Super Mario Sunshine was praised by critics for its varied levels, extensive length, and clever puzzles, making it an enjoyable and rewarding experience for players of all ages.
Super Mario Galaxy
- Release date: November 1, 2007
Super Mario Galaxy marked an enormous leap forward in terms of 3D platformers from Nintendo. Players explored an immense variety of world designs within this title, including galaxies consisting of floating islands, spaceships, and other unique environments.
The game set a new standard for the genre with its groundbreaking controls that made platforming around spherical planets and objects much easier than before. Players could even fly Mario at high speeds through the air using the Star Spin. It also introduced exciting power-ups, including the Bee Mushroom, Boo Mushroom and Rainbow Star. Super Mario Galaxy was praised for its innovative level design and earned a place in many gamers’ hearts as one of the best 3D platformers available. It was followed by two equally entertaining sequels, Super Mario Galaxy 2, in 2010.
Super Mario 3D World
- Release date: November 12, 2013
Super Mario 3D World was another masterpiece from Nintendo. This time, it featured a co-op for up to four players and introduced a new power-up: the cat suit. Players could explore a variety of levels, including ones inspired by classic 2D games like Super Mario Bros. 2, as well as the typical sprawling galaxies with multiple sections to tackle one at a time.
Super Mario 3D World follows Mario and his friends as they explore the Sprixie Kingdom. It has been taken over by Bowser, who tries to capture the seven Sprixies, thus learning the secret to opening a giant door. The heroes must then battle Bowser’s forces and traverse various dangerous levels to save the kingdom. Along the way, they collect items such as coins, star power-ups, checkpoints, and bonus levels that will help them reach their ultimate destination: Bowser’s Castle. It’s worth mentioning that in 2021, Nintendo released the Switch port of Super Mario 3D World.
Super Mario Odyssey
- Release date: October 27, 2017
With over 26 copies sold, Super Mario Odyssey is one of the best Mario games and one of the most successful Nintendo Switch releases. It takes a step away from the traditional level-based structure and instead immerses players in an expansive, open world. The vibrant sandbox offers an array of unique environments to explore, from forest kingdoms to tropical islands to icy mountain peaks, all connected by a centralized hub world.
Players traverse the lands by hopping, sprinting, and wall jumping while using a variety of new items, like Mario’s trusty hat called Cappy. Super Mario Odyssey adds a new element to the beloved franchise: partnering with an NPC. Cappy lets Mario take control of nearly every character in the game. From enemy goombas to friendly toads, players never run out of unique abilities to try as they traverse each world and solve puzzles.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
- Release date: April 28, 2017
Super Mario Kart, the first game in this subseries, came out in 1992 for SNES. It was a great success, so Nintendo has been developing its racing series. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a Nintendo Switch version of Mario Kart 8, which was released in 2014 for Wii U.
It includes all the content from the original game plus some new features like improved graphics, more characters, a new smart steering feature, and several extra courses. This version of Mario Kart is a party favorite, with up to eight players supported in local wireless or online play. Players can choose different vehicles, like bikes and karts, for their chosen racer, as well as customize their vehicles with different parts. The list of characters includes favorites from other Nintendo games like Link, Isabelle, and Donkey Kong.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- Release date: December 7, 2018
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is a fighting game that combines classic characters from the Mario universe with other beloved Nintendo franchises, like Zelda and Pikmin. Players can battle it out in traditional Super Smash Bros. battles with up to 8 players or use new items and stages to customize their fights even more. With more than 70 playable characters, Smash Bros. Ultimate brings together an unprecedented roster of classic characters and new challengers. Players can team up with an NPC partner or take on their friends in intense battles for bragging rights. No matter how you choose to play, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate promises hours of fun and excitement.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has been widely praised by players and critics alike, with its wide range of characters and customizable battles earning it perfect scores from several gaming outlets. With the new Spirits Mode, players can collect spirits based on classic characters and use them to power up their own fighters, adding a unique layer of strategy and customization.
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