Summary
It is no secret that Mario has appeared in more than just platformers. He has also had cameos in numerous other titles. How many people realize that many games bearing the plumber’s name were not developed by Nintendo or a subsidiary? For such a tight-knit company, it may surprise some to know they trust other developers with their precious mascot.
There are moreMariogames developed by other companies than the ones listed below, but it will be hard to find titles that are better than the ones detailed in this list. To be considered a Mario game and not just a game with Mario, the plumber’s name has to be in the title.
10Mario’s Picross
Chisel Out A Picture
Mario is no stranger to puzzle games. There is the popularDr. Marioseries where players use falling blocks to destroy viruses on the board. Then, there are the less activePicrossgames.Picrosstasks players with chiseling out squares on a board to eventually reveal the photo underneath.
Because it is a Mariogame, the picture is generally related to the character and the Mushroom Kingdom. The game received praise, but some did not like the fact that most of the gameplay is in the player’s head and not on the screen.
There is something compelling about Marioplaying sports. It is more than just the novelty of watching these legendary characters playing Tennis. The gameplay often presents a version of the sport that’s easier to understand and more intuitive than a simulator.
The Mario tennis games are always reliable entertainment, andMario Tennis Acesis the best version, with more content than the averageMariosports game. The Joy-cons also allow for the use of motion controls in setting up special shots.
There is always a sense of friendly competition in these multiplayer Mario titles.Mario Strikers: Battle Leaguefeels different. The game follows the basic rules of soccer but also lets players tackle and hit each other with no penalty. Players can also use various items to give themselves an advantage out on the field.
Battle Leagueis the third in a series of soccer-inspired titles and comes after a 15-year break in the series. Like many Mario sports games, the core gameplay was praised while the lack of meaningful content or single-player modes was a point of criticism. Still, it is always a blast in multiplayer.
Unlike the priorPaper Mariotitles,Super Paper Mariois more of a platformerthan a turn-based RPG. While it did not completely eschew RPG elements, the game’s main hook is the ability to switch between 3D and 2D gameplay on the fly. Mario still fights enemies and gains experience, but battles are in real-time.Super Paper Mariomarked a turn in the series towards more action-oriented titles, something longtime fans did not appreciate.
It is hard to pick the bestMario Party. However, Mario Party 7was the last title for the GameCube and stood out for having eight-player modes. IsMario Party 7the best one? It is difficult to say since each game does not really continue the series so much as to present a new set of boards and minigames.
At leastMario Party 7consists of entirely new minigames. It also has games that use a microphone, though in practice it is not too fun to use.Mario Party 7is incredibly fun with a group of friends, but almost useless as a single-player game.
TheMario and Luigititles geniusly combined RPG gameplay and puzzle solving. The battle systems often included real-time elements too.Bowser’s Inside Story, the third game in the series, saw the brothers accidentally end up inside Bowser to combat a new threat by the name of Fawful.
It is likeSuper Mario Bros.meetsFantastic Voyage. Players also control Bowser in segments that are just as fleshed out as the main game. The villainous Kupa has his own battles and exploration segments.
Paper Mariowas somewhat of a last hurray for the Nintendo 64. The game looks astonishingly good for the console generation and it holds up today thanks to the unique aesthetic.
WhileSuper Mario RPGhad style and humor,Paper Mariotakes it to another level with writing and jokes that still hold up today. The exploration and battling is what people expect from an RPG, but it takes on a special charm because it takes place in the Mushroom Kingdom.
Too good things combining does not always make a great thing. Mario collaborating with Ubisoft’s Rabbids did not seem like a clear pairing, but the glue that brings them together is turn-based tactics gameplay inspired byXCOM.
Not only is the title full of charm and charisma, but it also works as a great introduction to the genre because of its forgiving difficulty and smooth learning curve. With the critical acclaim this game received, it is surprising Mario did not team up with more Ubisoft characters.We would love to see “Mario + Sam Fisher: Sneak Attack.”
The sequel toPaper Mariotook all the right lessons from its predecessor and continued the trend of simple but satisfying gameplaymixed with a cleverly written narrative.
The paper aesthetic never looked better, and it has madeThousand Year Doorone of the best-looking games on the GameCube. The game takes full advantage of its look, with battles looking like they take place on a stage in front of an audience the ability for Mario to turn into a paper airplane.
The Nintendo Switch remake validates how good the game looks. Unfortunately, it only runs at 30 frames per second while the original ran at 60.
Super Mario RPGstands shoulder to shoulder with the best RPGs on the Super Nintendo. That is because it was made byFinal Fantasydevelopers Square. It came out near the end of the SNES’s life in 1996 and is one of the most visually impressive games on the system.
It uses an isometric view for psuedo-3D graphics. The battle system includes a timing mechanic to allow for stronger attacks, a mechanic that would carry on into future Mario RPGs.
The title introduced characters like Mallow and Genowho have not been featured heavily in other games besides cameo, making the game feel unique and special among the large sea ofMariogames.
