Mario historian Dan Ryckert has spent plenty of time deliberating and has finally decided to list what he deems to be the best Mario games of all-time. It’s certainly an interesting list which is sure to divide opinion amongst you. Mr. Ryckert has placed the Super Nintendo launch title Super Mario World at No.1, which seems like a reasonably safe pick, but you will notice Super Mario Sunshine has been placed as the sixth best Mario game, which is sure to spark contention. Also of note is the fact that the iconic Super Mario 64 is missing entirely from the top ten. Mr. Rycker decide to place the N64 launch title at No.11. Here’s the top ten:
- Super Mario World
- Super Mario Bros 3
- Super Mario Odyssey
- Super Mario Galaxy 2
- Super Mario Galaxy
- Super Mario Sunshine
- Super Mario Bros. 2
- Super Mario 3D World
- Mario Party 2
- Yoshi’s Island
not my List…
Super Mario Galaxy 2
Super Mario Bros 2
Super Mario 3D World
This is the top 3 games ever will bi on top.
because i dont realy like the mario games but these 3 games are awesome.
New Super Mario Bros
Super Mario World
Super Mario Sunshine
Super Mario Bro 3
Super Mario Land
The last place is odyssey, after 2hour i was bored
Mario 64 i never played
What does it mean to kick the wall?
Kind of weird to include a single Mario Party game, but no Mario Kart. Also, very weird to put Mario Bros 2 but not 64. Still, always interested to see other people’s lists, no matter how unusual.
I don’t have a list, ranking Mario games makes my head hurt. Too much to consider. I also don’t know all of them well enough to remember how I feel about them. Galaxy 2, in particular, I barely remember because I only played through it once. I know it’s great, but other than that vague thought, I have no memory of it.
All that matters is he got the first one correct.
As far as the rest of the rankings go, I dont agree at all.
No complaints with Sunshine, could have been higher imo. But the whole “Mario 64 at 11th” crap is laughable.
This list is so wrong in so many ways. There is no way mario party makes it but no mario kart. He should have just stuck with platforming games. My list
1. Galaxy 2 and 1 (they really should be considered the same game)
2. Mario 3
3. Mario 64
4. Mario world
5. Mario 3d world
6. Sunshine
7. Super Mario bros
8. Yoshi island
9. Super Mario bros 2
10. 3d land
If you add in spin off series changes a bit.
Oops I forgot odyssey that would be 5.
I’m always going to disagree with lists like this because with the exception of Yoshi’s Island, Mario’s 2D platformers just don’t do anything for me at all. I’ll pick up Mario 3 or World, get bored after a few minutes, then go back to Donkey Kong Country.
I think my list would be
10. Mario and Luigi SS/Super Paper Mario
9. 3D World
8. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
7. Paper Mario
6. Sunshine
5. Galaxy
4. Mario 64
3. Paper Mario TTYD
2. Galaxy 2
1. Mario Odyssey
Is Mario Bros. 2 on everyone’s list the non- Mario title, or should I assume it’s the Lost Levels?
Is Mario Bros. 2 on everyone’s list the non- Mario title, or should I assume it’s the Lost Levels?
I agree with him. Odyssey is the best 3D Mario and World slightly, and I mean slightly, beats out 3. At least in my opinion.
My list of mainline Mario games ranked from best to worst:
1. Super Mario Odyssey
2. Super Mario Sunshine
3. Super Mario 3D World
4. Mario Maker- series
5. Super Mario World
6. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island
7. Super Mario Galaxy 2
8. Super Mario Bros 2
9. Super Mario Bros 3
10. New Super Mario Bros – series
11. Super Mario Galaxy
12. Super Mario 64
13. Super Mario Bros: The Lost Levels
14. Super Mario Bros
No spin off games or series just the mainline ones, and only the ones I’ve played.
No Mario 64 but 3d world is there??
That is the worst game of them all, should not be in that list but to leave out Mario 64 is an absolute crime. This guy does not know what he’s talking about or covid got his brain man!! Jeez!
3D World is fantastic, and by far the best multiplayer Mario platformer created.
I’ve yet to find anyone who hates 3D World who can give a coherent reason as to why. It just isn’t an exploration game, which in their book is what Mario is supposed to be, in spite of the series existing long before that was an element of the series.
Yes indeed. It is a fantastic 3D Mario game.
For all those complaining about the lack of Mario 64: it’s the same thing as missing the original Super Mario Bros, or Donkey Kong. They all helped define the genre, but every game that came after it was superior. We wouldn’t have Sunshine, Galaxy, or Odyssey without 64, but they all took 64 and improved on it. Super Mario World was the pinnacle of the 2D Mario games, although some argue that 3 is where it was perfected. I think it’s just great that we have such a broad set of games to argue over. Growing up and playing all of these had been fantastic and I will look forward to the next new game.
It never ceases to amaze me at all the people who complain that lists like these are “wrong,” when it’s all subjective to begin with. Everyone is going to have different likes and dislikes. Personally, my favorites are Super Mario World for 2D and the Galaxy games for 3D.
More importantly, I miss Dan Ryckert on Giant Bomb. I love his passion for Nintendo. I don’t frequent their site as much since he left.
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People are allowed to have their opinions…
… but they’re also wrong for not adding Super Mario 64 :]]]]]]]]
With Mario Party 2, it should be “List of Best Games Featuring Mario”, and should probably have Mario Kart 8 in there somewhere.
I’ve read both of Dan’s Air Force Gator books and can recommend them. They are quick reads, silly but serious toned. Fun books.
SMB 3
SMB 1
SMB Lost Levels
SM World (Gameplay and visual/sound design its up there, but the difficulty is just WAY too low)
SM 3D World
SM Galaxy 2
SM Galaxy 1
SM64
SM Sunshine
NS Luigi U
NSMBU
SM Sunshine
NSMB Wii
SM Odyssey
Note that USA SMB2, and handheld titles are disqualified due to not being considered mainline Mario titles, as is SMW 2, as it is more or less just Yoshi 1.
Yes, Odyssey is that bad. It is borderline not a game at all, just a digital tour of fairly simplistic virtual worlds.
I just noticed I had Sunshine on there twice. I blame alcohol. You can imagine whichever one you prefer to be the correct placement.
Great Sickr!
I agree with him. But It never ceases to amaze me. Personally, my favorites are Super Mario Galaxy.
Here is my list:
1 Super Mario Bros. 2
2. Super Mario 3D world(underrated)
3 Super Mario Galaxy 2
4 Super Mario Galaxy
5 Super Mario 64
6 Super Mario Odyssey
7 Super Mario 3D Land
8 Super Mario bros 3
9. Super Mario Bros Wii
10 Super Mario Bros