SwitchMar 10, 2026
Ranking the best Mario games, from Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World to Galaxy, Odyssey, and Wonder.
Ranking Mario is dangerous work because even the "lower" entries are still better than most franchises on a good day.
So this list focuses on the best mainline Mario platformers, ranked by design quality, replay value, creativity, and long-term impact.
No bad games here. Only different levels of Nintendo excellence.
Each game was ranked by:
So yes, nostalgia counts.
But playability today counts more.
This game brought 2D Mario back to center stage for a huge audience.
Co-op is hilarious and occasionally friendship-ending, level design is strong, and the pacing is classic Mario comfort food done right.
Sunshine is the most divisive top-tier Mario game, and that is exactly why people still talk about it.
FLUDD-based movement is unique, Isle Delfino is iconic, and the highs are incredible even if some missions absolutely tested human patience.
3D Land is super efficient Mario design: no wasted space, great pacing, and consistently smart levels.
It may not be flashy like Galaxy or Odyssey, but it is ridiculously well built.
Wonder feels like Nintendo remembered it can still get weird whenever it wants.
The Wonder Flower system keeps stages unpredictable, and the whole game has a playful confidence that makes it instantly memorable.
Mario 64 is a landmark game, full stop.
Camera age issues exist, but the movement feel, mission structure, and sandbox-style course design still hold up far better than many of its peers.
3D World is one of the most consistently fun co-op Mario games ever made.
Then Bowser’s Fury shows up and casually experiments with open-zone Mario design in a way that feels like a preview of future genius.
The 1985 original is still a design clinic.
It taught the industry how to teach players through level layout, not tutorials. Simple by modern standards, but still architecturally brilliant.
SMB3 is where Mario’s mechanical range exploded.
World map progression, power-up variety, and creative stage concepts make it one of the best 2D platformers ever made.
World is the 2D Mario masterpiece for many players, and the argument is strong.
Movement feels amazing, secrets are everywhere, Dinosaur Land is iconic, and the game rewards curiosity better than almost anything in the genre.
Galaxy takes #1 for combining top-tier platforming with unmatched atmosphere.
Gravity mechanics stay fresh, level ideas are nonstop, and the soundtrack is legendary. It feels magical in a way very few games ever do.
All-timer. Franchise peak.
A few entries that just missed the top ten:
If your #1 is different, that is valid. Mario’s catalog depth is absurd.
Final ranking:
No matter your order, one thing is clear: Mario is still the gold standard for platformer design.
You start for nostalgia.
You stay because the games are still ridiculously good.
By Aiden Nguyen
Senior Editor, Console Pulse
Images Credit
Official artwork, promotional assets, and in-game screenshots are credited to Nintendo and associated Mario rights holders. Images are used for editorial coverage.
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