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There is no doubt that Mario is the face of video games. This becomes even more apparent when we try to finalize a list of the 10 Best Mario Games Ever. There are so many classics to chose from, we feel bad for the numerous classics we had to leave out. Most of his games are not only fun, they are classics that place Mario well above Sonic, Samus, Link and various other figureheads in terms of greatness. Just as Hulk Hogan is synonymous with wrestling, Mario is synonymous with gaming. When the average person hears the words “video game”, they will probably think of Mario. So we give credit where credit is due as we pay homage to the greatest plumber the world has ever known. Put down the mushrooms and check out our list of the 10 Best Mario Games Ever.
Super Mario Bros.
NES
With the exception of the few of us who encountered the original Mario Bros. arcade game in the early '80s, this is the title that introduced most of us to Mario and Luigi. Heck, this is the title that introduced most of us to console gaming (along with Duck Hunt).
NES
With the exception of the few of us who encountered the original Mario Bros. arcade game in the early '80s, this is the title that introduced most of us to Mario and Luigi. Heck, this is the title that introduced most of us to console gaming (along with Duck Hunt).
Mario Kart 64
Nintendo 64
Mario Kart 64 has it all: four player races, blue spiny shells, pop-the-balloon duels, a great soundtrack, balanced racers and 16 stellar raceways. This racer power slid its way ahead of all other titles in the Mario Kart franchise.
Nintendo 64
Mario Kart 64 has it all: four player races, blue spiny shells, pop-the-balloon duels, a great soundtrack, balanced racers and 16 stellar raceways. This racer power slid its way ahead of all other titles in the Mario Kart franchise.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Nintendo GameCube
With Goombella the Goomba, the ghastly Madame Flurrie, the shadowy Vivian, Admiral Bobbery (a sailor Bob-omb!), Ms. Mowz, a Yoshi, and Koops the hoodie-wearing Koopa, Mario's second papery adventure was his best out of the Paper Mario franchise.
Nintendo GameCube
With Goombella the Goomba, the ghastly Madame Flurrie, the shadowy Vivian, Admiral Bobbery (a sailor Bob-omb!), Ms. Mowz, a Yoshi, and Koops the hoodie-wearing Koopa, Mario's second papery adventure was his best out of the Paper Mario franchise.
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
SNES
Miyamoto pulled a Kojima (before Kojima became a trickster), when we found out that the sequel to the stellar Super Mario World would feature Mario as a baby. The Yoshi clan would hand Baby Mario off from member to member as they tried to free the stork and Baby Luigi from Magikoopa Kamek. From its cartoony graphics to its precise egg-shooting, Yoshi's Island is up there with all of Mario's other classics.
SNES
Miyamoto pulled a Kojima (before Kojima became a trickster), when we found out that the sequel to the stellar Super Mario World would feature Mario as a baby. The Yoshi clan would hand Baby Mario off from member to member as they tried to free the stork and Baby Luigi from Magikoopa Kamek. From its cartoony graphics to its precise egg-shooting, Yoshi's Island is up there with all of Mario's other classics.
Super Mario Sunshine
Nintendo GameCube
This sequel to Super Mario 64 had Mario trading in his acrobatic attacks for the various water spraying abilities of the FLUDD, which led to many changes in the expected mechanics of a 3D Mario adventure. While Super Mario Sunshine could have easily just used its predecessor's engine and be named Super Mario 64-2 (Square-Enix please take note), Nintendo took the smart route and made this title unique, ingenious, and vastly different. And that's why it's on our list of the 10 Best Mario Games Ever.
Nintendo GameCube
This sequel to Super Mario 64 had Mario trading in his acrobatic attacks for the various water spraying abilities of the FLUDD, which led to many changes in the expected mechanics of a 3D Mario adventure. While Super Mario Sunshine could have easily just used its predecessor's engine and be named Super Mario 64-2 (Square-Enix please take note), Nintendo took the smart route and made this title unique, ingenious, and vastly different. And that's why it's on our list of the 10 Best Mario Games Ever.
Super Mario Galaxy 2
Nintendo Wii
The first Galaxy title was breathtaking and amazing, but Mario's second journey into space perfected the gameplay of its predecessor and ironed out the few kinks that it had.
Nintendo Wii
The first Galaxy title was breathtaking and amazing, but Mario's second journey into space perfected the gameplay of its predecessor and ironed out the few kinks that it had.
Super Mario 64
Nintendo 64
The first game to perfect three dimensional platforming, Super Mario 64 set the standard for controllable camera angles. From its dynamic camera system (which most third person titles use to this day), huge levels, variety of gameplay and superb analog control, Super Mario 64 is one of the most revolutionary titles ever made.
Nintendo 64
The first game to perfect three dimensional platforming, Super Mario 64 set the standard for controllable camera angles. From its dynamic camera system (which most third person titles use to this day), huge levels, variety of gameplay and superb analog control, Super Mario 64 is one of the most revolutionary titles ever made.
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
SNES
Along with Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy 6, Squaresoft cemented themselves as the highest echelon of RPG quality when they made Super Mario RPG. After 17 years, we are still yearning for a true sequel to one of the greatest role-playing games ever made.
SNES
Along with Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy 6, Squaresoft cemented themselves as the highest echelon of RPG quality when they made Super Mario RPG. After 17 years, we are still yearning for a true sequel to one of the greatest role-playing games ever made.
Super Mario World
SNES
The SNES' premier title not only broke our expectations for the platforming quality already associated with the Mario series, it shocked us with the performance capabilities of Nintendo's newest system. Anyone that was raised on the NES was left in awe when they saw Super Mario World for the first time. Dinosaur Land was beautiful, its levels were varied, Mario's cape-flying left us grinning wide and we all met Yoshi. Without a doubt, Super Mario World is one of the 10 Best Mario Games Ever in our favorite plumber's impressive library.
SNES
The SNES' premier title not only broke our expectations for the platforming quality already associated with the Mario series, it shocked us with the performance capabilities of Nintendo's newest system. Anyone that was raised on the NES was left in awe when they saw Super Mario World for the first time. Dinosaur Land was beautiful, its levels were varied, Mario's cape-flying left us grinning wide and we all met Yoshi. Without a doubt, Super Mario World is one of the 10 Best Mario Games Ever in our favorite plumber's impressive library.
