A ranked rundown of the entries that defined the series — and where to read more about each one.
With dozens of entries across nearly four decades, ranking Super Mario games always sparks debate. Here's a rundown of the games most consistently cited as the series' best, with links to full guides for each.
The original side-scroller set the template for the entire platforming genre and remains the most recognizable entry in the series. It's also the format recreated in the free browser game on this site.
Widely considered one of the best SNES games ever made, thanks to tight level design, Yoshi's debut, and secret exits that rewarded exploration. Read the full Super Mario World guide.
The game that proved 3D platforming could work, with open-ended level design that influenced nearly every 3D platformer that followed. See the Super Mario 64 guide.
Reinvented 3D Mario around gravity-bending planetoids, combining tight platforming with genuinely inventive level concepts. Full details in the Super Mario Galaxy guide.
The Cappy capture mechanic let players control enemies and objects directly, opening up some of the most creative puzzle and platforming design in the series. Read the Super Mario Odyssey guide.
It varies by preference, but Super Mario Bros., Super Mario World, Super Mario 64, Super Mario Galaxy, and Super Mario Odyssey are the entries most consistently cited among the series' best.
This site hosts a free browser-based recreation in the style of the original Super Mario Bros.
Difficulty varies by game and by playstyle rather than by dimension — some 3D entries are more exploration-focused, while classic 2D entries lean more on precise platforming.
Try the free browser version of the game that started the whole series.
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