One of the very biggest franchises in all of gaming finally gets its turn, shooting out your pipe comes...
Mainline Entry 01 - Mario Bros.
Formats: Arcade and others
The title in which Mario first truly stepped forward into the spotlight and one of gamings most enduring legends was born. The single screen title also saw the genesis of Luigi and had the brothers working to flip enemies and send them off screen, lasting as long as possible. The games success once it hit home consoles paved the way for a follow up, one that presumably would add new enemies and screens, right?
Mainline Entry 02 - Super Mario Bros.
Formats: NES and others
There will always be those who think this was the beginning, the legendary first Super Mario title that came out on Nintendo's 8 bit platform and officially made the plumber a household name. The series step into the world of scrolling platformer began here as Mario set out across multiple worlds to rescue Princess Peach from the grasp of Bowser. Intended to signal the end of cartridge NES games the game ended up delivering an experience considered to be one of the best games ever made. As a result the race was on to follow up on this success, a push that would lead to two very different outcomes.
Mainline Entry 03 - Super Mario Bros. The Lost Levels
Formats: NES and others
Mainline Entry 04 - Super Mario Bros. 2
Formats: NES and others
A true sequel adding new power ups arrived but the US deemed it too hard for western gamers so Doki Doki Panic was retrofitted to become a sequel also, the world being given two very different Mario sequels. Lost Levels remains probably too restrained a sequel, very much one in the traditional sense whereas the western sequel remains a distinct entry that was very much a gamble that could have gone very wrong for the series. Carefully retooled and letting players take on the role of one of four characters as they take on Wart, the game proved a big success and eventually made its way to Japanese audiences also.
Mainline Entry 05 - Super Mario Bros. 3
Formats: NES and others
Nintendo came back in 1990 with the closing entry of the NES Mario series, a game that took everything they'd learnt from the past entries and dialled them up into a template that would define many of the subsequent games. Once again facing Bowser and trekking across multiple worlds, the third game introduced numerous level themes and enemies that became series staples and took the critical success of the original game to a new level.
Spin Off Entry 01 - Super Mario Land
Formats: Game Boy and others
Aiming to be a push for the new handheld, the Mario experience was condensed down for the tiny monochrome screen in this entry that once again saw Mario set off across different worlds but this time included one or two other distractions such as shooter sections. The visual style of the main games was lost to a fair degree making this game seem pretty distinct from its bigger cousins and the small size of characters drew some concerns but the game was an immense hit and set Mario up on a second platform.
Mainline Entry 06 - Super Mario World
Formats: SNES and others
Arriving at the launch of the new 16 bit system, Mario World was an extension of the work delivered in Mario 3 and presented a fairly simple visual style but with a new rideable sidekick, Mode 7 effects and branching exits. Yoshi brought his own powers to the mix depending on the type of koopa shell he ate and the added power of the new system meant levels could feature more on screen obstacles. The result was once again a critical hit and one of the systems highest selling games.
Spin Off Entry 02 - Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins
Formats: Game Boy and others
Following up on the original handheld entry, the sequel was a visual quantum leap beyond what players had last time. Reproducing the visuals of the home entries much more strongly this entry was a much more similar experience to play and had its own power ups as well as the introduction of Wario.
Mainline Entry 07 - Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Formats: SNES and others
Utilising the Super FX2 chip, the new game brought a lot of changes to the formula to make itself distinct from the last game but also visually distinct from the prerendered look Miyamoto didn't like. Controlling Yoshi, players set out to rescue Baby Luigi in this series prequel that would go on to spawn a run of tie in games. Whilst not anywhere near the highest selling entry thanks to how late it arrived on the system, the game was instantly beloved and has been rereleased repeatedly since.
Mainline Entry 08 - Super Mario 64
Formats: Nintendo 64 and others
Nintendo's next entry would blow the doors off the minds of many gamers. Mario and many gamers took their first true steps into 3D with this game changer of an title. The new dependency on 360 movement led to a lot experimenting with exploration and Mario's moveset, the plumber now able to do everything from clinging on to roof rails to swinging Bowser into distant bombs. The game was a revolutionary experience and was a defining moment in the minds of many.
Mainline Entry 09 - Super Mario Sunshine
Formats: Gamecube
As the follow up the N64 classic, Sunshine carried a lot of expectation and for some it failed to meet that bar. Whilst a successful and widely enjoyed entry, the game drew criticism for its rough textures and more skittish movement as well as a clumsy camera and fiddly FLUDD system. FLUDD proved to be a mixed addition, the water canon leading to as much joy as it did frustration. The game sold well but never met Nintendo's expectations and remains system locked.
Spin Off Entry 03 - New Super Mario Bros.
Formats:Nintendo DS
Nintendo came back around to a platforming based spin-off with the DS title that aimed to recreate something closer to the NES entries approach to the series. The game was an immense success for the handheld selling tens of millions of copies and it launched the New approach into its own sideline series.
Mainline Entry 10 - Super Mario Galaxy
Formats: Nintendo Wii, Nintendo WiiU and Nvidia Shield
Coming back from Sunshine, Nintendo reworked their approach to the series for this new game. Facing similar hardware to its predecessor, they came with a new visual approach too and delivered a game that truly made the system sing. Travelling through galaxies to once again save Peach, the concept of the scenario allowed Nintendo to build upon Sunshine's most positively received sections - the void levels. Any type of platforming set up could be introduced in a way that always made sense and the result was a creative mixture through a high production value adventure. With its soaring orchestral soundtrack and return to the familiar tight controls players loved, the series was once again back into critical acclaim territory.
Spin Off Entry 04 - New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Formats: Nintendo Wii
Mainline Entry 11 - Super Mario Galaxy 2
Formats: Nintendo Wii and Nintendo WiiU
For some it was a positive, for others less so, but the direct follow up to Galaxy brought largely more of the same but pulled back on the production values and hub to bring back a world map approach to the series. The game was also notable for the introduction of the now common Super Guide system, aimed to help players who struggled as Galaxy 2 was pitched as a harder game than the first. Like the previous game, Galaxy 2 enjoyed as much acclaim.
Spin Off Entry 05 - Super Mario 3D Land
Formats:Nintendo 3DS
Spin Off Entry 06 - New Super Mario Bros. 2
Formats: Nintendo 3DS
Spin Off Entry 07 - New Super Mario Bros. U
Formats: Nintendo WiiU
Mainline Entry 12 - Super Mario 3D World
Formats: Nintendo WiiU
Inspired by the 3DS entry, Nintendo brought the top down view to WiiU with this next entry into the Mario series. The results proved somewhat mixed, whilst the game was critically well received and a strong performer there were complaints that it represented something of a downsizing in scale for the series coming off the Galaxy games and that led to some disappointment for some. Also, being tied to the heavily underperforming WiiU, the games impact on the series legacy has been very limited.
Mainline Entry 13 - Super Mario Odyssey
Formats:Nintendo Switch
The current, newest entry saw the return of a more Mario 64 style mindset for the series with a greater reliance on closer to real life elements. The possessing abilities of Mario's cap proved to be Nintendo's way of mixing things up for this entry as Mario set through each world, focusing on exploration to find and capture Power Moons.
Share your memories of the series and thoughts on why Super Mario Galaxy is the best entry!
Mainline Entry 01 - Mario Bros.
Formats: Arcade and others
The title in which Mario first truly stepped forward into the spotlight and one of gamings most enduring legends was born. The single screen title also saw the genesis of Luigi and had the brothers working to flip enemies and send them off screen, lasting as long as possible. The games success once it hit home consoles paved the way for a follow up, one that presumably would add new enemies and screens, right?
Mainline Entry 02 - Super Mario Bros.
Formats: NES and others
There will always be those who think this was the beginning, the legendary first Super Mario title that came out on Nintendo's 8 bit platform and officially made the plumber a household name. The series step into the world of scrolling platformer began here as Mario set out across multiple worlds to rescue Princess Peach from the grasp of Bowser. Intended to signal the end of cartridge NES games the game ended up delivering an experience considered to be one of the best games ever made. As a result the race was on to follow up on this success, a push that would lead to two very different outcomes.
Mainline Entry 03 - Super Mario Bros. The Lost Levels
Formats: NES and others
Mainline Entry 04 - Super Mario Bros. 2
Formats: NES and others
A true sequel adding new power ups arrived but the US deemed it too hard for western gamers so Doki Doki Panic was retrofitted to become a sequel also, the world being given two very different Mario sequels. Lost Levels remains probably too restrained a sequel, very much one in the traditional sense whereas the western sequel remains a distinct entry that was very much a gamble that could have gone very wrong for the series. Carefully retooled and letting players take on the role of one of four characters as they take on Wart, the game proved a big success and eventually made its way to Japanese audiences also.
Mainline Entry 05 - Super Mario Bros. 3
Formats: NES and others
Nintendo came back in 1990 with the closing entry of the NES Mario series, a game that took everything they'd learnt from the past entries and dialled them up into a template that would define many of the subsequent games. Once again facing Bowser and trekking across multiple worlds, the third game introduced numerous level themes and enemies that became series staples and took the critical success of the original game to a new level.
Spin Off Entry 01 - Super Mario Land
Formats: Game Boy and others
Aiming to be a push for the new handheld, the Mario experience was condensed down for the tiny monochrome screen in this entry that once again saw Mario set off across different worlds but this time included one or two other distractions such as shooter sections. The visual style of the main games was lost to a fair degree making this game seem pretty distinct from its bigger cousins and the small size of characters drew some concerns but the game was an immense hit and set Mario up on a second platform.
Mainline Entry 06 - Super Mario World
Formats: SNES and others
Arriving at the launch of the new 16 bit system, Mario World was an extension of the work delivered in Mario 3 and presented a fairly simple visual style but with a new rideable sidekick, Mode 7 effects and branching exits. Yoshi brought his own powers to the mix depending on the type of koopa shell he ate and the added power of the new system meant levels could feature more on screen obstacles. The result was once again a critical hit and one of the systems highest selling games.
Spin Off Entry 02 - Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins
Formats: Game Boy and others
Following up on the original handheld entry, the sequel was a visual quantum leap beyond what players had last time. Reproducing the visuals of the home entries much more strongly this entry was a much more similar experience to play and had its own power ups as well as the introduction of Wario.
Mainline Entry 07 - Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Formats: SNES and others
Utilising the Super FX2 chip, the new game brought a lot of changes to the formula to make itself distinct from the last game but also visually distinct from the prerendered look Miyamoto didn't like. Controlling Yoshi, players set out to rescue Baby Luigi in this series prequel that would go on to spawn a run of tie in games. Whilst not anywhere near the highest selling entry thanks to how late it arrived on the system, the game was instantly beloved and has been rereleased repeatedly since.
Mainline Entry 08 - Super Mario 64
Formats: Nintendo 64 and others
Nintendo's next entry would blow the doors off the minds of many gamers. Mario and many gamers took their first true steps into 3D with this game changer of an title. The new dependency on 360 movement led to a lot experimenting with exploration and Mario's moveset, the plumber now able to do everything from clinging on to roof rails to swinging Bowser into distant bombs. The game was a revolutionary experience and was a defining moment in the minds of many.
Mainline Entry 09 - Super Mario Sunshine
Formats: Gamecube
As the follow up the N64 classic, Sunshine carried a lot of expectation and for some it failed to meet that bar. Whilst a successful and widely enjoyed entry, the game drew criticism for its rough textures and more skittish movement as well as a clumsy camera and fiddly FLUDD system. FLUDD proved to be a mixed addition, the water canon leading to as much joy as it did frustration. The game sold well but never met Nintendo's expectations and remains system locked.
Spin Off Entry 03 - New Super Mario Bros.
Formats:Nintendo DS
Nintendo came back around to a platforming based spin-off with the DS title that aimed to recreate something closer to the NES entries approach to the series. The game was an immense success for the handheld selling tens of millions of copies and it launched the New approach into its own sideline series.
Mainline Entry 10 - Super Mario Galaxy
Formats: Nintendo Wii, Nintendo WiiU and Nvidia Shield
Coming back from Sunshine, Nintendo reworked their approach to the series for this new game. Facing similar hardware to its predecessor, they came with a new visual approach too and delivered a game that truly made the system sing. Travelling through galaxies to once again save Peach, the concept of the scenario allowed Nintendo to build upon Sunshine's most positively received sections - the void levels. Any type of platforming set up could be introduced in a way that always made sense and the result was a creative mixture through a high production value adventure. With its soaring orchestral soundtrack and return to the familiar tight controls players loved, the series was once again back into critical acclaim territory.
Spin Off Entry 04 - New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Formats: Nintendo Wii
Mainline Entry 11 - Super Mario Galaxy 2
Formats: Nintendo Wii and Nintendo WiiU
For some it was a positive, for others less so, but the direct follow up to Galaxy brought largely more of the same but pulled back on the production values and hub to bring back a world map approach to the series. The game was also notable for the introduction of the now common Super Guide system, aimed to help players who struggled as Galaxy 2 was pitched as a harder game than the first. Like the previous game, Galaxy 2 enjoyed as much acclaim.
Spin Off Entry 05 - Super Mario 3D Land
Formats:Nintendo 3DS
Spin Off Entry 06 - New Super Mario Bros. 2
Formats: Nintendo 3DS
Spin Off Entry 07 - New Super Mario Bros. U
Formats: Nintendo WiiU
Mainline Entry 12 - Super Mario 3D World
Formats: Nintendo WiiU
Inspired by the 3DS entry, Nintendo brought the top down view to WiiU with this next entry into the Mario series. The results proved somewhat mixed, whilst the game was critically well received and a strong performer there were complaints that it represented something of a downsizing in scale for the series coming off the Galaxy games and that led to some disappointment for some. Also, being tied to the heavily underperforming WiiU, the games impact on the series legacy has been very limited.
Mainline Entry 13 - Super Mario Odyssey
Formats:Nintendo Switch
The current, newest entry saw the return of a more Mario 64 style mindset for the series with a greater reliance on closer to real life elements. The possessing abilities of Mario's cap proved to be Nintendo's way of mixing things up for this entry as Mario set through each world, focusing on exploration to find and capture Power Moons.
Share your memories of the series and thoughts on why Super Mario Galaxy is the best entry!
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