From 8-Bit to 3D: The Top 5 Mario Games in History

The Top Five Mario Games

Photo by Alex de Koning on Unsplash

There has been a wide variety of games starring everyone’s favorite plumber, Super Mario. These include a number of the classic platform games, as well as other titles including Mario sports games, Mario RPG, and Paper Mario. From the 1980s up to the present day, the best of these Mario game titles are some of the finest game titles on any console format. Here are the top five Mario games.

Five: Super Mario Bros

The original Super Mario Bros should really be included in the top five, as it was one of the first Mario game titles that laid the foundation for those that followed. Super Mario Bros was released in the early 1980s, along with the NES game console, and provided a new momentum for console games. The game soon set new records for console games, and so Super Mario Bros was perhaps the finest game title of its decade. As such, it is considered to be one of the finest game titles.

Four: Super Mario Kart

The original Super Mario Kart on the Super NES was perhaps the finest of the Mario Kart series. It may have lacked some of the 3D effects of more recent Mario Kart games, but this game title changed racing games. No longer did they have to be more realistic Formula One simulations, as Mario Kart introduced a range of arsenals and weaponry that could be fired at karts that were further ahead in the race. Alternatively, in battle-mode arenas. Further Mario Kart games have since refined the first game, but none have eclipsed it.

Three: Super Mario World

Super Mario World was perhaps the finest 2D Mario platform game on the Super NES. This Mario game was the first to include Yoshi the dinosaur, who could spit out shells and fire. As in Super Mario Bros 3, Mario could also fly, but this time he had a cape, which made the flying that much faster. This game was also the first Mario platform game where levels did not have to be played through in an exact order, or indeed not all levels had to be played at all to finish the game, as map shortcuts provided alternative routes. As such, Mario World was a classic Mario game title.

[embed]

Source: YouTube video by ShiryuGL

Two: Mario Galaxy

It’s difficult to select either Mario Galaxy or Mario Galaxy 2 ahead of the other, as both were great Mario game titles. They are the most recent additions to the Mario game series, and Mario Galaxy has become the must-have game title on the Nintendo Wii. Undoubtedly, one of the best 3D Mario game titles, Mario takes to space in a Mario game with enhanced gravity effects and many new power-ups. Overall, Mario Galaxy has won a number of awards, including a BAFTA for Best Game.

[embed]

Source: YouTube video by Nintendo of America

One: Mario 64

However, Mario 64 remains the top Mario game. This is largely because it was the first 3D Mario platform game, and one of the first generally, that revolutionized platform games. As such, this game ensured a new era for the Mario game franchise and was a masterpiece of game design. Given this, it was a more influential Mario game title than Mario Galaxy.

[embed]

Source: YouTube video by BlueMarioKid64

These are the top five Mario game titles. They are five of Nintendo’s finest game titles on their various game consoles, and indeed on any other console such as PlayStation and Xbox.

Read more of my video game articles on Medium:

Three of the Best Namco Games in History

Remembering the Atari Lynx

Remembering the Top Classic Action Games for Xbox

The Legacy of Sega in the Video Games Industry

The Best Mario Spin-Off Games in History