As we all eagerly await the announcement of Nintendo’s next console, looking back may provide clues as to what games we might see in the coming years. The go-to multiplayer staples of Mario Party, Kart and Sports are the obvious bets for which series could make a return, with consistent releases from all three showing up on every home console since the Nintendo 64 (and even earlier if we’re talking Super Mario Kart on the SNES). There is, however, another genre of Mario games beginning on that same console, one that, with each subsequent release, garners widespread critical acclaim. I’m of course talking about the 3D Super Mario titles.
Now just because each 3D title is considered great doesn’t mean they’re all created equal, and today I’ll be trying my hardest to throw aside personal feelings, nostalgia, and the fact that I often cite Super Mario Galaxy as my favourite game ever, to rank the series critically. Do they get better with each release, or have they been unable to live up to 64’s monumental impact on 3D gaming? We may be able to gauge what to expect from the next title, or even just further appreciate what makes each game stand out.
Some ground rules. Only 3D platformers for Home Consoles in which Mario is the main character are on this list, of which there are, in my view, only seven. So no side-scrolling titles, no Super Mario 3D Land, and no games where a Mario-adjacent character serves as the protagonist, such as Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker (which is very good by the way) or Donkey Kong 64. This also goes without saying, but the conclusions I reach for this list are mine alone and I could understand anyone’s reasoning for having any of these fantastic games be at the number one spot. I may even change my mind one day, but I’ll try to be as decisive as I possibly can! Let’s-a-go!
Super Mario Sunshine
2001, Nintendo GameCube
This one may be controversial. I think Sunshine has many qualities that make it a great game, and definitely one of the most unique platformers, Mario or otherwise. That being said, it does suffer from numerous problems that when compared to the almost flawless games higher up in this list, make it the only game possible for this spot.
While I love Delfino Isle’s setting, along with the native Pinatas, the lack of variation and quality in its levels compared to its predecessor Super Mario 64, can be felt heavily. While some stick out as highlights like Pina Park, others I’d be hard-pressed to defend, Pinata Village coming to mind.
Sunshine’s most unique and memorable feature can also feel like its biggest flaw, with F.L.U.D.D’s addition making Mario’s movements feel not quite as satisfying as they should be. When you have levels that demand tight platforming, the controls need to be equally as tight, and while most of the time levels feel sparser to complement this, other times it can become tedious, even frustrating. Don’t even get me started on the Chucksters.
Bowsers Fury
2021, Nintendo Switch
The unexpected announcement of Bowser’s Fury, alongside its short playtime might fool some into considering it a tech demo, but for what it packs into its playtime, it genuinely holds its own and stands close to the more prominent games in the series.
Found on the same Switch cartridge as the re-release of 3D World, Fury’s core is mechanically derived from the game it came bundled with, however, its experimental design made even the sub-ten-hour playthrough a memorable one. Unique aspects include a single open stage with sub-levels that house their own objectives, Bowser Jr. tagging along, and of course, the goliath that is Fury Bowser.
While I can imagine Bowser’s sudden, colossal appearances becoming obnoxious in a longer game, the times he does darken the skies are a great change of atmosphere from the otherwise serene, cat-centric Lake Lapcat. Reusing elements like Plessie the dinosaur for exploration, and the Cat Suit to wage epic Kaiju-style battles against the titular menace, are unexpected and great uses of 3D World’s assets. It feels like the perfect accompaniment to the Wii U title and convinced a lot of people to pick up the dual release. Speaking of…
Super Mario 3D World
2013, Nintendo Wii U
I think when this game came out, not many people gave it the love it deserved. Not only because nobody actually owned a Wii U, but because it was a bit of a strange concept to see. A sequel to a 3DS game that had linear 2D-reminiscent levels and co-op gameplay didn’t sound as exciting as the last two Galaxy titles. However now that the game has had time to settle on the Nintendo Switch, I think people are discovering just how polished and fantastic it is.
Following a traditional world-map format as opposed to the usual hub-world of a 3D title, the game boasts over a hundred levels, many of which are some of the best-designed levels in any Mario game I’ve ever played. With an increased dimension and an array of new and returning powerups like the now iconic Cat Bell, the often repetitive levels of a 2D Mario game never seem to rear their head, which is rather remarkable given the huge selection on offer.
It borrowed many elements from its predecessors but also introduced many things that would show up again in Odyssey. Even the bonus Captain Toad levels are so good that they went and made an entire game out of them. It oozes creativity and has ample opportunity for replayability with multiple characters to choose from, and after you finish the game, they dish out four more bonus worlds. It’s the gift that keeps on giving, and most importantly, Bowser gets a pimp-mobile.
Super Mario Galaxy 2
2010, Nintendo Wii
The fact that Galaxy 2 is ranked fourth should tell you just how high a standard this series has set for itself. The only direct sequel on this list had the cosmic task of following up Galaxy, which in my opinion is the best game to release on the Wii. The fact that people often debate whether this game or the first is better should tell you how well they did.
Building upon what made Galaxy so incredible, 2 throws a lot of new ideas into the mix, with some of the most unique power-ups and levels we’ve seen. The Cloud-Flower and Rock-Shroom would be retooled for Super Mario Wonder years later, and the re-introduction of Yoshi worked amazingly, with his own power-ups that make him light up dark areas, spew flames or even balloon up into the air.
For most people, it’s personal preference, but I’ve got a few reasons for ranking the sequel lower on the list. While I think Lubba and Starship Mario are fantastic in their own right, it’s almost unfair that they’re competing with Galaxy’s Comet Observatory as a hub world. The increased difficulty is also apparent as the Cosmic Guide option presents itself, and I have to wonder if they put that in to compensate for a fault in accessibility, not that I don’t appreciate more challenging levels. I think I also find the individual Galaxies of the first game a lot more memorable. All that being said, the game is damn-close to matching the original in quality, plus it has The Chimp, the most beloved video game character of the past 25 years.
Super Mario Galaxy
2007, Nintendo Wii
It causes me great mental anguish to rank my favourite Mario game only third in this list, I could genuinely go on about it for hours. As mentioned prior, Mario’s first space outing is closely matched by its sequel, but when I think about the two games, it’s always Rosalina, The Observatory, as well as the beautiful yet sombre way it reflects the setting, which is mostly due to its immaculate orchestral score. Seriously, Koji Kondo and Mahito Yokota will never get enough praise.
The Wii Remote and Nunchuck somehow don’t manage to hold this game back when it comes to platforming ability. The lighter gravity allows you to long-jump further than ever before. Movements like spin-jumping feel satisfying with every flick of the remote and using the pointer to collect star-bits to then shoot them back out at enemies or into a hungry Luma’s mouth feels perfect for the system’s unique controllers. The gameplay is expansive yet ridiculously easy to utilise for a first-time player, which isn’t always the case for 3D platformers.
Floating through Gusty Garden Galaxy, spinning rocks into Bouldergeist, and gliding along sling-stars to the hauntingly melancholic tune of Space Junk Galaxy, are all gaming moments that will stay with me forever and I’m so, so glad I grew up playing through this wonderous title. No joke for the end of this one, I love it too much.
Super Mario Odyssey
2017, Nintendo Switch
Before the number of other games that now make the Nintendo Switch a no-brainer console to own, this was the sole reason I wanted it. I’d already played Breath of the Wild on the Wii U (then later rebought it on Switch because come on, it’s that good), so I was worried that just Odyssey might not be reason enough to buy an entire console, but that worry was put to bed soon after I’d started playing.
Super Mario Odyssey is a stupidly good game. Games shouldn’t reach this height. It’s the sort of experience that makes you realise just how much AAA studios can and have been phoning it in in the modern age of gaming. I still think of this game as one of the best recent releases and it’s been over seven years since it came out. The way it encourages you to explore its sprawling open-ended environments, collecting Power Moons left and right, never stopping to take you out of the level like with previous titles. It’s endlessly enjoyable, and highly replayable thanks to just how much content is packed in.
You’re encouraged to utilise every option of movement to reach almost impossible areas of the map, as when you think you’ve cheated the game to get on top of a high ledge, you’re rewarded with a purposefully placed stack of coins. When I play any other Mario title now, I miss being able to cap-bounce, it’s that good of an upgrade. I haven’t even mentioned the fifty-plus captures you find through the journey, and I don’t even need to. It feels like the absolute top of what Nintendo can achieve, but I’m sure when the #1 Entry came out, people thought the exact same thing.
Super Mario 64
1996, Nintendo 64
If you think about it, there’s no way that Super Mario 64 could have been anywhere else on this list. The grandfather of the 3D platformer is not only the reason we have every other game on this list but can also be examined as a key turning point in the video game world as a whole. As a launch title for the 64, it further solidified Nintendo as a powerhouse of home consoles, and while not the first 3D platformer, it was arguably the first massive success and in turn influenced and paved the way for the next twenty years of 3D gaming.
A controllable camera, full degree of movement, and precise controls meant that as the industry moved forward into the modern era, 64 never got left behind. It’s still extremely enjoyable for people who grew up with it or those experiencing it on the Switch for the first time, and the dedicated speedrunning community is still very much active. The game debuted many of the series staples, with not just movement options like ground-pounding, triple-jumping and long-jumping, but also popularising ‘Peach’, as the western name for Princess Toadstool, and of course, being Charles Martinet’s first vocal performance as the titular plumber.
Sure, Galaxy and Odyssey may be more technically impressive, but the fact that this nearly thirty-year-old game is just as engaging to play is a testament to just how impactful and revolutionary its release was. I’d love to give Galaxy the cake, but there’s only one game where in the very end, Mario himself takes it, and that’s 64.
If there’s something to learn from this ranking, it’s not that nothing will ever compare to 64, it’s that the bar for these games is so ridiculously high, yet, as it reinvents and improves itself over time, it always manages to at least come close to the highest highs. We had no clue Odyssey would be what it was, and no one expected 3D World’s return to more formulaic design, not to mention the left-field release of Bowser’s Fury. I believe that not only should we expect the unexpected but we should trust that, based on the last thirty years, the next 3D title will be a damn good one.
