Top Ten Best Mainstream Mario Games

Hands down the best mario platformer of all time. The best in the main series. It's such a unique and creative video game that is so nostalgic. The only big flaw is that once you complete it, it lacks replay-value unfortuanely and can only be enjoyed the first time really.

I'm so happy it's number 1! It's my second favorite game of all time. I would say way more, but I'll make a subjective list of the subject very soon so I don't want to make the effort writing all of this twice.

Amazing game. I think it's the best Mario game. I know people usually think I'm saying this just because it's the newest 3D Mario game, but this game is actually amazing. I never really felt this way about 3D World.

You wont believe this but I am on nintendo switch right now

This is the game that shows the most nostalgia out of me. However, the levels, while more memorable than a lot of 2d games, isn't as creative as Land 2, 64 (especially DS), Galaxy 2, and especially Odyssey, and 3d World. However, it doesn't have a lot of flaws and have an amazing presentation (and at least galaxy 2 fixed his biggest issue).

I actually played the sequel before this, and because of this, I could see the many flaws that held this game back from beating the sequel. But this game's still fairly excellent I must say and it's one of the greatest mario games of all time.

Arguably one of the most interesting and innovative games in the series. Although the sequel still slightly beats it

The music in this game makes me cry.

It's quite overrated but I love it. It was the first main series mario title I ever saw on youtube which makes it a bit special for me but I can see the many flaws nevertheless

This game have a lot of flaws, but there is a lot of good things to compensate is more interesting than every 2d Mario games (except for land 2), even though it's more flawed than those games.

I love both Galaxy games but I mean this one easly is superior. Improved everything wrong with the original, and it's more colourful and the galaxies are even more interesting and fun. The music is the only thing this game did worse but it's still great. And yes the hub was much better in the original but those are the only things Galaxy did better. This is still the better game of the two.

Galaxy 2 is overall better than the first one. Fixed nearly everything wrong with the original only flaw is that the hub world sucks

I love that game. It shaped a little bit of my childhood and I still love it now. My second favorite Super Mario Game.

My opinion about Super Mario Bros 3 is the exact same as World, except I prefer World because of all the secret levels, the fact you can replay levels anytime, the slightly better level-design, and the save system.

Should be much higher in my opinion. Even though it's painfully hard.

It's not as good as World but it's just slightly worse

Why is the pic from the cartoon

My personal favourite 2D mario game. The graphics hold up even to this day, but that's not surprising considering the amazing graphics the SNES had after all. Music and levels are all memorable and while the boss battles are the koopalings, it's not a big deal. At least Bowser's fight is one of the best so this will stay here.

You know, people say the New Super Mario Bros games are too boring, and I have a similar opinion to them... except I ALSO find Super Mario World kind of boring. I mean it has good things, and that include things that aren't here in NSMB but those games have also unique things like star coins for example.

This is the Masterpiece before Mario 64 (why is that also not higher) and is really underrated

Not huge mario fan, but this game is just awesome! you need to play it!

I find this game to be both overrated and underrated. Overrated because people praise it for being unlinear even though it has a very linear progression. I mean to beat the main game you have to beat all the first seven shines of each world instead of requiring you to only collect a certain number of shine to give the optional shines a reason to be other than 100%, and more freedom. Underrated, because the blue coins and the optional shines are actually very fun for the most part, and if you don't like 100% just don't do it. Good game overall, especially with fludd.

Some may find it overrated, but I personally feel that this game is underrated. Sunshine has it's fair share of flaws and is FAR from a perfect game, but the way Mario controls, the atmosphere, the attempt at a story, the music, and F.L.U.D.D make this game MORE than worthing playing. Most Mario games are pretty familiar with their levels, but Super Mario Sunshine has it's own identity, and it's great. It gives you that warm, feeling of summer every time thanks to the beautiful graphics and water. I don't think I've seen prettier water in a video game. Not all the levels are great, but they're all super creative which is something the most recent Mario games like New Super Mario Bros U Deluxe certainly can't say. If you can look past the glitches and a few frustrating levels you got one of the best Mario games of all time.

I got this game quite recently, for my birthday last year in 2018. It wasn't as good as I had hoped but it's the most original mario platformer in my opinion. Loved all the worlds and settings, the story is a bit more original and the fludd is a blast. However the music isn't the best, and the controls and camera plain suck. However I still find it to be great personally

Yes I've now played this game a bit. Although not much. I got it for Easter in 2019 recently and I've started out this game and beat the intro and stuff and I really love it. However Dream Team seems better overall so far. But this game's just so original nevertheless and it might beat Dream Team when I beat this game.

This is NOT a mainstream Mario game. What is a mainstream Mario game you ask? A Mario PLATFORMING game released on a Nintendo console that takes place in the same universe as games like Super Mario 64 (I say this because of the Paper Mario games) so RPG games ARE NOT mainstream.

It's not a MAINSTREAM Mario game, it's a spinoff. I won't judge this game or any of the non mainsteam Mario on that list. I will do it on a list where you are talking about Mario and Luigi and Paper Mario.

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt on this one. It's not super mainstream, but I still hear plenty of people talk about it.

Unlike pretty much everyone else, I think Super Paper Mario is overall better, and not just slighty. I mean like MILES better. In fact I don't even think this game is as good as everyone says it is. However this game is still great in its own right. The story is amazing and very original and the battle system while not even that good is original as well. It will take the #8 spot on this list.

If there is another not mainstream Mario game on the list I will become crazy.

I've played all Mario & Luigi games excluding Partner's in Time, and I must say, this one's my favourite so far. This one's just so original and creative words cannot describe it. It's one of the top three mario games of all time as well honestly. All the worlds and the dream concept is just so original. Sorry BiS fans, but so far I like this one more.

I've played Partners in Time, and you gotta check it out too. It's a blast.

Still not a mainstream Mario game.

This is a spin-off

As you all might know this is, my favourite mario game of all time, and my personal second favourite video game of all time, close to beating my #1 favourite video game of all time. I feel quite lucky that I found a cheap copy of this game, as for Easter it's usually small gifts or maybe one sorta expensive one (unless you're lucky). The story and everything is just so well-done and original and it's one of, if not the scariest and creepiest mario games out there. So this one tops the list in my opinion.

Also not a mainstream Mario game, except at least it has element of the main series such as 2d plateforming and point system so I would understand if you think it's a mainstream Mario game.

This is also a spin-off

I have a high respect for that game it really didn't age that well, especially with the limited continue.

You know you've created a work of art if it's still fun over 35 years later.

A classic! Although the SNES version I love even more

Still not a mainstream Mario game.

My favorite game.

The first Mario & Luigi I ever played..., and by that I mean at the same time I played Dream Team and Paper Jam. But still it counts because I played this one first of these three. And it's not the best, but it has the most replay-value. Yeah for being an RPG game this one has a lot of it. The story is very cool too although somewhat cliché and it has tons of interesting plot-twists that aren't in the way but actually good. This one has the best bros. attacks as well easly.

Turns out there is another not mainstream Mario, and I'm still not crazy! It might not continue like this though...

This is not mainstream in the slightest. However, it's a great game.

Not mainstream

Not a main title. It also sucks.

This is a spin-off.

New Super Mario Bros, but better.

Easily the best game from the New Super Mario Bros franchise. It feels like it has its own identity. It's a shame that a lot of it's originality was lost due to it's by the books sequels. Anyway, the game is fairly short an simple, but not in a way that feels like the game is constantly holding your hand. Also, the mini games were a great little bonus.

To be honest it's kinda overrated due to how everyone acts as if it's the only good NSMB game, but I like it nevertheless

It's better than world and 3 because of star coins. Also the level-design is slightly better.

I loved this game. It's all the things a mainstream Mario game should be.

Everyone remembers this game because of that one level that looks like a painting and that's it. It leaves me feeling empty afterwords. You've already seen this game before, and plenty of times. Sure, it's good, but nothing special.

New Super Mario Bros Wii, but better.

Actually slightly original

Mario Kart is very mainstream, especially 64, DS, and Wii so okay. I think DS is better overall, but I still like this game quite a bit for what it brought to the franchise.

This is a spin-off get it off the list!

This is spin-off

Spinoff game

The main problem with 3d land is that it takes all the elements of a 2d Mario games, except unlike 3d World it also brought back the things that makes most of the 2d games not as good as most 3d games, and because of that, while it's better than 64, it's the most boring 3d Mario.

Spin-off game

If you're getting into Mario this is the game for you. It's easy and simple which is nice for those wanting. a guilty pleasure but not much else.

A lot of people hate that game, but it's pretty fun. I do admit it's a bit lazy though.

Most video game sequels tend to be pretty good. Super Mario Bros. 2 is pretty good, but it doesn't feel like a Mario game. That's because it technically isn't. It's a fine game, it works, it's fun, but it is no where NEAR as good as the original. Sure this game has a lot of new characters to play as, but it lacks the fun platforming action the series is known for, and doesn't really look like one either. Plus it's all a dream which is pretty lame.

Technically not a Mario Game, but I guess it counts more as a mainstream Mario than a lot of games on the list so I will talk about it. Well, it's decent. Better than the first one. I actually don't have a lot to say.