All Super Mario Games in Order of Release🎮 List of Mario Games

Super Mario Series

Number of games: 28

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What is the Super Mario series about?

The Super Mario series is a long-running platforming series developed by Nintendo, starring their beloved mascot, Mario. Over the decades, the series has expanded far beyond its 2D roots, venturing into 3D worlds, sports, RPGs, and even full-blown open-world-style platforming.

At its core, the Super Mario game franchise centers around Mario’s quest to save Princess Peach from Bowser and other villains, usually in fantastical lands filled with coins, power-ups, and challenging levels. While storylines are often light, each entry offers memorable worlds, clever design, and timeless gameplay.

When did the Super Mario games begin?

The original Super Mario Bros. was released in 1985 for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), though Mario technically debuted earlier in Donkey Kong (1981). Since then, the Super Mario game series has become one of the most successful and influential franchises in gaming history, helping define entire generations of platformers.

How many Super Mario games are there?

While there are countless Mario spin-offs and side games, the mainline platforming titles form the core of the Super Mario game series. Here's a breakdown of the main games in the game series in order of release:

Super Mario Bros. (1985 – NES)
Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels (1986 – Japan only, originally)
Super Mario Bros. 2 (1988 – USA version)
Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988)
Super Mario World (1990 – SNES)
Super Mario 64 (1996 – Nintendo 64)
Super Mario Sunshine (2002 – GameCube)
Super Mario Galaxy (2007 – Wii)
Super Mario Galaxy 2 (2010 – Wii)
Super Mario 3D Land (2011 – 3DS)
Super Mario 3D World (2013 – Wii U / 2021 Switch re-release)
Super Mario Odyssey (2017 – Nintendo Switch)

Additionally, the New Super Mario Bros. sub-series includes:

New Super Mario Bros. (2006 – DS)
New Super Mario Bros. Wii (2009)
New Super Mario Bros. 2 (2012 – 3DS)
New Super Mario Bros. U / Deluxe (2012/2019)

There are also many spinoff Mario games on Switch:

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (2017)
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle (2017)
Mario Tennis Aces (2018)
Super Mario Party (2018)
Super Mario Maker 2 (2019)
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 (2019)
Paper Mario: The Origami King (2020)
Mario Golf: Super Rush (2021)
Mario Party Superstars (2021)
Mario Strikers: Battle Legue (2022)
MARIO + RABBIDS SPARKS OF HOPE (2022)
Super Mario RPG (2023)
Mario vs. Donkey Kong (2024)
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (2024)
Super Mario Party Jamboree (2024)

What’s the best order to play Super Mario games?

Because most titles are standalone stories, there's no strict Super Mario timeline to follow. However, if you want to experience the evolution of mechanics and level design, it’s fun to play in order, either by release date or platform era. Thanks to a Nintendo Switch Online subscription, you can enjoy all retro games on the Switch.

Suggested chronological Super Mario game series:
2D Era:

Super Mario Bros.
The Lost Levels
Super Mario Bros. 2 (USA)
Super Mario Bros. 3
Super Mario World
New Super Mario Bros. series
Super Mario Maker series (player-created stages)

3D Era:

Super Mario 64
Super Mario Sunshine
Super Mario Galaxy
Super Mario Galaxy 2
Super Mario 3D Land
Super Mario 3D World
Super Mario Odyssey

While there’s no canonical storyline that ties them all together tightly, some fans enjoy interpreting connections (especially between Galaxy and Odyssey), and Nintendo often nods to past entries with Easter eggs and returning characters.

The best Super Mario games

Most fans disagree about the best Mario game; each instalment is fantastic in its way, but here are some of the top that you can play.

Super Mario World (SNES) introduced Yoshi and a huge overworld map.
Super Mario 64 (N64) redefined 3D gameplay.
Super Mario Galaxy (Wii) brought gravity-based puzzles and stunning level design.
Super Mario Odyssey (Switch) delivered open exploration and creative freedom.
New Super Mario Bros. titles and 3D World are also widely loved for co-op and accessibility.

Who are the most iconic Super Mario characters?

Beyond Mario himself, the franchise features a huge cast of unforgettable characters:

Luigi – Mario’s loyal (and jumpier) brother
Princess Peach – The frequent damsel-in-distress and occasional hero
Bowser – King of the Koopas and the franchise’s main villain
Yoshi – A fan-favorite dino companion
Toad, Daisy, Rosalina, Donkey Kong, and Wario all contribute to the colorful world and spin-off titles

The charm and personality of these characters are a big part of what’s kept the series beloved for nearly 40 years.

What are the upcoming Super Mario games?

After the huge success of Super Mario Odyssey, fans are eagerly awaiting the next Super Mario game. As of March 2025, Nintendo hasn’t officially confirmed Odyssey 2 or a new mainline entry yet, but there are strong rumors that a new Super Mario title is in the works for the Switch's successor console.

In the meantime, Super Mario Bros. Wonder (2023) brought a fresh take on 2D Mario with new powers, animations, and multiplayer mechanics, proving that the Super Mario game series still has plenty of new ideas to explore. If you want to get all the latest announcements, you can go to our Switch news section and stay up to date.