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[IbizaPocholo]

What are the best 2D Mario games? We rank every side-scrolling platformer in the Nintendo mascot's history.

Super Mario's 40-year history is a testament to all the different ways you can make a little guy run from left to right across a screen. Nintendo's line of 2D Mario platformers has gone through three distinct eras since 1985 – the original game revived the video game industry and, for a while, the series was a pioneer in side-scrolling platforming. After lying dormant for a few years, the series returned in the 2000s with the New Super Mario Bros. series, games that were steady and safe but soon turned stale. Thankfully, the triumphant age of the Switch brought with it Mario Wonder, where Nintendo reinvented what these games could be. Once again, side-scrolling Mario feels genuinely magical.

2D Mario games, when executed well, perfectly balance the limitations of Mario's moveset with building your confidence to make increasingly ambitious jumps. The very best 2D Mario games are those that can completely change your approach to platforming without trivialising the challenge. But the most important aspect of a Mario platformer is the process of dying and trying again – the strongest games perfect this loop, ensuring you develop lifelong muscle memory and, by that final flag, feel like a true platforming god.

With the original Super Mario Bros. game turning 40 this year, it's time to look back on which games nail those core tenets and which struggle to make it past the first goomba. Here's every 2D Super Mario Bros. game, ranked.

To save a click, the list:

13: SMB: The Lost Levels
12: New Super Mario Bros 2
11: Super Mario Land
10: New Super Luigi U
09: Super Mario Bros 2
08: New Super Mario Bros Wii
07: Super Mario Land 2
06: Super Mario Bros
05: New Super Mario Bros (3DS)
04: New Super Mario Bros U
03: Super Mario Bros 3
02: Super Mario Bros Wonder
01: Super Mario World

 

[RetroGamingUK]

You could put the top three of Mario Bros 3, Mario Wonder and Mario World in any order and I'd be happy.

 

[Halfkut]

Haven't watched the video yet but Mario 3 will always be my favorite

That shit was nuts when it came out. So many good memories

 

[kunonabi]

I mean there is no universe where SMB3 isn't the best 2D Mario so I can't imagine this being all that exciting a list aside from seeing how badly they overrate SMW.

 

[Dacvak]

You could put the top three of Mario Bros 3, Mario Wonder and Mario World in any order and I'd be happy.

I knew I liked you.

 

[paolo11]

I miss Super Mario World and Mario 3

 

[vaibhavpisal]

Super Mario Wonder sucks.

Wouldn't put it in top 10.

Nintendo needs to move away from that formula as far as possible.

 

[Guardian Monkey]

Super Mario Wonder sucks.

Wouldn't put it in top 10.

Nintendo needs to move away from that formula as far as possible.

Agreed, I can't stand good Mario games too! Nintendo really pulled one over on us by bringing out a new 2d Mario adventure a couple years ago. Bring on New Super Mario Bros remakes!

 

[Hudo]

It's really hard for me to choose a number one Mario game. It could be Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World or Galaxy, depending on my mood. There isn't really a bad Super Mario game. Even Odyssey, which I found "disappointing" is a good game, it's just me crying on a high level about it.

 

[March Climber]

To save a click, the list:

13: SMB: The Lost Levels
12: New Super Mario Bros 2
11: Super Mario Land
10: New Super Luigi U
09: Super Mario Bros 2
08: New Super Mario Bros Wii
07: Super Mario Land 2
06: Super Mario Bros
05: New Super Mario Bros (3DS)
04: New Super Mario Bros U
03: Super Mario Bros 3
02: Super Mario Bros Wonder
01: Super Mario World

My own hot take: I agree with some of New Super Mario Bros being so high up in rating. I think those games are excellently made but get way too much flak for not being hand drawn/pixelated.

Second hot take: I think Mario Maker 1 or 2 (or both) should have made this list and deserve a top 10 spot. Mario Land 1 can be traded for one of them, and then bump down Luigi U.

Edit: Third hot take: I will always choose 3 over World.

 

[MidGenRefresh]

The best one it's either 3 or World with my bias going to World.

 

[vaibhavpisal]

Agreed, I can't stand good Mario games too! Nintendo really pulled one over on us by bringing out a new 2d Mario adventure a couple years ago. Bring on New Super Mario Bros remakes!

Its just boring dude.

Cinematic mario game.

Without any story or character.

Level design, platforming is most simplified of any good 2d platformer I have played recently.

 

[Physiognomonics]

The best one it's either 3 or World with my bias going to World.

Those are the best indeed and my bias is moving from one to the other depending of my mood.

 

[RetroGamingUK]

I miss Super Mario World and Mario 3

They never went away

 

[RetroGamingUK]

Super Mario Wonder sucks.

Wouldn't put it in top 10.

Nintendo needs to move away from that formula as far as possible.

You've proven over years on this forum that your taste in games is horrendous

 

[Ellis]

I never got the love for World. I'd always just go back to SMB3. That's peak 2D Mario for me.

Then again, I find Galaxy games to be the worst of the 3D entries, so I'm probably the minority with my opinion.

 

[vaibhavpisal]

You've proven over years on this forum that your taste in games is horrendous

Whatever you say dude.

Once you get over "Nintendo charm", something that happens with me fairly quickly, underneath its as basic as they come.

NSMB U is way more engaging.

 

[SpiceRacz]

3 is king and always will be.

 

[Nintendo's Witch]

The best one is World, my fave is 3

 

[MrJangles]

I know Mario 3 is the best but Mario 2 is my favourite. It's not just nostalgia speaking, I still play it to this day but when I first got it, it was the most revolutionary game I'd ever played for the simple reason I'd upgraded from shite that barely qualifies as games on an atari 2600 to a nes with it. It was also my first Mario game too.

It's easily in my all time top 10, possibly 5. I'd love a true sequel to it more than anything.

 

[gradient]

World and 3 remain the best.

My preference is World, but it's a pretty tight call

 

[KungFucius]

I never got the love for World. I'd always just go back to SMB3. That's peak 2D Mario for me.

Then again, I find Galaxy games to be the worst of the 3D entries, so I'm probably the minority with my opinion.

Did you play them when they came out? SMB3 was amazing, then SMW came out with 16 bit visuals, Yoshi, and a shit ton of secret exits and the star world. Apart from not having the excellent suits, it exceeded SMB3 in almost every way.

 

[Markio128]

I haven't really enjoyed a 2D Mario game since Super Mario World tbh. I love the simplicity of it - not only the gameplay, but the over-world map.

I can't get into SM Wonder. Elephant Mario sucks.

 

[cireza]

Didn't even buy Mario Wonder, game doesn't look appealing to me one bit. Mario World and 3 being top makes sense, these are my favorite as well. I love Mario Advance and Lost World too.

 

[Ellis]

Did you play them when they came out? SMB3 was amazing, then SMW came out with 16 bit visuals, Yoshi, and a shit ton of secret exits and the star world. Apart from not having the excellent suits, it exceeded SMB3 in almost every way.

I did indeed. Opposite feeling for me. Besides the 16-bit graphics, SMB3 just plays better. Sometimes simplicity is key.

 

[Sojiro]

To save a click, the list:

13: SMB: The Lost Levels
12: New Super Mario Bros 2
11: Super Mario Land
10: New Super Luigi U
09: Super Mario Bros 2
08: New Super Mario Bros Wii
07: Super Mario Land 2
06: Super Mario Bros
05: New Super Mario Bros (3DS)
04: New Super Mario Bros U
03: Super Mario Bros 3
02: Super Mario Bros Wonder
01: Super Mario World

My own hot take: I agree with some of New Super Mario Bros being so high up in rating. I think those games are excellently made but get way too much flak for not being hand drawn/pixelated.

Second hot take: I think Mario Maker 1 or 2 (or both) should have made this list and deserve a top 10 spot. Mario Land 1 can be traded for one of them, and then bump down Luigi U.

Edit: Third hot take: I will always choose 3 over World.

I do too. SMB 3 is always above world in my book.

 

[kunonabi]

I never got the love for World. I'd always just go back to SMB3. That's peak 2D Mario for me.

Then again, I find Galaxy games to be the worst of the 3D entries, so I'm probably the minority with my opinion.

World would have been a great game without the cape. With it I don't think it has any business in the top 5.

 

[Robb]

I'd switch some stuff around but the top 3 would be the same.

 

[TintoConCasera]

Super Mario Land 2 is way too low there.

 

[olninty]

Mario 3 will always be king.

I remember cycling to Debenhams every Saturday for about a month, just to play this game on a demo unit , with all the other degenerate kids from town. Those Saturday's spent in Debenhams with the random kids are some of my fondest memories, as we all shared the game and secrets we'd found. Great days!

 

[Codes 208]

The top three is hard to argue, though i would swap smw with smb3 personally.

Most of the nsmb games i would put towards the bottom, i really am glad that era is done.

 

[RetroGamingUK]

I'd switch some stuff around but the top 3 would be the same.

Mario World was graphically barely a leap over Bros 3.

Fact, in Europe we got Sonic on the MegaDrive before Mario Bros 3 on the NES.

Nintendo didn't give a shit about us back then so Sega ended up dominating the market.

 

[PurePlatinum]

World is one of the most well balanced games, in terms of difficulty, I've ever played.

It pushes you right to the limits of where you think you are capable of going, and then it brings you over the limit with those secret levels. Masterful game.

 

[Jinzo Prime]

I never got the love for World. I'd always just go back to SMB3. That's peak 2D Mario for me.

Then again, I find Galaxy games to be the worst of the 3D entries, so I'm probably the minority with my opinion.

I'm one of the weirdos that prefer 3 over World. The galaxy games have great level design, but the movement is sluggish and not satisfying.

 

[ShadyAcshuns]

World followed by 3 then Wonder and 2.

 

[Bonfires Down]

I just realized that SMB2 might be my favorite 2D Mario. With the caveat that I haven't played Wonder.

 

[Golgo 13]

These lists are hard because "nostalgia is a hell of a drug".

Nothing will beat the joy I got from SMB3/World when I was a kid, but does that mean that it's objectively better than Super Mario Wonder by 2025 standards? Hmm.

 

[mcjmetroid]

I would almost say wonder. But I feel like it's just missing a few small ingredients.

I wish world had more post game content. Like more missions on using different power ups to unlock more stuff. Felt like I 100%d the game too fast. But leaving you wanting more isn't a terrible thing but I just wanted a tiny bit moooore.

I still agree and say Mario world takes it. But it's a toss up between 3 and world.

 

[BigBeauford]

I was not a fan of Super Mario Wonder. Felt like a Mario game made for zoomers.

 

[joeygreco1985]

World is number one with a bullet. Always will be.

 

[NT80]

Super Mario Bros 2 is the one that doesn't get the appreciation.
I know now it was rebranded from Doki Doki Panic but it was so good and unique. Why were those mechanics never used again in any platformer?

 

[R3TRO]

Might have to give Super Mario Bros Wonder a try one day.

 

[awwr999999]

One day a AAA studios will pinpoint when a game is at its peak and just extend that.
If Super Mario World is peak Mario, Nintendo would extend that game in all of its glory by shipping new full price Mario games for SNES via a new SNES console.
The underlying platform any game is built around has a massive impact on the game via HW, aspect ratio and console controller.
Legacy platforms that will come back strongest are PS2/PS1 and SNES/NES.
The ROI on new games made for legacy platforms on modern consoles will be massive enough to create a modern golden era that exists entirely outside of generic multi-plat PC gaming.

When Sony brings back the PS2 all of these games will sell at full price and break sales records:
Modern GTA games shipping on PS2 as PS2 exclusives.
Modern Silent Hill games shipping on PS2 as PS2 exclusives.
Modern Castlevania games shipping on PS1 as PS1 exclusives.

 

[CentralScrutinizer]

Mario's map screen peaked with Super Mario World.

 

[Loomy]

I don't think Wonder sucks like some people here(lmao), but I do wonder how it will be viewed as more time passes. I thought the novelty of it wore off fast, but I may have inadvertently bought too much into the "this is the best 2D mario ever" hype before release.

 

[Unknown Soldier]

I'm OK with the Top 3 but the others will probably be more controversial

I did not like New Super Mario Bros series because Mario's jump was way too floaty, this is something they corrected with Wonder and it was a much better game for it

 

[Midway-AGNC-]

No way in fucking hell is Wonder better than 3. New Super Mario Bros DS is very overrated in that list, the game barely have any difficulty.

 

[Gaiff]

Super Mario Wonder sucks.

Wouldn't put it in top 10.

Nintendo needs to move away from that formula as far as possible.

I don't disagree. I didn't care for it one bit and it's the first one I played. I then played SMB3 and thought it was superior in every way.

Super Mario Bros 2 is the one that doesn't get the appreciation.
I know now it was rebranded from Doki Doki Panic but it was so good and unique. Why were those mechanics never used again in any platformer?

Cause they suck.

 

[NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt]

Mario Sunshine got robbed, should have been on that list and took the number 1 spot

 

[StreetsofBeige]

No Mario Bros?