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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.