Where does the newest Mario & Luigi stack up against its predecessors? (Nintendo)

Full list of the best 00s Mario RPGs making an unexpected comeback

06 Nov 2024, 09:36 by Michael Beckwith · Metro

There have been a lot more Super Mario themed role-playing games than you might think but which are the best and still worth playing now?

After years on the sidelines, Super Mario role-playing games are suddenly back in vogue. For no readily apparent reason, other than they’re great games, Nintendo has released two remakes of beloved classics, recently, and an entirely new entry in a long-dormant series, all in the space of 12 months.

Even if the games were only greenlit to help fill up the Nintendo Switch’s release schedule, while Nintendo saves its real blockbusters for the Switch 2, these titles have proven very popular with fans, and hopefully won’t be a short-lived resurgence.

So, we’ve taken a look back through the company’s history and compiled what we think are the 10 best Mario role-playing games of all time.

What was the first Super Mario RPG game?

This was never released in the UK (MobyGames)

It may surprise you to see so many different Mario role-players, but they all started as spin-offs from the same game: 1996 SNES title Super Mario RPG (which was originally never released in Europe).

It was a fairly traditional turn-based role-player, which has never had a direct sequel, but led to 2000 N64 game Paper Mario and then the start of the Mario & Luigi series in 2003.

Mario & Luigi games are similar in style but until Brothership on the Switch have only ever been on handheld consoles like the DS. They also feature turn-based combat but have you controlling both Mario and Luigi at the same time.

10. Super Paper Mario

The first entry on our list, but already a point of contention, Super Paper Mario was the start of the Paper Mario series’ transition into something more action oriented, with only light role-playing elements. While fans at the time balked at the lack of turn-based battles, in favour of 2D platforming, it has forged its own identity over time thanks to a neat 3D gimmick, a playable party that includes Peach, Bowser, and Luigi, and a surprisingly high-stakes story about the end of the multiverse and the power of love.

9. Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam Bros.

The one and only crossover between the Mario & Luigi and Paper Mario games, this is a lesser entry in both series but still a fun role-player in its own right. Paper Jam Bros. on the 3DS is disappointingly lacking in new ideas and locales, with the plot as thin as paper Mario, but it makes up for its shortcomings with a funny script and solid turn-based combat, with paper Mario himself serving as an amusing foil to the regular Mario and Luigi.

8. Mario & Luigi: Brothership

Recency bias may compel some to give Mario & Luigi: Brothership some leeway, especially those who’ve been desperate for a new entry in nearly a decade. Nevertheless, it does play it safe with the formula, with no real defining gimmicks and mostly underwhelming jokes. Still, the combat and role-playing mechanics remain top notch – probably the best ever for the series – and will hopefully serve as a jumping off point for any future Mario & Luigi games.

7. Mario & Luigi: Dream Team Bros.

It’s a shame the Year of Luigi was considered a failure for Nintendo, when one of its associated games, Mario & Luigi: Dream Team Bros., was really very good. Its cartoony visuals belied a much deeper role-playing experience than you’d expect, complete with some wonderfully imaginative ideas, where Luigi’s subconscious becomes far more dangerous than Bowser ever has. It’s not the peak of the series, in terms of dialogue, but it’s definitely a funny game and far more so than most other games.

6. Paper Mario: The Origami King

It’s easy to argue this doesn’t count as a role-playing game, but Nintendo does seem to consider it one. Whether you disagree on that front, The Origami King is certainly the best modern Paper Mario game, barring a certain remake. It’s not without some bizarre quirks, but its unique take on turn-based combat is a lot of fun, the script is definitely one of Nintendo’s best, and it’s simply oozing with charm from start to finish.

5. Super Mario RPG: Legend Of The Seven Stars

The original Super Mario RPG has been lionised for years and rightfully so. The first crack at a role-playing adventure set in the Mushroom Kingdom (by Final Fantasy creators Square Enix, no less) set the foundation for both the Paper Mario and Mario & Luigi games. It remains a fan favourite for its simple but satisfying combat, inventive boss battles, and varied mini-games. The 2023 remake is the best way of experiencing it nowadays, thanks to some welcome quality-of-life changes, although they do risk making an already breezy adventure even more so.

4. Paper Mario

It says a lot about the quality of the original Paper Mario that it remains one of the best Mario role-playing games despite being over 20 years old. The story may be your typical ‘save the princess from Bowser’ affair, but it balances that out with everything that makes these role-players so beloved: fun and engaging combat, entertaining dialogue and characters, and surprisingly deep role-playing elements. All while packaged in a cute paper aesthetic that didn’t draw attention to itself to an obnoxious degree, like some later games did.

3. Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga

Just like Paper Mario, the very first Mario & Luigi game has managed to hold up incredibly well even today. While later games would incorporate different gimmicks, to varying degrees of success, Superstar Saga relies purely on its reactive turn-based combat and amusing verbal and physical comedy. The additional strategy game mode seen in the 3DS remake isn’t anything special, but it’s a welcome addition nonetheless.

2. Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story

Without a doubt the best Mario & Luigi game, Bowser’s Inside Story may not mess too much with the series’ style of combat, but it’s defining gimmick of swapping between the Mario Bros. and Bowser is used wonderfully well. The Koopa King himselfsteals the show and the hilarious script should be the standard for all other Mario role-players. Whether it’s the original DS game or its 3DS remake, role-playing fans owe it to themselves to add this to their library.

Hail to the king (Nintendo)

1. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

This really shouldn’t come as a surprise. Everything we’ve praised the other games for – the combat, the writing, and the characters – The Thousand-Year Door excels at. It’s been beloved by Nintendo fans for two decades now and the 2024 remake proved their memories weren’t at all tinted by nostalgia. There can be some annoying backtracking here and there, but that’s a mere blip on one of the most imaginative Mario games Nintendo’s ever made. Given the remake’s success, one can only hope it’ll mark a return to form for the Paper Mario series in the future.

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