Every 2D Mario Game RANKED

A launch title for Nintendo’s first true handheld console, the Game Boy, “Super Mario Land” is a strange little “Mario” game. It doesn’t feature Bowser and isn’t set in the Mushroom Kingdom. Instead, you’re tasked with rescuing Princess Daisy, who debuts here, and fighting Tatanga. Also, rather than fireballs, Mario shoots bouncing superballs. “Super Mario Land” isn’t a terrible game - the soundtrack in particular is fantastic! However, as one of the earliest Game Boy games, it faces some limitations both graphically and in terms of gameplay. Its length is incredibly short - you can beat it in under an hour. While good for what it is, “Super Mario Land” simply doesn’t stack up to its fellow “Mario” games.

Nintendo followed up the game changing original “Super Mario Bros.” with a sequel that is basically the opposite of accessible. The game was deemed too difficult for American audiences - and considering Nintendo released “Ghosts 'n Goblins” the same year, that’s saying something! “Super Mario Bros. 2” became “Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels” when it was eventually released with “Super Mario All-Stars.” It’s basically a forerunner of the “Kaizo Mario” rom hacks. In other words, every level seems to troll players in some way. Poison mushrooms, warps that take you backwards instead of forwards, hurricane force winds - it’s a nightmare to get through for most. While insane difficulty has its fans, “Mario” has always been about approachability, and this leaves it the odd game out.

You might think with a “2” in its title, this would have come out soon after “New Super Mario Bros.,” but this is actually the 3rd title in this subseries - which isn’t confusing at all. Like most of the other “New” titles, “New Super Mario Bros. 2” shares a similar art style, music, and other assets. A new co-op mode is included, and there are some minor changes here and there. However, the biggest emphasis is on collecting coins. You’re charged with getting a million of them throughout your playthrough, which can be annoying. Ultimately, we feel like the other “New Super Mario” games are just more fun to play.

The other “Super Mario Bros. 2” that was released in North America, this one is technically a reskin of a different game - “Yume Kōjō Doki Doki Panic.” Its origins certainly give it a different flavor than most of the franchise. Unlike other early games, the screen moves right and left and enemies are defeated by throwing things instead of jumping on them. While still viewed as something of a black sheep, “Super Mario Bros. 2” did introduce many important concepts and gameplay elements, like the ability to play as Peach and Toad, as well as numerous enemies that are major staples.

A major step up from its predecessor, “Super Mario Land 2” is bigger and better in almost every way. It has Six Zones, each with multiple levels and a boss to defeat to acquire one of the titular Golden Coins. The game introduces Wario, and establishes him as a greedy antagonist for Mario. The Zones all have fun themes, great level design, and you get a cool new powerup - who doesn’t love bunny ears that make you float? It’s still a Game Boy game, but “Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins” does a surprising amount with its limited hardware.

Although modders have been making their own “Mario” levels for decades, Nintendo decided to make it easy for the rest of us with “Super Mario Maker.” The sheer variety of possibilities is incredible. The interface is easy to use, and offers the ability to create levels in the style of many of the classic games. Although there are some sample courses available to play, the real draw is the user-created levels, which were offered through the tragically obtuse online area. There are gimmick levels, troll levels, easy levels, impossible levels, and so much more in between. Unfortunately, the online was shut down in 2024, rendering its biggest draw a bit moot now.

The first 2D “Mario” platformer made after over a decade, this game truly lived up to the “new” in its name…which is more than can be said about some of the games that followed in its wake. “New Super Mario Bros.” revived the 2D platforming side of the franchise, but with some interesting additions. Mario gains some new moves from his 3D titles, including wall jumps, ground pounds, and triple jumps, while also receiving fun new power ups to play with, like the Mega and Mini Mushrooms. While “New Super Mario Bros.” didn’t reinvent the series, it still feels like a refreshing return to a classic formula.

While the fact that it’s the second game in this subseries causes some confusion, “New Super Mario Bros. Wii” is still plenty of fun. The game returned 2D Mario platforming to home consoles, as well as solidified the “New Super Mario Bros.” art style. Along with some familiar power-ups and the ability to ride Yoshi again, “New Super Mario Bros. Wii” also introduced new ones, like the Penguin Suit and the Propeller Mushroom. There’s a strong emphasis on multiplayer, with four players now leading to a ton of chaos on screen. The surprisingly challenging platforming doesn’t always mesh well with the multiplayer though, particularly given how easy it is to throw each other down a pit - accidentally and on purpose.

The most recent and final(?) entry in the “New Super Mario Bros.” line, “New Super Mario Bros. U” is arguably the best of the bunch. Improving on the previous games and including most of the same power-ups, “U” adds a few new features, like a flying squirrel power, as well as several new modes, Challenge and Boost Rush. Where “U” really shines though is in its presentation, which is akin to “Super Mario World,” and in its level-design. “New Super Mario Bros. U” simply refines every element from its predecessors. Plus, its enhanced Switch port, “New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe,” adds even more, including quality of life fixes and new power-ups. One of the latter is to blame/thank for the whole Bowsette craze…

The original 8-bit game that started it all, “Super Mario Bros.” is the foundation upon which every other “Super Mario” game, and indeed much of the gaming industry, is based. The controls are still incredibly precise today. It basically invented the 2D platformer genre, effortlessly detailing its rules and conventions through the gameplay. All the enemies, power-ups, and secrets have become iconic parts of pop culture in general. So why isn’t it ranked higher? Well, simply because many of the games that followed managed to surpass its impressive gameplay, building on its legacy to even greater heights. Also, it’s not a very long game, especially with warps.

Sure, the online still working (for now) certainly puts “Super Mario Maker 2” leagues ahead of its predecessor. However, it also does everything the original “Mario Maker” did, only better! All the previous tools to make levels return, but now with assets from “Super Mario 3D World” included, as well as new playable characters. Additionally, there are now several multiplayer modes, a story mode, and even the ability to create world maps to link together your custom levels into a single “game” of your own! “Super Mario Maker 2” is a rare sequel that lives up to and exceeds the original.

Yes, you play as Yoshi in this game and Mario is just a crying infant that makes us want to pull our hair out. However, the “Super Mario” in the title gives us license to include this incredible game nonetheless! Yoshi’s first starring role in a platformer features a colorful, adorable art style, and one great gameplay mechanic after another. While it’s fairly easy by “Super Mario” standards, the game is deceptively simple. The intricately designed levels, amazing soundtrack, and charming atmosphere all helped make “Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island” the gaming equivalent of a hug from the titular green dino. We can certainly see why it spawned its own spin-off series.

Out with the “New Super,” and in with the “Wonder!” In addition to an expressive new art style and pleasingly musical atmosphere, “Super Mario Bros. Wonder” brings a cavalcade of fresh, inventive ideas to the series. There’s a whopping 12 playable characters, as well as some incredibly strange new power-ups, like a Drill Mushroom and Elephant Fruit. There are also various badges that give you individual new abilities that change up the core gameplay. Most notable of all though are the Wonder Flowers, whose effects do everything from altering the stage to starting a musical number. “Super Mario Bros. Wonder” is a vibrant, varied, and truly creative spin on 2D “Mario” platforming and we can’t help but “wonder” how Nintendo will improve on it.

The third time was indeed the charm with “Super Mario Bros.” Arguably the peak of the NES era, “Super Mario Bros. 3” is loaded with challenging, well-crafted levels and iconic music. It debuted several things that went on to become staples of the franchise, like its enemies, overworld map, and flying power-ups. The game was so big in the ‘80s they made an entire movie just to advertise it! Oh, have you not heard of “The Wizard?” Much like the Power Glove, “it’s so bad.” But the hype? The hype is real. “Super Mario Bros. 3” is truly a great leap forward for the series - and considering how much jumping Mario does himself, that’s quite impressive.

Even among the elite company of 2D “Mario” games, many of which have defined platforming and video games in general, “Super Mario World” stands out. The expansive world map of “Mario 3” gets expanded even further, with countless secrets to discover. Yoshi is introduced. The music is iconic and lives in our heads rent free. The graphics haven’t aged a day in decades. It’s endlessly replayable and truly one of the gold standards of video games. “Super Mario World” set the bar so high for 2D “Mario” games that you’d need a cape to reach it, and we’d argue that not even its successors have managed it!


Is there a 2D Mario game you’d rank higher than we did? Fire your picks at us in the comments!