The Super Mario franchise has accompanied Nintendo for nearly four decades and has delivered an impressive lineup of titles across all their consoles and portable devices starting from 1985. Generally, one can say that within this extensive collection, not many poor-quality games exist; certainly, certain entries stand out more than others do. However, each game typically boasts several commendable aspects, reflecting the stringent quality standards set by Nintendo for its iconic character.
The Nintendo Switch, likely set to become Nintendo’s most successful console or portable device yet, has seen an abundance of Mario titles released for it, with several being top-notch entries. Given their number, we found ourselves having to exclude a handful of games—primarily remakes—from our ranking process as we sorted all the Mario games available on the Nintendo Switch from least favorite to best.
The rankings listed here depend on the Metacritic score for each game, calculated as a weighted average out of 100 points derived from the reviews compiled from numerous publications.
Mario Golf: Super Rush - 70
Mario Golf: Super Rush is quite a competent addition to the Mario Golf franchise but has faced criticism mainly due to its resemblance to earlier titles in the series. While it certainly isn’t a poor choice, should you wish to enjoy an arcade-style golf experience with pals on Nintendo Switch, few alternatives match up as well as Super Rush—just keep in mind that it doesn't bring much new to the table. In summary, it’s solid without being exceptional.
Mario Strikers: Battle League - 73
Mario Strikers: Battle League faces nearly the inverse issue encountered by Mario Golf: Super Rush—it diverges significantly from earlier titles. Upon launch, Battle League offered limited content, featuring just a handful of arenas to play in, more streamlined mechanics than previous entries in the franchise, and fewer character options. However, subsequent updates have added new elements, improving the experience somewhat. Despite these enhancements, it can still feel slightly underdeveloped at times. Nonetheless, this doesn’t make for an unpleasant gaming experience overall.
Mario Tennis Aces - 75
Returning to yet another instance where this feels too close to previous titles. It’s challenging to differentiate a Mario Tennis entry enough from others, hence Mario Tennis Aces shares many similarities with the Wii U version, Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash. However, due to additional features and content, it emerges as the superior choice. Boasting an exaggerated and highly entertaining experience, Mario Tennis Aces offers brisk, nearly combat-style gameplay that remains engaging for those who can match its speed.
Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit - 75
Mario Kart Live stands out as both a toy and a video game. The concept of attaching a camera to an RC vehicle, then broadcasting it onto a Switch console to transform any area into a Mario Kart course is quite innovative. However, this novelty has limitations. Additionally, playing with carpet surfaces rather than wood flooring could be frustrating. Therefore, you might prefer opting for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe instead.
Super Mario Party - 76
Following a series of underwhelming entries in the Mario Party franchise, Super Mario Party served as somewhat of a reboot for the series. It turned out quite satisfactory; honestly, there’s not much to criticize, though some might say the game boards feel slightly cramped. Nonetheless, it remains true to what you’d expect from a Mario Party title—nothing extraordinary either way. Therefore, in 2025, there’s little incentive to choose Super Mario Party when compared to the other two titles available on the Nintendo Switch.
Mario & Luigi: Brotherhood - 77
Following the closure of the series' developer, Alphadream, it appeared as though prospects were bleak for this underdog RPG franchise. Fortunately, things took a turn for the better when several ex-Alphadream employees joined forces to create Mario & Luigi: Brotherhood. This title stands out with exceptional gameplay—among the finest within the series—but suffers from lengthy loading screens and occasional technical issues.
Paper Mario: The Origami King - 80
No, Paper Mario: The Origami King isn’t quite an RPG similar to the first two titles in the Paper Mario franchise; however, it remains highly enjoyable. While the battle mechanics could use some improvement, this game boasts the finest storytelling within the Paper Mario collection—and possibly across all of the Mario series—alongside stunning visuals.
Mario Party Superstars - 80
Mario Party Superstars served as a bit of a reset following Super Mario Party. Rather than introducing fresh boards and novel mini-games, this title revisited popular stages and favorite activities from earlier installments in the franchise. This approach proved sufficient and successful, making for an excellent addition to the series that perfectly hits the sweet spot of nostalgic pleasure.
Super Mario Party Jamboree - 82
If "Mario Party Superstars" served as a course correction, then "Super Mario Party Jamboree" demonstrated that Nintendo could create an innovative addition to the series and truly excel with it. This installment builds upon the strengths of "Super Mario Party," incorporating larger, more conventional boards, numerous fresh gameplay modes, and additional features. Consequently, it stands out as the superior choice among Switch-based Mario party games, despite having just a slight edge over "Superstars" in terms of its overall score.
Super Mario Maker 2 - 88
Super Mario Maker 2 was the long-awaited follow-up to a Wii U classic, and despite some input woes – not having a second screen to build on definitely hurt it somewhat – it absolutely delivered. An endless stream of Mario levels is an exciting prospect, and the community really took the tools available in the game and ran with them, to great effect. Now, there are thousands of high-quality levels to play through, and while they can't quite reach the heights of a Nintendo-designed game, they're still well worth playing. As it turns out, there are some pretty good level designers out there.
Super Mario 3D World plus Bowser's Fury - 89
Super Mario 3D World was already considered one of the finest entries in the 3D Mario franchise when it first came out, but its remastering on the Switch has been further refined to enhance gameplay significantly. However, this isn’t where the improvements end; bundled alongside is Bowser’s Fury—a compact, open-world experience that seems like a precursor for potential future titles within the series. Packed with innovative concepts, the open-world design integrates seamlessly—evoking progression akin to Super Mario Odyssey—and suggests promising developments ahead should Nintendo continue pursuing these directions.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - 92
Upon its debut, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe received a score of 92 from Metacritic; however, if it were evaluated today, it could potentially rank higher. When launched, the game delivered precisely as advertised—a refined and deluxe edition of Mario Kart 8. With minor improvements, additional tracks, and extra playable characters—all enticing additions for aficionados—it proved quite compelling. Five years post-launch on the Switch platform, Nintendo began rolling out fresh tracks and characters at such a pace that they essentially doubled the initial content within just a couple of years. This evolution has made it the largest and most feature-packed installment in the series to date, with many considering it superior overall. Its visuals are stunning, gameplay remains excellent, and enjoyment levels remain high.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder - 92
For over ten years, the Super Mario Bros. franchise seemed stagnant. While New SuperMario Bros. was fantastic, releasing five additional titles in a similar vein became tiresome. However,Super Mario Bros.:Wonder revitalized the series with an innovative artistic approach,a plethora of fresh gameplay elements that evolved from one stage to another,and numerous new features including various playable characters. This is undoubtedlythe finest two-dimensional Mario adventure in recent memory and fully merits all accolades received.
Super Mario Odyssey - 97
Wow, Super Mario Odyssey! What a fantastic game. With vast, open-ended worlds to discover, countless hidden treasures waiting to be found, and notably one of the smoothest play experiences within the franchise—let alone the addition of Cappy, the sentient cap residing on Mario’s head which grants him the ability to control various creatures, offering entirely fresh mechanics. This title represents the pinnacle refinement of the 3D Mario genre, setting a remarkably high standard both for future entries in the series and all 3D platformer games overall. No discussion about top titles should exclude this masterpiece.
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