LTN Top Ten: The 10 Greatest Mario Side-Scrollers - LoveThyNerd.com (2024)

Released in 1992 for the Game Boy, Super Mario Land 2 introduced players to Mario’s nemesis, Wario, who took over Mario’s castle while he was away. To reclaim his castle, Mario must gather six golden coins scattered across various worlds. The game expanded on its predecessor with larger, more detailed graphics and open-ended exploration.

• Wario made his first appearance in this game.
• The game’s worlds include a giant clock and outer space.
• You can tackle levels in any order, a unique feature at the time.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii brought back classic side-scrolling Mario gameplay with a multiplayer twist, allowing up to four players to join in the action. Released in 2009 for the Wii, it introduced new power-ups like the Propeller Suit and Penguin Suit, giving Mario even more abilities to tackle enemies and levels.

• The first Super Mario game to feature four-player co-op.
• It introduced the Super Guide, where Luigi helps players stuck on a level.
• This was the first game where Yoshi returned as a rideable companion since Super Mario World.

Launching alongside the Wii U in 2012, New Super Mario Bros. U revitalized the traditional 2D Mario formula with HD graphics and new features. The game includes a Boost Mode, where a fifth player can assist by creating platforms, making it a cooperative experience for families and friends.

• One of the first Mario games available in high definition.
• It features a Challenge Mode with special objectives like time trials.
• A Luigi-focused version called New Super Luigi U was released as DLC.

Released for the Wii U in 2015, Super Mario Maker was a groundbreaking title that allowed players to create their own Mario levels and share them with others online. The game features tools to design levels in styles based on different Mario eras, making it a love letter to the franchise’s history.

• Over 7 million user-generated levels were created by players.
• You can switch between four Mario styles: NES, SNES, Wii U, and Super Mario World.
• Nintendo released Super Mario Maker to celebrate Mario’s 30th anniversary.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder takes the classic Mario platforming formula and adds a magical twist. Released in 2023 for the Nintendo Switch, it introduces the Wonder Flower, a new item that transforms levels in unexpected ways. From stampeding enemies to growing massive pipes, each level feels fresh and unpredictable.

• The game introduces a new playable character: Daisy.
• Wonder Flowers trigger bizarre in-game effects like warping the entire level.
• Elephant Mario, a new power-up, allows Mario to smash blocks with ease.

Building on the success of its predecessor, Super Mario Maker 2 launched for the Nintendo Switch in 2019, bringing new features like a fully fleshed-out Story Mode and cooperative building. Players could once again create, share, and play Mario levels, but this time with even more customization options.

• Story Mode includes 100 original Nintendo-designed levels.
• The game adds the Super Mario 3D World theme for level creation.
• The multiplayer mode lets up to four players design levels together.

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island is a prequel to Super Mario World, with Yoshi taking center stage as the guardian of Baby Mario. Released in 1995 for the SNES, the game is known for its distinct art style, looking like it was hand-drawn with crayons, and its innovative gameplay.

• Shigeru Miyamoto personally directed the game’s development.
• Yoshi’s flutter jump made its debut in this game.
• The game’s crayon art style was a deliberate response to industry trends toward pre-rendered graphics.

NOTE: I’m so sorry for the following trailer. (What were they thinking??)

Released in 1985 for the NES, Super Mario Bros. is one of the most iconic and influential video games of all time. The game follows Mario as he embarks on a quest to save Princess Toadstool from Bowser in the Mushroom Kingdom. Its simple yet addictive gameplay revolutionized the platforming genre.

• The game’s overworld music is one of the most recognizable tunes in gaming.
• Originally, Mario was going to ride a dinosaur, but this was scrapped until Super Mario World.
• It was the best-selling video game of all time for over two decades.

Super Mario World debuted on the SNES in 1990 and is considered one of the greatest platformers ever made. Mario must once again rescue Princess Peach from Bowser, but this time he has a new ally: Yoshi. With new power-ups, secret levels, and tight controls, the game remains a fan favorite.

• It was the first game to introduce Yoshi as a main companion.
• Players can find hidden exits that lead to secret worlds like the Star World.
• Bowser’s airship design inspired many future Mario games.

Super Mario Bros. 3, released in 1988 for the NES, is widely regarded as one of the best Mario games of all time. The game features eight unique worlds, an array of power-ups, and more complex level designs, making it a standout in the series. It also introduces the iconic Tanooki Suit.

• The game’s iconic overworld maps set the standard for future Mario titles.
• It was famously revealed to American audiences through The Wizard movie.
• The game’s use of “curtains” gave it a stage-play feel.