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Super Mario Games in Order
The landmark mainline Super Mario platformers in release order, from the 1985 original to Wonder, split across the 2D side-scrollers and the 3D adventures. No story order required.
Super Mario Games in Order — complete list
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Why this order?
Super Mario is less a continuing saga than a string of self-contained playgrounds. Bowser kidnaps Princess Peach, Mario runs and jumps to the rescue, and the credits roll — every entry resets that loop with fresh mechanics rather than picking up a plot thread. That means there is no canonical story order to honor. The most useful way to experience the series is simply the order it arrived, watching the design language evolve generation by generation.
The default Release order walks the landmark mainline games from Super Mario Bros. (1985) through Super Mario Bros. Wonder (2023). Playing chronologically is genuinely rewarding here because each title is a snapshot of what Nintendo could do with its newest hardware — the leap from the NES sprites of Bros. 3 to the open 3D of Super Mario 64 is one of gaming's clearest before-and-after moments.
If you would rather pick a lane, the series splits cleanly into two lines. The 2D side-scrolling line runs Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, and Super Mario Bros. Wonder. The 3D line runs Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, Super Mario Galaxy, and Super Mario Odyssey. Both lines are excellent starting points; newcomers often find Wonder or Odyssey the friendliest doors in.
One gotcha: this is an essentials tour, not a complete catalog. The wider Mario universe spills into spin-off franchises that sit outside this list — the racing of Mario Kart, the board-game chaos of Mario Party, the storytelling of Paper Mario, and the turn-based RPGs like Super Mario RPG and the Mario & Luigi games. They are worth your time, but they are not mainline platformers, so we have kept them off the core run.
Timeline 1985–2023
Every entry plotted by release year — see the gaps, clusters and revivals at a glance.
Where to play it today
- Nintendo Switch (eShop)
- Nintendo Switch Online (NES/SNES/N64 apps)
- Original consoles (NES, SNES, N64, GameCube, Wii)
Affiliate links (Bookshop.org for books, store links for games/films) slot in here.
Frequently asked questions
What order should I play Super Mario in?
There is no required story order — every mainline game is standalone. Release order is the most rewarding way to see the series evolve, but you can also follow the 2D line (Bros., Bros. 3, World, Wonder) or the 3D line (64, Sunshine, Galaxy, Odyssey) on its own.
How many Super Mario games are there?
There are dozens once you count spin-offs, but the mainline platformer series has a smaller set of landmark entries. This essentials tour focuses on eight defining titles from 1985 to 2023; many more exist across the broader Mario universe.
Do I need to play the older games first?
No. Each Super Mario platformer tells its own self-contained rescue story with no carried-over plot, so you can start anywhere. Newcomers often begin with Super Mario Odyssey or Super Mario Bros. Wonder, the two most modern and accessible entries.
What is the difference between the 2D and 3D Mario games?
The 2D line is side-scrolling platforming (Super Mario Bros., Bros. 3, World, Wonder), while the 3D line gives Mario free movement through open worlds (64, Sunshine, Galaxy, Odyssey). Both run in parallel and neither is a sequel to the other.
Are Mario Kart and Mario Party part of this list?
No. Mario Kart, Mario Party, Paper Mario, and the RPGs (Super Mario RPG, Mario & Luigi) are spin-off franchises set in the same universe but outside the mainline platformers, so they sit outside this essentials tour.
Which Super Mario game should I start with?
For a sense of where it all began, start with Super Mario Bros. (1985). For modern controls and the friendliest on-ramp, start with Super Mario Odyssey (3D) or Super Mario Bros. Wonder (2D).
Last verified · Sources: en.wikipedia.org, Wikidata
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