Every 3D Mario Game, Ranked

The Mario franchise has had a great transition into 3D, with constant entries that are all killer and no filler. With the upcoming Switch 2 and the potential for a new 3D Mario on the horizon, I think it’s time we look back at this incredible legacy.

Regardless of what you consider a mainline Super Mario game, I’ll solely rank the 3D Super Mario platformers. I don’t think that leaves any edge cases, but let me know where Mario Artist: Polygon Studio should rank here.

I won’t be including “enhanced” ports, mainly because that would boil down to me complaining about Mario 64 DS and saying the Switch version of 3D World is way better for several small reasons.

We’re going strictly for the unique games, and ranking the best version of them to give them the best fighting chance when we pit them against some of the best games ever made.

8 Super Mario 3D Land

Tiny, Repetitive Adventures

Full disclosure, every game on this list is a banger and very fun, and nowhere is that more evident than the bottom spot, Super Mario 3D Land, which is mainly here due to it not having as big a scope as the others.

It takes heavy inspiration from Super Mario Bros. 3, and while that makes it pretty enjoyable the whole way through, it does feel incredibly derivative. Most levels sort of blend together in my mind.

It comes off as quite generic, and it’s somewhat emblematic of the entire early 2010s for Mario. While this isn’t anywhere near as bad as New Super Mario Bros., I’d still rather it had its own identity.

Unlike every other entry on this list, it’s not focused on original gimmicks, ideas, and power-ups. Super Mario 3D Land plays it immensely safe but is still an enjoyable platformer nonetheless, just one I barely ever come back to.

7 Super Mario Galaxy 2

Somewhat Slighted Sequel

Super Mario Galaxy 2 is an incredibly fun game, with a bunch of new powerups and a few fun gimmicks that make it stand out from the original, but it does feel quite underwhelming in comparison to the first game.

This game was first conceived as DLC, and it shows, having a story that practically erases the first game rather than building on it, then watering it down so much that it loses the impact that one of the only story-heavy Mario games had.

On top of that, the new powerups are a little underwhelming overall. The Cloud Flower is a standout, but everything else either feels supremely under-utilized or is Rock Mario, which can be infuriating to use at times.

Super Mario Galaxy 2 would have been ten times better if it didn’t have the stupid bird levels. It just feels like there’s way more to complain about. On top of it being far more linear, being slightly worse than excellence is enough to rank low.

6 Super Mario Sunshine

Propelled To New Heights

The black sheep of Mario’s 3D legacy, Super Mario Sunshine, is a stark example of what the Gamecube era was like. Constant experimenting led to Mario‘s rolled-up sleeves and jetpack.

If you’re willing to take it on its own, are not too judgmental of strange decisions, and don’t have someone in your ear saying it sucks, then Sunshine can be some great fun, despite the very apparent issues.

While the moveset feels incredibly slippery and bad at first, you slowly grow to understand it, control Mario better, and have an absolute blast making him spin, dive and schmove around the levels.

Sure, it has a truckload of bugs, the level structure is rather strange, and the character’s voices are hilariously awful at times, but this game is so unique and fun that I felt compelled to put it up here.

5 Super Mario 64

Supremely Slick

Super Mario 64 is way older than you think, and despite its age, it still holds up as a rather fun experience that’s mostly held back by being one of the first 3D platformers ever made and a weird camera system.

Mario’s controls feel so fluid, every move chains into another, and they make traversing any level very satisfying. In most of the stars test, you control Mario in approachable and fun ways.

That doesn’t mean this game is without flaws, though. Namely, I think the 100 coin and red coin stars both suck, which makes it even worse that they exist for almost every stage in the game. Wall jumps feel finicky, and while the art style can look charming sometimes, more often than not the overstretched textures look awful.

Super Mario 64 is still a great, fun game at the end of the day, but there’s better on this list.

4 Super Mario 3D World

Platforming Perfected

Super Mario 3D World somewhat falls into the trap that New Super Mario Bros. created: a somewhat generic style compensated by incredible levels, colorful level themes, and a godlike OST.

It’s meant to play like a 2D Mario game in 3D, and it nails that perfectly, with linear levels that constantly test you on new obstacles and gimmicks, feeling immensely satisfying to complete every time.

This game isn’t going to blow your mind or anything, but it’s the mix of quality and consistently fun design that makes it stand out, even with weird character controls, and an awful crown mechnic in multiplayer.

Super Mario 3D World is good fun, despite not being too innovative with anything aside from the cat suit. It’s like getting excellent fast food instead of a fancy steak dinner: sometimes it just hits the sweet spot.

3 Bowser’s Fury

Short, But Surprising

Since I don’t care much about the length of my games, Bowser’s Fury feels like a damn good experience, taking what worked about 3D World and mixing it with the open exploration of the less linear games.

It’s like you have a few self-contained linear platforming challenges that all make up one huge level, then throwing a few dozen of these levels in the map as islands, letting you run around and do them whenever you want.

I love it for the same reason I love Sonic Frontiers. Getting to roam around a massive space and do bits of platforming just feels fun, especially when the open space has even more stuff to do.

I’ll say that it’s not implemented perfectly, namely because the random Bowser jumpscares and having to leave the island and come back constantly get on my nerves, but as a side game that comes with 3D World, it’s a damn good time.

2 Super Mario Odyssey

Whimsy Incarnate

The list of games that have made me cry is a bit odd: Undertale, Undertale Yellow, Outer Wilds, and Super Mario Odyssey. There’s an odd one out of that bunch, but that’s because Odyssey is incredible.

Every kingdom feels completely unique, complete with standout moments. I love collecting moons, getting silly costumes for Mario, and helping out the denizens with their self-contained stories.

I adore the open exploration, the movement feels incredibly good, and it’s one of the only games that has pushed me to speedrun it, even if it didn’t work out for that long, it was still fun to try and replay it over and over.

While captures can be a little annoying, every other part of Super Mario Odyssey coalesced into something so enjoyable and whimsical that I cried tears of joy at the credits. I’m not sure why it had such a huge impact on me, but it remains unforgettable.

1 Super Mario Galaxy

Landed Among The Stars

I’d be cheating the two of us if I didn’t give Super Mario Galaxy, the absolute masterpiece of a platformer that it is, first place. This game combines everything I love about 3D Mario games and has even more to offer on top of that.

Every level feels like a great balance of linearity and exploration, making all of them feel very open and freeing, yet incredibly satisfying to complete, with platforming challenges that can genuinely test how adept you are at the game.

The soundtrack is full of beautifully orchestrated pieces that can range anywhere from bombastic and energetic to somber and heartbreaking, due to this being the only game on this list with a genuinely heart-felt and emotional story told.

Everything about Super Mario Galaxy holds up as this incredible game, one that hasn’t truly been replicated despite having a sequel, and the fact fans still beg for a Galaxy 3 to this day shows how impactful it is.