The Mario series is one of the most famous and beloved gaming franchises of all time. Titles like Super Mario World, Super Mario 64, and Super Mario Odyssey are classics that frequently appear on lists of the best video games of all time, but not every Mario game is showered in attention.
Many of these forgotten Mario games are just as good as the classics, and they’re ultimately hidden gems even though they star gaming’s most iconic character. No Mario fan should miss out on these underrated Nintendo games.
Mario Hoops 3-on-3 Is an Amazing Mario Sports Game
There have been many Mario sports games, good and bad, but only one is focused entirely on basketball. Mario Hoops 3-on-3 is a unique take on the sport, and it manages to keep things interesting by constantly changing the rules of the game.
What’s also special about Mario Hoops 3-on-3 is that Square Enix developed the game. Alongside the standard cast of Mario characters, it added Final Fantasy characters as well. No one should expect Cloud or Sephiroth to appear, though, as the crossover is centered more on the early titles.
A Moogle, Black Mage, Cactuar, and more round out the rest of the roster. It’s a great outing on the Nintendo DS, which makes it a shame that more Mario basketball games were never made. Mario Hoops 3-on-3 proves that Mario and friends are just as good on the court.
Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins Is a Classic Game Boy Game
While the first Super Mario Land is a classic, Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins is the better game. It sees Mario facing Wario in his first appearance as he tries to reclaim Mario Land. In many ways, it feels like the leap from Super Mario Bros. to Super Mario World.
The best part is the game’s non-linear structure. Every level must still be completed, but players can choose the order in which they tackle them. Though the game is on the shorter side, it never outstays its welcome. That makes it well worth revisiting, especially since Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins remains one of the best Game Boy games of all time.
New Super Mario Bros. 2 Sends Players On a Golden Adventure
By the time New Super Mario Bros. 2 came out, many gamers were tired of the New Super Mario Bros. series. Even so, the Nintendo 3DS entry still earned strong reviews because of how much fun it is. The central goal is to collect a million coins, and that’s surprisingly satisfying to pursue.
Another highlight is Coin Rush mode, which pits players against each other to collect the most coins. Drawing heavily from Super Mario Bros. 3, New Super Mario Bros. 2 brings back favorites like the Tanooki Suit in full form. All in all, it’s a golden addition to the Mario series.
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope Is an Underrated Mario Game
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope is the most recent game on the list, but it’s also a seriously underrated one. It builds on the excellent gameplay of Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle and takes things to space. Just like its setting, the combat feels more expansive, as grid-based movement has been removed in favor of open movement.
That added freedom extends to both exploration and combat. Battles feel faster and less restrictive as a result. Sparks of Hope also introduces the Sparks system, which gives players either a new skill or a useful bonus.
The nods to Super Mario Galaxy are well appreciated. Much like those games, the larger scale helps reinforce that this sequel is bigger and more ambitious. Although Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope didn’t perform as well commercially as Kingdom Battle, it’s still a very fun experience.
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga Kicked Off an Underrated Franchise
The Mario & Luigi franchise doesn’t always get the same respect as the Paper Mario series, but the first game, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, is one of the best Mario games of all time. Its story brings the same energy as the Paper Mario series and makes for an incredible journey.
Its tone is fantastic, with just the right amount of wackiness and charm, especially from Luigi. The main antagonist, Cackletta, not only has a memorable design but also stands as one of the more underrated villains Mario has faced. Her plan is brilliant, as she replaces Princess Peach’s voice with bombs.
That playful story is balanced well by the combat, as the game brilliantly uses Mario and Luigi together through the Bros. attacks. While Mario & Luigi isn’t the biggest franchise, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga shouldn’t be forgotten, as it remains one of its best RPG efforts.
Super Mario 3D Land Perfectly Uses 3D Elements
Super Mario 3D Land is one of the best games on the Nintendo 3DS, but because it’s stuck on an older system, it doesn’t get the attention it deserves. While some games treated the handheld’s 3D mechanics as a gimmick, Super Mario 3D Land seamlessly worked it into the gameplay.
Despite its usage of 3D, Super Mario 3D Land plays more like a 2D Mario game. It’s a surprisingly fresh take on the classic Mario formula, and even though a newer version wouldn’t be able to use the 3DS’ signature mechanic, it would still be amazing to see this title make a return.
Super Paper Mario Is a 10/10 Masterpiece
Super Paper Mario is stuck on the Wii, and that shouldn’t be the case, as it’s one of the best Mario games of all time. Instead of using turn-based combat, the game plays like a platformer that can switch to 3D. That clever use of shifting between 2D and 3D to solve puzzles and reveal secrets is a fun feature.
Its story still has the same charm as the Paper Mario series. What stands out, though, is the surprisingly tragic element present throughout, which is unlike anything else seen in a Mario game. By the end of Super Paper Mario, there’ll likely be tears, which is a wild thing to say about a Mario game.
Nintendo needs to bring this classic back as a remaster, just as it did with The Thousand-Year Door. More gamers should get the chance to experience the 10/10 masterpiece that is Super Paper Mario.