Best 3DS Mario Games

Key Takeaways

• Mario’s handheld adventures on the 3DS offer some of his most unique journeys and experiences in multiple genres.
• Nintendo’s faith in the 3DS led to high-profile Mario games, including
  Mario Party: Island Tour
  and
  Mario Sports Superstars
  .
• 3DS hosted standout Mario games like
  Mario & Luigi: Dream Team
  and
  Mario Kart 7
  , showcasing Nintendo’s commitment to quality on the platform.

Ever since Nintendo transitioned from making toys and playing cards to the home console market, Mario has been a consistent presence in their arsenal. From the original Super Mario Bros., all the way to his greatest adventure in Super Mario Odyssey, the little guy has called multiple consoles home. But it goes without saying that some of Mario’s greatest success has been on the handheld systems, where he has been the star of not just platformers, but conquered numerous different genres and styles of games.

From sports games to traditional platformers, all the way to racing games and some excellent puzzle games, Mario’s time on the 3DS was truly something special. No other handheld Nintendo console boasts as many Mario games as the 3DS, with a library of fascinating releases. While Mario’s home console efforts have often redefined and perfected the 3D platformer, his handheld adventures have seen some of his most unique journeys come to life.

Updated November 29, 2024, by Maddie Fisher: The 3DS was a system that Nintendo continued to support even when it didn’t seem logical, as they launched several high-profile games on the platform when the Switch was beginning its ascent. It was a massively successful device, as proven by the staggering number of Mario games. This list of the best Mario 3DS games has been updated to showcase that, adding new galleries and showing just how much power Nintendo was able to squeeze out of their impressive handheld hardware. Among them are a few of Mario’s impressive sports collaborations with ex-rival Sonic and some cute Mario Vs. Donkey Kong games. Mario’s handheld games have shown to be some of the most popular in the franchise, and his 3DS titles are some of the best that Nintendo has ever made for their long-standing mascot.

20 Mini-Mario and Friends: Amiibo Challenge

Amiibo-Focused Entry In The Mario Vs. Donkey Kong Series

• Platform(s): 3DS
• Release Date: April 28, 2016
• Developer: Nintendo Software Technology

The Mario Vs. Donkey Kong series was a productive force on the 3DS, with four total entries. This puzzle-platformer spinoff series fit in well on the handheld console, and in 2016, Nintendo released Mini-Mario and Friends: Amiibo Challenge. While it had some fun levels, the main issue with Amiibo Challenge lies in the required use of the Nintendo figures in order to operate.

As a part of Nintendo’s brand, the Amiibo line has been hit-or-miss. Games that require them to play always feel a bit off-putting, especially considering that other games have used them in much better ways. In terms of other Mario Vs. Donkey Kong titles, the levels and puzzles found in the game make it difficult to justify the Amiibo requirement. The 3DS not only saw much better Mario games, but far better entries in this series, making this unfortunate title a bit outdated.

19 Mario Party: Island Tour

Debut Of Mario Party On Nintendo 3DS

• Platform(s): 3DS
• Release Date: November 22, 2013
• Developer: NDCube

Nintendo’s die-hard faith in their handheld platforms is never more obvious than when they use that system to launch the next long-standing series on the system. Mario Party: Island Tour is the 12th game in this storied franchise. But one of the best aspects of Island Tour is the way it offers new systems, breaking from some Mario Party traditions in some very cool ways.

Where previous Mario Party games pit players against each other on a looping board full of traps and Bowser spaces in order to buy stars, Island Tour built its concept on linear, race-type boards. On the way to the finish line, the inherent drama came from high rolls and winning mini-games. It was a unique spin on the Mario Party formula that sadly has not been revisited, as modern titles in the series could take a few cues from this forgotten entry.

18 Mario Party: The Top 100

Collection Of Mario Party’s Best Mini Games

Mario Party has been one of the most consistently well-made spin-off titles in Nintendo’s arsenal, as this genre-defining multiplayer game has routinely delivered some spectacular experiences over the years. One of the main reasons for its success has been mini-games, where Nintendo has shown a wonderful ability to create a huge range of unique competitions. And in Mario Party: The Top 100, they celebrated that by compiling the best and most popular mini-games in the entire franchise.

As just throwing 100 mini-games onto a cart may be a bit boring, Nintendo wraps the whole presentation into a jaunt through an island with a chosen character. It’s not perfect, and it misses a few key games, but it does allow players to experience some of the best ones in the franchise. Games like Hotel Goomba, Booksquirm, Trace Race, and Later Skater are just a few of the exceptional games that show just how inventive and clever this franchise is.

17 Mario And Sonic At The Rio 2016 Olympic Games

Former Rivals Team Up In Outstanding Party Game

Despite recent confirmation that Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 will be the final entry in this long-running crossover franchise, it’s hard not to look back on past efforts in this series with fond memories. The collaboration between two former long-time rivals in Mario and Sonic has made for some excellent games. The 2016 version set in Rio is still worth revisiting today.

Featuring a fantastic selection of characters, ranging from Sonic and Mario, all the way to Rouge the Bat and Espio, this terrific title also has some great events to take part in. New to the series is BMX racing, while classics like volleyball and horse racing are just as fun as they’ve always been.

16 Mario Sports Superstars

Sports Compilation Title Pits Mario Characters Against Each Other

• Platform(s): 3DS
• Release Date: March 24, 2017
• Developer: Bandai Namco, Camelot Software Planning

Mario and his friends are certainly no strangers to sports, as they have come together to compete in golf, football, and tennis in a number of fantastic games. But with Mario Sports Superstars, Nintendo opted to showcase multiple different events. Offering everything from horse racing to tennis, Mario Sports Superstars is one of the more underrated 3DS titles.

Superstars also features a fantastic range of characters, including Mario, Yoshi, Diddy Kong, Rosalina, and Daisy. The events feel great to play, and the classic Nintendo charm is just as wonderful as it ever was. This terrific sports extravaganza is one of the more overlooked Mario 3DS games and is due for some sort of revival on the Switch.

15 Mario And Sonic At The London 2012 Olympic Games

Sonic And Mario Come Together In The Best Olympic Games Title On 3DS

• Platform(s): 3DS
• Release Date: March 18, 2016
• Developer: Sega, Spike Chunsoft

Long before Mario and Sonic began competing together in crossover titles, they were competing against each other in a protracted console war during the 1990s. But in the wake of Sega leaving hardware behind, rivalries were tossed out the window, and the two icons began to co-star in games. Some of the best have been the Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games titles, and the 2012 London edition is easily the best handheld version of this classic team-up.

Players can choose between Mario, Luigi, Sonic, Shadow, Amy and more, as the roster is truly one of the best parts of the game. It features a great spread of events, with everything from hockey to archery to bowling to weightlifting. This spectacular competitive sports game is just one of the many reasons that the 3DS library is as celebrated as it is.

14 Mario Party: Star Rush

Mario Party’s Greatest Handheld Entry Is One Of 3DS’ Best Games

• Platform(s): 3DS
• Release Date: November 4, 2016
• Developer: NDCube

The Mario Party series was well-supported on the 3DS, which was also the place where Nintendo would often take more chances with the franchise. And with this entry, Nintendo changed the formula once again by offering new and fun ways to experience this multiplayer romp.

In Mario Party: Star Rush, the main method of play is called Toad Scramble. Instead of picking icons from the world of Nintendo, players control a squadron of Toads that roll dice together in order to move along the board and collect the characters themselves to combat fierce bosses. It’s a quirky and unique title that is still a ton of fun today and one that Nintendo would be wise to revisit on the Switch today.

13 Dr. Mario: Miracle Cure

Refined Version Of Game Boy Classic

• Platform(s): 3DS
• Release Date: June 11, 2015
• Developer: Arika, Nintendo SPD Group No. 2

Created by the legendary Gunpei Yokoi, Dr. Mario has become one of Nintendo’s most fascinating spin-off titles. One of the greatest iterations of this addictive block-puzzle franchise launched on the 3DS in 2015. Dr. Mario: Miracle Cure maintains the consistent level of quality that the series has become known for, tasking players with matching colored capsules in order to clean out their play space of red, blue and yellow viruses to achieve victory.

New to this 3DS version is a gauge that, upon being filled up, rewards the player with a Miracle Cure item. Some of them can clear an entire color of viruses from the screen, while others will eradicate an entire row. With Miracle Cure, Nintendo maintained the fun of the original games while adding some new twists into what is still the best Dr. Mario game to date.

12 Mario Tennis Open

Addictive Handheld Tennis Game Is One Of Camelot’s Best Efforts

The ongoing relationship between Nintendo and Camelot Software Planning has been a good one, resulting in some of the best Mario sports spin-off games. And with Mario Tennis Open, Camelot brought their exquisite talents for crafting fun sports games to the 3DS.

In terms of its roster, this excellent 3DS title offers staples like Mario and Luigi, while Boo, Bowser, Diddy Kong, and Wario fill out the rest of this enticing collection of playable characters. Mario Tennis Open feels a touch faster than other entries, with snappy and responsive feedback to racket hits. It also features some fun Special Games in the form of Ring Shot and Galaxy Rally. The former requires the player to hit balls through multiple rings, while in the latter, they must avoid falling into an expanding black hole. It’s one of the 3DS’ best games and still one of Camelot’s best efforts.

11 Mario Vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars

Charming Mario Vs. Donkey Kong Series Shines On 3DS

The handheld nature of the 3DS made it a perfect landing spot for the Mario Vs. Donkey Kong series, where the bite-sized nature of the level design was a perfect fit for portable play. Initially presented as a tech demo of the Nintendo Web Framework at the 2014 Game Developer’s Conference, Mario Vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars eventually made its way to 3DS in 2015.

The charming art of the Mario Mini Toys is a great fit on the 3DS, with ample use of the bottom touch screen to connect bridges and girders, as well as boasting an absolutely stellar soundtrack. It also features a workshop mode, where players can create and share custom levels, a precursor to Super Mario Maker’s arrival on 3DS the following year.

10 Super Mario Maker For Nintendo 3DS

Innovative Level Creation Tool Transitions Perfectly From Console To Handheld

Somehow, Nintendo was able to take a game that seemed like it would translate horribly from a home console to a handheld and produced a spectacular way to play Mario Maker on the go. Although it lacks some of the scope of its bigger brothers on the Wii U and Nintendo Switch, Mario Maker on 3DS is still a great way to spend some time being creative.

Despite missing a few items and course objects, the 3DS version of Nintendo’s beloved creation suite still maintains all the charm, fun, and joy of making your own Mario levels. It is just as addictive and engaging as its console counterparts, and it also features 100 levels in a mode called Super Mario Challenge. Altogether, it’s a fantastic package of play and creation.

9 Paper Mario: Sticker Star

Paper Mario Debuts On The Nintendo 3DS

As the first handheld entry in the Paper Mario line, Sticker Star had a lot of ambition to live up to. Following the critical acclaim bestowed upon the original Paper Mario on the N64, as well as the popular Thousand-Year Door on GameCube and equally praised Super Paper Mario on Wii, there was a bit of anticipation for the first one to hit the 3DS.

While maintaining all the charm, wit, and humor found in the previous Paper Mario games, Sticker Star also made some noise by adding the sticker mechanic, as they are used for puzzles and combat. It was a bold decision, but one that paid off as it brought all the joy and heart from the console Paper Mario games to the handheld arena.

8 Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam

Two Of Nintendo’s Most Iconic Spin-Off Franchises Come Together

Despite his status as a haven for pitch-perfect platforming action, Mario has also found his way into some pretty spectacular RPGs over the years. Ever since Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars on the SNES, Nintendo has cultivated a hearty stable of role-playing adventures for the Mushroom Kingdom crew.

As per usual with Mario RPGs, it is filled with quirky humor, delightful writing, and the same great battle system previous entries had. It also has a lovely element of featuring the original Paper Mario sprite as a playable character alongside 3D Mario and Luigi, something that feels quite at home in today’s era of multiverses.

7 Mario Vs. Donkey Kong: Minis On The Move

First 3D Entry In Mario Vs. Donkey Kong Series

• Platform(s): 3DS
• Release Date: May 9, 2013
• Developer: Nintendo Software Technology

The Mario Vs. Donkey Kong series has a reputation as a series of slick 2D puzzle-platformers. However, Nintendo sought to do something different with the series in 2013 by producing a 3D entry known as Minis on the Move. While a transition from 2D to 3D would potentially tempt a developer to increase the scale of a franchise, Nintendo managed to maintain the smaller, more intricate levels in such a fabulous way.

The levels of Minis on the Move still feel just as perfectly crafted and tight as the 2D entries, but within fantastic 3D spaces. It opens up the world without making it feel enormous, a key component of the Mario Vs. Donkey Kong games. In many ways, its clever puzzles and unique world design feel like a precursor to Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker. It’s still one of the best 3DS games one can find today.

6 New Super Mario Bros. 2

Pitch Perfect Platformer Is Right At Home On The 3DS

Among the many different forms that Mario took on the 3DS, he never strayed too far from his platformer roots. Though the New Super Mario Bros. line has been somewhat forgotten by Nintendo these days, NSMB2 was able to satisfy the seemingly never ending need for a great 2D Mario platformer.

It features some delightful boss battles against the Koopalings, specifically the fights against Iggy and Morton, but the final battle against Dry Bowser is a key highlight. It features a phenomenal sense of scale, as well as having one of the best final boss tracks one can find in the franchise.

5 Mario & Luigi: Dream Team

Luigi Takes Center Stage In This 3DS RPG

Released during Nintendo’s infamous Year of Luigi in 2013, which saw other brilliant titles like Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon and New Super Luigi U, Mario & Luigi: Dream Team put Mario’s brother at the forefront of this adventure. Despite Luigi’s push to the front, it remains one of the most heartwarming tales involving the two brothers.

While retaining all the brilliant aspects of previous Mario & Luigi games, Dream Team also featured some fun changes to the battle system. Shifting in and out of Luigi’s dream world, Mario and his brother will transition between 2D and 3D screens, complete with some fabulous boss battles and a killer soundtrack.

4 Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser’s Minions

Remake Of Classic Game Boy Advance RPG

Among the many subseries in the franchise, it’s safe to call the Mario & Luigi line one of the more consistent collections of titles. They have managed to maintain a level of quality, humorous writing, and incredibly solid RPG systems. Mario& Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser’s Minions is a remake of the original Gameboy Advance release from 2003, launching for Nintendo 3DS in 2017.

This enhanced remake features updated graphics and music, as well as a brand-new story called Bowser’s Minions. Shown as a cute little play in Yoshi Theater, the story begins not long after Mario and Luigi defeat their first enemy and is a brilliantly funny experience.

3 Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story + Bowser Jr’s Journey

Expanded Edition Of 2009 Nintendo DS Game

This remake of one of the Gameboy Advance’s best RPGs was released roughly two years into the lifespan of the Switch. If anything, it proved that despite the Switch being well on its way to becoming the monstrous success that it’s become, Nintendo was somewhat justified in its continued support of the 3DS.

This release features arguably the wittiest script in the Mario & Luigi series, as well as a second story called Bowser Jr’s Journey. Taking place while Bowser is busy in the main story, it focuses on Bowser Jr and the Koopalings. It’s easily the best Mario & Luigi game, a fabulous package that is one of the little plumber’s finest works to date.

2 Mario Kart 7

One Of The Greatest Handheld Racers Of All Time

Nintendo’s faith in the 3DS was something to behold, as they weren’t shy about throwing mainline entries of their popular franchises on it. And it was with Mario Kart 7 that Nintendo was able to produce not just one of the best entries in their long-running series but also to create one of the greatest handheld racing games ever made.

Mario Kart 7 features some of the best tracks in the franchise, with courses like Neo Bowser City, Daisy Hills, and the spectacular new revision of Rainbow Road being some highlights. Additionally, the roster boasts the likes of Mario, Rosalina, Yoshi, and Bowser and also marks the debut of Shy Guy as a playable racer for the first time.

1 Super Mario 3D Land

Outstanding Platform Game Is Mario’s Greatest 3DS Adventure

If there’s one thing that Nintendo knew about Mario’s handheld adventures, it was that he was most at home on a platformer. Setting the tone for Super Mario 3D World to release on the Wii U a couple of years later, 3D Land is easily one of the finest 3D platformers on the system and a fabulously designed game from start to finish.

The stages were built around building up multiple mechanics within a single level. They would be established, refined, and then done away with as a way to keep the player engaged. This unique system paired with Nintendo’s usual flair for colorful worlds and sound design was a perfect fit for one of Mario’s most incredible releases.