The Best Mario Games Turning 20 In 2025

Mario games seem to be one of the video game world’s most reliable constants. There will always be more, and they’ll always be popular with all ages. This applies to every group, from little newbie gamers to millennials, who are still angry about The Super Mario Bros. Movie and beyond. If you’re a gamer, you’ve seen or played a Mario game.

In 2005, that constant was already comfortably embedded in the rich lore of video games. 2025 sees the twentieth anniversary of all those Mario games, and you might be surprised how many of your favorites started out in that vaguely-symmetrical year.

8

Mario Party Advance

January 13, 2005 (Game Boy Advance, Japan)

Likely not considered the top contender in most people’s Mario Party tier lists, Mario Party Advance was Nintendo’s first big attempt to move the board game-style series to handheld (that e-reader one you don’t remember probably doesn’t count). It’s at least worth celebrating for that reason.

It was decidedly more difficult to capture the multiplayer mayhem of Mario Party on a handheld with no wireless capabilities. But between Mario Party Advance’s entertaining single-player mode and general variety for a Game Boy Advance game, it certainly earned its fans.

7

Mario Superstar Baseball

July 21, 2005 (GameCube, Japan)

Considering the popularity of baseball in both the USA and Japan, it seemed like only a matter of time before Mario got in on the action. Mario Superstars Baseball took that first step into the sport, and it kind of deserves a little more attention.

Hitting a ball with a stick is a simple and satisfying idea, and Mario Superstars Baseball adds its own spin on things with special abilities and field hazards like piranha plants. Plus, Donkey Kong hits the ball by punching it. That’s worth at least several play sessions.

6

Mario Tennis: Power Tour

September 13, 2005 (Game Boy Advance, Japan)

How would you like a Mario Tennis game on the Game Boy Advance? Well, how about one with RPG elements developed by the team behind Golden Sun? (Don’t worry, there’s still multiplayer.) Remember, you’re answering this like it’s 2005, but even aside from that, what a prospect.

Much like Golf Story, you play through a story in Mario Tennis: Power Tour that includes actual sports matches to progress. The Mario characters don’t even show up in story mode until later, posing as mysterious masked challengers. Sorry to spoil the surprise characters in a game called Mario Tennis.

5

Super Princess Peach

October 20, 2005 (Nintendo DS, Japan)

Back on the Nintendo DS, Nintendo finally decided in 2005 to give Princess Peach a proper shot at her own game. Unfortunately, This plucky platformer didn’t enjoy the critical and commercial success of its contemporaries, but it remains a worthwhile title with some honestly satisfying gameplay.

Controlling Peach, you take her through various levels on her way to rescue Mario, because who doesn’t love a good subversion? Her special abilities revolve around her emotions, which might be worth a little side-eye for the first major female-led Mario game. Still, she will see new powers and abilities of her own later on.

4

Mario Party 7

November 7, 2005 (GameCube, North America)

The Mario Party series was already well in full chaotic swing when 2005 came along, so it’s only natural that another would be on the way. What much can you say about Mario Party? It’s played like a board game; you go through minigames between rounds, and you’ll ruin several relationships while playing.

In the story of Mario Party 7, everybody is invited on a cruise… except Bowser. He agrees that not inviting him was very rude, so he decides to ruin their fun. This takes the form of Mario Party, which kind of tracks depending on how you and your friends play. Several minigames also feature the GameCube microphone because who doesn’t need more yelling in these games?

3

Super Mario Strikers

November 18, 2005 (GameCube, Europe)

It’s kind of wild that some of the coolest and most unique art in the entire Mario series comes from some of the sports games. Super Mario Strikers started this trend, and it has absolutely served its follow-ups well.

Special abilities abound, Super Mario Strikers is all about shaking up the soccer formula. There are no rules here, just use everything you’ve got to dominate on the pitch. The stylized moves and cover art go a long way in really making the experience hit hard, an idea that’s thankfully continued with subsequent games.

2

Mario Kart DS

November 14, 2005 (Nintendo DS, North America)

Mario Kart DS kind of changed the game when it roared onto the Nintendo DS in 2005. If you were watching almost any TV channel back then, you saw the commercials with people tossing stuff into a TV to mess with race cars. Because now, you can affect the race from anywhere, thanks to wireless play.

Easily one of the DS’ killer apps, Mario Kart DS makes up for its blocky presentation with racing action that still holds up easily today. If you knew how to use the “snaking” technique to basically drift forever, you were untouchable, except by all the other people who knew how to snake.

1

Mario & Luigi: Partners In Time

November 28, 2005 (Nintendo DS, North America)

The Mario & Luigi series enjoyed a return in 2024 with Mario & Luigi: Brothership. But for many years up to that point, many fans feared these beloved and hilarious Mario RPGs were long dead. But back in 2005, they were in the thick of their popularity.

Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time shook up the already creative RPG formula from the previous game, Superstar Saga, by teaming the titular plumbers up with their infant selves. Controlling all four characters took some getting used to, but it absolutely works, and the game itself is genuinely hilarious.