Mario Games That Surpassed Expectations

It’s always a big moment in the video game industry whenever a new Mario title drops, though admittedly, the hype has varied between many of the games. Nobody can ever forget the incredibly high expectations that were set for games like Mario Odyssey and New Super Mario Bros, but not every game in the franchise has received this level of attention leading up to their release, which is why it becomes such a pleasant surprise when they turn out to be well worth the asking price.

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There have been several Mario games that managed to prove their worth despite all the odds, ensuring fans that, no matter how predictable or plain they game might seem from trailers, Nintendo can always be relied on to cook up a fun and high-quality experience. The hype may have been kept to a minimum before these games were released, but despite that, they managed to make their mark on the series to everyone’s surprise, and are still talked about fondly to this day.

7

Super Mario Galaxy 2

Somehow, Nintendo Managed To Replicate And Even Improve The Unique Gameplay Of The Original Mario Galaxy

Systems

Released

May 23, 2010

Developer(s)

Nintendo EAD

While Super Mario Galaxy would blow away all expectations with its unique 3D platforming gameplay, whimsical aesthetic, and epic soundtrack, it was hard to imagine how Nintendo could improve on what many still see as a perfect entry in the franchise. By fine-tuning the movement and introducing Yoshi to the game, Mario Galaxy 2 would feel a lot faster and more fluid than the first game, meanwhile the planets felt just as creative and groundbreaking.

The number of levels has been greatly expanded for the sequel, allowing for a much greater degree of gameplay creativity, especially with all the new power-ups that have been included, such as the Rock Mushroom which allows Mario to roam around at high speeds. To everyone’s surprise, Mario Galaxy 2 would be as good, if not better, than the classic which came before it.

6

New Super Luigi U

Luigi’s Solo Platforming Adventure Turned Out To Be More Than A Mere Copycat Of What Came Previously

Systems

Released

August 25, 2013

Developer(s)

Nintendo EAD

With New Super Mario Bros. U already being a top notch platformer title, there wasn’t quite as much excitement for the standalone DLC expansion which featured Luigi. Considering the game came out during the Year of Luigi, it felt as though Nintendo were simply trying to capitalize off the occasion by shoving in an extra bit of paid content which could have been in the original game already.

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There wasn’t much excitement in the air when these games were announced, which is why it was so surprising when they ended up being a ton of fun.

Thankfully though, Super Mario Luigi. U proved itself to be much more than just a simple cash grab, with 80 unique levels being packed into the game, alongside Luigi himself controlling a lot differently from Mario. When there were many people ridiculing the decision to make this a full-priced standalone game, Nintendo managed to convince a lot of the doubters that it possessed more than enough quality for it to justify the decision.

5

Mario Strikers Charged

Mario Strikers Charged Was Sandwiched In Between A Ton Of Other Big Nintendo Releases

Systems

Released

May 25, 2007

ESRB

E

2007 was a year jam-packed with highly anticipated Nintendo Releases. Whether it was Super Mario Galaxy, Metroid Prime 3, or The Legend of Zelda: The Phantom Hourglass, it was easy to get carried away with the big hitters, which is why smaller and more niche Nintendo titles, like Mario Strikers Charged, went under the radar for many people.

Despite the limited hype, Mario Strikers Charged would turn out to become a much-beloved sports title which stood out for how unapologetically raw and aggressive it was. During each match of 5v5 soccer, characters are able to barge each other into electric fences, or toss a few shells across the battlefield to knock everyone out, setting up a chance for a goal. Needless to say, it’s a frantic and intense title which is infinitely replayable thanks to the character selection; all of whom possess their own unique ultimate abilities and on-pitch stats.

4

Mario Kart 8

Mario Kart 8 Managed To Carry Forward The Momentum Of The Wii And DS Titles

Systems

Released

May 30, 2014

Developer(s)

Nintendo EAD

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

The Mario Kart series managed to go on an incredible three-game run from the DS to the 3DS, with the fan-favorite Wii entry being jammed in the middle. Considering this game was also coming out for the Wii U, which hadn’t quite enamored players with its controller gimmick, Mario Kart 8 wasn’t receiving a lot of excitement, and fans wondered whether Nintendo could truly live up to the weighty expectations.

However, they came out swinging with Mario Kart 8, with the game sporting a gorgeous visual style along with the brand new anti-gravity driving mechanic which allowed many of the stages to feel incredibly immersive and otherwordly in design. Pair that with the in-depth kart customization and guest characters joining the roster, and it results in a game that, while many assumed would be good, ended up being arguably the best entry in the series.

3

Super Mario Maker 2

Nintendo Managed To Improve Upon The Already Incredible Mario Maker Through Adding Unique Features

Systems

Released

June 28, 2019

Developer(s)

Nintendo

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

The original Super Mario Maker for the Nintendo 3DS already gave fans the opportunity to create their very own levels packed full enemies and items from the series’ past. Therefore, it was a little baffling when Nintendo decided to announce a sequel, which many felt would struggle to expand on the core gameplay of the original which was already so solid.

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The way Nintendo managed to achieve this was by introducing the Super Mario 3D World theme, which immediately unlocked a plethora of new items and power-ups to throw in. The online also ended up being a lot smoother than expected, resulting in a sequel which many fans didn’t even know they wanted until it arrived.

2

Super Mario Party Jamboree

Jamboree Blew Away Expectations During A Lull Period For The Spin-Off Series

Released

October 17, 2024

Developer(s)

Nintendo

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

Though the Mario Party spin-off games have always been popular, the series experienced quite a rough patch with the release of 9, 10, and Super Mario Party. With only four boards to choose from and a relatively small pool of minigames, many fans were disappointed with Super Mario Party, and presumed that Nintendo had finally run out of creative ideas for the series going forward.

Therefore, hype for Super Mario Jamboree was kept at a minimum, but when the game finally released, it managed to blow away all expectations. Not only are there seven boards to choose from, all with their own unique environments and challenges, there’s also a plethora of new features, one of the biggest being the addition of Jamboree buddies who can drastically change up the gameplay.

1

Super Mario 3D World

What Felt Like Just Another 3D Mario Release Ended Up Being A Wonderfully Creative And Engaging Experience

Systems

Released

November 22, 2013

Developer(s)

Nintendo EAD

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

By the time Super Mario 3D World released in 2013, many fans began to wonder just how much more creative Nintendo could get with the 3D platforming format which had been experimented with by so many previous games to varying degrees of success. Considering it was also released during the Wii U’s lifespan, the game wasn’t exactly talked about all that much, which is why it was so shocking when it was released and felt like a genuinely new and fresh experience.

The addition of the catsuit allows each of the four players to crawl around the colorful environments of the levels, leading to plenty of fun puzzles and gimmicks which ensure the core gameplay loop never becomes stale. The game’s standalone expansion, Bowser’s Fury, is also well worth trying out for how it essentially takes the game into the open-world genre, making for a very ambitious and memorable expansion.

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