Mario is the most recognizable character in gaming history and is the main mascot for Nintendo. The little red plumber and the company are forever linked. Yet, that doesn’t mean that Nintendo made every video game starring Mario.
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It made the main series titles and plenty of spin-offs, but there are a lot of Mario games that other companies developed. Yes, Nintendo still published most of them, but another studio was tasked with creating the game. This was often the case for titles that moved away from Mario’s typical form of gameplay and perhaps even changed genres entirely. Here are the best Mario titles for which someone other than Nintendo is responsible.
8
Mario Party 3
- Released
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May 7, 2001
- Developer(s)
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Hudson Soft
- Publisher(s)
-
Nintendo
- ESRB
-
E For Everyone // Comic Mischief
Nintendo Cube developed the newest Mario Party games, but Hudson Soft made the early titles. This includes Mario Party 3, which is often considered one of the series’ best efforts.
As with the other games in the series, playing Mario Party 3 is like playing a virtual board game. You roll a dice and move around the board, hoping not to land on a bad space. The goal is to collect more stars than everyone else. This iteration of the concept includes some of the best boards and most entertaining minigames in the series.
7
Mario And Luigi: Superstar Saga
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
- Released
-
November 17, 2003
- Developer(s)
-
AlphaDream
- Publisher
-
Vanpool
- ESRB
-
e
Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga was developed by AlphaDream, which is a company most known for the Mario and Luigi series, but it also made some Hamtaro games.
Superstar Saga was the original title in the Mario and Luigi series. It is an RPG where you control both of the titular characters at the same time. As the duo, you need to make your way through each level, solving some puzzles and participating in turn-based combat against any enemies in your way.
6
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope
- Platform(s)
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Switch
- Released
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October 20, 2022
- Developer(s)
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Ubisoft Milan, Ubisoft Paris
- ESRB
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E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Cartoon Violence
The idea of Ubisoft developing a Mario game still feels weird. However, the company made Mario and Rabbids: Sparks of Hope, which is a crossover RPG featuring Mario characters and Rabbids. Together, all of them have to take on a dark evil.
This is done mainly through turn-based tactical combat, where you battle a slew of enemies. Each of your characters has different abilities and a signature weapon. For instance, Mario is an all-rounder who can attack during an opponent’s turn if they come into his line of sight, and he’s equipped with dual blasters.
5
Super Mario RPG: Legend Of The Seven Stars
- Released
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May 13, 1996
- Developer(s)
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Square
- ESRB
-
E For Everyone
Square was the master of RPGs in the ’90s, as they developed games such as Chrono Trigger and the Final Fantasy titles. So, it was the perfect studio to develop the first role-playing game in the Super Mario series.
It’s a 3D isometric RPG where you travel around as Mario and various other party members that you acquire along the way. Much of the game is spent running around and doing a lot of jumping while exploring the land. Yet, when you run into enemies, you face them in turn-based battles.
4
Mario Tennis
- Released
-
August 28, 2000
- Developer(s)
-
Camelot Software Planning
- ESRB
-
e
Mario has taken to the clay court in a few different games, but Mario Tennis from 2000 is the best of the series. The title was developed by Camelot Software Planning. The studio is mainly known for making Mario-based sports games.
As the name of the game suggests, it’s a tennis title featuring various Mario characters. You can play regular exhibition matches, tournaments, and various party games. However, the title is most notable for introducing Waluigi to the franchise and being the first game to make Princess Daisy playable.
3
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
- Platform(s)
-
Nintendo GameCube
- Released
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October 11, 2004
- ESRB
-
E For Everyone Due To Mild Cartoon Violence
There are several great Paper Mario games, but The Thousand-Year Door is the one that stands out the most. Like the rest, it was made by Intelligent Systems, which is a studio best known for the Fire Emblem series, so people working there know how to make good RPGs. That is exactly what Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is: a good RPG.
It contains a unique presentation because everything is designed and, in some cases, functions like paper. As 2D Mario, you explore the world, complete a collection of puzzles, and defeat enemies. You battle these foes in turn-based skirmishes where Mario and a partner can use various moves on them.
Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour
- Released
-
July 29, 2003
- Developer(s)
-
Camelot Software Planning
- ESRB
-
e
The Mario sports games experts, Camelot Software Planning, were responsible for Mario Golf Toadstool Tour. In this game, you can control various Mario characters and engage in a friendly game of golf.
This isn’t minigolf; it is traditional golf, where you have to hit your ball far distances as you attempt to get close to the hole. Where it differs from the traditional sport is the inclusion of hazards like lava pits and chain chomps, which feature on some holes. Each character has different attributes, so picking the one that suits you can be the key to victory.
1
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- Platform(s)
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Switch
- Released
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December 7, 2018
- Publisher(s)
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Nintendo
- ESRB
-
E for Everyone: Cartoon Violence, Comic Mischief, Suggestive Themes
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate isn’t just a Mario game; it contains characters from all sorts of Nintendo series, along with some guests. Yet, Mario still remains one of the faces of the Smash Bros games. Bandai Namco, a company responsible for several famous series, such as Tekken and Pac-Man, developed Super Smash Bros Ultimate.
Like the earlier entries in the series, the title is a platform fighter. In each fight, multiple characters beat each other up and attempt to knock one another out of bounds to make them lose their lives. There are a litany of different combatants to control and levels to battle on.
