Best Mario Games Not Made By Nintendo, Ranked

It is no secret that Mario has appeared in more than just platformers. He has also had cameos in numerous other titles. How many people realize that many games bearing the plumber’s name were not developed by Nintendo or a subsidiary? For such a tight-knit company, it may surprise some to know they trust other developers with their precious mascot.

8:45

Related

Nintendo: 13 Best Mario Co-Op Games, Ranked

An adventure in the Mario series isn’t complete without a co-op feature. Whether it’s Mario and Luigi, or another, there’s plenty of fun to be had.

There are more Mario games developed by other companies than the ones listed below, but it will be hard to find titles that are better than the ones detailed in this list. To be considered a Mario game and not just a game with Mario, the plumber’s name has to be in the title.

10

Mario’s Picross

Chisel Out A Picture

• Developer: Jupiter Games
• Release: March 16, 1995
• Platforms: Game Boy

Mario is no stranger to puzzle games. There is the popular Dr. Mario series where players use falling blocks to destroy viruses on the board. Then, there are the less active Picross games. Picross tasks players with chiseling out squares on a board to eventually reveal the photo underneath.

Because it is a Mario game, the picture is generally related to the character and the Mushroom Kingdom. The game received praise, but some did not like the fact that most of the gameplay is in the player’s head and not on the screen.

9

Mario Tennis Aces

Fun And Fast Tennis

Systems

Released

April 20, 2020

ESRB

e

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

Expand

There is something compelling about Mario playing sports. It is more than just the novelty of watching these legendary characters playing Tennis. The gameplay often presents a version of the sport that’s easier to understand and more intuitive than a simulator.

The Mario tennis games are always reliable entertainment, and Mario Tennis Aces is the best version, with more content than the average Mario sports game. The Joy-cons also allow for the use of motion controls in setting up special shots.

8

Mario Strikers: Battle League

Aggressive Soccer

Systems

Released

June 10, 2022

ESRB

E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Cartoon Violence, Comic Mischief

Franchise

Mario Strikers

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

OpenCritic Rating

Fair

Expand

There is always a sense of friendly competition in these multiplayer Mario titles. Mario Strikers: Battle League feels different. The game follows the basic rules of soccer but also lets players tackle and hit each other with no penalty. Players can also use various items to give themselves an advantage out on the field.

Related

Mario: 8 Biggest Traditions In The Series

While the Mario series has changed a lot over the years, they have always managed to retain a few key traditions that fans are familiar with.

Battle League is the third in a series of soccer-inspired titles and comes after a 15-year break in the series. Like many Mario sports games, the core gameplay was praised while the lack of meaningful content or single-player modes was a point of criticism. Still, it is always a blast in multiplayer.

7

Super Paper Mario

Switch Dimensions On The Fly

Systems

Released

April 9, 2007

ESRB

E For Everyone Due To Comic Mischief, Mild Cartoon Violence

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

Unlike the prior Paper Mario titles, Super Paper Mario is more of a platformer than a turn-based RPG. While it did not completely eschew RPG elements, the game’s main hook is the ability to switch between 3D and 2D gameplay on the fly. Mario still fights enemies and gains experience, but battles are in real-time. Super Paper Mario marked a turn in the series towards more action-oriented titles, something longtime fans did not appreciate.

6

Mario Party 7

Great For Multiplayer, Not So Great For Single-Player

Systems

Released

November 7, 2005

ESRB

Everyone // Comic Mischief

Platform(s)

Nintendo GameCube

Developer(s)

Hudson Soft

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

Expand

It is hard to pick the best Mario Party. However, Mario Party 7 was the last title for the GameCube and stood out for having eight-player modes. Is Mario Party 7 the best one? It is difficult to say since each game does not really continue the series so much as to present a new set of boards and minigames.

At least Mario Party 7 consists of entirely new minigames. It also has games that use a microphone, though in practice it is not too fun to use. Mario Party 7 is incredibly fun with a group of friends, but almost useless as a single-player game.

5

Mario And Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story

Mario Meets Fantastic Voyage

Systems

Released

September 15, 2009

ESRB

E For Everyone due to Comic Mischief, Mild Cartoon Violence

Developer(s)

AlphaDream

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

The Mario and Luigi titles geniusly combined RPG gameplay and puzzle solving. The battle systems often included real-time elements too. Bowser’s Inside Story, the third game in the series, saw the brothers accidentally end up inside Bowser to combat a new threat by the name of Fawful.

It is like Super Mario Bros. meets Fantastic Voyage. Players also control Bowser in segments that are just as fleshed out as the main game. The villainous Kupa has his own battles and exploration segments.

4

Paper Mario

One Of The Last Great N64 Games

Systems

Released

February 5, 2001

ESRB

E For Everyone Due To Comic Mischief

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

Paper Mario was somewhat of a last hurray for the Nintendo 64. The game looks astonishingly good for the console generation and it holds up today thanks to the unique aesthetic.

While Super Mario RPG had style and humor, Paper Mario takes it to another level with writing and jokes that still hold up today. The exploration and battling is what people expect from an RPG, but it takes on a special charm because it takes place in the Mushroom Kingdom.

3

Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle

Mario And The Rabbids Meets XCOM

Systems

Released

August 29, 2017

ESRB

E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Cartoon Violence, Comic Mischief, Mild Language

Developer(s)

Ubisoft Milan, Ubisoft Paris

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Expand

Too good things combining does not always make a great thing. Mario collaborating with Ubisoft’s Rabbids did not seem like a clear pairing, but the glue that brings them together is turn-based tactics gameplay inspired by XCOM.

Related

7 Ubisoft Games That Surpassed Expectations

Despite the doubts and low expectations, these Ubisoft games ended up being much better than anyone could have predicted.

Not only is the title full of charm and charisma, but it also works as a great introduction to the genre because of its forgiving difficulty and smooth learning curve. With the critical acclaim this game received, it is surprising Mario did not team up with more Ubisoft characters. We would love to see “Mario + Sam Fisher: Sneak Attack.”

2

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

All The Game’s A Stage

Systems

Released

October 11, 2004

ESRB

E For Everyone Due To Mild Cartoon Violence

Platform(s)

Nintendo GameCube

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

The sequel to Paper Mario took all the right lessons from its predecessor and continued the trend of simple but satisfying gameplay mixed with a cleverly written narrative.

The paper aesthetic never looked better, and it has made Thousand Year Door one of the best-looking games on the GameCube. The game takes full advantage of its look, with battles looking like they take place on a stage in front of an audience the ability for Mario to turn into a paper airplane.

1

Super Mario RPG: Legend Of The Seven Stars

Square’s Take On The Mushroom Kingdom

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

Systems

Released

May 13, 1996

ESRB

E For Everyone

Developer(s)

Square

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

Super Mario RPG stands shoulder to shoulder with the best RPGs on the Super Nintendo. That is because it was made by Final Fantasy developers Square. It came out near the end of the SNES’s life in 1996 and is one of the most visually impressive games on the system.

It uses an isometric view for psuedo-3D graphics. The battle system includes a timing mechanic to allow for stronger attacks, a mechanic that would carry on into future Mario RPGs.

The title introduced characters like Mallow and Geno who have not been featured heavily in other games besides cameo, making the game feel unique and special among the large sea of Mario games.

4:15

More

Best Games Like Super Mario Bros Wonder

Loved Super Mario Bros. Wonder, but want something a little different? Check out these titles for some great gaming experiences.