Highlights

• Mario's 3D platformers set the bar high and rarely miss the mark.
• Super Mario 3D All-Stars compiles classics but falls short in experience.
• Super Mario 64 DS offers a refreshing remake with some control struggles.

If asked to name a video game series with few to no bad games, there might not be many that come to your mind. Even the best, most talented developers slip up from time to time. And while Mario is no exception to having a rough game on occasion (Hotel Mario says 'hi'), his platformers, especially the 3D ones, rarely miss the mark.

Mario didn’t just revolutionize the 3D platforming genre – he continues to set the bar. Any one of his outings in the third dimension could conceivably be considered the best, but we’re here to take on the task of ranking them. Let's-a go!

Updated April 2, 2024, by Bobby Mills: You just can't keep a good plumber down. Since we published this list, Mario has gone on to star in a billion-dollar Hollywood picture (sorry, Bob Hoskins) and has seen numerous new entries to his games catalog, including the stellar Super Mario Wonder. We figured we'd toss Super Mario 64 DS into the ranking, since it's so radically different from the OG it might as well be its own game!

10 Super Mario 3D All-Stars

Less Than The Sum Of Its Parts

Released to mark the franchise's 35th anniversary, 3D All-Stars follows in the footsteps of the classic SNES Mario All-Stars in that it compiles numerous prior games into a single, convenient package. Super Mario 64, Sunshine, and Galaxy are all on offer, but unfortunately, it's by far the weakest way to experience these seminal titles.

In case you're wondering why a compilation title earns a spot on our list, it's officially recognized as an individual release by Nintendo. A sleek main menu links the three games together, and there are some unlockable bells and whistles (like a soundtrack player) to pad out the package.

Each game has some quirks borne of the Switch hardware that scupper the fun. Super Mario 64 is running on a poorly-coded N64 emulator and is somehow inferior to the Switch Online version; Sunshine's water-spraying mechanics, previously dependent on the GameCube's pressure-sensitive shoulder buttons, have been rendered even clunkier; and Galaxy utilizes the control stick in place of the Wiimote's cursor, which is unfathomably awkward.

9 Super Mario 3D Land

Plumbing On The Go

Super Mario 3D Land was the turning point of the 3DS, kickstarting the ailing system's fortunes almost a year after its launch. While Super Mario Galaxy leaned into more linear level design, Super Mario 3D Land embraced it fully, creating what is essentially a 2D Mario game in a 3D space. You aren’t collecting stars, nor are you exploring big worlds; but rather you’re starting at the beginning of the level and getting to the flagpole at the end.

This railroady level design and the de-emphasis on completing objectives make for the perfect handheld Mario experience, albeit a lightweight one. 3D Land also brought back some fan-favorite powerups, most notably the Tanooki Suit. If you’re looking for the perfect on-the-go Mario game, 3D Land may be your best bet – but if you fancy more meat on your Dry Bones, try elsewhere.

8 Super Mario 3D World

Four-Player Freneticism

Multiplayer and platformers often end up being a chaotic combination. Even in Mario’s case, the New Super Mario Bros. games, while undeniably sadistic fun in co-op, are tremendously hectic experiences. At its core, Super Mario 3D World is a bigger version of Super Mario 3D Land; with additions such as new powerups, greater level variety, and, most notably, the capacity for up to four players.

While there is certainly still room for unbridled chaos, the generally bigger levels allow for each player to move much more freely than in a 2D space. 3D World also remains a treat in single-player, and overall, is a fab experience. In terms of versions, the Wii U original nets you some extra assistive mechanics via the GamePad screen, while the Switch port bundles in Bowser's Fury.

7 Super Mario 64 DS

More Than Just A Remake

What better way to demonstrate the capabilities of your new handheld than by cramming an entire console title onto it? Super Mario 64 DS is, ostensibly, a remaster of the N64 classic – but in truth, it's a ground-up reimagining. Fundamental, sweeping changes have been made: for one, you don't even start off as Mario, instead pootling about as Yoshi after he, Luigi, and Wario go missing.

In many respects, 64 DS is superior to its predecessor. The visuals are much improved, as is the sound quality, and many objectives are made less obtuse. Likewise, there's an ample serving of new zones, minigames, and collectibles to mull over, with 30 more Power Stars than on the N64. What ultimately sours the experience, though, is the abominable control scheme. A D-pad just isn't sufficient for full 360-degree movement, and the touchscreen alternative is laughable.

6 Super Mario Sunshine

Should Have Tried A Staycation

Mario’s tropical adventure is one to remember – though not always necessarily for the right reasons. Throughout your journey across Delfino Isle, you’ll be getting a lot of use out of the game's signature mechanic, F.L.U.D.D. (that's Flash Liquidizing Ultra Dousing Device, natch.) With its assistance, you’ll be able to hover for extra mobility, shoot water to clean the area, and launch skyward like a rocket. A good thing, too, since Mario's been framed for vandalism and can't finish his holiday until he mops up all the gunk.

Take heed: Sunshine is arguably the toughest of all the games on this list. Its movement tech is surprisingly complex, and certain missions, like the Watermelon Festival, live in infamy (to say nothing of the Blue Coin hunt.) For its soothing tropical theme and its bonkers narrative, though, Sunshine is worth a playthrough.

5 Super Mario Galaxy 2

A Rare Perfect Sequel

True sequels are very uncommon in the Marioverse, but after the roaring success of Super Mario Galaxy and the Wii in general, a followup was in order. Super Mario Galaxy 2 is generally more of the same - in fact, it started life as an expansion pack - though that isn’t a bad thing at all. The genius-level design, beautiful locations, and breathtaking spacefaring theme and soundtrack all carry over.

Yoshi makes an appearance in many levels, to boot, and is incorporated into the formula excellently, with the prospect of gulping down enemies via the cursor an enticing one. There are also some fresh power-ups, such as the Cloud Flower. While it may not have had the same impact as the original Galaxy, you know what you're getting: undistilled Mario goodness.

Galaxy 2 was conspicuously absent from 3D All-Stars, a fact which fans at the time rightly decried. While speculation ran rampant for some time that the game might be added to the package as DLC, this never materialized in the end.

4 Bowser’s Fury

Only Its Brevity Is Worth Getting Furious Over

While it may be the shortest game on the list, Bowser’s Fury is well worth checking out. It takes the platforming mechanics of 3D World and restructures them into a solid open-world experience, dipping its toes into the more freeform Mario design that Odyssey flirted with. Rather than selecting worlds or levels, you just hop on Plessie and zoom across the map to your destination. And while there's fast travel, traversing by foot is a joy, and there are many fun secrets and objectives to uncover en route.

Those who love felines are in for a treat with this entry as well, as the entire Mario world has received a catty makeover. Goombas, Bullet Bills, even Bowser himself – everyone's at it. And the Super Sonic-esque giant battles must be seen to be believed. In spite of its brief length, Bowser’s Fury is a hoot; especially considering that it's only half of the package it comes in.

3 Super Mario Odyssey

Let's Do The Odyssey

Launching the same year as the Switch, Super Mario Odyssey was, and frankly still is, a must-play. Numerous Mario games prior to this one focused on linear level structure, but Odyssey made the (ahem) switch back to more open maps, and it was indeed a fantastic return to form. Of all the 3D Mario outings, Odyssey easily has the most items to collect, with 880 unique Power Moons waiting to be hoovered up and up to 999 if you buy out the shops. Granted, some may be more fun to collect than others – but the sheer number of them ensures you'll never be stuck.

The new heroic headpiece Cappy gives the game a quirky identity as well, allowing Mario to take control of many of the enemies, allies, and objects he finds on his journey. Featuring the tightest controls in the series, as well as plenty of fun moves to use, it's an unqualified winner.

2 Super Mario Galaxy

Pure Magic In Videogame Form

Super Mario Galaxy was, and arguably still is, Mario's grandest adventure. It drips with character and an ethereal magic that Nintendo has never quite been able to recapture. Galaxy shifted away from the 64 and Sunshine style of having open-ended levels. Each Power Star you obtain feels more like a mission, and while it's fun to explore spacious environments, seeing the different paths and environmental changes of each galaxy is not a bad replacement. If anything, it allows for a constant drip feed of innovation.

The game also features motion controls that, somehow, don't feel tacky. Using the pointer to grab Star Bits is a cute wrinkle, and gently shaking the Wiimote to spin comes as naturally as breathing (which, of course, Mario can do in space.) In short, Galaxy is a masterpiece that's an absolute joy to play.

1 Super Mario 64

The Real Mario McCoy

A game that is, in all probability, just as revolutionary as the OG Super Mario Bros., Super Mario 64 is a landmark in gaming enchantment. Whether collecting all the Power Stars in a level, clearing Bowser's challenges, or discovering secrets tucked away in Peach's Castle, Super Mario 64 is a classic through and through. Most gamers of a certain age will have a memory or two associated with this legend.

It is masterfully crafted, and while the button-controlled camera may be a little tough to get used to considering what we have nowadays, it's telling that pretty much every other aspect has aged phenomenally well. Peach's secret slide is a formative text. While the plumber has had many unforgettable journeys since this one, 64 tops his pantheon — as well as being one of the best platforming games of all time, period.