Highlights

• Each mainline Mario game introduces new characters and items, expanding the iconic world and offering fresh gameplay experiences.
• Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels is known for its challenging levels and unique mechanics, making it one of the toughest games in the series.
• Super Mario 64 revolutionized the series with its 3D platforming and open-world exploration, setting the stage for the continuous evolution of the mainline Mario games.

When it comes to the mainline Mario games, there’s been so much to keep track of in almost four decades since our favorite plumber got his very own game. Each game has a new focus or theme, inviting invention in each new launch. We’ve watched the mainline Mario games transform from pixelated 2D platformers into the large, colorful, open-world 3D behemoths we know today.

We wanted to step back and take a look through every Mario game in order to reminisce and check out what new and lasting features each of these Nintendo titles brought into the mainline Mario games.

Updated on October 31, 2023 by David Michael Kinder: Every time a new Mario title launches, Nintendo either reinvents the wheel or gives us a remastered experience we're all quite familiar with. Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a happy medium unique enough to feel wholeheartedly original without repeating beloved tropes. The series' continuous evolution is why most people around the world recognize that iconic "Wahoo!"

23 Super Mario Bros.

Though we were first introduced to the plumber in the original Donkey Kong game, the first of the individual Mario games in order came in 1985.

In Super Mario Bros., Mario must travel through eight worlds, conquering castles to find and rescue Princess Toadstool (who would later be named Peach). In addition to the plumbing brothers, this first game also introduced a number of core concepts that remain even today.

Characters And Items Introduced In Super Mario Bros.

22 Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels

Less than a year later, Japan got Super Mario Bros. 2, but those in North America refer to it as Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels.

This is because the game didn't formally launch in the continent until much later, in 2007, after the launch of a different Super Mario Bros. 2 in North America. The 2D platformer is notorious for having much more difficult levels and unique mechanics introduced. In fact, when looking at all Mario games in order, it's possibly the toughest game in the series.

Characters And Items Introduced In Super Mario Bros.

21 Super Mario Bros. 2

Instead of launching the original Super Mario Bros. 2 to North America, Nintendo decided to reskin its Japan-only game, Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic, to add Mario characters and port it under the Super Mario Bros. 2 moniker.

In this game, you can choose which character, between Mario, Luigi, Princess Toadstool, and Toad, will play each level. The game revolves around saving Subcon from Wart, the frog king.

Characters And Items Introduced In Super Mario Bros. 2

20 Super Mario Bros. 3

The biggest of the NES Mario games is easily Super Mario Bros. 3. While the game once again featured eight main worlds, each one was filled with nearly double the number of levels compared to its predecessors.

In addition to more mainstay enemies being added to the game, we also learned about Bowser's seven Koopalings, as they wreak havoc in each of the worlds they are in.

Characters And Items Introduced In Super Mario Bros. 3

19 Super Mario Land

The first-ever portable Super Mario game, Super Mario Land was also the first game not developed by its primary developer. In this game, Mario travels the world of Sarasaland to rescue a new princess, Princess Daisy.

She's been kidnapped by an enemy that never makes another appearance in the series, an alien named Tatanga. There were a total of four kingdoms that Mario travels to, each kingdom with its own set of unique enemies.

Characters And Items Introduced In Super Mario Land

18 Super Mario World

The dinosaur that every Mario fan loves makes his first appearance in Super Mario World for the SNES. Yoshi assists Mario (and Luigi) as they set off on an adventure through Dinosaur Land to rescue Princess Toadstool.

The 16-bit game once again saw Bowser and the seven Koopalings causing chaos throughout the land, leading to unique boss fights like those in Super Mario Bros. 3.

Characters And Items Introduced In Super Mario World

17 Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins

Continuing the run of introducing iconic Mario series characters, the sequel to Super Mario Land saw the first appearance of the greed-driven, oddly-lovable Wario.

As the main antagonist of Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins, Wario has seized control of Mario's castle in Mario Land. Mario must go through his kingdom to collect the six golden coins that Wario has scattered from Mario's sanctuary.

Characters And Items Introduced In Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins

16 Super Mario 64

The game that revolutionized the Super Mario series and 3D platformers as a whole was Super Mario 64. Not only was this the first of the 3D Mario games in order, but this game was also the first major instance of being able to freely explore open worlds in video games. It was also a transition for the mainline Mario games as a whole.

In the game, Mario arrives at Princess Peach's castle to find that she and the many power stars of the castle have been captured by Bowser. Mario travels through multiple worlds set in paintings to collect stars and rescue Peach.

Characters And Items Introduced In Super Mario 64

15 Super Mario Sunshine

Over six years pass before another mainline Mario game is made, this time on the GameCube. This is another 3D platformer that puts Mario on Delfino Island called Super Mario Sunshine. After being accused of covering the luxurious with icky goo, Mario must clean up the mess using a machine called F.L.U.D.D.

This game saw the introduction of Bowser Jr., as well as a unique take on the platforming mechanics that were first seen in Super Mario 64. The characters in each level also offer a fresh take on the series.

Characters And Items Introduced In Super Mario Sunshine

14 New Super Mario Bros.

After a shift to 3D platforming, it took Nintendo over a decade to return the mainline Mario games to their 2D-platforming roots. In the Nintendo DS game, New Super Mario Bros., you can once again play as either Mario or Luigi.

You must rescue the princess from the grasp of Bowser Jr. and, later, his father. The game saw a return to the classic Mario format for world structure and kicked off a series of 2D-platforming games.

Characters And Items Introduced In New Super Mario Bros.

13 Super Mario Galaxy

Mario reaches new heights in the third 3D platformer, called Super Mario Galaxy. After being invited to the Star Festival at Princess Peach's Castle, Mario watches as Peach and her castle get kidnapped by Bowser and his minions.

Mario meets Rosalina for the first time and helps her bring power to her station so that she can help him reach Bowser. The gameplay revolves around levels where you must jump from planet to planet in order to get to the star. It was the first mainline Mario game that used motion controls, releasing on the Wii.

Characters And Items Introduced In Super Mario Galaxy

12 New Super Mario Bros. Wii

While New Super Mario Bros. Wii is very similar to its DS counterpart, it was innovative in that it was the first time that four players could play the game cooperatively with four different characters on the screen at once.

Mario and Luigi can be joined by Blue Toad and Yellow Toad. They set off on an adventure to once again save Peach, after she was tricked by Bowser and the Koopalings hiding in a cake.

Characters And Items Introduced In Super Mario World

11 Super Mario Galaxy 2

The first of what would be a handful of direct sequels in the 3D Super Mario games in order, Super Mario Galaxy 2 builds off the foundation that its predecessor set.

It offers a little bit more of a level-based progression model compared to the open-ended nature of most 3D Mario games. Other elements are added to this new mainline Mario game, including the ability to ride Yoshi.

Characters And Items Introduced In Super Mario Galaxy 2

10 Super Mario 3D Land

The first mainline Mario game on the 3DS, Super Mario 3D Land offered a fresh take on the usual Mario 3D platformer. Instead of an open world where you travel to a level multiple times to collect something, the game runs linear, in a similar vein to the classic 2D platformers.

Along with the usual Princess Peach kidnapping, Bowser has also caused all the Super Leaves to blow off the Tail Tree. This power-up becomes the main focal point of the game.

Characters And Items Introduced In Super Mario 3D Land

9 New Super Mario Bros. 2

A direct sequel to New Super Mario Bros. and an indirect sequel to New Super Mario Bros. Wii, New Super Mario Bros. 2's gimmick is all about the coins.

One of the main elements of the game includes Mario trying to collect one million of them — no pressure. To help with this, the Gold Flower was introduced into the game, which causes Mario to turn gold and earn coins every time he moves.

Characters And Items Introduced In New Super Mario Bros. 2

8 New Super Mario Bros. U

New Super Mario Bros. U once again has four-player co-op support and a wide range of new abilities and items, some of which are pulled from Super Mario World.

There was an expansion pack added in 2013 to commemorate the year of Luigi. Both the main game and the expansion pack are part of the Nintendo Switch port, New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe.

Characters And Items Introduced In New Super Mario Bros. U

7 Super Mario 3D World

A Wii U sequel to Super Mario 3D Land, Super Mario 3D World took the concept of 3D platforming using the classic mainline Mario game model to another level. The main gimmick of the game was Super Bells, which turned Mario and friends into cats.

The deep 3D levels and excellent boss battles were playable either alone or with up to four friends. The Switch port of the game comes with Bowser's Fury, a completely new story that replicates the normal Mario 3D platformers.

Characters And Items Introduced In Super Mario 3D World

6 Super Mario Maker

Those of you who always wanted to make your own Mario levels finally got your opportunity to do so with Super Mario Maker on the Wii U. You could pick from four different game styles to build your levels: Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, and New Super Mario Bros. U.

You were then able to share your creation, and have others play it using Course World — and some players were far more intricate with what their levels entailed than others.

Characters And Items Introduced In Super Mario Maker

5 Super Mario Run

The first mainline Mario game to ever come to mobile devices, Super Mario Run is an auto-running 2D platformer where you must guide Mario down the right path in order to conquer the level.

The game uses a free-to-play model that offers you optional content that you can choose to purchase at any time to change things up. There is also a customization mode called Kingdom Builder, as well as a battle mode called Toad Rally.

Characters And Items Introduced In Super Mario Run

4 Super Mario Odyssey

The first mainline Mario game to hit the Switch, Super Mario Odyssey took the world by storm with its beautiful open-world environments and plenty of Power Moons to collect. Bowser has kidnapped Peach to marry her and is attempting to collect items for the wedding in each kingdom.

Mario must travel through the kingdoms and gather enough Moons to chase after Bowser. Alongside him is Cappy, a ghost that takes shelter in Mario's hat. This allows Mario to throw his hat at a creature and turn into that creature. There is a total of 880 possible moons you can collect.

Characters And Items Introduced In Super Mario Odyssey