What is the best Mario RPG ? Mario has been dabbling in the turn-based genre since 1996's Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars on the Super NES, and has since split into two distinct series — one paper thin, and another showcasing the brothers' star power.
The Nintendo Switch has seen a resurgence in Mario RPGs, from remakes, remastered, surprising strategy games, and a brand new Mario & Luigi title with Brothership. But with almost 20 different Mario RPGs, we want to find out which one is the best.
We've compiled a reader-ranked list of every single Mario RPG released, from 1996 to 2024. Which one is the best, and which one has been left behind? Here's every Mario-starring RPG ranked from worst to best.
On this page: Best Mario RPGs Of All Time
1. 19 to 11 2. 10 to 1 3. Best Mario RPG FAQ 3.1. What was the first Mario RPG release? 3.2. How many Mario RPGs are on Switch? 3.3. What's the difference between Paper Mario and Mario & Luigi? 3.4. What's the newest Paper Mario? 3.5. What's the latest Mario & Luigi game? 3.6. Wait, is Mario + Rabbids an RPG? 3.7. What happened to AlphaDream? 3.8. Who developed the new Mario & Luigi game? 3.9. Can you play any Mario RPGs on Nintendo Switch Online? 3.10. How can I change the ranking in this article?
Paper Mario: Sticker Star is often funny, thoroughly charming and a joy to play, but it's also a touch too familiar and unwilling to go out on a limb and do something crazy, even if the potential to do so is immense.
Despite its inhibitions, the game keeps a pace so delightful and fun that you can't help but crack a smile at the metric ton of whimsy folded into its rock-solid foundation, rendered all the more impressive thanks to beautiful use of stereoscopic 3D.
Sticker Star might elicit some déjà vu from veterans of the series, but a memory this vivid and bright is worth remembering.
Paper Mario: Color Splash isn't just painting by the numbers. The series still straddles that awkward middle ground between pure RPG and adventure title, but this Wii U-exclusive entry found a comfortable niche that silenced many of our gripes. Almost everything has polished to a papery sheen, showcasing some of the series' best writing and presentation to date.
Even though the battle system and the overall plot are weaker, Prism Island is a joy to explore, with diverse environments and catchy tunes to keep you engaged from start to finish. It's a game of memorable moments and, taken as such, you might just find it to be a messy work of art.
Adding Paper Mario into AlphaDream's brotherly mix, Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam succeeds as an accessible, entertaining, and lengthy crossover for fans and newcomers alike. This is an enjoyable romp that introduces a solid list of mechanics, plays with the battle system in exciting ways, and breaks exploration up with random quests.
Although it doesn't quite nail its environmental design and storytelling, Paper Jam's simplicity makes it a decent starting point for people looking to dip their toe into either series. Fans should be aware, though, that this crossover is closer to a mainline Mario & Luigi game than an entry in the Paper Mario series.
Paper Mario: The Origami King tried to do something different with its combat system and, to be honest, we weren't really feeling it. That doesn't mean the rest of the game isn't thoroughly entertaining, however, and while the puzzle-based battles weren't quite what a new Paper Mario game needed, they aren't so awful that everything else shouldn't be experienced as a result.
It might not be the new Thousand-Year Door that fans were hoping for, but it's still one of the funniest games in the series and it's got a truly likeable companion character. Combat is far from ideal in this entry, but the fact that we recommend the game regardless should speak volumes.
Mario & Luigi: Brothership takes this long-running RPG series to new heights in a high-seas adventure that's packed full of top-notch combat, inventive variety, a positive and thoughtful story, and lots of signature comedy from the dynamic duo themselves.
This is a big game, packed full of surprises and fun, and the all-new Battle Plug system, alongside lots of flashy specials, a fittingly emotive art style, and a world that's brimming with puzzles and challenges, make for a must-play in our book. We hope this series is back for good with this one.
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope ’s battles suffer from an imbalance between the vast array of options available and the difficulty – a stark contrast to Kingdom Battle ’s challenging, curated fights.
This doesn't mean it isn't an enjoyable strategy game in its own right; the battles are less an evolution of what came before and more an impressive shift toward freedom and creativity that, unfortunately, can sometimes trivialise Cursa’s attempts to take over the galaxy. An extra couple of notches on the difficulty meter might have forced us to experiment and dig deeper to find winning strategies.
However, Sparks of Hope shines in most aspects outside of these Darkmess bouts. Delightful little puzzles, quests, and memorable locales abound, which yet make this Rabbid-themed adventure a must-play for Mario and strategy game enthusiasts alike.
Mario & Luigi: Dream Team can be a glorious contradiction at times; simple but complex, accessible but lengthy, varied but familiar. The enthusiasm and unrelenting creativity means that it flirts with going too far, truly being an adventure for those willing to stick it out over the long haul, which perhaps dents its ability to appeal to all 3DS owners.
Yet such is the obvious talent and commitment to the project and its unique style that it's still an adventure worth embarking upon. And in the hands of Mario & Luigi enthusiasts and those up for an epic but light-hearted quest, this is indispensable.
Super Paper Mario blends classic platformer with some of the RPG elements of its predecessors and throws in a world-flipping mechanic that gives you a whole new perspective on traditional 2D platforming courses. It diverges heavily from Thousand-Year Door's way of doing things, and as a result, divides series fans.
Regardless of where you fall on the spectrum of fandom, the Wii entry is a beautiful game with fiendish puzzles and an intriguing, unique flip mechanic.
Although everyone has an individual preference, and Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time may not be the strongest entry, that's more a reflection of just how great the Mario & Luigi games are.
While the story might hover just below the level of other instalments, it's still creative, appealing and laugh-out-loud funny, and mastering the four-button setup of battles is as fun as ever. Bowser's Inside Story might have the edge, but it's tough to go wrong with this series.
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is a must-have for Switch-owning fans of turn-based tactical games. More importantly, such is the style and depth on offer that it's also ideal for those who haven't played much of the genre - for whom 'XCOM' sounds like a silly acronym from a war movie. Kingdom Battle and its excellent DK DLC introduce the concept in the best possible way, and then add their own ideas for what becomes a smart, surprising, and, at times, deliciously challenging experience.
Even if you don't actually like the Rabbids, this game — and its familiar Mario cast and setting — is so good that Ubisoft's mascots become likeable. Well, almost.
This spruce-up of the DS original, along with Kirby’s Extra Epic Yarn , gave the 3DS a truly great swansong, even if most Nintendo fans had moved on to Switch by January 2019.
With updated visuals, a brand-new side story involving Bowser Jr., and the ability to speed up gameplay, Bowser's Inside Story on 3DS is the best version of arguably the best of the Mario & Luigi RPG series. Plus, you get to root around in the intestines of a giant fire-breathing lizard. What’s not to like?
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga is a classic, and this version is arguably the definitive one. Bowser's Minions is a harmless but shallow add-on, but the Superstars are the real attraction. This series has a distinct and special place within Nintendo gaming, and after experimentation and not-always-popular approaches in the 3DS era, this took us back to its roots.
What a treat it is, too - funny, smartly designed, and pure unpretentious joy. This is a great starting point for those who missed the original on Game Boy Advance (though you can play that now via Nintendo Switch Online).
Super Mario RPG is here in all of its weird, wonderful glory for a new generation to experience, and sets a new standard for how to do a faithful remake right.
Delivering a beautifully preserved, pure experience for fans of the original and an accessible entry-point for genre newcomers, the game's infectious charm, writing, and polished gameplay do so much to elevate this beyond what might have been merely a simple RPG starring Mario.
Alpha Dream created a fantastic take on the Super Mario RPG idea on Game Boy Advance, but they took the concept to new heights with Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story .
The third title in the series, it would be easy to rave on and on about this one, but the best way to sum everything up is to say Bowser's Inside Story is the kind of game that reminds you why you loved playing video games in the first place.
It's easily one of the best DS releases and although it received a 3DS update that we'd probably take in a straight contest thanks to the added Bowser Jr.'s Journey , you really can't go wrong with either version. If this one passed you by, we recommend you get intimately acquainted with the King of the Koopas, pronto.
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga 's lengthy main adventure felt pretty unique back in 2003. It was only the third RPG-style Mario adventure, but developer AlphaDream's Mario debut hit the jackpot right away with its addictive battle systems and dual-brother gameplay.
With plenty of side quests to seek out and minigames to replay for high-score chasers, Mario and Luigi's amusing animations and "voice acting" played into the game's great sense of humour and it hasn't lost its ability to raise an ear-to-ear smile. Available on Switch if you've got an NSO Expansion Pack subscription, so check it out.
For years, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door has been held as the best Mario RPG of all time, and the Switch remake proves it has earned that title.
This is a fantastic RPG adventure, whether you’re a Mario fan or not, with some best-in-class combat and brilliant writing. A fresh new localisation, beautifully enhanced visuals, and new quality-of-life features help iron out a few little creases to make this the definitive way to play a GameCube classic.
Over two decades later, Paper Mario might not look as sharp as it once did, but it holds up very well where it matters and jostles with The Thousand-Year Door for the title of 'Best Paper Mario Game'.
The N64 original does very well to ease Mario fans into a new style of adventure while providing a depth for RPG gamers that you might not expect from the paper-thin premise. With a great supporting cast and buckets of trademark Nintendo charm, the OG is up there with the best. Play it on Switch if you missed out.
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars is not only a brilliant game in its own right, it's a history lesson in how the Mario role-playing series began.
Anyone who has played the Paper Mario and Mario & Luigi series should play Square's original title that started it all - either in original 16-bit form or via the excellent Switch remake.
Super Mario RPG paved the way and inspired both, and we should be eternally thankful to Squaresoft for injecting character and humour into the plumber's repertoire.
The power of GameCube enabled greater fidelity of its paper-based art style than the original, but otherwise Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door stuck closely to the original's blueprint.
It's a wonderfully colourful adventure packed with clever callbacks to the portly plumber's history and the same irreverent spirit which makes so many Mario RPGs refreshingly different from the mascot's platformers. Where other entries have dropped the ball in an area or two, Thousand-Year Door gets everything right; plot, writing, battles, presentation - the lot.
Prices for a GameCube disc have skyrocketed in recent years and given the quality, it's not hard to see why. Treasure your copy if you've got one, and perhaps lend it to a trusted friend who never visited the town of Rogueport.
And if you don't have a copy or a GameCube? Well, that's what the Switch version's for!
Lots of ways to level up, but you've chosen how to distribute the experience points among the Mario RPGs.
Best Mario RPG FAQ
Don't know your Paper Marios from your Mario & Luigis? We can help with that with the answers to common Mario RPG questions.
What was the first Mario RPG release?
The very first Mario RPG was Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, which launched on the SNES on 9th March 1996 in Japan, with a North American release following on 13th May.
The game was a co-development between Nintendo and Square, the developer of the Final Fantasy series. However, it wasn't available in Europe until the Wii Virtual Console release in 2008. It was also included on the SNES Classic Mini.
Super Mario RPG was later remade on the Nintendo Switch and launched worldwide on 17th November 2023.
How many Mario RPGs are on Switch?
You can play seven different Mario RPGs on the Switch right now — six are available for purchase at retail, and one is available via the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack service.
Those six Switch Mario RPGs are:
Mario & Luigi Brothership
Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope
Paper Mario: The Origami King
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Super Mario RPG
On the NSO Expansion Pack GBA app you can also play through the original release of Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga.
What's the difference between Paper Mario and Mario & Luigi?
There aren't many — both were born out of Super Mario RPG from the SNES, after all — but the most obvious difference between these two series is aesthetics.
Mario & Luigi adopts a more cartoon-y, expressive style, while Paper Mario... is like paper. But in a good way! The worlds are like pop-up story books, and all characters are crafted out of paper.
There are a few other minor differences between the two series, of course — while both are very funny, Mario & Luigi takes the cake for consistent humour, while Paper Mario often shoots for a more serious plot.
And while both games use turn-based combat, Mario & Luigi's is more involved and requires more button presses, with Paper Mario option for strategy and skills.
What's the newest Paper Mario?
The brand new last Paper Mario game was Paper Mario: The Origami King, which released on the Switch in 2020.
Since then, however, we've only seen one remaster in the series — Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, which launched on Switch in May 2024. We don't know if a new Paper Mario game is in development yet.
What's the latest Mario & Luigi game?
The latest game in the series, Mario & Luigi: Brothership, arrived on the Nintendo Switch on 7th November 2024, marking the end of a fantastic 12 months for turn-based Mario action.
Before that, the series was in stasis, with the last new game (Paper Jam — yes, we know, it gets confusing, this is a Mario & Luigi game) launching on the 3DS in 2015.
Two 3DS remakes of Superstar Saga and Bowser's Inside Story came out in 2017 and 2018, respectively, but until 2024, the franchise was thought done.
Wait, is Mario + Rabbids an RPG?
The Mario + Rabbids games certainly are RPGs, but very different ones — strategy RPGs.
Taking cues from the XCOM games, Ubisoft's Kingdom Battle and Sparks of Hope play with turn-based tactical battles rather than traditional turn-based RPG mechanics.
What happened to AlphaDream?
AlphaDream, the original developer of the Mario & Luigi series, declared bankruptcy in October 2019 after being unable to pay off accruing debt and admitting that revenues had grown sluggish in recent years.
As such, the studio was sadly shut down on 1st October 2019. Nintendo has reported that some former AlphaDream employees have worked on the newest Mario & Luigi game, Brothership.
Who developed the new Mario & Luigi game?
Mario & Luigi: Brothership was co-developed between Nintendo and Acquire.
Acquire was originally known for creating the Tenchu and Way of the Samurai series' on PlayStation consoles in the late '90s and early 2000s, but in recent years, the studio has become known for working with Square Enix on the Octopath Traveler games. So the studio is a dab hand with turn-based combat, then.
Can you play any Mario RPGs on Nintendo Switch Online?
You certainly can! Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga is available on the GBA app.
You'll need to be subscribed to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack service, however.
How can I change the ranking in this article?
It's pretty easy! We enlisted Nintendo Life readers to help us rate every Mario RPG ever. The list above is governed by each game's User Rating in our database, and is therefore subject to change after publication, even as you're reading this!
We make sure the list is up-to-date with every single new Mario RPG. And if you disagree with the rankings, then you can search for your favourite Mario Party game below and give it the score it deserves.
If you want to give your favourite Mario RPG an experience boost, don't forget this list is subject to change according to each game's User Ratings on the site.
Tell us what you think of Mario's RPG endeavours in the comments below .
