There's a question on many people's lips right now — what is the best Mario RPG ever?
Well, we assume people are asking this now more than ever — Super Mario RPG just received a remake on Nintendo Switch, and 2024 will see a remaster of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door on the console, too. Basically, there's no better time to be in the middle of the Mario / RPG Venn diagram right now.
Since 1996's Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, Mario has been experimenting with the turn-based genre — and, sometimes, hopping out of it too. To date, the plumber has been in 17 different role-playing games, ranging from button-prompted combat to action platforming, and even strategy (yes, including the Rabbids).
We asked you lovely readers to rank all of the Mario-starring RPGs you've played. The list includes remakes, the Paper Mario series, Mario & Luigi, the Rabbids sub-series, and that stand-alone classic that started it all. That's nearly 30 years of role-playing goodness to get through, and you can't really go wrong with most of them.
Don't forget, you can rank all of these Mario-starring RPGs whenever you want. The order below is updated in real-time and changes depending on the overall User Rating in our secret little database. So you could make a significant tear in the list. If you haven't had the chance to press the Action Command and vote, click the star by the game you want to rate below and assign a score right now.
Want to see where you're favourite landed? Carry on below...
17. Paper Mario: Sticker Star (3DS)
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.
16. Paper Mario: Color Splash (Wii U)
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 entry found a comfortable niche that silenced many of our gripes. Almost everything was polished to a papery sheen, showcasing some of the series' best writing and presentation to date. The battle system and the overall plot are the weaker aspects of the experience, unfortunately, but even when we were left unsatisfied by enemy encounters, Prism Island was always 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, and you might just find it to be a messy work of art.
15. Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam (3DS)
Adding Paper Mario into AlphaDream's Mario & Luigi mix, Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam totally 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 great 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.
14. Paper Mario: The Origami King (Switch)
Paper Mario: The Origami King tries to do something different with its combat system and, to be honest, we aren't really feeling it. That doesn't mean the rest of the game isn't thoroughly entertaining, however, and while the puzzle-based battles aren'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 still isn't the new Thousand-Year Door fans will have been hoping for, but it's still one of the funniest games in the series and it's got a truly likeable companion character, and while the combat is far from ideal the fact that we still thoroughly recommend the game regardless should speak volumes.
13. Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope (Switch)
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.
12. Mario & Luigi: Dream Team (3DS)
In the hands of Mario & Luigi enthusiasts and those up for an epic but light-hearted quest, this is an indispensable must-have for the 3DS. In a universe apart from any other series starring the famous brothers, this once again shows the merits of a studio investing itself whole-heartedly not just in one game, but a whole franchise. It can be a glorious contradiction at times; simple but complex, accessible but lengthy, varied but familiar.
The enthusiasm and unrelenting creativity behind Mario & Luigi: Dream Team 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.
11. Super Paper Mario (Wii)
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. Originally planned as a GameCube game, it perhaps makes more sense that it diverges from Thousand-Year Door's way of doing things, and it certainly 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.
10. Mario & Luigi: Partners In Time (DS)
Although everyone has an individual preference, and Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time may not be the strongest game in the series, 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.
9. Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle (Switch)
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 that haven't played much of the genre, for whom 'X-COM' sounds like a silly acronym from a war movie. It introduces the concept in the best possible way, and then utilises its 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.
Comments 84
Mario and Luigi Superstar Saga games are the best RPG mechanics hands down. You are active even during the boss's turn
I’m so happy we’re getting/got super mario rpg and tyd but I would love for the mario and luigi games to make a return
Paper Jam should be dead last. I absolutely despise that game and everything it represents even more than Sticker Star. Though both are equally offensive for their respective series, I could at least finish Sticker Star, but Paper Jam gave me something terminal within the first few hours. I see it as AlphaDream's early death sentence.
Colour Splash is an improvement, though still an obvious sequel to garbage, but at least the writing was mostly excellent, the music is some of the best in the series and the environments and visuals were wonderful. Also, Partners in Time is, as always, criminally underrated in my opinion. To me, it stands alongside Bowser's Inside Story and Superstar Saga as masterpieces practically equal to the first Paper Mario games.
No mario and Luigi games in the top 3 is outrageous
Strange to see the Rabbids games in a list of RPGs. Also strange to see the the bottom game, Sticker Star, have more staff praise than games much higher on the list. Oh well, opinions. Btw, might wanna update some of these entries. Bowser Inside Story on 3DS mentions the upcoming Extra Epic Yarn, a game that has been out for years.
Hmmm Origami King so low? That is annoying. I thought it was one of the top 3. Yeah I know boss fights, but how many of these are there? And they weren’t that bad. The rest of the game was fantastic.
And please remove re-releases when they’re completely identical.
This is a pretty reasonable list. I can’t help but smirk at Sticker Star being at the bottom. I don’t believe in separating originals from remakes. I’d put Paper Mario 64 second and Mario RPG third.
I fully agree that Superstar Saga is the best Mario & Luigi. Bowser’s Inside Story is great but just didn’t quite click for me. Maybe it was personally too complicated playing between Bowser and the brothers and I might not have cared much for Bowser’s insides being played all in 2D even though I liked Superstar Saga’s brief 2D segments. I just prefer the first game’s greater sense of exploration.
I can remember a time before there were ANY Mario games.😢😢😢
@species8472 I remember a time before Sonic Chronicles. 🤔
As a Partners in Time fanboy I’m used to it be much lower. I’ll take 10.
I exist in this weird space where Sticker Star I think is the worst game of the lot of them but the one I actually most hated playing was Paper Jam. Sticker Star's largely just dull and poorly designed, Paper Jam's actively irritating.
Eh. Other than not having the Mario RPG remake, which I'd probably put right next to the original one way or the other, the top four are basically what I would go with in the same order. Except maybe Mario RPG over Thousand-Year Door, they're two of my favorite games ever and it's kind of impossible for me to actually pick a favorite.
Nostalgia is strong, huh?
I really disagree with Color Splash being worse than Paper Jam
And I disagree even more with Origami King being the forth worst Mario RPG, it's actually one of my favorite Switch games. Pretty sure many people only gave it a bad user score because "it'S NOT paper mArio 2"
@mariomaster96 yeah, these ratings are just a popularity contest. I mean objectively how is the original SNES version of Mario RPG higher than the remake? Absurd lol
Top 4 was quite obvious. First spot is TOTALLY deserved.
If it was for me though, I'd put Origami King on the fifth or sixth place. Great game, a huge improvement from Color Splash and especially Sticker Star.
That is the fairest write-up of Sparks of Hope I've seen, completely nails that game. Has some interesting ideas but suffers from being stupidly easy. The harder difficulty just becomes a battle of attrition. The original is an absolute classic though.
Sticker Star is infamous for being the first Paper Mario the players noticed the Miyamoto curse hovering over the franchise. Not a single unique character other than the floating guide, removing any meaningful reward from random battles and the boringly basic story really hurt that one
@FawfulsFury You could swap Paper Mario 64 with Superstar Saga, but the top 2 must stay like that.
@the_beaver Mario and Luigi perfected what legend of the 7 stars created there for I would put BIS and SSS above it
I realize these lists are dynamic due to rating changes and are purely popularity contests. However...how is Super Paper Mario not higher? Sure, it's not a traditional RPG in some ways, but IMO it has one of the best plots and some great concepts to ever touch the Marioverse.
Ugh, TTYD in the first place again. The game has too much needless backtracking. It gets boring combined with the turn- based battle. Some stages such as the jungle are really dull.
My vote goes to Super Paper Mario for the story and gameplay. Smrpg is also great.
Origami King was a good game - I’ve played Dream Team Bros and for me it was
just okay
@Lizuka I agree that Paper Jam was unplayable.
Paper Mario 64 is my number one, with TTYD second. And imo Color Splash and kinda Origami King should be higher, they get unjust hate.
Umm...why is the OG SMRPG (so much!) higher than the remake? I didn't finish the OG but the remake seems to have improved pretty much everything from what I've seen of both.
Anyway, I knew TTYD would be the top but the OG Paper Mario will always be my favorite.
Paper Mario tops them all for me, though I will label Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (GBA and 3DS), and Super Mario RPG remake as the highlights on my book as well.
Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam, Mario & Luigi: Dream Team, Paper Mario: Sticker Star, Paper Mario: Color Splash, Super Paper Mario, Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle, and Super Mario RPG SNES gave me great times, even with some of their "flaws".
Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope was decent. It didn't wow me as much as the predecessor on many angles, but I don't regret it.
Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time and Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story (DS; I have the 3DS version, but haven't touched it yet) are personally the low points for me for being too "wacky" for the series' own good, as well as the former having so much missed potential for a time travel plot (you don't even get to see all of areas' present forms aside from Peach's Castle). They aren't bad games, no, but I expected much better from them.
Time for my obligatory Paper Jam defense statement lol. Yes the story and world left much to be desired but it felt like a fresh of breath air after the insanely slowly paced Dream Team. It has the best core gameplay in the entire series, seeing the characters interact with their paper counterparts is amusing, traversing the world felt fast and fun, and it gets pretty challenging. It could definitely be better but I think it’s a great game.
Listen, imo color splash isnt that bad.
My favorites are Bowsers inside story, color splash, and paper jam.
@Waluigi451 Mario RPG remake is nice touch up but is not pushing any boundaries as the original did with its pre -rendered 3D graphics which paved the way for many masterpieces yet to come for next-gen consoles. The original as a darker more suitable tone honestly.
My personal favorite is the first Paper Mario by far, but The Thousand-Year Door is an easy second.
@GalaxicGlobe I also like Color Splash and Paper Jam, underrated games.
It seems like I'm one of the few who are into the Origami King. It's so fun, dialogue is funny and I really don't see a problem in boss battles in this game. I think it's a good variation and it adds a little challenge to the strategy factor. It's sad to see it that low
Color splash and Origami King really are better than what they are ranked here.
Sticker Star may be many things but a joy to play is not one of them.
I ranked Color Splash as number 1 along with Paper Mario 64 (and Partners in Time as the worst, although I didn't play Paper Jam, Origami King or Rabbids).
Now I want Mario & Luigi to come to Switch or the inevitable Switch 2. Nintendo shouldn't drop such an amazing series.
It’s ‘your favourite’, not ‘you’re’…this site needs a proofreader!
I enjoy Paper Mario Sticker Star.
The sticker system felt like FF VIII disposable Magics and I like the 3D Summon Things.
@HugoGED are we rating these off historical significance or actual game quality? Because sure, the original SNES rpg is an important game, but the remake improves upon the original in every way.
Adding to the appreciation for Origami King. Yes there’s division over the battle mechanics but a gloriously fun adventure with a wonderfully vibrant overworld, the musical score and narrative also provided a lot of emotional impact.
@Waluigi451 Original feels and looks better. If it wasn't because we are familiar with the original, the remake would feel more simplistic and basic.
I still think putting the rabbids games here is stupid.
@PokemonDMG are you a fan of sonic chronicles? I never played the game, but I have been recently considering buying it
my favourite is Mario and Luigi Superstar Sage
@Calbant it's almost like a comic book to me.
📚
Super Star Saga will always be my favourite one. Was my first foray into Mario RPGs as a kid and the battle system was so fun and interactive.
1. Paper Mario: TTYD - 10/10
2. Super Paper Mario - 9.5/10
3. Paper Mario - 9.5/10
4. Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga - 9.5/10
5. Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time - 9/10
6. Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story - 8/10
7. Super Mario RPG - 8/10
8. Mario & Luigi: Dream Team - 8/10
9. Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam - 7/10
10. Paper Mario: Sticker Star - 5/10
@FawfulsFury thank you
@Not_Soos pretty good ratings imo!
@Anti-Matter I agree it’s more fun than people usually give it credit for — also color splash had waayyyy more bosses that required the annoying-specific-use-case “thing” stickers
Paper Mario the Thousand Years Door for Paper Mario, Mario e Luigi Bowser Inside Story for Mario e Luigi(i miss tradicional Paper Mario e Mario e Luigi)
@HugoGED you honestly think anyone would look at a clip of the SNES version and a clip of the remake and say that the SNES looks better? Get out of here lol
Looking over this list makes me want to go back and replay a lot of these. Not a big RPG player but I love many of these Mario RPGs.
Genuine question: Would Puzzle and Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition not also be an RPG? Fun game, with some real bite to it and you can’t entirely rest on the laurels of your puzzle solving skills, but also Special Move management and a heavy consideration of which types will be critical.
Anyways, y’all really did Paper Jam dirty when it has the most refined gameplay of the bunch, is the funniest Mario & Luigi game and also has really good side modes.
Dream Team, Paper Jam, and BIS are all way too low (BIS especially is objectively better than Superstar Saga), but they’re all great games, and you can’t go wrong no matter what you pick.
Edit: Except Sticker Star
I hated Origami because of the battle system and never finished it. Maybe the worst of all IMO. When it was released I hated Sticker Star too, but in my second play many years later I enjoyed it. Also I really loved Color Splash, maybe in the top 5 for me.
Absolutely rubbish ranking. Justice for origami king writing and visuals. Justice for super paper Mario presentation.
@Cia Yes. TTYD has too much backtracking and the partners are not all great.
My favorite had always being Super Mario RPG, Paper Mario 1 & 2, and the first four Mario & Luigi games. Although these are not technically Mario RPGs, I did also enjoy Mario Golf for Game Boy Color and Mario Golf: Advance Tour for Game Boy Advance as well since they had an RPG style story mode and is handle by Camelot Software Planning, creator of Shining Force (Sega), Beyond the Beyond (Sony), and Golden Sun (Nintendo).
@Waluigi451
"yeah, these ratings are just a popularity contest."
please have mercy, the mind reels from these earth shattering revelations.
"I mean objectively how is the original SNES version of Mario RPG higher than the remake?"
because new is not "objectively" better than old. ✌️
@Waluigi451 And you go back to your unity games, glad the original is not liked by you.
@Waluigi451 Of course their will be people who prefers the original. Just like with every original, remake, remaster game out there.
Couldn't agree more with the top 5 - you could move them around based on your preference and I think at least one Mario & Luigi should be in the top 3, but still - while like many others here I'm sad to see Color Splash and especially Origami King so low as much as I prefer the older Paper Mario games!
Super Paper Mario doesn't belong on here. It's a platform game with RPG elements. There isn't even a battle system, which is a core part of RPG gameplay.
Wow, I've never played TTYD. The GameCube was my most neglected Nintendo Console. I was in college and away from gaming. Super Mario RPG has always been one of my favorite games period. If TTYD really is better, I need to play it.
Dream Team is severely underrated.
I wasn’t even aware of any major dislike for Origami King. Sadly we haven‘t got a sales update for 2 years either, so we don’t know, it might even be the bestselling Mario RPG by now.
Color Splash on the other hand is the one I gave up on. I hated the consumable card based gameplay.
Super Paper Mario - I didn’t get the hate back then, but after finishing had to admit it does drag on a bit, and is too wordy.
Paper Mario, Mario RPG and TTYD - all great.
And the handheld entries were largely great (never tried Sticker Star or Paper Jam), it’s just that I’ve always preferred console games for their grander feel and scope.
@-wc- what part of the original is better than the remake? Honest question. What’s so great about the SNES version that’s missing from the remake?
@HugoGED never said I didn’t like the original, but what part of the original is better than the remake? The “feel” of it? That just seems like nostalgia for the old graphics.
The Switch version is a faithful remake so I just don’t see what was lost that would make the original rate higher if we’re being objective on the overall game quality. If we’re talking about which game is better for the time it was released, then sure, the SNES version is groundbreaking and an important game. But by 2023 standards, if you were going to recommend a game to someone, it would be the Switch version.
@Waluigi451 Actually one aspect might be the music. I’m finding most of the new arrangements very full and as a result a bit too upfront. They basically made every theme big, even those that were supposed to be sparse or quiet.
By the way I loved Sticker Star. Despite getting permanently stuck.
Even though Super Paper Mario is my favorite, I don't think any of these games should get less than a 7,5/ 10 rating.
@NintendoWife fair enough. I have not listened to comparisons on the music, but I could see how some would prefer one over the other. Personally, music won’t make one version better or worse for me, but I know others value music in games more.
how does superstar saga top it's remake? it makes sense for Bowsers inside story but I don't think it makes sense for SS
Started playing Mario rabbids: sparks of hope, man what an amazing game that is, very addicted to that gameplay.
@Waluigi451
i havent played the remake yet, but im not making declarations about one's "objective" superiority over the other, either. different strokes! 😊✌️
EDIT - ill be even more honest, here, because it seems like you are genuinely curious, and down for the conversation. 🙂
I suspect that i will like the beloved original more than the remake. the reason is this: i like 2D graphics more than 3d. i am fascinated by computer based music as opposed to orchestrated recordings. to say one is objectively better than the other is to say for example that digital photography is better than painting.
people didnt stop looking at the mona lisa just because there are billions of selfies on the internet, and it's not because of nostalgia 😅
The remake is probably great, but i wouldnt recommend that anyone play a random REMAKE over a classic game, than i would the same for a classic film. 👍
To me, Super Mario RPG will always be the king. Although Superstar Saga and Bowser’s Inside Story I have always felt were worthy follow ups.
The first 3 Paper Mario's are all great in their own way. And Color Splash is hilarious, definitely slept on.
As for Mario & Luigi, Superstar Saga was the only one that clicked for me. Browsers Inside Story kinda lost me one the insides sections
I miss the Mario & Luigi series. 😑
I really don't get the hate Paper Jam gets. I think it's as good, if not BETTER, than both Partners in Time and Dream Team.
I know this is an insane take in the eyes of most, but the amount of love Thousand Year Door gets has always seemed bizarre to me. It's a good game, sure, but I don't think it'd crack the top three for me. Top five, maybe.
@dfdfleming
Than Dream Team? Maybe.
Than Partners in Time? Not even close.
@Waluigi451 To be fair, the original graphics are a lot more impressive for the SNES than the remake's are for the Switch. When comparing game quality between different systems, you do have to adjust your rose-tinted glasses when it comes to what the two systems were actually capable of, most notably when it comes to presentation.
However, that would still only be a minor advantage. If the remake is just as good or even better in every other way, then it should still deserve just as good of a score at the very least.
@-wc- I get your preference for the original graphics and music, but is that really enough to say it deserves a better score on a 10-point system?
Keep in mind that this is a remaster, not actually a remake! Everything else like the story and gameplay is exactly the same or perhaps even better with some added quality of life features and bonus content. It would be like watching "The Absent-Minded Professor" in color with digital touch-ups and upscaled to HD as opposed to watching "Flubber."
I find it so weird how the little blurb talking about Sticker Star doesn't actually mention a single one of the game's flaws, other than it being "familiar". That paragraph needs a rewrite
@TG1 I'm sorry, but who on earth is praising that travesty of a game they call Sticker Star?
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