Topic: Best Mario Spin-Off Game?

I've been on this HUGE Mario kick lately after playing through Super Mario Galaxy 2. I'm wondering what everyone's favorite Mario game is that isn't a part of the main series? It can be any Mario game, aside from the following:

Super Mario Galaxy 1 & 2, New Super Mario Bros. (Wii & DS), Super Mario Sunshine, Super Mario 64, Super Mario Land 1 & 2, Super Mario World, and Super Mario Bros. 1-3. I'm not sure if New Super Mario Bros. counts as being a part of the main franchise, but they stay true to the traditional Mario formula, so we'll include them in this.

I'm not sure if I could pick between the two, but either the original Paper Mario for N64, or Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door would be at the top of my list...TTYD would probably edge out the original by the narrowest of margins.

easy super smash bros. brawl

I dont think you can call Smash a Mario game cause it isn't based on him. Mine would have to be TTYD. It is such a great game.

The Paper Mario series is awesome.

oh..........i liked mario tennis (first game if MINE i was playing games nes and genesis in snes era and snes in n64 but those were my bros and sis games)

Thread would be more interesting if it was "Best Mario Sports Game."
Almost everyone is going to say Paper Mario or M&L as their favorites.

However, since I don't like RPGs, I'm going with Super Mario Strikers.
By the way, do the Wario, DK, and Yoshi games count as spinoffs?

@WhoKnew For this thread, we'll count them. I'm not really into RPGs much either, but I love the Paper Mario/Mario and Luigi games. I definitely see where you're coming from with the sports thing, so we'll just ask both...

What is your favorite Mario spin-off game (non-sports) and/or your favorite Mario sports game?
I completely agree on Super Mario Strikers. One of the best multiplayer games ever!

RPGs: Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga. Bowser's Inside Story comes close, though
Sports: Mario Superstar Baseball

Adventure: Yoshi's Island
Paper Mario

Sports: Mario Kart 64
Mario Tennis.

Super Mario Kart and Mario Clash.

The RPGs are okay, nothing amazing. I like them for the simplicity and timing-based attacks, but I don't care for Mario as an RPG character or most of the dialog. I liked the original the best of the RPGs.

Would Mario Kart be a Sports game?

Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! (He was in there)
Dr. Mario
Super Mario Kart
Paper Mario
Super Smash Bros. series

TTYD is easily the best game with Mario in the title aside from the platformers.

Either Mario Kart or Paper Mario.

@Dragoon: Yeah, I would say Mario Kart would be more on the sports side of things.

Not that it makes a difference, but I don't normally lump it in with the sports games.

For one thing, Mario Kart (except for the arcade version) is always done in-house, while the sports games are (I think) always either outsourced or done by acquired companies, so there is a different feel to it. But what makes them most distinct, I think, is that kart racing is not a traditional, widely recognized competitive sport like tennis, golf, soccer, basketball, etc.

But it's still racing, so obviously it's sport. It's just that I don't consider it part of what I see as the "Mario Sports" series, if that makes sense.

@Adam: Definitely makes sense. I don't usually lump them in with the sports games either, but for the sake of this topic, It just makes more sense as a sports game. There certainly is a much higher level of polish on the Mario Kart games when compared to the other Mario sports titles.

All sports games are good with Mario. Mario party series are also cool (MP2 and MP7 are best in my opinion).
I don`t think of Paper Mario series as a spin-off.

Mine would have to be the Mario Kart series. The Mario and Sonic Olympic series would probably be my second favorite.

My favorites are Mario Kart Wii, Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, and Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door.