Is there a video game character that is more recognizable in the whole world than Nintendo’s Mario? Debuting as the protagonist in “Donkey Kong” in 1981, Mario quickly received his own eponymous series, only growing more ambitious with its platforming gameplay. But more than just the “Super Mario” series that began in 1985, Nintendo’s de facto mascot has received plenty of spin-off series. We’ve already covered the best “Super Mario” games of all time, and now we’re looking at its spin-off series.
For the sake of variety, we’re keeping this to the best entry from a single spin-off series, because nobody wants “Mario Kart” crowding up the list. We’re also looking at games that technically star Mario himself. Though Yoshi and Wario games technically spun off from “Super Mario,” they feel like more standalone titles. Meanwhile, something like “Super Smash Bros.” is more of an ensemble piece, just as heavily informed by other Nintendo properties like “The Legend of Zelda.” Our entries keep Mario front and center, even if they aren’t bringing the platforming action that made the Nintendo character a household name.
Here are the five best Mario spin-off games ranked, each reinventing what could be done with Nintendo’s flagship franchise.
5. Super Mario Maker 2
The “Super Mario Maker” series blends content creation and level design with the classic aesthetics and gameplay of side-scrolling “Super Mario” titles. The series’ most recent title is “Super Mario Maker 2,” released in 2019 for the Nintendo Switch. The game retains the core concept of letting players design and share their own levels using assets from a variety of classic games, but it also adds assets from “Super Mario 3D World.” The sequel also provides players with a story mode and several waves of free DLC adding to the players’ arsenal of design options.
“Super Mario Maker” changed video games, and no one noticed at the time, bringing game design tools to mainstream audiences couched within the familiar world of “Super Mario.” “Super Mario Maker 2” only takes those elements to a bigger stage, giving players even more tools to build their own levels with. The game realizes what the series has been trying to do all along, letting players put their own twist on the familiar franchise and share that experience with friends. It’s been a while since “Super Mario Maker 2,” so hopefully Nintendo keeps the series going with a fresh installment and new tricks up its sleeve.
4. Mario Tennis
Mario has been appearing in sports games since the ’80s, but this more athletic spin-off direction reached new heights with “Mario Tennis.” Released in 2000 for the Nintendo 64, the game features singles and doubles tennis matches with a robust roster of playable characters. This includes the introduction of the fan-favorite Waluigi, along with redesigns for Daisy and Birdo still used today. While most modes feature more traditional tennis gameplay, there are maps and modes with power-ups and unique court features.
There are problems with the Nintendo Switch’s Mario sports games, and the company would do well to look back to the example set by “Mario Tennis.” The game is a solid tennis game first and foremost while staying accessible to players who aren’t normally good at sports titles. At the same time, there are more over-the-top party modes, if you’re looking for a little more variety in the gameplay. “Mario Tennis” should be the example that all subsequent Mario sports games aspire to, balancing fun and rewarding gameplay.
3. Mario Party 2
The original “Mario Party” trilogy stands among the best Nintendo 64 games of all time, defining modern party games and spawning several notorious imitators. The premise is simple enough, with Mario and his friends navigating themed game boards while playing mini-games to surpass their opponents. The pinnacle of the series is “Mario Party 2,” released for the N64 in 1999 and where the series truly found its creative voice. From enduringly fun mini-games to the introduction of new features that the series continues to use today, like items, the 1999 title casts a long shadow.
“Mario Party 2” really is the ultimate title in the series, at once more ambitious than its predecessor but not as unwieldy as its sequels. The boards feel much more intuitive and less tedious to traverse than other titles, while the wide selection in mini-games is impressive. Even the single-player experience and navigation between different modes feel more intuitive than most entries in the series. “Mario Party” has been a Nintendo staple since 1998, and “Mario Party 2” is the title that its sequels still chase.
2. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
When Mario made the leap to turn-based RPG gameplay with “Super Mario RPG” on the Super Nintendo in 1996, it opened up a whole new frontier for the franchise. The game spawned not one but two RPG spin-off series, “Mario & Luigi” and “Paper Mario,” with the latter series starting in 2000 on the Nintendo 64. This title received a direct sequel in 2004 for the GameCube with “Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door,” continuing the adventures of the comically 2D Mario. The game has Mario and an offbeat set of allies set out to rescue Peach from a new extraterrestrial enemy, the X-Nauts.
It really was a toss-up between “Super Mario RPG” and “Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door” as to which is the better RPG spin-off, but the 2004 game won out. This comes from a sharp sense of humor, a refined combat system, and a more expansive scope that actively subverts player expectations. The game was later remade in 2024 for the Nintendo Switch, faithfully recreating the overall presentation and retaining much of the original version’s charm. The pinnacle of how Mario can exist within the RPG space, “Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door” is an unmitigated triumph.
1. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Really, when it comes to stellar “Super Mario” spin-offs, there really is no beating the “Mario Kart” series. Starting on the Super Nintendo in 1992, the game series has appeared on virtually every Nintendo platform since. The best “Mario Kart” game to date is “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe,” the 2017 enhanced port for the Nintendo Switch of the original 2014 Wii U game. The game offers players with a huge roster of playable characters, a variety of vehicles, and plenty of both classic and new race tracks to try out for themselves.
“Mario Kart 8 Deluxe” feels like a sweeping love letter to all the “Mario Kart” games that came before it while forging something new for the series. The game’s innovations are subtly incorporated into the experience while the track design is immaculate in keeping players riveted. After the Switch port’s release, the game only got more popular every year, becoming an absolute commercial juggernaut. This only serves as a testament to just how expertly crafted “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe” is, wowing millions of fans worldwide for years.
