More than just being Nintendo‘s flagship character, Mario has become a global icon representative of video gaming overall. The plumber has led numerous Nintendo titles over the years, but the franchise’s mainline “Super Mario” series still defines the character. And while the 3D “Super Mario” games in the series offer hours of fun, sometimes fans just want a breezy and relatively quick experience. With that in mind, we’re highlighting the games in the mainline series that can be completed within the span of a weekend.
For these titles, you don’t have to be an expert speedrunner to finish all these games from the beginning in just a couple of sittings. At the same time, we’re not listing these titles with a full 100% completion in mind but just a standard playthrough. That means if a game has plenty of warps and shortcuts, they’re ripe for inclusion on this list.
For a quick gaming binge, here are five “Super Mario” games that you can beat in a weekend or less.
Super Mario Bros.
The tradition of “Super Mario” games each containing their own secrets is something that has been presented right from the mainline series’ beginning in 1985. The original “Super Mario Bros.” puts its first major set of secrets as early as its second level, with a group of hidden warp pipes. This initial grouping can take Mario all the way to the fourth world if players choose to do so. From there, a second set of warp pipes can similarly be found in the fourth world’s second level, letting players go all the way to the final world.
The original “Super Mario Bros.” is a retro game that everyone should play at least once, and most savvy gamers know at least about the first warp pipes. But with the inclusion of that second set of shortcuts, “Super Mario Bros.” can easily be beaten in less than an hour. Through re-releases and digital services, the game is virtually available to play on every major Nintendo platform released in the past 20 years. If you’re looking for the ultimate “Super Mario” nostalgic blast for the weekend, there’s no beating the classic.
Super Mario Bros. 3
Like its predecessors, “Super Mario Bros. 3” can take significantly longer to beat if players don’t use the game’s secret shortcuts. The 1989 game packs in more alternate exits and power-ups than any of the series’ titles before it, including the valuable Warp Whistle. Using this item lets Mario access a zone where players are able to choose what world to teleport to. Using two Warp Whistles can take players right to the eighth and final world, where Bowser is waiting for them.
“Super Mario Bros. 3” is one of the best “Super Mario” games, so you may want to enjoy the full breadth of the game for the first playthrough or two. But for seasoned pros, the game can be completed in short order, depending on how much trouble the final world gives you. This completion time is accelerated by the fact that the first world alone has two Warp Whistles hidden in it, if you know where to look. Upping the amount of secrets in its level design significantly, “Super Mario Bros. 3” is a quick game to get through if you know its tricks.
Super Mario Land
The Mario game that takes the shortest to beat is also the first “Super Mario” game released for the Game Boy. 1989’s “Super Mario Land” proved that the series’ side-scrolling platforming action was just as fun on a handheld console. The game took several creative liberties with the franchise’s formula, with Mario piloting airplanes and submarines, rather than only running and jumping through levels. Rather than rescuing Princess Toadstool and defending the Mushroom Kingdom from Bowser, Mario is protecting Sarasaland and saving Princess Daisy from the extraterrestrial Tatanga.
As a reminder, we’re not necessarily including the best “Super Mario” games on this list but the shortest to complete. On that score, there is no game that clears faster than “Super Mario Land” and its lightweight thrills. While the handheld title doesn’t have shortcuts like other entries on this list, it also only has 12 levels total in the entire game. An odd start for “Super Mario” on handheld platforms, “Super Mario Land” still provides good, if brief, action.
Super Mario World
As a launch title for the Super Nintendo in 1990, “Super Mario World” is a video game that defined 16-bit gaming. Picking up from the events of “Super Mario Bros. 3,” the game has Mario and Luigi confront Bowser and Koopalings in Dinosaur Land. The game packs even more secret exits than preceding games, with 24 out of the title’s 96 levels containing alternate ways to complete them. This includes the hidden area of Star Road, which connects all the different regions within Dinosaur Land through its cosmic shortcuts.
It’s the inclusion of Star Road that earns “Super Mario World” a spot on this list, letting players finish the game in a matter of hours, if they so choose. By unlocking Star Road through secret exits in the game’s second region, Donut Plains, players can work their way to its climactic area, Valley of Bowser. While we certainly recommend first-time players enjoy the entire game, those looking for a quick fix can power through using this alternate route. “Super Mario World” is a video game from the 1990s that aged flawlessly, and giving players freedom in how to proceed is a major factor in that enduring appeal.
Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins
While “Super Mario Land” provided a solid foundation for the series on the Game Boy, its 1992 sequel is one of the best Game Boy games of all time. The game reveals that Mario apparently owns an entire personal island, the titular Mario Land, with several themed regions. The story reveals that, while away during the events of “Super Mario Land,” Wario invaded, taking over Mario’s castle for himself. Completing the six regions in any order players choose nets them the titular six golden coins to gain entry into the castle and drive Wario out.
“Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins” is an all-around improvement over its predecessor and one of the best platformers on the Game Boy. But even with all of its enhancements, the game itself isn’t particularly long, with players able to breeze through most of its 32 levels. What may take more time is the fact that the game is much more difficult than its predecessor, particularly in its final stages. Marking the debut of Wario and a better representation of what the series could be on handheld platforms, “Super Mario Land 2” is a solid addition to the franchise.
