Varying Mario Nintendo switch titles

August 25, 2021 3:02 AM

Can someone please break down each Mario game available for switch and explain what the differences and pros/cons are?

Like mario kart 8 deluxe, mario 3D builder, paper Mario, etc. i love playing Mario games. I am really overwhelmed by all the options.

posted by jitterbug perfume to Media & Arts (11 answers total)

This article might help you

Every Mario game available on Nintendo Switch, ranked
posted by knapah at 4:27 AM on August 25, 2021 [1 favorite]

Just get Mario Kart 8. Then others. :)
posted by nkknkk at 5:29 AM on August 25, 2021

While that article is indeed helpful, it's from March, so it doesn't include Mario Golf: Super Rush.

It's pretty good, but it's also a golf game. If you've enjoyed previous Mario Golf games, or other Mario Sports games, or you've ever played Golden Tee at a bar, you'll probably like it.
posted by box at 6:10 AM on August 25, 2021 [1 favorite]

Best answer: The list you give here is.... very broad. Those are just games starring Mario. A 'traditional' Mario platformer comes in two flavours, basically: 2D and 3D. These are all the Mario platformers on Switch:

3D:
- Mario Odyssey: built for Switch. Beloved by 3D Mario platfomers. The most up to date Mario platforming experience - apart from Bowser's Fury, but that's a short addition to....
- Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury: originally released on Wii U. Comes with an additional game made for Switch. Superb game. Really fun, and fantastic multiplayer and just a great 3D platformer all round.
- Mario 3D All-Stars: contains three games from three older Nintendo systems: Mario 64 (N64), Super Mario Sunshine (Gamecube), and Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)

2D:
- New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe: orignally released on Wii U. This is the latest 2D Mario, with snazzy graphics and lots of gameplay options. Makes a great multiplayer experience too.
- Switch Online: If you pay for Switch Online you get access to the SNES and NES back catalogues, including classics such as Super Mario Bros. 1 and 2 and the Japanese version (Lost Levels), Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, Mario All-Stars, and a bunch of other games starring Mario such as the original Mario Kart for SNES.
- Mario Maker 2: a game where you can build your own 2D platform levels. Mario Maker 2 comes with a lot of content built in already (basically a full single player game with many levels), and a HUGE online community of custom built levels, so if you like 2D mario platforming, this might be a good go to. It's basically infinite Mario platforming fun.

Etc:
Then there are the many games featuring Mario as a character. These are split into sports titles and other stuff, including Mario Kart, or puzzle games:

- Mario Golf: Super Rush: golf arcade fun
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: driving fun
- Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: various sports
- Super Mario Party: party / board game for friends/family
- Paper Mario: The Origami king: silly comic RPG
- Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle: fun tactical strategy game
- Mario Tennis Aces: arcade tennis
- etc.

If you haven't played Super Mario Odyssy yet, and like 3D games, then that's a great start. But I think I personally prefer Super Mario World 3D, overall. And if you haven't ever played Super Mario Galaxy, then you MUST get the 3D All-stars pack, because imho it's the greatest 3D Mario game of all time.
posted by 0bvious at 8:18 AM on August 25, 2021 [11 favorites]

FWIW, Mario Kart 8 is certainly good, but I didn’t feel like it was giving me anything new. So if you’ve never played any MK you’ll probably love it, if like me you’ve played about four versions already you might find it a bit less exciting.
posted by Bloxworth Snout at 8:24 AM on August 25, 2021 [1 favorite]

Best answer: As noted there is many many 'Mario' games, and I think they can be broken into three categories. These three sorts of Mario games that you can play on the Switch are 'The Classics', which run in emulation, Mario platformer games and finally everything else. The Switch has great support for older games and so you can cheaply buy the annual pass and play many of the old Mario games. But let's limit the scope to 'modern' games that aren't emulated.

*own it*

Mario Platform games

• *Super Mario Odyssey* (2017) This is the sort of Mario game everyone is thinking of when you say 'a Mario game'. It's got the map and you run your characters through the levels. Platform launch game and it shows. Essential.
• Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker (2018) mini game puzzler that was ported from the Wii U. Pass unless mini puzzlers are your jam. And then consider a party game instead.
• *New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe* (2019) A Classic Mario platform game. For 30$ on the used market, it's a fine secondary addition to your collection
• *Yoshi's Crafted World* (2019) This one is aimed at the younger set but I personally adore the vibe of the game during the pandemic. It has a mode where you can't fail so it really helps kids but you can play it like a normal Mario game. The look and feel is what is like a dream of what a video game can be. The point is to have fun and this one is fun.
• Super Mario Maker 2 (2019) I don't have time to create a game. Pass.
• *Luigi's Mansion 3* (2019) Underrated. Great co-op mode so I can play with the kids and solve puzzles. Not a first pick for solo play, and I would slot it above U Deluxe just for the spooky ghost fall vibe and fun mechanics that aren't stupid or too violent. You go around an old hotel with a vacuum sucking up ghosts and solving puzzles. It's also a great introductory game for a non-gamer to play with a gamer.
• *Paper Mario: The Origami King* (2020) If you have played any other Mario game then this should be THE second game. Essential. Folks complain the bosses can be hard, but seriously, its a perfect game, love it.
• Super Mario 3D All-Stars (2020) They stopped selling this one. Limited run stuff is total BS. It is a collection of three games ported from older systems that were all '3d'. The classic games started off as 2 dimension platformers, so these mark a major evolution in the series. It's a platform game with maps and characters with different skills, but these should really be put under the classic Mario games. We might buy it used, as it does not command a premium in that market.
• Super Mario Bros. 35 (2020) another limited run, but this one you can't get at all. Hard pass.
• Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury (2021) port of a 3DS game. It's a beloved chapter in the franchise and another good place to start for a platformer with maps and characters. It's next on our list to aquire as it just came out.

Mario is an incidental character games

• *Mario Kart 8 Deluxe* (2017) Fun game for social events. Everybody loves a Kart game, but it doesn't have to be this kart game.
• *Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle* (2017) It's a battle royal sort of thing. Just get Splatoon
• Mario Tennis Aces (2018) Sportsball sim
• Super Mario Party (2018) Party game? Who has parties? Mini puzzle games, quick and fast and lots of shouting. I don't know if we actually own this one, it just seems like its always there so maybe? It exists in a liminal space.
• *Super Smash Bros. Ultimate* (2018) The other essential game for social events. Kids love it, but be prepared to lose. CAUSE YOU ARE GOING DOWNNNN
• Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 (2019) Sportsball sim
• Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit (2020) seems like a dupe of Kart? Version 9?
• Mario Golf: Super Rush (2021) Sportsball sim
• Mario Party Superstars (2021) the 11th party game? Maybe if we had more parties?

posted by zenon at 9:04 AM on August 25, 2021 [2 favorites]

I realized I didn't note what Super Smash Bros. is. It's a button mashing rockem sockem melee fighting game where every character has unique powers. I find it hard to even make out what is going on through the animations. Still fun, but it might not be your vibe if you didn't grow up with MORTAL COMBAT.

The Kart games are racing sims, but allow for just about anyone to enjoy it at nearly any skill level.
posted by zenon at 9:10 AM on August 25, 2021

Just a note that Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle isn't a battle royale, it's as mentioned before a tactical strategy game. I like it a lot but it's definitely not mainline Mario!

Odyssey is definitely the most must-have, but I love Luigi's Mansion 3 even though Mario is only something Luigi murmurs quaveringly when you press the right button.
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 1:53 PM on August 25, 2021 [2 favorites]

My expert 12 year old says:

If you liked Mario 64, Mario Sunshine, or Mario Galaxy, then play Mario Odyssey.

If you liked any of the 2D Mario games, or the new Super Mario Bros. games, then play new Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe or Mario Maker.

If you like MarioKart, play MarioKart 8 Deluxe.

If you liked Mario 3D Land, play Mario 3D World.
posted by gideonfrog at 4:39 PM on August 25, 2021 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: Thanks so much for these amazing responses! What’s Paper Mario about?
posted by jitterbug perfume at 5:17 PM on August 25, 2021

BlackLeotardFront is correct - the Rabbids thing is like Advanced Wars strategy game from back in the day, and I meant for the that comment about splatoon to explain what that Super Mario Bros. 35 was.

Paper Mario: The Origami King's whole style is based on a paper and origami look. The soundtrack is great. There are many different levels, it has a sorta RPG element, but only sorta, it's sorta open world, but not really, it's puzzles and a battle mechanic that is part puzzler. You can end up battling lots of random characters as you play through and some of the battles you have to do a few times to get it right. I very much liked that it wasn't the same old same old, and I found the writing/dialogue amusing and was generally very charmed by the game. I was fine with it being a bit repetitive - I felt an emotional connection and found it immersive. There was a couple of spots I used a walk through to help, but mainly cause I don't play everyday.
posted by zenon at 2:00 PM on August 26, 2021