Best Mario games for Switch: from Odyssey to Bowser's Fury
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Best Mario games for Switch: from Odyssey to Bowser's Fury
Ready to discover the best Mario games on Nintendo Switch? Let's-a go!
The best Mario games for Switch range from expansive single-player adventures and frantic party games to heated sports spin-offs and gravity-defying go-karting. The mustachioed hero has thrown his hat at practically every genre you can think of – and does so quite literally in the case of Super Mario Odyssey.
After the incredible success of the Super Mario Bros. Movie and Super Nintendo Land now open to the masses, Mario’s popularity has soared to new stratospheric heights. It’s fair to say that Mario mania is here, and the timing couldn’t be better with the Nintendo Switch 2 on the horizon.
But before you rush out to pick up the official Super Mario Bros. Movie toys or the roar-some LEGO Bowser set, Nintendo’s iconic mascot plays a starring role in some of the best Switch games. Want to experience the very best Mario games for Switch for yourself, then? Let’s-a go!
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury 😸
I only need two words to sell you on Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury… Cat. Mario.
You won’t encounter anything more heart-warming than seeing Mario transform into a four-legged feline and scratch, climb, and tumble his through 3D World’s captivating levels. It’s even more adorable if you team up with three friends and become a colorful little clowder. Just look at Cat Toad for goodness sake.
Super Mario 3D World was first released on the Wii U in 2013, but it’s still one of the best Mario games ever made. The Switch port only made it better, too, as it added a whole new expansion to the game called Bowser’s Fury.
An absolute blast to play with friends or alone, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury is the purr-fect game for fans of the coin-collecting, Goomba-stomping Italian.
Super Mario Odyssey 🧢
Super Mario Odyssey combines impeccable platforming with the sort of ingenuity that only Nintendo seems to be able to conjure. As you explore countless magical worlds, you’ll need to use Mario’s sentient hat, Cappy, to transform into all sorts of objects and creatures and utilize their unique abilities.
Whether you’re flinging yourself off a fire hydrant or leaping to all-new heights as a frog, Super Mario Odyssey never fails to evoke a child-like feeling of joy as you hop, skip, and jump your way to every Power Moon you need to collect.
Hours of pristine platforming await in Super Mario Odyssey, and the challenge only really begins once you’ve rolled the credits on the main game. Odyssey is a must-play for any Nintendo Switch owner.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe 🎈
Mario may be joined by countless other faces from the Mushroom Kingdom cinematic universe and beyond, but his name is still front and center. This isn’t Bowser Jr. Kart 8 Deluxe, this is Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, ya hear?!
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is comfortably one of the best-selling games on Nintendo Switch and it’s easy to see why. The game’s pick-up and play nature is unrivaled, and with online support and local multiplayer, there’s always someone to race against and gloat over.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe may be considered to be a little long in the tooth these days, but new content keeps on coming down the pipe. The game is set to get 5 new characters in the coming months and has already received over 32 new tracks as part of the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass.
At this rate, who needs Mario Kart 9?
Super Mario Maker 2 👷🏻
Think you can make a better Mario game than Nintendo? Prove it.
In Super Mario Maker 2, you’re given all the tools to make sadistically difficult or chilled-out side-scrolling levels that even Shigeru Miyamoto would be proud of. The twist is, though, that you have to complete your own creations before they can be uploaded for the world to beat.
Super Mario Maker 2 basically provides a never-ending treasure trove of levels to dive into, but there’s a story mode to enjoy if you’re not sold on the whole do-it-yourself aspect of the game.
What are you waiting for, then? Grab a hard hat and build your Mario magnum opus today.
New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe 🍄
Now, this is what it’s all about. A vibrant 2D scrolling plane to run across, shiny coins to collect, question boxes to hit, and plenty of Goombas to squish. New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe takes the responsive and satisfying gameplay of classic Mario games, distills it, adds a few flourishes, and reinvigorates it for a new generation of players.
The end result is a fantastic Mario game that nails all of the core fundamentals players have come to expect but also provides the perfect springboard for newcomers to get to grips with where it all began. Oh, and New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe supports four-player co-op. It’s time to pass down the baton.
Mario Party Superstars 🎲
Forget about Monopoly. Mario Party Superstars is the true king of board games and an absolute riot when played with friends and family.
If you’re new to the Mario Party series, you roll dice and move around the board collecting coins and competing in mini-games as you go. Once you have enough money you can buy Stars, and whoever has the most at the end of the game wins. Coins also help you buy items that can help you speed around the map or interfere with your opponents, and several lucky and chance-style spaces are scattered across the board that can turn a game on its head.
Mario Party Superstars is one of the strongest entries in the long-running series as it revives fan-favorite maps, includes some genuinely excellent mini-games, and also features online play so you can keep the party going wherever you are.
Paper Mario: The Origami King 👑
The Paper Mario series has had its ups and downs over the years, but Paper Mario: The Origami King is a fine return to form. It’s full of clever puzzles, beautiful visuals, and an engaging battle system that will test your wit and abilities.
Like other entries in the Paper Mario series, the game retains its humor and colorful cast of characters and the origami element lends itself perfectly to the paper-crafted world which is a pleasure to explore.
It might not reach the heights of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, but it’s well worth picking up if you’re looking for a new Mario game for Switch.
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope 🐰
A bizarre crossover that no one saw coming, Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope is a sequel to the excellent Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle that was released in 2017 The game puts Mario and a cast of familiar faces in a turn-based strategy game and is powered by Ubisoft’s impressive Snowdrop graphics engine.
Choose from nine heroes including Bowser to build your dream team and bring back order to the universe in this colorful, planet-hopping mix of adventure and tactical combat. Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope improves on the original in almost every way.
Super Mario 3D All-Stars ⭐️
Super Mario 3D All-Stars contains three classic Mario games: Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy. However, the compilation was only available for a limited time as part of Nintendo’s 35th Super Mario Bros. anniversary celebrations.
In a bizarre move that was clearly done to drive sales, Nintendo released the game on September 18, 2020, and then removed it from sale – even from the Nintendo eShop – on March 31, 2021. That helped the compilation sell nine million copies worldwide, though many took umbrage with Nintendo’s strategy.
The games themselves were also fairly no-frills ports of three of the best Mario games, which admittedly made this collection less desirable. Still, it’s the first time Super Mario Sunshine has been available outside of the GameCube, and Super Mario Galaxy is arguably the best Mario game ever made. Good luck trying to buy Super Mario 3D All-Stars today without paying an extremely over-inflated price.
These Mario games are available to play anytime, anywhere, and with anyone all year round. So grab one of your favorite Nintendo Switch Joy-Con colors, invite a few friends over, and start playing the best Mario games for Nintendo Switch today.
Last updated: September 8, 2023