Every Mario RPG Ranked
#14: “Paper Mario: Sticker Star” (2012)
“Sticker Star” is absolutely, hands-down, the weakest of the Mario RPGs. That isn’t to say it’s a terrible game in general. But as a “Paper Mario” game, it’s…what is this, man? The difficulty is inconsistent, the stickers are busted to the point where you can easily and quickly do away with battles with little to no effort, and the Toads populate almost the entire world. And the backtracking…the never-ending, hamfisted backtracking… It is, by far, one of the laziest Mario games ever made, and those who love RPGs have every right to stay away from it.
#13: “Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam” (2015)
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A mish-mash of “Paper Mario” and the “Mario & Luigi” series? It makes sense when you consider both franchises are RPGs, but in terms of aesthetic, not so much. While “Paper Jam” did present its own serving of unique ideas that made combat and puzzles entertaining, the biggest flaw was in its own narrative. Nothing interesting truly happens as the worlds collide and characters meet their counterparts; the jokes are all predictable and make the story quite tiring. Of Nintendo’s first-party 3DS games, “Paper Jam” is okay, but RPGs need a strong narrative for the amount of reading players normally have to do.
#12: “Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time” (2005)
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As the second game of the “Mario & Luigi” franchise, “Partners in Time” is a solid sequel. The introduction of new characters and mechanics such as the use of Baby Mario and Baby Luigi bring a fresh approach to its predecessor’s formula. However, this new idea also works against “Partners in Time”. Having to jump between two screens to control each duo would get overwhelming at times, at least for those who hadn’t grasped the general layout of the Nintendo DS. We aren’t saying it is a bad game by any means. It just becomes a bit too much at times.
#11: “Paper Mario: Color Splash” (2016)
In order to enjoy “Color Splash”, you have to be in a certain kind of mood. Unlike “Sticker Star”, “Color Splash” uses a more familiar format with cards. The use of cards in combat does enforce a little more strategic planning compared to “Sticker Star’s” haphazard setup. And in the overworld, the paint hammer opens up the path for unique puzzles and hidden secrets to uncover. Despite this new take, it still wasn’t what we were looking for in a new “Paper Mario” game, especially when the combat gets mundane as quickly as it does here.
#10: “Mario & Luigi: Dream Team” (2013)
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We suppose you could say “Dream Team” is to “Mario & Luigi” as “Color Splash” is to “Paper Mario”. It’s not anything super offensive; the writing is witty and charming, the ideas on display are interesting, and the visuals are about as solid as games prior. The only problem here was that “Dream Team” stepped on its own toes with a heavier focus on platforming puzzles, so much so that it almost detracts from the typical RPG mechanics fans have come to expect from a “Mario & Luigi” game. It isn’t the best in the franchise, but it certainly isn’t the worst.
#9: “Paper Mario: The Origami King” (2020)
“The Origami King” is a bit of a weird one. On one hand, you have a “Paper Mario” game that manages to recapture the wit and goofy charm of older titles. On the other hand, you have gameplay that doesn’t resemble anything remotely close to what the “Paper Mario” games have been. The battle wheel is perhaps one of the most contentious systems within the community. Some argue it's annoying, cumbersome, and kills the pacing of the game. Others find it satisfying once you figure out the different setups you can execute. In a way, it is a good “Paper Mario”, just not one we’d point a newcomer to.
#8: “Super Paper Mario” (2007)
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It’s interesting how different “Super Paper Mario” is compared to both past and future installments. Here, we had a “platformer RPG” that enforced something similar to your standard action RPG; defeat enemies in real-time to gain XP, thus improving your stats. The main star here is pretty much the story and puzzles, which appeal to fans of a certain GameCube classic (albeit with probably a little, quiet resentment). Even with all of its odd cogs, “Super Paper Mario” still managed to become one of the best games on the Wii thanks to its music, writing, and level design.
#7: “Paper Mario” (2001)
Honestly, the first “Paper Mario” still holds up today. This birth of a new Mario spin-off franchise showed the world how a Mario RPG could work and how it could open up a whole new audience to the genre. It was simple in its design and storytelling while offering different partners to bring into combat, adding a new layer of depth to exploration and combat. Of course, we cannot forget about that joyous and imaginative score that allowed “Paper Mario” to resonate with an entire generation of N64 players.
#6: “Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle” (2017)
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To think we live in a world where a Mario and Rabbids crossover exists and is actually a stellar game. Yes, this tactics RPG is incredibly well-made in almost every possible facet. The writing is hilarious, the combat is deep, and the level design makes every fight a challenge. On top of that, the score by Grant Kirkhope is just as spectacular as his previous works, and the Donkey Kong expansion is one of the best expansions we have seen in the gaming industry. Every Switch owner needs to give “Kingdom Battle” a shot if they haven’t already.
#5: “Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga” (2003)
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The very first “Mario & Luigi” truly was a triumph in every meaning of the word. Game Boy Advance owners were treated to an RPG that not only presented a new world to explore outside of the Mushroom Kingdom, but an entirely new dynamic between the brothers with the Bros. Attacks. Consisting of only A and B inputs, players could test their memorization and timing in exchange for bonus damage, encouraging players to learn and master each new Bros. Attack. It was truly an achievement in RPGs for the GBA, and it helped launch a whole new line of Mario RPGs without simply mimicking “Paper Mario’s” formula.
#4: “Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope” (2022)
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Both of the “Mario + Rabbids” games are high up on this list because they absolutely are that good! “Sparks of Hope” managed to surpass expectations in the most creative ways. Rather than recycle the same tactics format its predecessor utilized (as did several other tactics games), “Sparks of Hope” employs a new level of challenge by granting players freedom of movement instead of keeping them locked to a grid. The catch is that now you have to be sure of your movements before attacking with your main weapon. And with Sparks offering up different elemental effects, it is vital that you mix and match each character’s core abilities with Sparks that will compliment them. And yes, the challenge is cranked up more for this sequel.
#3: “Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars” (1996)
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What can we say about “Super Mario RPG” that hasn’t been said by thousands of folks on the internet? The pairing between Nintendo and Square was a literal match made in heaven. The imaginative worlds, the basic combat that required decent timing with attacks to maximize damage, the music that added to every area’s personality… It all blends together to create one of the absolute best Super Nintendo games of all-time. It’s only a shame that few can experience this gem today.
#2: “Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door” (2004)
“Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door” was that one RPG that every GameCube owner needed to have. Those who played the original “Paper Mario” could quickly grasp “Thousand-Year Door’s” combat. However, the big attraction was the story. From the eccentric Madame Flurrie to the clumsy and dorky Koops the Koopa, “Thousand-Year Door” brought forth one of the most memorable and well-written casts we had seen from Nintendo. It is no wonder that many are still demanding a Switch port to this day.
#1: “Mario + Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story” (2009)
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Look, it may not be the most popular opinion, but “Bowser’s Inside Story” is absolutely the best of the Mario RPGs. It didn’t just come with an engaging story and captivating cast of characters. It also took the ideas of “Superstar Saga” and “Partners in Time” and expanded upon them with new ideas while reeling back on ones that didn’t work. On top of that, Bowser’s interactions with the outer world opened up the door to some creatively designed puzzles and combat scenarios. “Bowser’s Inside Story” is one of those few RPGs that truly is perfection, and it is one of the best Nintendo DS games you can play.
