The best Super Mario game depends on what you want to do: roam a 3D kingdom, clear side-scrolling stages, race, or gather friends around a party board. Super Mario Odyssey is our starting point for solo exploration, while Super Mario Bros. Wonder is the stronger choice for shared 2D platforming. This shortlist also includes distinctly labeled spin-offs and a classic-game collection. All ten selected listings are games for Nintendo Switch; none is a dedicated game system or a console-and-game bundle, despite the broader title of this guide.
We prioritized the fit between each game’s play style and its intended buyer, then considered local multiplayer, approachable controls, included adventures and edition-specific limitations. A party game earns its place for group play, not because it resembles a platformer; a course creator is judged on what it offers both builders and players. The scores are editorial assessments of those tradeoffs. Before choosing, identify the exact Switch edition and distinguish features included with the game from online services or accessories sold separately.
Top-rated Comparison
For solo explorers who want secrets across 3D kingdoms; a second player assists as Cappy rather than playing a second Mario.
For players who want surprising side-scrolling stages or four-person local play; it is not an open-ended 3D adventure.
For households balancing structured 3D multiplayer stages with free-roaming exploration; the two adventures have different multiplayer roles.
For mixed-skill groups who want races and battles rather than platforming; extra courses should not be assumed to come with this listing.
For groups seeking boards and a broad minigame selection; some minigames use motion controls that require Joy-Con.
For builders and players who want customizable 2D courses; access to the online course-sharing community requires a membership.
For groups that prefer classic boards and button-controlled minigames; its five-board selection is smaller than Jamboree’s.
For solo players who want a party-based adventure and timed battle inputs; encounters are turn-based, not conventional Mario platforming.
For players who favor familiar side-scrolling courses and optional help; its design is less unpredictable than Wonder’s.
For players seeking three earlier 3D adventures in one Switch collection; physical copies have limited-supply history, so verify the exact listing.
For an open-ended 3D Mario adventure, choose Super Mario Odyssey: its kingdoms reward exploration, although its second player controls Cappy rather than another full-fledged adventurer. Super Mario Bros. Wonder trades roaming for inventive side-scrolling courses and supports up to four players on one system. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury bridges those styles with structured multiplayer stages and a separate free-roaming adventure. For a different kind of gathering, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe favors quick races, while Super Mario Party Jamboree centers on boards and minigames. Super Mario Maker 2 suits someone who wants to design courses; its player-made Course World requires Nintendo Switch Online. (nintendo.com)
For games, capacity means how many people can participate in the mode you actually intend to use—not how many characters appear on the cover. Odyssey accommodates one or two on a single system, but the second person controls Cappy. Wonder supports up to four locally on one system. In the two-part 3D World + Bowser’s Fury package, 3D World supports four on one system, whereas Bowser’s Fury gives its second player Bowser Jr. Check the mode as well as the number before planning a shared playthrough. Jamboree’s 20-player Koopathlon is an online mode, not a living-room player capacity. (nintendo.com)
Start with the activity, then choose the game. Odyssey’s captures and collectibles make sense if searching a kingdom sounds better than repeatedly reaching a stage goal. Wonder provides shorter-form 2D courses whose Wonder Flower effects can alter the action; New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is the steadier classic-style alternative, with several built-in help features. Maker 2 puts creation alongside play, but its built-in Story Mode is the clearer draw if you do not plan to use its online community. Mario Kart, the two Mario Party games and Super Mario RPG serve racing, board-game and turn-based-battle preferences respectively—not substitutes for a mainline platformer.
| Profile | Recommended Product | Why It Fits | Avoid If |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-time player who wants a solo 3D Mario adventure | Super Mario Odyssey | Odyssey offers explorable kingdoms, capture abilities and secrets to seek out. | Two players both want full Mario-style roles throughout. |
| Household seeking shared side-scrolling platforming | Super Mario Bros. Wonder | Wonder supports up to four on one system and offers damage-resistant character choices. | Open-ended 3D exploration is the priority. |
| Group that wants both structured stages and a separate exploration adventure | Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury | 3D World supplies the goal-based multiplayer courses; Bowser’s Fury adds Lake Lapcat. | Everyone expects four-player free-roaming play in Bowser’s Fury. |
| Mixed-skill group that would rather race than platform | Mario Kart 8 Deluxe | Mario Kart 8 Deluxe combines local races and battles with Smart Steering for newer drivers. | You are shopping specifically for a story-led Mario adventure. |
| Party-game group using button controls or Switch Lite | Mario Party Superstars | Superstars’ minigames use buttons and its five boards draw on earlier Mario Party games. | You would prefer Jamboree’s larger board selection and motion minigames. |
| Creative player who wants to build Mario stages | Super Mario Maker 2 | Maker 2 pairs course-building tools with more than 100 built-in Story Mode courses. | Access to shared online courses matters but you do not want a separate membership. |
Read each listing for the complete title, platform, edition, included content and supported modes. The selected products are Nintendo Switch game listings, not systems; a console, extra controllers, membership or later add-on content should be treated as separate unless an exact offer says otherwise. In particular, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s returning Wii U content does not establish that a later course pass is included. Super Mario 3D All-Stars lists 64, Sunshine and Galaxy; confirm that a physical offer is for that collection and check its stated condition. Published catalog information for a differently named game or edition does not settle what arrives in this one.
Match the controls to your household before choosing a group game. Mario Party Superstars uses button controls throughout its minigames, while some Jamboree minigames require Joy-Con motion controls and cannot be played that way on Switch Lite. Extra controllers may also be needed to reach a game’s local player limit. For remote play, check the mode and its requirements separately: Nintendo lists a Nintendo Account, internet access and a separately sold Switch Online membership for Wonder’s online features. Local play on one system is a different proposition from friends joining across systems. (nintendo.com)
Think about what will remain appealing after the first session. Odyssey invites another pass through its kingdoms for hidden collectibles. Maker 2 combines built-in stages and a creation toolkit with Course World, though continued access to shared courses depends on its online service. The party games offer repeatable boards and minigames but are most compelling if you have willing players; Kart works well when the group would rather race than commit to a board. For 3D All-Stars, longevity is partly a purchase-format question: Nintendo says its digital edition ceased new eShop sales on March 31, 2021, while physical copies were shipped to retailers only through that date. That history makes verifying a physical seller’s stated item especially important. (nintendo.com)
The most useful pre-purchase signals here are an exact title and edition, a clear description of what is included, and mode information matching Nintendo’s published game details. Be alert when a listing uses a format label that does not clearly tell you whether you are receiving a game card, download code or another form of access; ask the seller rather than inferring the contents from a format field. This matters particularly for the older physical 3D All-Stars collection. Likewise, the Switch Jamboree listing should not be mistaken for a differently titled Switch 2 edition with additional features. A strong game recommendation cannot resolve an ambiguous offer.
Look for comments about the exact game and the way you intend to play it. For Odyssey, a relevant account of two-person play should describe Mario and Cappy’s different roles, not imply two equivalent adventurers. For Jamboree, check whether someone discussing controls used Joy-Con and whether their comments concern motion minigames; Superstars is the more relevant comparison if your group wants button-only minigames. For Maker 2, separate impressions of built-in Story Mode from experiences using Course World. When reading about 3D All-Stars, match the physical Switch collection and seller-described condition rather than assuming feedback about an individual older game applies to the item being offered.
Do not buy by character recognition alone: Mario Kart is a racer, Mario Party is a board-and-minigame series, and Super Mario RPG uses turn-based encounters. Do not read an online player limit as a single-console limit, or assume an online-capable game includes the required membership. Check who a second player actually controls in Odyssey or Bowser’s Fury before promising equal co-op roles. Finally, distinguish the selected Switch games from console bundles and other editions. The products here do not include a dedicated game system, and similarly titled versions may differ in content or controls.
Which game should a first-time Mario player buy?
Choose Super Mario Odyssey for curious solo exploration or Super Mario Bros. Wonder if side-scrolling and playing together on one system sound more inviting. Wonder’s Yoshi and Nabbit choices can make its courses more approachable.
Do I need Nintendo Switch Online to play these games locally?
Not simply to play a supported mode together on one system. Online features have separate conditions: Wonder’s online play and Maker 2’s Course World require a Nintendo Switch Online membership, Nintendo Account and internet access. Check the exact game and mode before arranging remote play.
Which Mario Party game fits a Switch Lite household?
Mario Party Superstars is the simpler choice if button-controlled minigames are essential. Jamboree includes motion-control minigames that require Joy-Con and are not compatible with Switch Lite; check your controller setup before choosing it.
Does Super Mario 3D All-Stars include Galaxy 2?
No. The listed Switch collection contains Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario Galaxy. Check the exact title and contents if Galaxy 2 is the game you want.
Super Mario Odyssey is the best overall starting point for someone who wants to discover what a 3D Mario adventure can be: Cappy’s abilities give its explorable kingdoms a distinctive purpose. Choose Super Mario Bros. Wonder instead if the purchase is mainly for side-scrolling play with up to four people on one system. Neither choice includes a console; select a compatible system and the exact game edition separately.
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