Mario is the beating heart of Nintendo. Since the Switch launched in 2017, the mustachioed plumber has starred in over a dozen games spanning every genre — from platforming and racing to RPGs and sports. But which Mario games on Switch are actually worth your time and money? We have played them all, and here is our definitive ranking of every Mario game on Nintendo Switch, from worst to best.
How We Ranked These Games
We evaluated each Mario game based on four criteria: gameplay quality (how fun and polished it is), content value (how much there is to do relative to the price), critical reception (Metacritic scores and user reviews), and how well it holds up in 2026. Games that were great at launch but have aged poorly are ranked lower than games that remain essential experiences today.
The Complete Ranking
15. Mario Strikers: Battle League
Genre: Sports | Price: ~$59.99 | Metacritic: 73
The weakest Mario game on Switch. While the core soccer gameplay is fun in short bursts, the launch content was painfully thin — only 10 characters and five stadiums. Free updates added more, but it never reached the depth of Super Mario Strikers on GameCube. The online experience is decent, but the single-player is forgettable. Worth it only on a deep sale (under $20).
14. Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope
Genre: Tactical RPG | Price: ~$59.99 | Metacritic: 86
A surprisingly deep tactical RPG that improves on its predecessor in every way. Ubisoft Milan removed the grid-based movement in favor of free-roaming combat, added open-world exploration between battles, and created a charming storyline. The DLC featuring Rayman is excellent. If you enjoy turn-based strategy, this is a hidden gem that deserves more attention.
13. New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
Genre: 2D Platformer | Price: ~$59.99 | Metacritic: 81
A polished Wii U port that includes both the base game and the Luigi U expansion. The level design is solid, the multiplayer is chaotic fun with up to four players, and Toadette's exclusive Super Crown power-up adds an easier option for younger or less experienced players. It is a perfectly enjoyable 2D Mario — but it lacks the magic and creativity of the games higher on this list.
12. Super Mario Maker 2
Genre: Platformer/Creation | Price: ~$59.99 | Metacritic: 88
The ultimate Mario level creation tool. Build your own stages using assets from five different Mario game styles (SMB, SMB3, SMW, NSMBU, and SM3DW), then share them online for the world to play. The user-created content ranges from brutally hard Kaizo levels to ingenious puzzle stages to beautiful artistic showcases. The story mode features 100+ Nintendo-designed levels that serve as a masterclass in level design. It is endlessly replayable, and the community is still active in 2026.
11. Paper Mario: The Origami King
Genre: Action-RPG | Price: ~$59.99 | Metacritic: 80
A charming, humorous adventure with gorgeous paper-craft visuals and a surprisingly emotional story. The ring-based puzzle combat is divisive — some love its strategic depth, others find it repetitive — but the world exploration, writing, and boss fights are excellent. The overworld is filled with secrets, collectibles, and laugh-out-loud moments. It may not reach the heights of The Thousand-Year Door, but it is a delightful experience in its own right.
10. Mario Tennis Aces
Genre: Sports | Price: ~$59.99 | Metacritic: 75
The best Mario tennis game in years, with a surprisingly deep combat-tennis mechanic that adds Zone Shots, Zone Speed, and Trick Shots to the standard gameplay. The single-player adventure mode is short but fun, and the online competitive scene has a dedicated following. Post-launch updates added many new characters, bringing the roster to 30+. A great pick for local multiplayer sessions.
9. Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Genre: 2D Platformer | Price: ~$59.99 | Metacritic: 92
The freshest 2D Mario in decades. Wonder introduces the "Wonder Flower" mechanic — touching one transforms the level in wild, unexpected ways. Pipes come alive. Gravity shifts. Mario turns into a Goomba. Each level feels like opening a surprise gift. The visual style is gorgeous, the multiplayer (both local and online) is seamless, and the difficulty curve is perfectly calibrated. It breathes new life into a formula that was starting to feel stale. One of the best games on Nintendo Switch, period.
8. Luigi's Mansion 3
Genre: Action-Adventure | Price: ~$59.99 | Metacritic: 86
Next Level Games delivered the definitive Luigi's Mansion experience. Each floor of the haunted hotel has a unique theme — a medieval castle, a pirate ship, a movie studio — and the ghost-busting gameplay is endlessly inventive. The addition of Gooigi (a gooey clone of Luigi) adds clever puzzle-solving possibilities, and the local co-op is a blast. It is gorgeous, funny, and one of the most creative games on the Switch.
7. Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
Genre: Tactical RPG | Price: ~$39.99 | Metacritic: 85
Nobody expected a Mario-meets-XCOM crossover to work this well. Grant Kirkhope's fantastic soundtrack, clever tactical combat, and the sheer absurdity of Rabbids wielding weapons alongside Mario make this one of the most pleasant surprises in Switch history. The Donkey Kong DLC is some of the best content in the entire game. At its frequently discounted price of $10-15 on the eShop, it is an absolute must-buy.
6. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury
Genre: 3D Platformer | Price: ~$59.99 | Metacritic: 89
Two great games in one package. The base game (a Wii U port) is a joyful multiplayer-focused 3D platformer with creative level design and the Cat Suit power-up. But the real star is Bowser's Fury — a standalone open-world Mario experience that feels like a prototype for the future of the franchise. An enormous kaiju-sized Bowser periodically attacks while you explore an interconnected world of challenges. It is short (3-5 hours) but brilliant, and it alone justifies the purchase.
5. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Remake)
Genre: RPG | Price: ~$59.99 | Metacritic: 91
The best Paper Mario game, lovingly remade for the Switch. The turn-based combat is satisfying, the writing is sharp and funny, and the story takes Mario to genuinely surprising places for a Nintendo game. The visual overhaul brings the paper-craft aesthetic to life in gorgeous HD. If you missed the GameCube original, this is a must-play RPG. If you played the original, the quality-of-life improvements and visual upgrade make it worth revisiting.
4. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Genre: Racing | Price: ~$59.99 | Metacritic: 92
With 96 tracks (thanks to the Booster Course Pass), 42 characters, and the most refined kart racing mechanics in the series, MK8D is the best-selling Switch game for good reason. It is the perfect party game, the perfect portable game, and the perfect "one more race" game. Online multiplayer is smooth, local wireless play is seamless, and the new tracks from the DLC include some of the best in the entire franchise. An essential Switch game.
3. Super Mario RPG (Remake)
Genre: RPG | Price: ~$59.99 | Metacritic: 83
The beloved SNES classic reborn with beautiful visuals and modernized gameplay. This faithful remake preserves the charm, humor, and strategic combat of the original while adding quality-of-life improvements, new post-game content, and a gorgeous art style. It is a shorter RPG (15-20 hours), but every moment is polished to perfection. A love letter to the game that started the Mario RPG tradition.
2. Mario Kart World (Switch 2)
Genre: Racing | Price: ~$59.99
The Switch 2 launch title takes the series to new heights. An open-world hub area, new abilities that add strategic depth to races, and significantly upgraded visuals make this the most ambitious Mario Kart yet. It does not replace MK8D (which remains fantastic), but it represents the future of the franchise. If you have a Switch 2, this is the first game you should buy.
1. Super Mario Odyssey
Genre: 3D Platformer | Price: ~$59.99 | Metacritic: 97
The king of Mario games on Switch, and one of the greatest platformers in gaming history. Odyssey is pure joy condensed into a video game. Every kingdom is bursting with creativity, secrets, and surprises. The Cappy mechanic — which lets you possess enemies and objects — is one of Nintendo's best gameplay innovations. The movement system rewards mastery with increasingly complex tricks and shortcuts. And New Donk City's "Jump Up, Super Star!" sequence is one of the most magical moments in all of gaming. If you only play one Mario game on the Switch, it has to be Odyssey.
Where to Buy Mario Games for Less
Nintendo first-party games rarely go on deep discount, but you can still save money. Physical copies at retailers like Amazon and Best Buy sometimes drop to $39.99 during sales. The eShop occasionally runs Mario-themed sales around MAR10 Day (March 10) and the holiday season. And used physical copies can be found for $30-40 at GameStop and eBay. For the latest deals, use Deku Deals to track prices on every Mario game.
Related Guides
Explore more: 25 Best Nintendo Switch Games 2026 | Best Free Switch Games | New Nintendo Switch Games — Upcoming Releases | Nintendo eShop Guide
* Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links.
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