Where does the newest Mario & Luigi stack up against its predecessors? (Nintendo)
There have been a lot more Super Mario themed role-playing games than you might think but which are the best and still worth playing now?
After years on the sidelines, Super Mario role-playing games are suddenly back in vogue. For no readily apparent reason, other than they’re great games, Nintendo has released two remakes of beloved classics, recently, and an entirely new entry in a long-dormant series, all in the space of 12 months.
Even if the games were only greenlit to help fill up the Nintendo Switch’s release schedule, while Nintendo saves its real blockbusters for the Switch 2, these titles have proven very popular with fans, and hopefully won’t be a short-lived resurgence.
So, we’ve taken a look back through the company’s history and compiled what we think are the 10 best Mario role-playing games of all time.
What was the first Super Mario RPG game?
This was never released in the UK (MobyGames)
It may surprise you to see so many different Mario role-players, but they all started as spin-offs from the same game: 1996 SNES title Super Mario RPG (which was originally never released in Europe).
It was a fairly traditional turn-based role-player, which has never had a direct sequel, but led to 2000 N64 game Paper Mario and then the start of the Mario & Luigi series in 2003.
Mario & Luigi games are similar in style but until Brothership on the Switch have only ever been on handheld consoles like the DS. They also feature turn-based combat but have you controlling both Mario and Luigi at the same time.
10. Super Paper Mario
The first entry on our list, but already a point of contention, Super Paper Mario was the start of the Paper Mario series’ transition into something more action oriented, with only light role-playing elements. While fans at the time balked at the lack of turn-based battles, in favour of 2D platforming, it has forged its own identity over time thanks to a neat 3D gimmick, a playable party that includes Peach, Bowser, and Luigi, and a surprisingly high-stakes story about the end of the multiverse and the power of love.
9. Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam Bros.
The one and only crossover between the Mario & Luigi and Paper Mario games, this is a lesser entry in both series but still a fun role-player in its own right. Paper Jam Bros. on the 3DS is disappointingly lacking in new ideas and locales, with the plot as thin as paper Mario, but it makes up for its shortcomings with a funny script and solid turn-based combat, with paper Mario himself serving as an amusing foil to the regular Mario and Luigi.
8. Mario & Luigi: Brothership
Recency bias may compel some to give Mario & Luigi: Brothership some leeway, especially those who’ve been desperate for a new entry in nearly a decade. Nevertheless, it does play it safe with the formula, with no real defining gimmicks …read more
Source:: Metro
