There are few examples of a more universally appealing, iconic game series than 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Super Mario. Over the years, the series has helped propel Nintendo to gaming super-stardom. With vibrant visuals, colorful worlds, and solid mechanics — the 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:delightful platforming gameplay remains fun and a🤪ccessible for a diverse audience of most every skill level.

As a result, the series still holds a vast, timeless appeal. With its long, rich gaming history, the lineup naturally covers a range of styles and dif𓄧ficulty. Even when limiting things to the mainline platformers and RPGs (which we seek to do here), these games run the gamut from a relative cakewalk to teeth-grindingly tough.

Updated on December 1, 2023 by Stephen LaGioia: Nintendo's famed platforming mascot has seen a renaissance of late, with the launch of the widely popular , and on the gaming front — the stellar 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Super Mario RPG remake and the wild, return-to-form 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Super Mario Bros. Wonder. These examples illustrate the diverse nature of the mustached plumber, and his ability to appeal to virtually all ages. Given its rich history and slew of distinct titles, it's no surprise that they have a wide range in difficulty. With so many examples of simpler as well as tricky Mario games, we thought we'd jump back into this list and set the record straight.

24 ꩲ 🍎 Easiest: Super Paper Mario

This black sheep of the 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Paper Mario family tends to get overlooked, particularly following the release of The Origami King on Switch. Those who have played this Wii platformer regard the game for its creative mechanics that allow you to shift from a 2D to a 3D plane. This concept se💃ts the stage for some fun exploration and unique level design.

Still, this style also makes for a slower-paced experience and more room to work with. This means it's easier to avoid baddies and hazards in Mario's path. Most of the game's depth comes from its story, and traversing the areas in both dimensions — while foes are often sparse and non-threatening. This is especially the case for the fire-breathing Bowser, who can incinerate those in his path.

23 ꦺ 𓆏Hardest: Super Mario Land 2: 6 Gold Coins

One of the best ways to experience this famed franchise on Game Boy is also one of Mario's hardest outings. Instead of defeating Bowser, it's Mario's devious counterpart Wario who steps in this time, and he's not pulling any punches. The plumber must power through six distinctly bizarre biomes, along with tough secret levels scattered about. Examples include a 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Halloween-themed Pumpkin Zoℱne, and an elaborate house featuring a shrunken Mario.

These unconventional stages can give newcomers the runaround if they aren't thoroughly prepared with power-ups, especially in the more chaotic later bouts. Even with smoother, tightened-up mechanics compared to the first Mario Land, this three-hour journey can be a doozy.

22 📖 🌺 Easiest: New Super Mario Bros Wii

Unless you're aiming for a complete run, which involves nabbing each Star Coin, you're in for a laid-back ride with this classic Mario debut for Wii. The enemies are often more passive and fewer in number than other 2D Mario games, and the inclusion of Yoshi adds a solid layer of defense a la Super Mario World.

The relatively slower, floaty physics usually gives you ample time to plot out your pathways and attacks. Save points are frequent, as are extra lives and power-ups. That's not to say the game isn't a joy to play, especially when jumping into the fray with up to three other players. As it happens, the multiplayer mode can ironically make the gam🥂e tougher as you'll tend to get in each other's way.

21 🌳 Hardest: Paper Mario: The Thousan🀅d-Year Door

Sup🔴er Mario is perhaps most famous for two things: platforming, and being a humble plumbing mascot. But Paper Mario sets itself apart as being an RPG starring the little red dude with the 🌠mustache.

Though the mechanics may feel familiar to RPG fans, platforming fans will have a tougher time adjusting to Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door's systems. Paired with frustrating boss fights against the likes of Bonetail or the Shadow Queen, this can make for a less-than-enjoyable Mario experience. That said, the story in the game makes the tricky battles well worth the trouble.

20 Easiest: Super Mario 3🧸D Land

This platformer was released for Nintendo 3DS in 2011 and was the first Mario game on that console. The game uniquely combines 3D and 2D elements like side-scrolling and roaming. Though the game was slick and fast-paced, some critiqued Super Mario 3D Land's difficulty level and slower, low key feel.

While 🐼platforming veterans may find themselves never in fear of losing a life, Super Mario 3D Land does introduce abilities never before used in a Mario game🍰. It also maintains that final stage anxiety that so many fans love about Mario games. If fans want a Mario game that they can play and just relax, Super Mario 3D Land might be a great choice.

19 Hardest: Super Mario Maker 2 🍨

This follow-up to the Wii U platformer lets Mario fans and amateur level designers flex their creative muscle even further this time around on Switch, with a slew of new objects, themes, and features. 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Super Mario Maker 2 also brings the addition of a new core campaign, which, while fairly brief, offers more of that fun, fami🔯liar 2D Mario gameplay.

Of course, where the game really shines is its endless supply of user-made levels, and its highly deep design feature. Playing with both can prove equally tricky, though for different re🥃asons. But once you wrap your head around the level-crafting, the game makes it ironically easy to build absurdly hard stages. This means that many user-created levels will range from tricky to virtually unbeatable.

18 Easiest: Super Mario Bros. Wonder ꧑

Super Mario Bros. Wonder leans on the established formula of the 2D platformers — specifically the NSMB style — and amps up the chaos to an absurd level. With fun new power-ups like the elephant suit, and a drill-spawning mushroom, this game fully embraces the series' Alice and Wonderland-esque roots.

The star attraction, outside of the vibrant, whimsical locales of the new Flower Kingdom♚, has to be the Wonder Flower, which bombards you with various wild and odd effects. But while these jarring conditions keep you𓂃 on your toes, the bulk of the game is fairly simple to coast through.

The use of splitscreen and online player revives, straightforward progression, and liberal use of power-ups, make the journey easier than some in the series. Wonder does boast a unqiuely wide range and flexibility when it comes to difficu�💜�lty, but the core content can be breezed through without breaking much of a sweat.

17 Hardest: Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury

While practiced Super Mario 3D World gamers may not struggle much in this platforming journey, the quasi-3D design can be tricky for newcomers. Like its 3DS predecessor, 3D World walks that line between fast-paced classic Mario and the more ✱dynamic 3D style of Odyssey.

The unique mechanics and layout give it a unique feel, which can be particuarly tough to grasp when playing the bread and butter feature — the multiplayer. One of the standout features, the Cat Suit, makes for an amusing way to traverse these perilous platforming levels, though it's not much offensively.

Added to this is the Switch DLC Bowser's Fury, which hosts more chaotic, apocalyptic settings rife with harder foes and more obstacles.

16 Easiest: 𝓀Super Mario RPG (Remake) 💧

Super Mario RPG, and especially its refined remake, emphatically introduced Mario fans to Square Enix's brand of rich RPGs. Being a role-playing romp, albeit an entry-level one, there's plenty of delightful content to sink your teeth into compared to most Mario games, and a truly rewarding progression system from start to finish.

Still, those who have the patience of doing some extra grinding shouldn't struggle much, outside the occasional boss fight or bothersome Mushroom debuff. The remake makes it even easier to get an edge on your Mushroom Kingdom opponents.

This is achieved through a clearer, more solid system of timed hits, area-of-effect hits, potent Triple Hits, as well as a status-boosting combo system. Pooling enough coins to buy the latest weapon or 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:armor doesn't demand a ton of grinding, and doing so will ensure you'll have an offensive edge in most battles.

15 Hardest: Yoshi's Island

Following Super Mario World's success, series creator Shigeru Miyamoto and Nintendo opted to put a new spin on the standard platforming formula. Enter the deceptively cute Yoshi's Island; a quasi-sequel that stresses unique power-ups, bizzare and tricky foes, and a general sense of urgency.

You pick from a colorful lineup of Yoshis to control, who you'll quickly find take on a different feel than the plumber. Their offense revolves around precise timing and aiming, as Yoshi can fire off eggs guided by a shifting reticle, or extend his long tongue to gobble up certain baddies.

But while Yoshi felt like a superpower in Mario World, he finds himself in a touchy, vulnerable position in much of Yoshi's Island. He must protect Baby Mario while traversing chaotic, multi-layered stages. The experience can overwhelm at times, with various hazards, puzzles, and collectibles to deal with at any given time.