Highlights

  • Mario games are known for their varied length, with spin-offs like Paper Mario offering lengthier gameplay experiences compared to the mainline titles. (150 characters)
  • Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars is considered one of the best RPGs ever made and a fan-favorite Mario release, offering beautiful visuals, engrossing combat, and hidden secrets. (150 characters)
  • Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle surprised skeptics with its addictive gameplay, lengthy story, and hilarious Rabbid characters, making it a fantastic addition to the Mario franchise. (150 characters)

Games in the Mario series are not exactly known for their length. Both the main series of platforms and all the various spin-offs rarely take too long to beat. Most casual players can finish a Mario game within a day fairly easily. However, since there are so many different spin-offs in different genres, the length of a Mario game does tend to vary. A mainline title might not take a week, but a Paper Mario game will.

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Of course, length is hardly the only factor of quality in games. Mario games tend to be perfectly portioned to not overstay their welcome. Even the spinoff titles will only offer as much content as necessary. So, based on the average main story playtime on HowLongToBeat, which is the longest Mario game?

Updated October 23, 2023 by Mark Sammut: Super Mario Bros. Wonder has received almost universal praise from critics and players alike, going down as one of the best 2D entries in Nintendo's legendary franchise. Putting aside the additional content and replayability, the game's main campaign should require roughly 10 hours to complete, which is decent for this type of release. However, it does not land among Mario's longest games.

13 Super Mario RPG: Legend Of The Seven Stars

SuperMarioRPG Legend Seven Stars Mario Attacking
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

How Long To Beat
18 Hours
Platform(s)
SNES
Released
May 13, 1996
Developer(s)
Square Enix
Genre(s)
RPG

This is the one that started it all, proving Mario could hold its own as a "traditional RPG" and giving players access to a different side of the franchise they'd never seen before. Thanks to Squaresoft's (Now Square Enix) brilliance in the genre, Super Mario RPG stands as one of the best RPGs ever made, and it's easily a fan-favorite Mario release for players who enjoy turn-based battles and lengthy storylines.

It had beautiful visuals for the time, some engrossing combat, and some of the best side-quests and hidden secrets to ever grace the series.

12 Super Paper Mario

SuperPaperMario Wii Mario running on path
Super Paper Mario

How Long To Beat
20 Hours
Platform(s)
Wii
Released
April 9, 2007
Developer(s)
Intelligent Systems
Genre(s)
RPG , Adventure , Platformer

The Wii holds a special place in many Nintendo Fans' hearts. It's definitely one of the best systems that the company has ever produced, and it featured some of the most amazing and successful Nintendo games ever produced. A prime example is Super Paper Mario, which took the series to new heights thanks to its beautiful visuals, entertaining story, lengthy gameplay time, and beloved characters.

The sidescrolling to 3D perspective swap allowed developers to pack some fascinating levels and secrets into the release, making it a playground for players who like to explore every nook and cranny of a game.

11 Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions

luigi crying as mario sits on a hospital bed
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions

How Long To Beat
20 Hours
Platform(s)
Nintendo 3DS
Released
October 6, 2017
Developer(s)
AlphaDream
Genre(s)
RPG

The Mario & Luigi games are a beloved part of the franchise, offering turn-based gameplay similar to Paper Mario but with a unique mechanic that uses both brothers in tandem to solve puzzles and progress through areas. Superstar Saga is the first iteration of the series, popping up on Gameboy Advance back in 2003. Those who love the newer titles should revisit the franchise's roots.

The visual style is charming, the story is engrossing, and it offers all the gameplay elements that fans have come to know and love. Best of all, it's pretty lengthy.

The base version of Superstar Saga comes in at 18 hours.

10 Mario + Rabbids Sparks Of Hope

A cutscene featuring characters in Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope

How Long To Beat
21 Hours
Platform(s)
Switch
Released
October 20, 2022
Developer(s)
Ubisoft Milan , Ubisoft Paris
Genre(s)
Strategy

The sequel to a game that nobody knew they wanted, Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope is a natural continuation of Kingdom Battle, albeit one that shakes up a few key ingredients. Compared to its predecessor's grid-based system, the 2022 release provides a less restrictive combat experience, at least visually. At its heart, the gameplay is still turn-based, just the game tries to not make it as obvious.

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Sparks of Hope also emphasizes exploration a bit more than the first game. While the story is probably a bit more divisive than Kingdom Battle, the sequel is still generally a great spin-off that carries the Mario and Rabbids names proudly.

9 Paper Mario: Sticker Star

Paper Mario Sticker Star Mario jumping on snowy path
Paper Mario: Sticker Star

How Long To Beat
21 Hours
Platform(s)
3DS
Released
November 11, 2012
Developer(s)
Intelligent Systems
Genre(s)
RPG , Action , Adventure

When Paper Mario: Sticker Star dropped for the 3DS, it was met with critical acclaim from many journalistic outlets and websites. Unfortunately, that critical claim didn't translate well when it came to the general public. There were many players that lambasted Paper Mario: Sticker Star for "dumbing down" the formula, by completely scrapping the level-up system and making extra battles "useless" as they didn't offer any sort of progression.

If someone prefers the turn-based battles of Paper Mario but doesn't want to deal with character leveling and grinding, they will probably find a lot to enjoy with Paper Mario: Sticker Star.

8 Mario's Picross 2

Marios Picross 2 Box Art and Gameplay Footage
Mario's Picross 2

How Long To Beat
22 Hours
Platform(s)
Game Boy
Released
October 19, 1996
Developer
Jupiter, Nintendo
Genre(s)
Puzzle

Mario's Picross 2 (or just Picross 2) is a puzzle game that never left Japan, so most Western fans are likely not familiar with this small footnote in the mascot's long and legendary history. The player uses logic and numbers to uncover various pictures, except Mario is there watching.

It's portable and loaded with puzzles to play. This game would make any long car ride melt away, and it's a shame the game never officially made it to the West. It's just a fun puzzle game.

7 Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle

Mario Rabbids Kingdom Battle Screenshot mario firing at rabbid
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle

How Long To Beat
22 Hours
Platform(s)
Switch
Released
August 29, 2017
Developer(s)
Ubisoft Milan , Ubisoft Paris
Genre(s)
Strategy

When the idea of a Mario and Rabbids game was first announced, it was met with a healthy dose of skepticism. The "fears" weren't unwarranted, considering there were many individuals who found the Rabbids a bit "annoying" or "lackluster.' Thankfully, those fears were completely dispelled when the game eventually came out.

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The end result was a fantastic addition to the Mario franchise, with addictive gameplay similar to X-Com. It's a blast to play, offers a lengthy story, and the Rabbids themselves are pretty hilarious.

6 Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey

bowser talking to bowser jr
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey

How Long To Beat
24 Hours
Platform(s)
3DS
Released
January 11, 2019
Developer(s)
AlphaDream
Genre(s)
Adventure , RPG

It's entirely possible that fans of the Mario & Luigi series are unaware that this game even exists. The 3DS remake of the third entry in the series, this game was released at an awful time. The 3DS was already taken out to pasture, and no one at Nintendo informed AlphaDream. Despite that, Bowser's Inside Story is still an absolute classic and the remake loses none of the charm.

As an RPG, there are many titles that have more meat than Bowser's Inside Story; however, it's a perfectly paced RPG that keeps things fresh at every turn. There are still sidequests and collectibles, and the side game in the 3DS remake also offers a bit of extra meat to the complete package. The art style might not be as clean, but everything else the game offers is spot-on. It's also likely the last time the beloved bros will be together in an RPG.

5 Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam

Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam
Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam

How Long To Beat
27 Hours
Platform(s)
Nintendo 3DS
Released
January 22, 2016
Developer(s)
AlphaDream
Genre(s)
RPG

In what may be the last new title from developer AlphaDream, Mario and Luigi Paper Jam merged two spin-offs into one RPG. This game packs the charm of both franchises but doesn't entirely deliver fresh gameplay. It's a shame that a true Mario RPG only exists in dreams these days.

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The game is certainly more Mario and Luigi than Paper Mario. For one, it's still an RPG. However, the world and its characters, for the most part, stick within AlphaDream's established canon. The battles are fun and snappy, and it's pleasant to complete. However, it's still far from the quality of the first three Mario and Luigi games.

4 Paper Mario: The Origami King

Mario walking up a hill in Paper Mario: The Origami King
Paper Mario: The Origami King

How Long To Beat
27 Hours
Platform(s)
Switch
Released
July 17, 2020
Developer(s)
Intelligent Systems
Genre(s)
Action RPG , Adventure

Recent Paper Mario titles have shifted away from the series' RPG roots. However, as the games embrace a style more akin to the adventure genre, the developers get better at delivering on their new vision. The latest title, The Origami King, provides the story of an RPG without the focus on leveling up and grinding battles.

As an adventure game, The Origami King is loaded with collectibles to uncover. There are dozens of hidden Toads to rescue, along with secret items to make the battles go more smoothly. The main story itself isn't too shabby either, with multiple chapters to complete and bosses to bash. It still isn't classic Paper Mario, but it doesn't really need to be.

3 Paper Mario: Color Splash

Paper Mario Color Splash Box Art Mario using Hammer on Paint Puddle
Paper Mario: Color Splash

How Long To Beat
30 Hours
Platform(s)
Wii U
Released
October 7, 2016
Developer(s)
Intelligent Systems
Genre(s)
RPG , Adventure

One of the most aesthetically pleasing Wii U games (and one of the few still locked to that system), Color Splash is rather divisive. It didn't think to ditch the horrendous gameplay of Sticker Star, so fans immediately wrote it off as another failure. Despite that, it's a surprisingly solid adventure game that people only wish was an RPG.

Color Splash, like its follow-up, contains a fair number of collectibles to find and secrets to uncover. The world is fairly large and highly detailed, and the chapters will take some time for the players to complete. A completionist will have less to uncover, but on average players get more time out of Color Splash. The few that had the patience to finish the game, at least.

2 Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

Paper Mario Thousand Year Door
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

How Long To Beat
31 Hours
Platform(s)
Nintendo GameCube
Released
October 11, 2004
Developer(s)
Intelligent Systems
Genre(s)
RPG , Adventure

The second Paper Mario entry, The Thousand-Year Door, is regarded by fans and critics to be either the best or second-best entry in the series. After playing the game, it's understandable why that's the case. The game is loaded with unique characters, fun personalities, some genuinely touching moments, and an addictive combat system.

The Thousand-Year Door is a lengthy game. Its chapters span multiple areas, although some cheat by being heavily reliant on backtracking or repetitive tasks (think Glitzville). The badge system allows for plenty of experimentation, as the player can try different combos and styles. Plus, the top-notch writing will keep a player engaged with reading even the flavor text. It's a game that oozes charm, and taking time to see it all is worth it.

1 Mario & Luigi: Dream Team

Mario And Luigi Dream Team
Mario & Luigi: Dream Team

How Long To Beat
41 Hours
Platform(s)
3DS
Released
August 11, 2013
Developer(s)
AlphaDream
Genre(s)
RPG

AlphaDream's first foray onto the 3DS, Dream Team kept up the typical tropes of the Mario & Luigi series. It was arguably too reliant on gimmicks, as regular battles became less emphasized compared to the more "interesting" ways to play. Fans of the earlier entries may have been turned off by this shift, but those that stuck though had a lot of game to work with.

Across nearly every category on HowLongToBeat, Dream Team sits at or near the top in terms of length. To be honest, the reason for this extra-documented length is a mystery. It's not surprising to see it at the top, but apparently, it has enough to keep players engaged far past the expectation for the series.

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