2020 is the 35th anniversary of Super Mario Bros, meaning the plumpy plumber has warmed the hearts of countless video game fans over the decades in his spectacular platforming adventures. As entertaining as most of the mainline Super Mario games are, the spinoffs have often been just as great. And with the success of the Nintendo Switch, it's surprising that the hybrid console hasn't seen too many Mario spinoff games to date.
Nintendo is reportedly working on Super Mario HD remakes for many of its titles to celebrate the 35th anniversary of Super Mario. Reworking classics such as Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario 64 to be playable in HD on the Nintendo Switch makes too much sense, as players from multiple generations would love to be able to enjoy the blockbuster Mario games again. However, the spinoff Mario games deserve just as much attention.
Nintendo has created darling Mario games that are outside of the standard platforming experience for decades, including games like Super Mario Kart on the SNES and Super Mario Maker on the Wii U. In most cases, the games are successful enough that they aren't just one-offs, and instead, start their own series that last through multiple console generations. When it comes to the Nintendo Switch, which sold 50 million units in less than three years, the Mario spinoffs are lacking. Outside of the undeniably marvelous Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Super Mario Party, and a few exceptions, the Nintendo Switch hasn't had too many Mario spinoffs, and that needs to change.
Paper Mario
One of the most successful Mario spinoffs has been the Paper Mario series. The original is considered one of the best games on the Nintendo 64. The N64 classic is often considered the best Mario spinoff, specifically in the RPG category, right there with Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars on the Super Nintendo.
There is a recent rumor that points to Paper Mario getting a Switch release sometime soon, something that would thrill fans of the series. After the incredibly successful and loved Paper Mario on the N64 and Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door on the Gamecube, the series shifted gears on the Wii with Super Paper Mario. The Wii version forfeited some of the RPG elements in favor of platforming gameplay. Although the Wii game was a blast, if Paper Mario were to make a return sometime soon, most fans would rather the series look back at the original game as the formula to follow-up on and perfect.
Mario & Luigi (Mario RPG)
With the aforementioned Super Mario RPG on the Super Nintendo and the Paper Mario series, some may get overwhelmed with all of the Mario RPG spinoffs. However, the Mario & Luigi RPG series is probably the most successful of the bunch, with over 12 million games sold over the series' lifespan. The games feel like a true continuation of Super Mario RPG on the SNES in many ways, including the fantastic humor and the timing based RPG gameplay. While still a turn-based RPG, the Mario & Luigi games have the gameplay twist of allowing players to time their attacks with button presses for additional damage and hilarious visuals.
It's been a while since Nintendo has released a game in the series, and it most likely has something interesting up its sleeve when it comes to Mario RPGs. The super fun and challenging Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam was even a crossover of Mario & Luigi and Paper Mario that many fans found refreshing. One interesting note is that the Mario & Luigi games have not yet been released on a home console, with all of the titles being launched on Gameboy Advance, Nintendo DS, and 3DS. A dedicated Nintendo Switch version would be fantastic.
Mario Golf
Perhaps the most relaxing Mario spinoffs of them all, Mario Golf games are an absolute joy. Many golf game enthusiasts love simulators, such as the Tiger Woods PGA Tour, but those same fans often consider Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour on the Gamecube to be the best golf game and arguably one of the best Nintendo sports games ever.
The magic of the Mario Golf series has been a perfect combination of arcade-style fun with simulation elements. In Toadstool Tour, for example, players had remarkable control over the golf ball for precise shots around obstacles and towards the hole, as long as the timing of the short was on point. Players were able to play in seven different courses, ranging from beautiful standard feeling courses like Cheep Cheep Falls to awesome over the top and difficult courses like Bowser Badlands. A par three course was even available named Congo Canopy that took place up in the treetops of Donkey Kong's Congo Jungle.
The most recent release in the series was Mario Golf: World Tour on the 3DS. Although the game was enjoyed by some, it lacked the depth and control of some of its predecessors, perhaps thanks to the limitations of the console or even Nintendo choosing to shoot for a specific audience. Many were shocked that Mario Golf didn't make it to the Wii, with the Wii-mote feeling perfect for golf games. And with the series now being on a six-year hideous, after having a ten-year hideous between the 3DS and Gameboy Advance iterations, now feels like the perfect time to launch a fully-fledged and deep Mario Golf game on the Nintendo Switch.
Mario Strikers
Mario Tennis has already been released on the Nintendo Switch, to a bit of disappointment. Mario Sluggers is sort of the black sheep of the Mario sports games. The aforementioned Mario Golf deserves its day in the sun on the Switch for sure. But Mario Strikers may be the best Mario sports series of them all.
Super Mario Strikers got its start on the Gamecube, but Mario Strikers Charged is considered one of the best Nintendo Wii games. Mario's take on soccer is absolutely insane, in the best ways possible. Perhaps one of the reasons that the series has a cult-following is that it doesn't necessarily feel like a standard Mario game. Instead of the bubbly and fun-natured feel of games like Mario Party or Mario Sluggers, Mario Strikers is gritty and chaotic.
In each match, players select one of the Super Mario stars as the captain, and each of them had their own powerups. Additionally, three sidekicks would also be selected such as Boo, Dry Bones, and Koopa Troopa. Creating a well-balanced team was just as fun as the game itself, as Boo's ability to vanish and take the ball right through defenders was a must-have, as was Dry Bones' ability to shock goalies with powerful kicks. Mario Strikers is one of the Nintendo series that absolutely deserves a comeback.
Dr. Mario
Dr. Mario is one of Nintendo's earliest spinoffs. The addictive puzzle game once stood toe-to-toe with Tetris and did quite well for itself back in the NES days. With the unfortunate failure that is Dr. Mario World on mobile, it is a wonder if the series is going to disappear for a while.
Nintendo has traditionally figured out creative ways to get the Dr. Mario series into the hands of gamers, such as the mobile game or Dr. Luigi being a downloadable only game on the Wii U. Tetris 99 was released for free with Nintendo Online, perhaps Dr. Mario could be another title to follow-up with the free games with the online service.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong
Speaking of Mario puzzlers, the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series is due for a return. Donkey Kong 94 on the Gameboy is considered by some to be the best puzzle game of all time, and the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series is its spiritual successor. Between the first Mario vs. Donkey Kong in 2004 and the most recent Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars in 2015, there was seemingly a new game in the series every one to two years. But again, the games have vanished.
In some ways, Mario vs Donkey Kong has already become one of the forgotten Mario games. The fantastic puzzler that pits Mario against his old rival was the perfect combination of challenging yet doable. It also came with a level creator that was a blast. A chill, fun, and stimulating puzzle game like Mario vs. Donkey Kong feels like it would be right at home on the Switch.
Mario Kart
Yes, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has already been released on the Nintendo Switch. But it would be a massive disservice to the series if the only Mario Kart game on the Switch was a re-release.There's no denying the polish of Mario Kart 8, as it's one of the most beautiful games Nintendo has ever created. The levels are well designed, there are many playable characters, and the multiplayer action is the same banana-slipping and blue-bomb bashing fun as always. However, the game was originally launched on the Wii U. Nintendo was very wise to rerelease it on the far more popular Nintendo Switch.
But the success of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe alone, as well as the general success of every game in the series, points to how Nintendo would be smart to make another Mario Kart game on the Switch, this time its own unique experience. And there are rumors that a brand new Mario Kart is on the way for the Switch. Splatoon got a new game, and not a rerelease on the Switch. Super Smash Bros. got its own Switch exclusive experience. Mario Kart needs to be next.
Nintendo is assuredly working on many projects in and out of the Mario universe. Super obscure games like Mario Hotel and Mario is Missing are even rumored to be getting Switch releases. But there are plenty of awesome Mario spinoffs that deserve their time to shine with brand new titles on the Nintendo Switch, and hopefully, they arrive soon.