9 Best 2D Super Mario Games: A Journey Through History, Sales, and Popularity

Few gaming franchises have captured the hearts and imaginations of players worldwide quite like Super Mario. Since his debut in the early 1980s, Mario, Nintendo’s red-hatted plumber, has become an icon of gaming culture. With dozens of titles spanning multiple decades, genres, and platforms, the Super Mario series has evolved to remain relevant and beloved across generations. But for many, the purest form of Mario magic lies in his 2D adventures — games that emphasize tight platforming, clever level design, and a timeless charm.

So, which 2D Super Mario games stand out as the best? In this article, we’ll journey through the Mushroom Kingdom to explore some of the most memorable and groundbreaking 2D Mario titles, ranking them based on their impact, gameplay, design, and overall fun factor.

1. Super Mario Bros. (1985) – The Game That Started It All

Feature	Description
Release Year	1985
Platform	Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)
Main Antagonist	Bowser
Power-ups	Mushroom, Fire Flower, Starman
Global Sales	40 Million Copies

It’s impossible to discuss the best 2D Mario games without beginning with the game that started it all. Released in 1985 for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Super Mario Bros. was not just a game; it was a revolution. It redefined what a video game could be, introducing players to the vibrant Mushroom Kingdom, filled with Goombas, Koopas, and the ever-elusive Princess Peach.

The genius of Super Mario Bros. lies in its simplicity. The controls are tight and responsive, the level design is challenging but fair, and the soundtrack is instantly iconic. For many, it was their first foray into the world of video games, and its impact cannot be overstated. While later titles in the series would refine and expand upon its formula, the original Super Mario Bros. remains a beloved classic that laid the groundwork for the platforming genre.

2. Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988) – A Masterclass in Game Design

Feature	Description
Release Year	1988
Platform	Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)
New Power-ups	Tanooki Suit, Frog Suit, Hammer Suit
New Mechanics	World Map, Koopalings as Bosses
Global Sales	17 Million Copies

Three years after the release of the original, Nintendo returned with Super Mario Bros. 3, a game that many consider the pinnacle of 2D platforming. Everything about Super Mario Bros. 3 feels bigger, better, and more imaginative. The game introduces a world map, giving players a sense of exploration and choice, while also introducing new power-ups like the Tanooki Suit and Frog Suit, which added depth and variety to Mario’s moveset.

The levels in Super Mario Bros. 3 are brimming with creativity, from the giant world where everything is oversized to the challenging airship stages filled with cannon fire and fast-paced platforming. The introduction of Koopalings as mini-bosses added variety to the game’s pacing, and the final showdown with Bowser is still one of the most memorable moments in gaming. With its perfect balance of challenge and accessibility, Super Mario Bros. 3 is often heralded as one of the greatest video games of all time.

3. Super Mario World (1990) – The SNES Launch Title That Redefined Mario

Feature	Description
Release Year	1990
Platform	Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES)
New Companion	Yoshi
World Map	Expansive with Secret Exits and Hidden Levels
Power-ups	Cape Feather, Yoshi’s Abilities
Global Sales	20 Million Copies

When the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) launched in 1990, it came with a game that would forever change the way players looked at Mario. Super Mario World took the foundation laid by Super Mario Bros. 3 and built upon it in every conceivable way. The graphics were more vibrant, the music more complex, and the gameplay more refined.

Set in Dinosaur Land, Super Mario World introduced players to Yoshi, Mario’s dinosaur companion, who added a new dimension to the gameplay with his ability to eat enemies and gain special abilities. The game also featured a more expansive and interconnected world map, complete with secret exits, hidden levels, and star roads that rewarded players for their curiosity and perseverance.

The level design in Super Mario World is nothing short of masterful. Each level is crafted with care, balancing challenge and reward while introducing new mechanics and enemies that keep the gameplay fresh throughout the adventure. To this day, Super Mario World is often cited as the definitive 2D Mario experience, a game that has influenced countless other platformers and remains a joy to play decades after its release.

4. Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (1992) – A Portable Classic

Feature	Description
Release Year	1992
Platform	Game Boy
Main Antagonist	Wario
Unique Worlds	6 (Tree Zone, Macro Zone, Pumpkin Zone, etc.)
Power-ups	Carrot (Bunny Ears), Fire Flower
Global Sales	11 Million Copies

While most of Mario’s early adventures were on home consoles, the plumber also made a splash on Nintendo’s Game Boy with Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins. Released in 1992, this game is a significant leap forward from its predecessor, Super Mario Land, offering larger, more detailed sprites and a more traditional Mario gameplay experience.

What makes Super Mario Land 2 stand out is its unique level themes and structure. Instead of the linear progression found in most Mario games, players can choose the order in which they tackle the six different worlds, each with its own distinct flavor — from a giant Mario robot to a haunted pumpkin zone. The game’s quirky personality and creative level design, combined with the introduction of Wario as a new antagonist, made it a standout title on the Game Boy and an essential part of Mario’s 2D lineage.

5. New Super Mario Bros. (2006) – The Revival of 2D Mario

Feature	Description
Release Year	2006
Platform	Nintendo DS
New Power-ups	Mega Mushroom, Mini Mushroom, Blue Shell
Modes	Single Player, Multiplayer
Global Sales	30 Million Copies

After years of 3D adventures, Nintendo decided to bring Mario back to his roots with New Super Mario Bros. for the Nintendo DS. Released in 2006, the game was a love letter to the classic 2D Mario games of the past, blending familiar elements with new mechanics and power-ups, such as the Mega Mushroom, which allowed Mario to grow to a colossal size and rampage through levels.

New Super Mario Bros. succeeded in reintroducing the magic of 2D platforming to a new generation of gamers, all while appealing to long-time fans. The graphics were clean and colorful, the music catchy, and the controls tight and responsive. While some critics felt it lacked the innovation of earlier titles, its success proved that there was still a huge appetite for 2D Mario games, paving the way for future entries in the series.

6. Super Mario Maker (2015) – The Game That Let Players Become Creators

Feature	Description
Release Year	2015
Platform	Wii U
Main Feature	Level Creation Tool
Styles	Classic (SMB, SMB3, SMW, NSMBU)
Modes	Create, Play, Share
Global Sales	4 Million Copies

While not a traditional 2D Mario game in the strictest sense, Super Mario Maker for the Wii U deserves a special mention on this list. Released in 2015, this game gave players the tools to create their own 2D Mario levels, using assets and mechanics from various Mario games, including Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, and New Super Mario Bros. U.

Super Mario Maker tapped into the creativity of the Mario fanbase like never before, allowing players to share their creations online and challenge each other with increasingly clever and difficult levels. It was a celebration of everything that makes 2D Mario games special, and it empowered players to contribute to the legacy of the series in a meaningful way. The sequel, Super Mario Maker 2, released in 2019 for the Nintendo Switch, expanded on this concept, adding new tools, elements, and online multiplayer modes, cementing Mario Maker as an innovative entry in the 2D Mario universe.

7. Super Mario Bros. 2 (1988) – A Unique Take on the Formula

Feature	Description
Release Year	1988
Platform	Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)
Main Mechanic	Picking and Throwing Objects
Playable Characters	Mario, Luigi, Toad, Princess Peach
Unique Elements	Different Abilities for Each Character
Global Sales	10 Million Copies

Super Mario Bros. 2 often stands out as the oddball of the classic Mario games, but it’s precisely this uniqueness that earns it a spot on this list. Originally released in Japan as Doki Doki Panic and later adapted into a Mario game for Western audiences, Super Mario Bros. 2 broke away from the formula of its predecessor. Instead of stomping on enemies, Mario and his friends could pick up and throw objects and even pluck vegetables from the ground to use as weapons.

The game introduced a new mechanic of selecting one of four characters — Mario, Luigi, Toad, or Princess Peach — each with unique abilities, adding an element of strategy and replayability. The different approach to level design and gameplay mechanics gave Super Mario Bros. 2 a unique flavor, and many of its enemies, like Shy Guys and Bob-ombs, have since become staples in the Mario universe. Though it was a departure from the series’ norms, it remains a beloved classic in its own right.

8. New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe (2019) – The Modern Masterpiece

Feature	Description
Release Year	2019
Platform	Nintendo Switch
New Characters	Toadette/Peachette, Nabbit
Modes	Single Player, Multiplayer, Challenge Modes
Add-ons	Includes New Super Luigi U
Global Sales	8 Million Copies

The New Super Mario Bros. series continued with several entries, but New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe for the Nintendo Switch is perhaps the most refined version of the modern 2D Mario formula. Originally released on the Wii U in 2012 and re-released on the Switch in 2019, this game features polished graphics, inventive level design, and a host of new features that make it a standout entry.

The addition of new characters like Toadette, who transforms into Peachette, adds a new dynamic to the gameplay, while the inclusion of New Super Luigi U — a set of more challenging levels — offers something for hardcore fans. With its multiplayer modes, vibrant HD visuals, and tight platforming mechanics, New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is a celebration of everything great about 2D Mario games, offering hours of fun whether you’re playing solo or with friends.

9. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island (1995) – A Colorful Adventure with a New Twist

Feature	Description
Release Year	1995
Platform	Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES)
Main Mechanic	Yoshi’s Abilities (Flutter Jump, Egg Throw)
Visual Style	Hand-drawn, Storybook Look
Unique Feature	Escort Mission with Baby Mario
Global Sales	4 Million Copies

Although it may be considered more of a spin-off than a mainline entry, Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island is a critical part of Mario’s 2D platforming legacy. Released for the SNES in 1995, this game put players in control of Yoshi, who must guide Baby Mario across colorful, storybook-style levels. The hand-drawn graphics, unique gameplay mechanics (like throwing eggs and flutter jumping), and whimsical soundtrack set it apart from other Mario games.

Yoshi’s Island introduced a new layer of strategy to the platforming genre, with levels that encouraged exploration and rewarded careful timing and precision. While it deviated from the traditional Mario formula, it succeeded in creating a unique and beloved experience that many fans still cherish today.

Sales of 2D Super Mario Games

Popularity of 2D Super Mario Games

Conclusion: Celebrating the Best of 2D Mario

From the groundbreaking Super Mario Bros. to the creative freedom of Super Mario Maker, the 2D Mario games have always been about innovation, challenge, and fun. Each title on this list has contributed something unique to the series, whether it’s introducing new mechanics, refining classic gameplay, or giving players the power to create their own adventures.

As we look back at the best 2D Mario games, it’s clear that Mario’s appeal is timeless. These games have not only shaped the platforming genre but have also left a lasting impact on the gaming industry as a whole. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a newcomer to the series, the best 2D Mario games offer something for everyone — a reminder that sometimes, the simplest games are the most fun. So grab a controller, jump into the Mushroom Kingdom, and get ready for an adventure that never gets old.