The best 2D Super Mario Bros. games ranked

The very first Mario Bros. game in 1985 arguably set the standard for 2D platformers, something that titles are still inspired by to this very day. From the first iconic level to the power-ups, it set the foundation for Super Mario games, even as it hits the 40th anniversary this month.

Since 1985, the 2D Mario series has seen plenty of classics, even after the seismic Super Mario 64 arrived in 1996, such as Super Mario World, Super Mario Land 2, and many more. With 12 2D Mario games between 1985 and 2025, we’ve laid them all out and ranked them to determine which one wins out over every other.

The Escapist recaps

• Mario first debuted in the Donkey Kong arcade game in 1981, before appearing in his own game, Super Mario Bros., in 1985.
• Almost 1 billion titles have been sold since 1985, ranging from the NES to the Nintendo Switch 2, with Mario Kart World.
• The first 2D Mario game was Super Mario Bros. in 1985.
• The latest 2D Mario game is Super Mario Wonder, released in 2023 for the Nintendo Switch, with an improved version coming for Switch 2 in 2026.

2D Mario Games Ranked

12. Super Mario Bros. 2 (1988)

Super Mario Bros. 2 is seen as the black sheep of Mario games series. Released in 1988 for the NES and in 1992 for Japan, some players were sure they had played it before. They’d be correct, as the title was mostly a reskin of another game, Doki Doki Panic. This was a result of Nintendo hurriedly trying to capitalize on the success of the first Mario Bros., something you simply couldn’t imagine happening today.

However, this sequel still had some things going for it. Controlling other characters like Luigi and Peach ramped up the replayability, and the ability to pick up objects and throw them at enemies is a staple that’s present today in the Mario series. Ultimately, a fine Super Mario entry, but fans at the time were hoping for a true sequel, something that wouldn’t happen for another year.

11. New Super Mario Bros. Wii (2009)

Although multiplayer had always existed in Mario games in some way, New Super Mario Bros. Wii was the first title to fully embrace it. Released in 2009 for the Nintendo Wii, it consists of eight worlds with up to ten levels each, letting players control Mario as he runs, jumps, spins, and ground pounds to get to the finish line. 

What makes this title unique is the ability for up to four players to take part at any time, where they can jump on each other to get to a previously unavailable platform, or fight against one another if things get tense. Despite multiplayer staying local and not being available online, New Super Mario Bros. Wii is still a very fun game to play with friends and family side by side.

10. New Super Mario Bros. 2 (2012)

If you’ve ever been one to collect every single gold coin in every Mario level, New Super Mario Bros. 2 would have been the game for you when it came out for the Nintendo DS in 2012. 

Gold coins, a staple of Super Mario since his debut, are now part of the gameplay, with blocks and enemies able to transform into coins thanks to power-ups and switches, as well as masks that create coin-paths for Mario or Luigi to collect. 

Despite being more of the same with this ‘New’ series, New Super Mario Bros. 2 is still a fun, addictive game to play, where you’ll find yourself trying to collect every single coin as possible, more than you would have before.

9. New Super Mario Bros. U (2012) / New Super Mario Bros. Deluxe (2019)

The fourth in the ‘New’ series, New Super Mario Bros. 2, arrived for the Nintendo Wii U back in 2012, improving upon the previous titles with better graphics, two new modes called Challenge and Boost Rush, as well as returning power-ups like the ice flower and Yoshi. This was the first time a 2D Mario game was brought to the HD age, with everything looking sharper than before, thanks to the Wii U finally outputting 1080p HD, despite this title only displaying in 720p.

New Super Mario Bros. U felt like the culmination of the ‘New’ series, with the formula being so refined at this point that it felt like there was nowhere else for the series to go. Indeed, its re-release on the Nintendo Switch in 2019, called New Super Mario Bros. Deluxe, finally outputting in 1080p, new power-ups, and the expansion, Luigi U. Overall, a very fun game that felt like a farewell to the ‘New’ series for now.

8. Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels (1986)

Here’s a game that gets confusing. Released in 1986 on the NES in Japan, its title was Super Mario Bros. 2. Yes, we’ve already spoken about what really became the sequel to 1985’s Mario Bros, but this title came about due to the team at Nintendo working on an arcade version of the first title. Eventually, they decided to spin it off as a sequel, but a more difficult entry than what came before.

Here, there were poison mushrooms, found in the first level, as if to trick the player. Warp points that wouldn’t warp you very far, and jumps that required a leap of faith. Deemed ‘too difficult’ by Nintendo, it wasn’t made available outside of Japan until 1993’s remake collection, Super Mario All Stars for the SNES, now called The Lost Levels. 

There’s no getting around it; this is a challenging game, but it’s still a fun one, thanks to the mechanics and the game design that’s still top-notch. With Luigi as a playable character, it’s still a great game. Despite this title being called Lost Levels, there’s a chance you’ll end up losing your patience at times, but it’s worth it.

7. New Super Mario Bros. (2006)

New Super Mario Bros. heralded the revival of 2D Mario in the mid-noughties, with the previous entry being Super Mario Land 2 on the Game Boy, way back in 1992. Released for the Nintendo DS handheld in 2006,  

New Super Mario Bros. took what worked in previous 3D Mario games, as well as bringing some mechanics from various 2D Mario games. This came together in a package that felt like the best of both worlds, with players collecting power-ups and coins across its eight worlds.

A big takeaway was the debut of the Mega Mushroom, transforming Mario into a giant, shattering blocks and enemies just by walking. A very fun mechanic and something that was carried over into the 3D Mario games in various ways, such as Bowser’s Fury. New Super Mario Bros. was a fantastic return to form for 2D Mario, and set the stage for the ‘New’ series for the next decade.

6. Super Mario Land (1989)

A launch game to coincide with the Game Boy handheld in 1989, Super Mario Land sold over 25 million copies worldwide, becoming one of the franchise’s best-selling titles, and for good reason. 

The first title not to be designed by Shigeru Miyamoto, Mario Land plays very differently from previous 2D Mario games, but the mechanics are still the same. Across 12 levels to rescue Princess Daisy, Mario must run across Egyptian-themed levels, underwater sections, Easter-Island inspired ones, and plenty more found in the 12 levels.

Although short, the game is fantastic fun, proving how a handheld slightly less powerful than the NES  could still bring an iconic Mario game to players. The music must also be mentioned here, too. Composed by Hirokazu Tanaka, several tracks will stay in your head for hours after playing Mario Land, with catchy, upbeat tempos, as well as creepy ones, that helped to define Mario’s handheld debut.

5. Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (1992)

Super Mario Land 2 is a sequel that improves on the first game in every way. Released again for the Game Boy in 1992, it was clear that the team at Nintendo had a better understanding of the handheld, with far better graphics, sound, and level designs than those that preceded it. 

Across a world map, Mario must traverse various levels before facing a boss in order to collect six coins. Once this is done, players will face Wario, in his first appearance in the franchise, turning the tide on how a final boss fight had been since 1985’s Mario Bros.

It’s interesting that several mechanics have not escaped Mario Land 2, such as the Carrot power-up, music tracks, levels, and more. Even the end bosses of each world were unique to this 2D Mario take, but it made Mario Land 2 its own, allowing the player to reach Wario in their own order. 

It was innovative for the series, especially with it being on the Game Boy. This and its predecessor were a showcase for the Game Boy, which is why we hope they get remade for Nintendo Switch 2 someday.

4. Super Mario Bros. Wonder (2023)

Many were surprised to see Mario return to 2D in 2023 with Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Initially, it was thought that it was a new entry in the ‘New’ series, but as the trailer played in the Nintendo Direct, players soon knew this was a different title entirely. 

Set this time in the Flower Kingdom, up to 12 characters can be picked, as well as Mario, where collecting a Wonder Flower will change up some of the levels and the gameplay mechanics, giving an almost whimsical feel.

Combined with local multiplayer and three different kinds of badges that could ramp up the challenge, Super Mario Bros. Wonder is an instant classic, thanks to its fantastic gameplay, innovative mechanics, and even Elephant Mario. 

Ultimately, it’s a shot in the arm to what came before in the ‘New’ series, which was starting to look tired. If you haven’t played it yet, an enhanced version is coming to the Nintendo Switch 2 next year.

3. Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988)

Mario Bros. 3 was one of the most anticipated games of the late 80s, and Nintendo knew it. After the confusion of Lost Levels and Super Mario Bros. 2, fans were hoping for a true sequel, one that elevated everything that came before, and then some. 

Fortunately, Super Mario Bros. 3, released in 1989 for the NES, certainly fulfilled the brief. Not only were there new power-ups like the Tanooki Suit, Frog Suit, Super Leaf, and many more, but mechanics like storing these power-ups for future use, as well as a world map with plenty of secrets, ramped up the replayability to new heights.

The graphics and sound seemed like they were both pushing the NES to its limits, wowing players with different levels and hidden areas that fit perfectly for Mario. Super Mario Bros. 3 is regarded as one of the best games of all time, and it’s easy to see why. 

This gave the platforming genre new plateaus to reach in what was possible for level design, overworld maps, and sound, prompting the games industry to up its game for the coming years.

2. Super Mario World (1990)

Known as Super Mario Bros. 4 in Japan, Nintendo wanted to make sure that the next Mario game would hit the ground running for the Super Nintendo console, showcasing that it was indeed a new leap for the series and for the platforming genre. 

So when Super Mario World arrived in 1990, the title was indeed already redefining how a platformer could work. Showcasing upgraded graphics, fantastic music, new effects like dissolving between sections, and of course, the debut of Yoshi, everything felt new again.

The new Cape Feather power-up made Mario soar like Superman high up in levels across the seven worlds and a hidden eighth, but could also slam to the ground, much like today’s Iron Man. 

Yoshi let players eat certain fruits, and could spit out a group of fireballs. He was a fun addition, and overall, Super Mario World was a huge success, justifying Mario’s place as Nintendo’s mascot, and at least preparing the series for what Sega was planning just a year later.

1. Super Mario Bros. (1985)

Of course, it could only be Super Mario Bros. in first place. Released in 1985 for the NES, the title introduced so many gameplay mechanics, level designs, and sound that it arguably kickstarted the whole platforming genre, with tropes that are still being used in games today, 40 years on. 

As the plumber Mario, the aim is to reach the end of the level, while defeating enemies, known as Koopas, as he tries to rescue Princess Peach from the evil Bowser. Its precise controls are a big factor in why the title and the series are so successful. Players are rewarded by timed jumps, hitting certain blocks for power-ups and coins, and also defeating enemies with the right distance. Every move feels satisfying, and nothing feels like a cheap tactic.

Even the very first level is a masterclass in platforming. Super Mario Bros. set the stage for Mario and other platformers like Sonic The Hedgehog, James Pond, and more. With Nintendo celebrating Mario’s 40th anniversary in part due to the debut of this game, there’s no better reason to fire up the NES app on your Switch and rediscover why this title is and always will be a stone-cold classic.

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References

1. Super Mario Land (Nintendo)
2. Sonic the Hedgehog Classic (Google Play)