When it comes to classic gaming, few franchises can rival the iconic Super Mario Bros. series. With its charming characters, timeless gameplay, and memorable soundtracks, Super Mario Bros. has been entertaining and delighting players since 1985. Let’s take a nostalgic journey through the best Super Mario Bros. games that have captured our hearts over the years.

1. Super Mario Bros. (1985) – NES

It all began with the original Super Mario Bros., which established the franchise as a force to be reckoned with in the gaming world. The game introduced us to Mario and Luigi – two plumbers tasked with saving Princess Peach from Bowser’s clutches in a colorful and fantastical Mushroom Kingdom filled with quirky enemies and secrets.

2. Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988) – NES

Earning critical acclaim and widespread commercial success, Super Mario Bros. 3 expanded the universe of its predecessors by introducing new abilities like flying with Raccoon or Tanooki suit, innovative level designs such as airships, and iconic power-ups like the super leaf and frog suit.

3. Super Mario World (1990) – SNES

Super Mario World brought gamers into a whole new world with immersive 16-bit graphics, new areas like Dinosaur Land where Yoshi made his debut appearance, and an impressive variety of themed levels including haunted houses, underwater zones, and underground caves. It remains one of the most popular games in the series to this day.

4. Super Mario 64 (1996) – N64

The first foray into 3D gaming for the series, Super Mario 64 revolutionized platforming gameplay with its open-world environments and freedom of exploration. Players were challenged to collect Power Stars scattered across Peach’s Castle to progress through a diverse range of beautiful worlds.

5. Super Mario Sunshine (2002) – GameCube

Set on the tropical Isle Delfino, Super Mario Sunshine introduced the versatile water-spraying F.L.U.D.D., an advanced sidekick to Mario that offered a variety of gameplay enhancements. With eye-catching graphics and unique level designs, Sunshine brought a refreshing take on the traditional formula.

6. New Super Mario Bros. (2006) – DS

Reviving the nostalgic 2D platformer while infusing modern elements, New Super Mario Bros. breathed new life into the series by introducing multiplayer options and expanding on classic power-ups. The Mega Mushroom, which transformed Mario into a screen-filling giant, quickly became a fan-favorite feature.

7. Super Mario Galaxy (2007) – Wii

Gravity-defying gameplay took center stage in Super Mario Galaxy as Mario traversed spherical planets, flipping between top and bottom surfaces for an entirely unique playing experience. Combined with its breathtaking visuals and atmospheric soundtrack, Galaxy was an instant hit among fans and critics alike.

8. Super Mario Odyssey (2017) – Nintendo Switch

The critically-acclaimed Super Mario Odyssey married nostalgia with innovation as players explored massive open worlds filled with easter eggs from past games and brand-new mechanics like capturing enemies with Mario’s cap, Cappy. With its dazzling graphics and near-endless gameplay possibilities, Odyssey is considered by many as the pinnacle of the series thus far.

Each game in the Super Mario Bros. series has created memorable moments for fans across generations while consistently raising the bar for platforming games as a whole. These timeless adventures are bound to remain classics on every avid gamer’s list of favorites for many years to come.