By Michael Beckwith

Copyright metro

All these games are winners, but which is the biggest winner of them all? (Metro/Nintendo)

Super Mario Galaxy and its sequel are back on Nintendo Switch 2, but are Mario’s space adventures truly the peak of Nintendo’s 3D platformers?

We’re still baffled that Nintendo doesn’t have a brand new 3D Super Mario game already lined up for the Nintendo Switch 2. It didn’t even have an announcement for the franchise’s 40th anniversary and has instead opted to re-release the two Super Mario Galaxy games.

Admittedly, the 2D games and Mario Kart have proven far more successful, sales-wise, over the years, but the 3D entries are routinely regarded as among the best video games ever made and, especially compared to New Super Mario Bros., considered the more prestigious Mario adventures.

Rather than try to rack our brains figuring out Nintendo’s inscrutable logic, we’re instead reminiscing to see which of the 3D Super Mario games stand out as the best of an already fantastic bunch.

8. Super Mario Sunshine (2002)

The eternal black sheep of the franchise, there’s little real argument as to what is the worst 3D Mario game. People were disappointed with it when it first appeared on the GameCube and it hasn’t enjoyed any kind of positive reassessment since then.

Although it retains the same template as Super Mario 64 – with you running around an island resort hub, to find portals to individual worlds and collect the missing Shine Sprites – Sunshine suffers from sloppier controls and a general lack of polish, born from a rushed development cycle.

Not to mention going for 100% completion requires tediously collecting too many blue coins to count and clearing some especially frustrating missions, like the infamous pachinko machine. It says a lot that it’s best moments are the void level platforming challenges, that remove the water jetpack that was meant to be the game’s main gimmick.

7. Super Mario 3D Land (2011)

Admittedly, Super Mario 3D Land has more in common with the 2D games, in terms of its gameplay, but it is technically still a 3D platformer (it also literally has 3D in the name), so it counts.

Its bite-sized platforming levels are well-suited to portable play and, although not entirely needed, it makes some good use of the stereoscopic 3D gimmick of the 3DS, to create a sense of depth. Not to mention it reintroduced the tanooki power-up from Super Mario Bros. 3 and it has a satisfyingly meaty post-game.

Unfortunately, its level design and set pieces start to repeat themselves sooner rather than later and it’s hardly the most challenging of platformers until after you’ve beaten it. But it is good and much better than Sunshine.

6. Super Mario 64 (1996)

Super Mario 64’s legacy cannot be understated. This thing wrote the book on movement within a 3D environment and many of your favourite games have likely drawn some influence from it.

Fortunately, the game itself has aged quite well in the subsequent decades. Simply running around and jumping hither and thither is a joy and that’s before you start implementing these techniques to explore each of the game’s worlds for Power Stars. The same can’t be said for the camera, though, which isn’t horrendous but mechanically is definitely showing its age.

The 2004 DS remake was a solid reinvention, adding more missions and three extra playable characters with their own unique traits. Sadly, with the closure of the Wii U eShop, there’s no easy way to play this version. However, the N64 original is part of the Super Mario 3D All-Stars collection and the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack service.

5. Bowser’s Fury (2021)

This pint-sized adventure was bundled with Super Mario 3D World’s Switch remaster and it’s still not really clear why it exists. It’s more akin to Super Mario Odyssey than 3D World, in that Mario can freely explore an open world of interconnected islands, as he collects shiny baubles of indeterminable origin.

For what’s essentially a small bonus game, Bowser’s Fury is surprisingly packed, with plenty of fun challenges to undertake. And for as annoyingly random as his appearances can be, Fury Bowser’s temporary interruptions induce the right level of panicked excitement and make the ensuing kaiju-esque boss fights all the more satisfying.

It also posits the intriguing possibility of a 3D Mario game set in one giant open world, rather than separate smaller ones. Whether this was Nintendo prototyping plans for the next game or a one-off experiment, though, remains a puzzling mystery.

4. Super Mario 3D World (2013)

While the Switch remaster is the definitive way of playing Super Mario 3D World, the game was no slouch even when it first launched for the Wii U, evolving Super Mario 3D Land’s formula in all the right ways.

The game is perhaps most famous for its chaotic four-player co-op, but even a solo playthrough is exciting thanks to inventive level design that remains fresh throughout and fun new power-ups in the cat suit and double cherry. It’s also where the charming Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker spin-off was born.

Like 3D Land, though, it doesn’t get truly difficult until the post-game and while the poor implementation of the Wii U GamePad is a non-issue with the Switch version, 3D World doesn’t reach the highs of the truly great 3D Mario games.

3. Super Mario Odyssey (2017)

We gave 10/10 scores to all these next three games, but we would say that Odyssey is a small notch below the other two. Not because of anything it does wrong but as difficult as it’s been to sort out the middle of this list, the best and worst 3D Mario games are pretty uncontroversial.

The main gimmick of Super Mario Odyssey on the Switch is Cappy the, err… cap. His capture power allows Mario to possess a myriad of enemies and objects, which routinely blesses you with new gameplay styles (some simpler than others) and all of them are a joy to use. Some could’ve even served as the basis for entire games.

This is combined with the equally varied challenges across the game’s many self-contained worlds – each one chockful of secrets to stumble across – and Mario’s impeccable traversal abilities. It’s genuinely incredible how this game is bursting with so many ideas and there’s not a dud amongst them.

2. Super Mario Galaxy (2007)

For a game all about Mario exploring the boundless reaches of the cosmos, it’s fitting that Super Mario Galaxy was such a revolutionary experience when it launched, truly feeling like the series broke free of gravity and soared to new heights.

If Sunshine was oddly devoid of that special Nintendo magic, follow-up Galaxy is drowning in it. The Galaxy name isn’t a gimmick either, with many of the levels set on tiny planetoids you can run around, as the game continually plays with gravity and perspective.

Further propped up by gorgeous graphics, that still look good in the new Switch remaster, and a phenomenal soundtrack, the only thing that’s better is the game’s own sequel.

1. Super Mario Galaxy 2 (2010)

Nintendo has never offered a proper explanation for why Super Mario Galaxy 2 was omitted from the 3D All-Stars collection but, whatever the case, we’re just glad a new generation of fans can experience it now, since it is the best 3D Mario game the company’s ever made. Not to mention the best 3D platformer of any kind and arguably the best video game of all-time.

There are arguments in favour of its predecessor, but with even more varied level design, a superior selection of power-ups, the inclusion of Yoshi, and a greater sense of challenge (especially in the ginormous post-game), we consider this the superior Galaxy game.

It did such a good job that some people are still begging for a Galaxy 3, even after Nintendo moved on to new ideas with Odyssey. Although with the new movie and these re-releases introducing Super Mario Galaxy to a new audience, perhaps Nintendo will consider revisiting the formula after all.

Will the Switch 2 re-release be your first time playing Super Mario Galaxy 2? (Nintendo)

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