Where to Start · Super Mario
Where to Start with Super Mario
Super Mario is Nintendo's flagship platformer series starring Mario. Every mainline outing is its own adventure — no story continuity required; pick the era and camera you want. See the full catalog on GameOrder, then use the guide below to land on the right first jump.
Best for most modern players: Super Mario Odyssey
Super Mario Odyssey (2017) is the strongest introduction to what Mario feels like today — sandbox kingdoms, expressive movement, and capture powers that keep discovery playful without drowning you in lore. If you want one game that sells the modern Nintendo vision of Mario, start here.
Classic NES: Super Mario Bros. 3
Super Mario Bros. 3 is the best pick if you want the vintage side-scrolling blueprint at full strength — world themes, suits, and some of the tightest 8-bit level design in the series. It's the NES-era sweet spot before sprites gave way to polygons.
The jump to 3D: Super Mario 64
Super Mario 64 is where to start if you want to understand how Mario moved into free camera 3D — analog runs, long jumps, and star-based playgrounds that rewired platformers for a generation. The camera and friction show their age, but the design language still reads clearly.
Definitive SNES: Super Mario World
Super Mario World is the standout 16-bit mainline entry — a longer, stranger overworld, Yoshi, and secret-heavy levels that reward curious players. If SNES is your home base, this is the crown jewel.
Skip as a first Mario — Super Mario Bros. 2 (the NES version most people mean) is the odd one out: it began life as a different game and was reworked into a Mario skin. It's worth playing for curiosity, but it won't teach you what the rest of the series is doing mechanically.