There are plenty of 3D entries in the Super Mario series to look back on fondly, but how do they rank when compared side-by-side? Mario's games have taken him everywhere, from sandy shores to the vacuum of space, and no two Mario games are exactly alike. However, Mario does have a fantastic track record, so many of the titles rank extremely close as far as ratings are concerned.

Critics seem to collectively agree that Mario's 3D games all have merit in their own rights, but some do shine just a little more than others. A common complaint of older Mario titles is clunky camera controls, but that does not mean newer means better. Critics and fans alike revere some titles as classics and trailblazers, even if they haven't aged as gracefully as others. After averaging Metacritic and Internet Games Database scores for the following games, here's a ranking for every 3D Super Mario game.

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8. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury - 89/100

Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury is the original Super Mario 3D World on Wii U remastered for Nintendo Switch. The game was not a one-to-one copy of the original; the characters' movements speeds, along with other tweaks, were implemented to improve the game's overall quality. However, the majority of the game remains unchanged from Mario's original outing into 3D World.

To Nintendo's credit, they sweetened the deal by adding a new mode to the game called Bowser's Fury. In this new 1-2 player adventure, Mario and Bowser Jr. have to team up to save a corrupted Bowser who, as the name implies, is furious. The gameplay is fun and unique as Mario runs around solving puzzles with Bowser Jr. Although this was an enjoyable expansion, it was relatively short, had a shallow co-op experience, and some critics felt it lacked a sense of identity, jumping between being a Mario game and an open-world sandbox.

7. Super Mario 3D Land - 90/100

Super Mario 3D Land feels built to show off the capabilities of its home console, the Nintendo 3DS. It seamlessly blended 2D and 3D Mario mechanics into an adventure that could fit in a player's pocket. However, striving to push the limits of the 3DS is simply all it does uniquely well.

Land is a fun Mario game with fun powerups and a good endgame for challenge seekers, but the implementation of gyroscope controls, StreetPass and of course 3D only provided on Nintendo 3DS has made it age not as gracefully as other titles in the series. Some critics also criticized the title for its lack of variety in boss fights and level design. Still, it holds up as a solid title that showed the peak of handheld gaming during the time and was a must-buy for Nintendo 3DS owners.

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6. Super Mario Sunshine - 91/100

Originally debuting for the Nintendo Gamecube, Super Mario Sunshine features a fully voiced cast, new enemies and a reliance on Mario's new sidekick, F.L.U.D.D. Since gameplay centers around F.L.U.D.D. in this title, players get to experience a Mario game that stands out from everything that has come before and after it as they point and shoot to wash away a sinister mess that has left the residents of Isle Delfino in despair.

The tone of the game doesn't follow other Mario titles either. Mario is in jail for vandalism, and Bowser's son, masquerading as an evil Mario, kidnaps Princess Peach because he thinks she is his mama. The game doesn't fully realize its potential due to clunky camera controls that make it entirely too frustrating at times and gameplay mechanics that some critics called "gimmicks," but Sunshine is still a timeless classic that is talked about nearly a decade later.

5. Super Mario 64 - 91.5/100

Arguably one of the most iconic Mario games to ever grace a console, Mario's debut into the world of 3D gaming undergoes the transition from 2D to 3D nearly effortlessly. Its gameplay, music and graphics were top-notch for the time, and anyone who owned a Nintendo 64 most likely owned Super Mario 64. Although it has its share of exploits and bugs, the fact that gamers have spent the last 15 years finding new ways to play and speedrun this game is a testament to its influence on gaming culture as a whole.

Not all of its features have aged gracefully, such as the shoddy camera system. However, its iconic levels, characters, powerups and mechanics set a precedent for future 3D Mario titles and make Super Mario 64 fun to revisit time and time again.

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4. Super Mario 3D World - 93.5/100

Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach explore Super Mario 3D World

Super Mario 3D World took the elements of Super Mario 3D Land and nearly perfected them. More powerups, more three-dimensional gameplay, new characters and a focus on cooperative play make this a fun joyride that anyone can pick up, play and have a good time. Characters all have unique traits, similar to Super Mario Brothers 2. Luigi jumps high but is slippery, Peach can float, Toad is speedy, and Mario is an all-rounder, with Rosalina appearing as a playable character once she is unlocked.

Unfortunately, the game was all but dead on arrival due to being released for the Wii U, one of Nintendo's most infamously underperforming consoles in terms of sales. Luckily, with the release of Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury, players who missed the game the first time finally have a chance to jump in and see what they were missing.

3. Super Mario Galaxy 2 - 96.5/100

Super Mario Galaxy 2 missed out on being a port to Nintendo Switch during Super Mario's 35th Anniversary, which is unfortunate for those who missed out on it. Galaxy 2 is one of Mario's greatest 3D adventures, receiving perfect scores from multiple game reviewers during its release in 2010. The game takes the core concepts from its predecessor and expands on them to make the series bigger than ever.

There is something for everyone here with immense replay value, collectibles for completionists, a natural difficulty curve and a rewarding end game that makes the game challenging but accessible for any gamer. Despite a lack of cinematics or over-the-top storytelling, Super Mario Galaxy 2 makes up for this with outstanding gameplay and level designs that make it the absolute best Mario title for some fans. Also, players get to ride Yoshi in space. Truly a masterpiece.

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2. Super Mario Odyssey - 97/100

Mario in the air throwing out Cappy, with a variety of locations in the background

Mario's latest 3D title barely misses the top spot on the list, despite being a must-play for Nintendo Switch owners. Elements presented in Super Mario Odyssey are smart and fun, making everything from collecting moons to using the new abilities Cappy rewarding Mario.

Using Cappy to control foes and as a means of moving through levels feels skillful and rewarding. The gameplay is fun and sharp, the worlds are various and unique, and the final boss fight is something every Mario fan should experience. Hidden secrets take residence in every nook and cranny of the game, and collecting hidden coins and moons is nearly an addicting affair. Odyssey is an adventure with seemingly limitless replayability and serves as a love letter to every Mario fan the world over. It's a classic that Nintendo will have a very hard time topping in the future.

1. Super Mario Galaxy - 98/100

Mario In The Galaxy

Super Mario Galaxy holds itself to a standard all 3D platformers should strive to achieve. New characters and powers, peak level design and gameplay, and great use of the Wii's unique technology made Super Mario Galaxy stand out from any other game during its era.

Despite being a series not known for storytelling, Super Mario Galaxy offered a deeper, emotional story to unlock so players could learn more about the Mother of Lumas, Rosalina, and how she came to be. However, what makes the game one of the best of all time is the level design and gameplay mechanics that it pioneered. Super Mario Galaxy had to soar through the stars so that games that came after it, like Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Super Mario Odyssey, could go even further beyond.

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