The Mario franchise is extraordinarily successful, releasing some the best-selling and highest-rated games of all time. People everywhere love the Mario series for its gameplay; however, not everyone is quick to appreciate the storytelling in Mario games.
A lot of Mario games don't especially focus on story, putting a stricter focus on gameplay. However, there are many Mario games that do concentrate on the story, delving into the series lore and expanding on characters' personalities and relationships. Whether it be through the mainline games or spin-offs, the Mario franchise has had great storytelling that sucked many fans into Mario's fantastical world.
10 Super Mario Galaxy Introduced Rosalina
Super Mario Galaxy is one of the most notable games in the series for introducing fan-favorite Rosalina. Out of all the characters in the 3D Mario games, Rosalina has the most backstory and development.
In Super Mario Galaxy's library section, Rosalina read a storybook to the Lumas. Players learned more about Rosalina's backstory, seeing storybook pictures of how she went to outer space and became the "Mama" of the Lumas. It was great character-building and fans were upset that it wasn't done again in Super Mario Galaxy 2.
9 Super Mario 3D World Connected To The Super Mario Galaxy Games
The mainline Mario games are the main reason why people harp on the series' storytelling. The main games' stories don't usually have strong references to earlier entries. However, one of the 3D Mario games decided to change things up a bit.
Super Mario 3D World had Rosalina as an unlockable character, complete with the spin attack ability from the Super Mario Galaxy games. This was exciting for fans who had missed Rosalina and wanted her to be playable in a game. Super Mario 3D World also had many levels in outer space and showed the Comet Observatory in a cutscene, giving an even greater connection to the Super Mario Galaxy series.
8 Super Mario Sunshine Had The Villain Frame Mario And Introduced Bowser Jr.
Super Mario Sunshine is a fun game with a distinctive story that distinguishes it from other Mario games. The game had Mario go on a vacation and introduced Bowser Jr., who became a mainstay in the franchise.
Super Mario Sunshine had Mario and Peach go on vacation to Isle Delfino, but then someone framed Mario for vandalism and the heroic plumber had to clear his name. The story has a distinguished plot and full voice acting, making it very expressive compared to earlier Mario games. The game showed a sweet father-son bond between Bowser Jr. and Bowser, giving Bowser a heartwarming element after over a decade of fighting Mario.
7 Paper Mario 64 Gave More Depth To The Characters And World
For the most part, the Mario characters didn't have too much expressiveness or personality. They were mainly there to fulfill primary functions for the plots and gameplay. Paper Mario 64 helped change the characters, giving them more depth and interactions.
Players got to explore the world in Paper Mario 64, engaging with various characters. Players learned more about the series lore and saw familiar faces emote new expressions. Characters like Bowser and species like Goombas were given new life, feeling much more personified. It was one of the first times the setting in Mario didn't just feel like a set of levels; it felt like a new fantasy world to traverse.
6 Super Mario Bros 3. Was A Stage Play
Although Super Mario Bros. 3 doesn't do anything too grand in terms of storytelling, it managed to set itself apart from the previous games in the series. With its exclusive aesthetic and style, many fans speculated about the true nature of Super Mario Bros. 3's story.
Super Mario Bros. 3's style and elements are reminiscent of those found in theater and the performing arts; as a result, fans debated whether the game's story is in fact a stage play being performed. Shigeru Miyamoto confirmed that Super Mario Bros 3. is a stage play, satisfying many fans who correctly theorized that and surprising many others who simply thought the game had an uncommon art style.
5 Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island Connected The Yoshis To Mario And Luigi's Past
Although some fans were disappointed that Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island didn't carry the same gameplay as Super Mario World, the former introduced a new backstory for the Yoshi species and Mario brothers.
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island has a cute story with a green Yoshi meeting Mario as a baby. This Yoshi and other Yoshis go on to protect Baby Mario and Baby Luigi from Kamek and Bowser, successfully bringing the baby twins back to their parents. It was a heartwarming story that expanded on the lore of the Mario series, including the Yoshi species. Yoshi's Island showed that Mario and Luigi have a close relationship with the Yoshi dinosaurs and that the Mario Bros.'s arch-rivalry with Bowser goes back to infancy.
4 Super Paper Mario May Have The Best Story In A Mario Game
The Paper Mario series receives praise for its fun storytelling, and fans often cite Super Paper Mario as the best Mario game story-wise. Fans adore Super Paper Mario's story for its mix of humor, seriousness, and complexity.
The story in Super Paper Mario has many references and jokes to gaming culture, creating a loving connection for avid gamers. The story also has twists and darker elements that can keep players on their toes, giving them a very different experience from Mario's more light-hearted adventures. For these reasons, many critics and fans consider Super Paper Mario to have the best and most charming story in Mario games.
3 Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story Is A Great Game For Beginners
Potential fans can have trouble deciding which Mario game to try out first, particularly in the case of RPGs. A great Mario RPG new fans can get into is Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story.
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story has a really fun story that is easy for newcomers to enjoy. The story is really silly and unique, with a lot of humorous moments from iconic characters such as Bowser. In addition, the story is simple and doesn't rely too much on prior continuity. Due to its engaging story and gameplay, Bowser's Inside Story is a great beginner's game for the Mario series and RPGs in general.
2 Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Winter Games Had A Fun Story Mode
Although the Mario & Sonic series is criticized for bland gameplay, many fans really like the DS version of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games for its story mode. The mode takes advantage of the Sonic and Mario worlds crossing over, featuring many characters from both franchises.
Various characters interact with each other, allowing for interesting conversations between fan-favorites like Mario and Shadow the Hedgehog or Bowser Jr. and Sonic the Hedgehog. Fans are eager for a new type of game that has the Mario and Sonic characters communicate, taking inspiration from the story mode in the DS version of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games.
1 Luigi Showcases The "Player Two Experience"
Luigi is perhaps the character with the most progression in the entire franchise. He started out as a second character for secondary players, essentially being the same blank slate as Mario. However, Nintendo gave Luigi more of a personality, with many fans preferring him to Mario.
The Paper Mario and Luigi's Mansion games are the best examples of Luigi's character development. Luigi feels overshadowed by his older brother, jealous of Mario's fame and adventures. Paradoxically, Luigi is often timid, cowering under enemies and scary situations. When push comes to shove, Luigi will rise above his fear to save the day. The Mario series made Luigi an endearing character, giving him struggles many fans relate to.