There are lots of video game series and mascots that have left a mark on the industry, but arguably none are more popular than Nintendo’s iconic mascot, Mario. Nintendo has gradually built an enviable stable of properties, but their Super Mario games typically represent some of their strongest efforts from each generation, even when they lean into the obscure.
Mario is so well recognized that he operates off of a lot of stereotypes and preconceived notions, which are explored to different degrees in the slew of Super Mario adaptations that exist. One major Super Mario staple is that Bowser is usually the major boss at the end of the game, but there are a number of games that decide to take a different approach and try their hand at new and unique enemies.
10 Wart Is Apparently A Manifestation Of Mario’s Nightmares
Recent Super Mario games aren’t afraid to seriously mess around with the standard formula, whether it’s through a water jet pack or a sentient cap. However, the American version of the NES’ Super Mario Bros. 2 is an early entry in the series that takes a major deviation in form and also allows audiences to play as some of Mario’s friends for the first time.
The weirdness of Super Mario Bros. 2 is ultimately explained away as all being a dream, which adds a curious context to the game’s final boss, Wart. Wart is a Bowser-esque creature who seriously hates vegetables.
9 Tatanga Is An Alien Invader Who Disappears As Quickly As He Comes
Super Mario has a major presence on Nintendo’s home consoles, but he also plays a crucial role on their handhelds. The original Game Boy’s Super Mario Land feels like a traditional Super Mario game, but there are some clear differences like it’s use of Princess Daisy over Peach/Toadstool and that the game features an original group of bosses.
The game’s final fight puts Mario in a spaceship where he’s locked in combat against Tatanga, an ornery and determined alien. It’s a big change of pace as far as final boss battles are concerned and Tatanga fades into obscurity.
8 Super Paper Mario’s Count Bleck Receives A Fascinating Origin Story
The Paper Mario series of games have turned into a surprisingly successful RPG off-shoot of the traditional platformer games. Some of the more recent games receive criticism of their simplistic nature, but there is always a very distinct voice and sense of humor that makes the series deeply fun, even if it’s not always difficult.
The Wii’s debut entry in the series, Super Paper Mario, pushes the deranged Count Bleck as its big antagonist. Bleck becomes compelling when his transformation to the dark side gets revealed and all of his anger and destruction actually comes from a very human place.
7 The Broodals In Super Mario Odyssey Will Hopefully Stick Around For Years To Come
It’s always impressive to see what a new Nintendo console can do with a Super Mario game and the Nintendo Switch entry, Super Mario Odyssey, is a triumph on every level. Odyssey doesn’t take Bowser completely out of the picture, but it doubles down on his twisted wedding plans with a group of villains that are considerably more interesting, the Broodals.
Madame Broode leads four rambunctious wedding planner rabbits that feel like a mix between the Koopalings and Rabbids. Hariet, Topper, Spewart, and Rango are a highly entertaining lot that will hopefully stay in the franchise.
6 Kamek Has Slowly Turned Into A Competent Villain
The Super Mario universe has expanded in a lot of ways and popular games like Yoshi’s Island have spawned their own series where both Yoshi and Baby Mario become the protagonists. Kamek is a highly powerful Koopa that often works in tandem alongside Baby Bowser, but the character has gotten more opportunities to prove its worth on its own.
Kamek is a great foil against Yoshi and some of his villainous exploits on the Nintendo Switch, like Yoshi’s Crafted World, demonstrate just how resilient and creative of an enemy he can be.
5 Paper Mario’s Latest Foe, King Olly, Proves Why He’s The Origami King
The Paper Mario series has been going through the motions for a few entries, but its most recent title and the first entry on the Nintendo Switch, Paper Mario: The Origami King, is a return to form.
The title's new stylistic flourish revolves around papercraft and the game's main enemy, King Olly, is responsible for turning so many innocents into folded paper characters and co-opts a militia of folded soldiers under his rule. King Olly is also a villain of circumstance in some ways, which adds more depth than Bowser received in his initial appearances.
4 Bowletta And The Other Abominations From The Mario & Luigi Series Reinvent A Classic
Bowser is already such an intimidating presence, especially in comparison to Mario, that he’s already a threat. However, these characters have been around for so long that there have been some radical reinventions. The popular handheld Mario & Luigi RPG series often turns Bowser into a victim where he becomes infected and used as a host for greater evil.
Bowletta and Shrowser are two of the more disturbing examples. There are also creatures like Super Mario 3D World’s Meowser or New Super Mario Bros.’ Dry Bowser, but those are basically palette swaps for Bowser and don’t feel like wholly new villains.
3 Fawful Is A Testament To The Power Of Determination & Grows Into A Gripping Ruler
Anyone who is familiar with the Mario & Luigi series are aware of the Beanish, a strange race that often appears throughout the RPG series. Lord Fawful is the leader of the Beanish and a serious danger despite his comical appearance and background. Fawful's at his most destructive in Bowser's Inside Story, where he’s able to act as an effective obstacle to Mario, Luigi, Bowser, and more.
Bowser’s Inside Story has recently received a satisfying remaster for the Nintendo Switch, which makes Fawful more relevant than ever and more people are learning about his wicked ways.
2 Bowser Jr. & His Shadow Mario Alias Deepen The Super Mario Lore
Super Mario Sunshine remains a controversial entry in the franchise even though it’s one of the more polished and ambitious titles to come out on Nintendo’s Gamecube. Super Mario Sunshine tries to do a lot of new things with Mario, but also returns to the basics in some important ways.
A major development in Super Mario’s lore is the introduction of Bowser Jr., Bowser’s offspring who is convinced that Princess Peach is his mother. Bowser Jr. becomes a franchise mainstay, but he’s at his most intimidating when he also moonlights as Shadow Mario and attempts to wreck the hero’s reputation.
1 Super Mario Land 2 Introduces Wario As An Evil Mario Doppleganger
The Game Boy’s Super Mario Land 2 marks the first major video game appearance of Wario, where he’s treated like a haunting and belligerent bizarro version of Mario. He’s actually upsetting and a much more interesting enemy than a giant Koopa.
What makes Wario such an important villain for Mario is that he becomes so popular that Nintendo quickly pivots him into the hero of his own franchise and he leads the way in Super Mario Land 3. Wario’s prominence has only become more significant and he’s fully evolved from a disturbing villain to an eccentric troublemaker friend.