7 best Mario games on Nintendo Switch to play in 2024

Ah, Mario. The moustachioed plumber has been the face of some of the greatest games of all time, from the early days of Super Mario World through to recent fan favourites like Galaxy and Odyssey.

Whether you've only just got your hands on a Nintendo Switch or you're a long-time fan looking for your next adventure in the Mushroom Kingdom, here are the best Mario games you can pick up on the hybrid console.

7. Princess Peach: Showtime!

• Release date: March 22, 2024
• Key details:
  • A chance to play as Princess Peach in the lead
  • Loads of fun transformations with different abilities
  • Easy to play for kids and casual gamers

This one isn't a Mario game as such - the iconic Nintendo mascot doesn't even make an appearance - but as it's still set in the Mushroom Kingdom universe, I'm bending the rules a little bit.

Surprisingly, this is the first time Peach has headlined her own game since 2005's Super Princess Peach on Nintendo DS. With a range of transformations including Cowboy Peach, Patissiere Peach, and even Mermaid Peach to try out, this royal ruler is making the most of her return to the stage with a whole lot of fun.

It's not a very challenging game (it's clearly aimed at a younger audience), but I had a lot of fun exploring the Sparkle Theater and trying out all of Peach's different personas. If you're looking for a Mario game that's a little different, or you've always dreamed of trying on Peach's high heels, Showtime is definitely worth a go.

6. Mario & Rabbids: Kingdom Battle

• Release date: August 29, 2017
• Key details:
  • A more strategic Mario game 
  • Lots of laughs thanks to the Rabbids
  • Multiplayer co-op which is missing from the sequel

Perhaps the most underrated Mario game of the Switch generation, Mario & Rabbids: Kingdom Battle is one of those bizarre crossovers that shouldn’t work, but somehow, it just does. It’s a turn-based tactical puzzler where you form a team of Mario favourites and Rabbid impersonators (Rabbid Peach is an icon, honestly) then head out onto an XCOM-style battlefield to take down your opponents with a range of quirky weapons.

It’s easily one of the Switch’s standout titles and also serves as a great introduction to the strategy genre for all ages. Even better, it's pretty much constantly on offer, so you can pick it up on the cheap and give it a blast with little risk. An excellent sequel, Sparks of Hope, is also available, but I'm fond of the original.

5. Super Mario RPG

• Release date: November 17, 2023
• Key details:
  • An accessible introduction to the RPG genre
  • Upgraded graphics bring a classic into the modern era
  • You get to team up with Bowser

Considered to be one of the best SNES games of all time, Super Mario RPG finally got a long-awaited remake on the Nintendo Switch in 2023. With vibrant visuals and a great sense of humour that still holds up three decades later, now is the perfect time to revisit this beloved slice of Nintendo history.

Don't let the fact that it's an RPG put you off - this is a great introduction to the genre, with basic RPG elements and easy-to-learn gameplay that's bolstered by that classic Mario charm. If you're not quite sold on it, check out my glowing Super Mario RPG review to see why I loved it so much.

4. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury

• Release date: February 12, 2021
• Key details:
  • Blends the best bits of 2D and 3D Mario games
  • Plenty of variety in its levels with lots of creativity
  • The Cat Suit is another great addition to the power-up collection

If you missed out on Super Mario 3D World when it launched on the sorely underappreciated Nintendo Wii U, it’s absolutely worth picking it up on the Switch. While it might not be as essential as other 3D Mario adventures like Sunshine and Galaxy, it’s still a brilliant addition to the franchise with the added bonus of local co-op multiplayer with up to four players, so it's ideal for families or get-togethers with friends.

Merging the best bits of 2D and 3D Mario games, World features tonnes of creative levels to jump, slide, and goomba stomp your way through - as well as offering a chance to see the origins of the adorable Cat Suit that appeared in the Super Mario Bros. movie. This Switch re-release also features an entirely new Bowser’s Fury mode that gives us a glimpse of what an open-world Mario game could look like, making it worth a double dip.

3. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

• Release date: April 28, 2017
• Key details:
  • The best Mario Kart game of all time
  • Five versions of Peach to play as (and Birdo is back!)
  • Almost 100 tracks to race on when you purchase the excellent DLC

Despite the original Wii U game being almost a decade old, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe remains the pinnacle of the karting franchise - and one of the best party games of all time. If you've (somehow) never played a Mario Kart game before, the premise is simple yet oh-so-challenging to master, especially when you're racing against experts from around the world in online multiplayer.

With the addition of the recent Booster Course Pass expansion, there are now a whopping 96 tracks both new and old to burn rubber on, as well as a colourful roster of racers ranging from Peach to Birdo and even The Legend of Zelda’s iconic hero Link. If you own a Nintendo Switch, you pretty much have to own a copy of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. It’s the law.

2. Super Mario Odyssey

• Release date: October 27, 2017
• Key details:
  • The ability to 'capture' objects or enemies is a game-changer
  • Loads of collectibles and easter eggs to keep you busy for hours
  • Could be the best 3D Mario game of all time

Although the Nintendo Switch launched alongside the excellent The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild in early 2017, the hybrid console became a truly must-have gadget when Super Mario Odyssey dropped later that year in October - delivering what many believe to be Mario's finest 3D adventure of all time.

While Sunshine gave us a water jetpack to play with and Galaxy took us to outer space, Odyssey put the focus on Mario's humble cap, replacing it with the magical Cappy. With the flick of a Joy-Con, Mario can throw Cappy to pull a switch, use it as a platform to jump on, or chuck it at far-off coins to collect them.

Of course, the best feature was the ability to 'capture' enemies or inanimate objects with Cappy. Who could forget taking over a giant Tyrannosaurus Rex in the game's opening prehistoric level, or realising that you could capture a boss's Chain Chomp and turn it around on them?

1. Super Mario Bros. Wonder

• Release date: October 20, 2023
• Key details:
  • Wonder Flowers breathe new life into the 2D Mario format
  • Impossible to play without smiling - go ahead, try it!
  • The pinnacle of Nintendo game design

The latest and greatest entry onto this list is Super Mario Bros. Wonder, a game that injects new life into the tried-and-tested 2D Mario formula. From the first Wonder Flower to the last, the game never loses its creative spark, throwing you into bizarre scenarios like a Piranha Plant musical or turning you into a Goomba.

In her review, my colleague Dani Cross called the game "a glorious reimagining of Nintendo’s most iconic franchise" and gave it five stars out of five, which is a view that's been echoed across the board from fans and critics alike. Innovative, exciting, and most importantly a whole lot of fun (especially in multiplayer mode), this is a must-play for any gamer, not just Nintendo fans.

A collection of hard-as-nails secret levels including that viral Climb To The Beat stage cement Super Mario Bros. Wonder's place as the best Mario game on Switch right now - and it's unlikely that will ever change.

Looking for something different to play after all that Mario goodness? Check out the best Switch games for adults, the best cosy games for a relaxing night in, or the best Pokemon games if you want to catch 'em all.