Author: Adam

Secondly, these are just my opinions. I get everyone has their own different version of Batman that they prefer. The ones that are the most hated have their diehard fans while even the ones that are the most loved have their diehard haters. At this point, you should know which Batman is your Batman and which one is not. I’m just going with the rankings of how I see the quality of the Batman films.

I also will say when it comes to my overall feelings of all sixteen movies, just note that I think #1-4 are near perfect, #5-8 are really great, #9-10 are solid, #11-12 are mixed bags, and #13-16 are real legit stinkers. For the most part, I like more Batman movies than I dislike.

So please, if you disagree, don’t get upset and even feel free to let me know your rankings in the comments below or even on Twitter or Letterboxd. Without further of do, here we go!

16.) Batman: The Killing Joke

Yes, the worst Batman movie ever released in cinema is in fact not Batman & Robin. While Killing Joke might not as cause anywhere near as much impact on pop culture as B&R did, this is probably the one theatrical Batman feature released that feels like the most waste of time. Even the worst of the Schumacher and Snyder flicks had at least one element or two that worked in their own rights. This is what happens when you try to adapt source material in a faithful matter but don’t actually know or believe in the story that your material was originally telling.

The first half an hour of the picture is terrible beyond words with the way it treats Batgirl and not being important to everything else whatsoever. And there’s the rest of the movie that does nothing more but go into great lengths to just how dated the original storyline is and makes it’s mere existence feel like a mistake. The animation is slow and lifeless, the voice acting is phoned in and poor, and the dialogue that might have fit well for a comic book novel DOES NOT translate well into a motion picture whatsoever. When not even Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill’s iconic voices as the Caped Crusader and Clown Prince of Crime can save your movie, something has gone seriously wrong!

This is a perfect example how sometimes being too faithful to the source material can be just as bad as being unfaithful towards it. An adaption is an adaption for a reason and that’s something that Killing Joke doesn’t get whatsoever! It’s absolutely depressing that Conroy and Hamill’s final time together had to end on an absolute whimper!

15.) Justice League (2017)

It’s unbelievable how not only the first ever live-action Justice League movie doesn’t work, but it has to be one of the most lifeless, dull, and forgettable superhero movies ever made. The course correction from Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is so painfully obvious on screen with out-of-place reshoots and edits that are downright embarrassing. It’s like the equivalent of a superb Japanese anime getting butchered in the English version by 4kids, filled with unnecessary editing, censoring, and scripting to make it more “kid” friendly, even if it doesn’t make much sense in context and hurts the overall quality of it.

This came across as more of a straight-to-dvd Avengers knock-off that you would find in a bargain bin at the Dollar Store than an actual Justice League movie. A handful of moments are cool in their own right and is is nice to see Henry Cavill represent a bit of Christopher Reeves here (despite it making no sense in the context of the universe) but it’s incredibly unforgiveable just how cheap, hollow, and unmemorable this whole experience is.

When even a remix of Danny Elfman’s iconic Batman theme can’t win me over, you know your movie has failed!

14.) Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

I’m still in awe how you take a crossover like Batman and Superman and make it so long, dull, and joyless. The plot is a convoluted mess no matter which version you watch, with the conflict between Batman and Superman being so incredibly ridiculous that it could have been avoided if the two just simply talk to each other. It’s a film that wants to comes across as the most grand and ambitious movie every made, but when you look deep into it, this movie actually doesn’t have much to say on anything it’s talking about. Other than trying to cram two to three movies worth of material into one film, there’s nothing really risky or daring about Dawn of Justice, with it’s so-called themes that have been done much better in plenty of other superhero films.

Ben Affleck is fine as Batman and there’s a few standout moments here but that’s nowhere near enough to save this turd. Even the ultimate edition which some claim “saves” the movie is really just has more of the same problems, save for being slightly better editing and pacing. If there is a clear difference between ambition and aimlessness, then Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice certainly strikes the finest line yet between those two definitions with results that fit more of the latter than the former.

It gets a slight edge over Justice League (2017) because it does at least feel like a fully realized vision of a filmmaker but that is no where near enough for me to claim it’s good or even should be praised because of that. It’s a movie so bad that it arguably killed the DCEU before it even got a chance to get going! Sorry but I’m not a fan whatsoever!

13.) Batman and Robin

Despite writing up a blog piece somewhat defending this movie as NOT the worst thing ever made along with tons of retweets/likes of my tweet about how it’s pointless to still be upset over this movie existing, that still doesn’t change the fact that Batman and Robin is still a very bad and just plain awful movie. I do at least put it above the first few on the list because this is a movie you can at least watch and laugh at how terrible it truly is, unlike those where watching it is just a miserable experience.

From it’s over-the-top characters, cheesy one-liners, campy action, and it’s outlandish overacting, B&R is no doubt one of the best disaster pieces that has ever been released in theaters. It’s not just “so bad it’s good”, this movie help refined “so bad it’s good”. Everyone and their mother has picked this movie apart and for good reason. While I still make the case that this is a watchable bad movie as oppose to an unwatchable bad movie, it’s still a bad movie regardless.

Even a couple of moments that do work with the way they were intended (Bruce and Alfred’s conversation makes me tear up every time) can’t save it for the sheer amount of brilliant terribleness that is the big picture. At the very least, this movie’s failure and own existence eventually led to many other good Batman and superhero movies to be made. I guess that’s something.

12.) Batman Forever

Most of the problems with the Joel Schumacher movie I just mention are also present here, albeit not quite as bad. Cheeseball dialogue, cartoonish characters, arcs that feel unearned and don’t really make any sense, and villain performances that is so hammered up that you wonder if Jim Carrey and Tommy Lee Jones were just being as awful as possible just because they could. That being said, this movie does at least nail the look, feel, and atmosphere of Gotham City in a way that no other Batman has had to this point.

For a famous setting that has been often portrayed as mean, gray, and bleak, it’s refreshing to see someone step it up and breath some actual life into it, even if it doesn’t quite match with how the character of Batman is usually interpreted as. It’s bright, light, and colorful blends perfectly with the bright and colorful criminals that scatters throughout the film that makes this look like paradise for the bad guys in Gotham. Every once in a while in a movie, it’s perfectly okay to make a bad place look good.

It’s still mildly entertaining in it’s own right and it’s certainly the exact kind of movie that WB wanted over the backlash of Batman Returns being “too dark”, but everything is treated too much like a joke here that it’s so hard to take anything happening to the characters seriously.

11.) Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders

Easily the most inconsequential Batman movie to ever be released in expanded theaters (heck, 99% of the world probably forgot that this actually came out in theaters), but it’s still got some charm that the original 60′ series and the 66′ movie had.

The voice work from the cast can sound very rusty (You can just tell how poor Adam West had trouble with most of his line deliveries), should have had some tightening towards the climax, and I can’t help but wonder with the idea of multiple Batmans in one movie could have unlock the potential of endless memorable memes or at least prior Batman VAs coming together could have made this DC’s version of Spider-Man: No Way Home. (Yes, I get this is suppose to be low budgeted and was originally straight-to-dvd, but I still can’t get that out of my head.)

That being said, it’s still exactly the kind of campy, over-the-top Adam West adventure as you could imagine can exist in 2016. It’s doesn’t try to be anything more or anything less than that but sometimes that’s okay. Especially with the recent Batman and DC flicks that came around that same time that was pretending to be anything BUT simple, I think being simple in the case of Return of the Caped Crusaders was more than good enough.

10.) Batman (1966)

Batman contains something that I really miss nowadays with big franchise movies, it being the exact movie that itself wants to be and not the audience. You couldn’t make a Batman movie like this in 2022. Not just because it doesn’t meet the standards of filmmaking today (whatever that consists of) but it wouldn’t meet the standards of what the fans and audience expect out of Batman.

If this movie came out today, it would get torn to shreds by everybody and many of the cast and crew would be chase off of social media. However, this movie came out in 1966, not 2022. There was no social media to speak off or high standards to reach with this character or series. It was an actual thing and because of that, it could be anything it desired to be.

I can’t say it has hold up very well whatsoever but the fact there was an actually movie called Batman in 1966 makes it as big of an accomplishment as what Tim Burton and Christopher Nolan did for their own respected versions in at the times those films was released. Long live Adam West!

9.) Zack Snyder’s Justice League

Because we live in some dark and twisted form of an alternate universe, Zack Snyder’s Justice League is a real thing now. Truth be told, even if you remove yourself from the toxicity that is the Zack Snyder fanbase (I won’t blame you if you can’t!), it’s actually not that bad and there’s plenty of positive this time around, along with some negatives.

The first half is way too stretched out for it’s own good, feeling like Snyder is trying to get every single little frame of work that he desired in there regardless if it actually serves a purpose. There’s also the final fifteen minutes that feels more like a collection of post credit scenes rather than an actual epilogue. But everything in between that is pretty solid. There’s good action set pieces, a nice score, memorable visuals, and some good character interactions between all of the Justice League members, with Wonder Woman and Cyborg being the standouts. It’s also refreshing to see a Zack Snyder superhero movie to where the superheroes actually feel like superheroes, feeling as if he just ditched the ego-filled mindset and just set out to make a damn good Justice League movie that most people could enjoy.

There’s still some faults from the theatrical cut that are carried over here such as Steppenwolf being so terribly BORING! However, this is certainly an improvement over the theatrical cut and should most certainly be considered the actual definite version of Justice League. I might not call myself a fan of Snyder’s input on DC but I’m at least glad he got to finish what he started after having to originally step down due to the tragic death of his daughter. Can we please move on with our lives now?!

8.) The LEGO Batman Movie

You could make the argument that The LEGO Batman Movie is the Batman movie that feels like the culmination of all the other Batman movies that have come before it along with the hit tv shows.

The key trick that LEGO Batman pulls off is making all it’s spoof nature and commentary that doesn’t come across as lazy, spiteful, or talking down to its audience. It’s able to be a self parody while always having something new and meaningful to say. It’s able to deconstruct it’s main title character but also show a full side of him that has been hinted at in the past but makes it come into full fruition now. It’s able to make fun with it’s material without actually making fun of it. It’s able to make everything Batman while also making Batman everything. I guess what I’m trying to say is, EVERYTHING IS BATMAN!

Not necessarily Batman’s most memorable picture and honestly could have done without the Lego gimmick this time around but this is still a very fun ride regardless.

7.) The Batman

The big overall question that everyone wants to know is if The Batman is the best Batman movie ever made? Well, it really depends on the kind of Batman that you want and hope to get out of this new movie. We have gotten so many different incarnations of the caped crusader in the past and nearly every single one of them has their fans of some sort. In my opinion, it’s not quite the best Batman movie or even my personal favorite one but still a damn solid one nonetheless.

There are some flaws that hold it back a bit. The inspirations that Matt Reeves clearly has taken from other Batman stories and David Fincher movies are quite noticeable, a third act sequence that should feel more impactable than it actually is, and a sequel tease near the tail end of the film that will likely have your eyes rolling. The strengths of the movie, however, should not be cast aside. The acting is all stellar here (Robert Pattinson, Zoe Kravitz, Jeffrey Wright, Paul Rino, and Colin Farrell are all perfect in their roles), there has never been a more effective and accurate Gotham City-like atmosphere displaced on the big screen, and a Batman film that put more focus on the detective aspect, even if Batman is still FAR from being the World’s Greatest Detective in this. Plus, anyone that claims that Michael Giacchino’s instantly iconic theme is not in their head immediately after the movie is lying through their teeth.

Perhaps it’s because I’ve grown more accustom to filmmakers doing their own unique thing with the characters that one movie that feels more in line with the actual source material than one the director put Batman in their own unique sandbox is what makes The Batman come across as more conventional compared to some of the others one. However, conventional doesn’t mean the same as bad. The Batman is a really good movie that while doesn’t break any new ground, it does tick off most of the right boxes of what I (and imagine others) would view as a proper Batflick.

6.) Batman Begins

Batman Begins was an absolute revolutionary when it came out back in 2005. Not only did it revived the Batman franchise that seemed long dead for eight years, but it help set the foundation that properties surrounding superheroes and comic books can in fact be taken more seriously and still be really good.

Even if the second half isn’t quite as good as the first half and the action leaves a lot to be desire but those problems can easily be forgiven with the way this movie is able to accomplish everything else. It gives us an incredibly engaging Bruce Wayne in Christian Bale’s iconic turn as this iconic character along with providing a satisfying origin story that stands as one of the best ever put to screen in superhero movie form.

While it’s impact didn’t feel all the way felt until around the arrival of it’s sequel The Dark Knight three years later, this film’s importance to the Caped Crusader along with the sub-genre should not go unnoticed. Even before Marvel got their universe with Iron Man, it was this terrific first entry from Christopher Nolan that got the ball rolling with just how good a modern superhero movie can be.

5.) Batman (1989)

The original Tim Burton, Batman was quite an accomplishment in 1989. Introducing the character of Batman on the big screen that would define a new generation of moviegoers and Batman fans. As it’s own film, it still holds up incredibly well but it isn’t perfect by any means.

Side characters such as Commissioner Gordon and Harvey Dent aren’t given much development time, it’s quite inconsistent as to whether or not Batman should kills his enemies or not, and there are times where so much focus is put on the Joker that you can argue that it takes away from the actual titled character of the film. But I do think when it comes down to the core conflict and the way both the hero and villain are portrayed here, it makes for a rather unique, interesting, and personal conflict between the two pairs. Just because anyone can be a hero doesn’t mean that anyone can not also be a villain as well.

Tim Burton might not have captured the Batman and Joker from their original roots but he did help create original roots of his own that made the film for the better and leave the impact that it has today. If it wasn’t for the success of this film, who knows if Batman would be anywhere near as popular as he is now.

4.) The Dark Knight Rises

You ever have that one movie that you would define as a flawed masterpiece. A film that you know deep down has problems but it’s still perfect for you anyway! That would be The Dark Knight Rises for me! The kind of film that even with it’s notable flaws, I still can’t help but feel like this is the best possible version of itself it could possibly be. The overall premise of this movie is one that actually dares to question the entire idea around the character of Batman: that perhaps Bruce Wayne being the Batman was a mistake.

And every time I watch this movie, I always go back to that one scene with Bruce getting out of the pit. When watching it, I just can’t imagine these movies being the way they are without that one particular scene. It just makes everything whole and even the things that are wrong with the movie (and even the whole trilogy) feel kinda right. Just like how that moment brings Bruce within himself to become the Batman one last time, I believe that was also the exact moment where Christopher Nolan found it within himself to direct this movie. The one moment that the Dark Knight behind the camera was able to rise once again to finish what he started.

To this day, I can’t think of many series finales that have been as satisfying as The Dark Knight Rises. From it’s scope to it’s action to it’s themes to it’s ending, I will always have a big fondness for Nolan’s final triumph with Batman and superheroes. Some might bark for this being too high on the list but, I’m still a believer in The Dark Knight Rises even if you’re not.

3.) Batman: Mask of the Phantasm

Mask of the Phantasm perfectly illustrates how Batman is not just a symbol for Gotham City but also represents a tragedy for Bruce Wayne. With losing his parents, seeing good people become evil, watching as criminals strike fear into the heart and soul of Gotham, that showcases how being Batman is difficult just like that. But it’s his tragic relationship with Andrea that shows that no matter how hard he tries, Bruce Wayne can just never escape being Batman. It’s something that will haunt him for as long as he lives. Whether it’s a personal connection or not, there will always be something that traces back to Bruce as Batman. He can never move past it, because Batman is and always will be Bruce Wayne’s destiny. He can dread it, run from it, but destiny will arrive all the same!

There are plenty of Batman movies that are more centered around the stories they tell themselves that just so happens to have Batman in it. Many have succeed, some even more so than this movie, while others have failed. But, there really hasn’t been a motion picture that show the inner turmoil of Bruce Wayne as a character and the tragic figure that Batman himself represents than with Mask of the Phantasm.

This may not be quite my favorite movie WITH Batman but, even after the release of The Batman, I strongly that this is the best movie ever made ABOUT Batman.

2.) Batman Returns

Whenever I think of the Batman movies that would make for the perfect double feature for one another and just two films that perfectly compliment the other, I think of Tim Burton’s Batman Returns and Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight. Both films contain some of the biggest, boldest, and just plain best work of both directors filmography.

Both movies are just as much about the antagonist in terms of story, character, and themes as the protagonist, perhaps even more so. They tell incredibly groundbreaking tails of the pros and cons of the Batman legacy along with showing a Batman that is truly unrestrained and beyond his limits that serves both a story and thematic purpose. In the sense, both Batman Returns and The Dark Knight make for a great parallel with one another and terrific back-to-back featurettes. Even when looking at Returns at it’s own thing, it’s still brilliant!

Everything done with the Batman, Catwoman, and the Penguin is absolutely great, it’s shot phenomenally, Danny Elfman’s score is still iconic, and it’s arguably the only Batman picture that is able to find room for the dark, campy, realistic, and fantastical elements all at once along with stating that each one of those featurette have a place within Batman lore. As much Michael Keaton fun as it was to see Batman again in The Flash, I can’t imagine there being a more beautiful and interesting take on his version of Batman then with this movie.

1.) The Dark Knight

But yeah, no surprise to anyone, this is still the best movie with Batman ever made. I know it’s become cliché to claim that The Dark Knight is one of the best superhero movies ever, but many people said that for a reason, it is just that damn good.

What makes The Dark Knight work perfectly is how it’s an unique, distinct story about Batman being challenged mentally, emotionally, physically, thematically, and symbolically. The two other main characters throughout the picture in Joker and Harvey Dent represents both the hero that Batman so desperately wants to be along with the villain that he fears that he will one day come. It’s a Batman movie that perfectly mirrors itself with out it tells this identical tale of crime, corruption, and vengeance in the most complex and fascinating way imaginable.

Even the films’ overall minor flaws like a couple of plot holes throughout and taking place in the most generic looking Gotham City imaginable can’t take away from the amount of absolute superb filmmaking throughout the entire 152-minute long runtime. There are definitely Batman movies out there that people have liked/disliked more than others but I don’t think anyone can argue that there hasn’t been a Batman movie that has a much of an impact as The Dark Knight. From the twists and turns to it’s resonate themes to Heath Ledger’s amazing turn as Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight, even 14 years later, still stands on top.

Today is Mario’s 40th anniversary! Because of that, why not celebrate the release of another fine Mario game by sharing my top 10 personal favorite Mario games?

I’ve always been a fan of Mario! When I was kid, the first ever gaming system I got from my parents was the original Gameboy and the first game they got for me with it was a remastered version of Super Mario World. Even if I’m someone that prefers Sonic, Mario has no doubt been a top tier gaming franchise since the beginning and is what got me into gaming as a whole.

This was quite a tricky list to pull off just because of how there are SO many ridiculously good Mario games they are. I do want to make a disclaimer that this list will in fact include any game that Mario himself was attached to outside of Super Smash Bros. This list will not only refer to the main installment of the series but also spin-offs such as Mario Kart, Mario Party, Paper Mario, etc. I didn’t just want to do a ranking on strictly the main series of games or spin-offs, I wanted to list all of my favorite Mario-related games at once. Without further a do, let’s get into this list starting with the honorable mentions.

Honorable Mentions:

• Mario Party 64

Spoiler alert: This is the only Mario Party game mentioned. This is just the one I remember having the most fun with friends and family. I never owned a Nintendo 64 myself but I do remember going to my aunt’s house who had one and would always play the Mario games she had with it. Nothing like having a blast playing this with everybody while laughing, screaming, and just having the best time imaginable. Just don’t play these games too much with your friends or else you’ll regret it! And I may or may not be speaking from experience.

• Mario Kart 64

One of the more iconic Mario Kart games and an absolute fan favorite. This was the first kart game in the series to be fully 3D which allowed players to play as their favorite Mario characters in a 3D world. This introduces some of the very best tracks such as Rainbow Road and Bowser’s Castle and gives you that full sense of nostalgia whenever you play it. Not quite the best Mario Kart game in the series but it nevertheless, deserves a mention.

• Paper Mario

The first installment in another successful spin-off in the franchise, Paper Mario acts as the plumber’s first jump into the world RPGs. With a great supporting cast, a creative battle system, and a ton of fun features added, this makes for a really strong start for one of the better RPG series out there. Some aspects of the game are dated and it’s not quite my favorite one but it’s still very good nonetheless.

• Super Mario Maker 2

Since I never owned a Wii U and didn’t know anyone that had one, I never got to play the original Super Mario Maker. However since I do own a Switch, I got to play it’s sequel and it’s quite a blast. It’s quite awesome to be able to take custom courses from prior Mario games and make them something of your own. The only reason I don’t have this in the main top 10 is because I don’t see this as it’s own thing and prefer more wholly original Mario games. Nevertheless, it’s still worth playing through for anyone that has a Switch.

• Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury

Hard to believe this game is already over 10 years! I didn’t get to play this game until it came to the Switch in 2021. While this is not the best Mario game, you can certainly make the argument that it’s one of the more “fun” ones. This is the one that would introduce one of the most fun power-ups in all of Mario with the catsuit allowing you to climb walls and use a scratch attack. It’s also nice to have Princess Peach be a playable character this time around who joins Luigi and Toad to save the day and not just be a simply damsel in distress. The only thing holding it back is perhaps the level design being too easy and simplistic without not much challenge. Also, Bowser’s Fury is fine….just fine.

• Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga

What this? Another successful RPG that happens to have Mario characters in it? You shouldn’t have! While it’s not quite the most well know Mario game out there, it’s definitely one that deserves your attention. The gameplay is fun, the dialogue is hilarious, the graphics are good for a Gameboy game, and the music is just fantastic. Not sure what more that needs to be said. If you can find a copy of it, go ahead and try it out.

• Luigi Mansion’s Dark Moon

I’ve never played the original or even the third game but this game along with the series itself makes for a very intriguing one for Mario’s lovable younger brother, Luigi. There’s something so genius about creating a game where Luigi has to navigate through a haunted mansion and face his greatest fears, that being ghosts. A really entertaining action-adventure game all around that provides a very unique spin and giving Luigi the perfect spotlight to shine. I’ll be sure to play the other two games at some point.

• Super Mario Strikers

One of the Mario games that I remember playing the most at my aunt’s (who also had a Gamecube) and friend’s. Sports games where you basically get to play by your own rules, logic, and having power-ups thrown into the mix is always among the most entertaining one. While Mario has certainly had other sporting games outside of Mario Kart, this is the one that has stuck with me the most. And, I’m just gonna say it, this is the game which I crushed hard on Peach and Daisy. If you’ve played the game, you probably know why.

• Mario Kart DS

The Mario Kart game that basically made the blue turtle shell the bane of my existence is still one I have a lot of fond memories for it. Whether it’s playing on my own with racing tournaments and minigames or playing against my friends and cousins, there is not one Mario Kart I always enjoy playing through with a group of my pals or family members. Even if it’s not quite my favorite Mario Kart game and it won’t be until a few other games down the line that would be able to fully utilized the elements which this game help start, Mario Kart DS is still one of my favorite kart game in the series.

• Super Mario Bros. 3/Super Mario Galaxy 2

Probably will be my biggest hot takes as I know these are two of the most beloved games in the franchise. I acknowledge them both as being two very good games that are perhaps a tad overrated, mostly because it retreads the same ground as it’s predecessors, not feeling as fresh as the originals, and at times feeling more like Super Mario Bros 2.5 and Super Mario Galaxy 1.5. These are still really enjoyable games but I do think it falls short when it came to pushing their perspective series forward and instead just put it in neutral. While that’s not enough to ruin either game, it is enough to prevent it from being on the top 10.

Now, here we go to the main top 10!

10.) Super Mario 3D Land

Being the one main Mario game made exclusively for the 3DS, Super Mario 3D Land still holds up strongly as being one of the more entertaining Mario titles. This entry brings the right amount of entertainment and challenge with his uniquely designed, bite-sized Mario levels and being loaded with intriguing content and extras.

It was also nice to have a game based off of a handheld system that was able to add in levels designed for 3D gameplay along with a handful of retro-style levels in 2.5D. The platforming shines, it looks great, the sound is a treat for the ears, and it’s able to be fairly challenging without you ever been frustrated of it due to poor game design.

While it has been surpassed as been the very best handheld Mario game, Super Mario 3D Land is one very fun and enjoyable title that should be a must-have for anyone with a Nintendo 3DS.

9.) Mario Kart Double Dash

This might be seen as the oddest entry on this list but I can’t help having completely fond memories of Mario Kart: Double Dash. One of the Mario Kart games that tend to get the most short shrift happens to be one of my favorite ones in the series.

The two-driver gimmicks was a genius idea and helped introduce a new layer of strategy as you switch between characters and juggle items, the courses themselves are greats, and the fully 3D models were able to translated very well for the first time. There’s just a certain way this game sticks out compare to the other kart games that just appeals to me for some reason.

I’m not gonna say it’s overflowing with new ideas but Mario Kart: Double Dash is an absolute gem that offers some of the best gameplay mechanics and strategies in the series. I can honestly see this one getting a cult following if it hasn’t already. If it has, then I can gladly say I’ve been on this game’s side since the very beginning! Rock on, Double Dash!

8.) Paper Mario: A Thousand Year Door

While the original Paper Mario is certainly more iconic, there’s not a single game in this series that was able to execute it’s RPG formula in the best possibly way with The Thousand-Year Door. If you take everything that worked about the previous Paper Mario games, trimmed down the things that didn’t work, and add in a new, fresh elements to it, this is basically what you get.

It’s a lively, colorful adventure filled with exciting battle systems, fun gameplay, clever callbacks and references, and being able to stand well as it’s own unique thing in the series compared to Mario’s other platformers. From the story to the battles to the core gameplay to the core presentation, it’s able to get everything right about a Paper Mario adventure.

I don’t know how much of a hot take it will be to have this in the Top 10 and not the original Paper Mario but for those who disagree, sorry but The Thousand-Year Door is my definite Paper Mario game.

7.) New Super Mario Bros Wii

The Wii edition to the somewhat controversial New Super Mario Bros series is far in a way the best of these batch. While nostalgia might play a factor into that, it’s able to take best use of taking Mario levels and zones of old and remaking them to feeling something fresh.

With brand new power-ups and the introduction of co-op play, New Super Mario Bros Wii is able to provide new and exciting ways for players to enjoy the traditional style of 2D Mario games. While also including some of the best boss fights and music in the whole series, it makes for another colorful and fun adventure that will bring joy to anyone playing it.

It’s far from being the most original Mario game and maybe it could have benefitted from just being Super Mario Bros 4 or at least not having the word “New” from the title. Even so, this game is still a blast and because I’ve spend so much time playing this game with friends and family, I had to include it on the list.

6.) Super Mario Wonder

Super Mario Bros. Wonder is another superb and quality Mario game, making for perhaps the plumber’s finest 2D outing since Super Mario World. It’s able to expand on it’s level design, worlds, and power ups further than any prior 2D Mario game while acting as one that can stand perfectly on it’s own two feet.

The levels are fast paced and fun, all characters are a delight to play as, the music is amazing, the graphics are beautiful, the new voice cast does a find job, and the Wonder Flower power-up stands out as one of the best and most unique power-ups in any Mario game. Even the difficulty spikes to certain levels/challenges along with the often repetitive level theme that constantly plays throughout isn’t enough to bring this game down in any way.

I don’t know why it took Nintendo this long to put out a new and fresh 2D Mario game or just a new Mario game in general but it was absolutely worth the wait. Now, just give me Super Mario Odyssey 2 and I can fully die happy! Even I can’t live to see that, I can at least say I had Super Mario Bros. Wonder which will make me die not only happy but trippy!

5.) Super Mario World

The very first Mario game I ever played was bound to make this list one way or the other but I strongly believe Super Mario World represents the very best of Mario in 2D. As someone who respects the old 2D Mario games than he truly loves them, this is the one exception where I feel it’s reputation perfectly matches it’s quality.

The gameplay is fast and tight with plenty of thrills and difficulties that greatly rewards speed runners for superb memorization. It’s able to build upon the framework that Super Mario Bros. 3 did and expanded upon it and made it arguably even better than before. The overworld map is much bigger with more power-ups to unlock and challenges to try out, each level contains multiple different paths and exits that always enhances replay value, every single secret/reveal/place/level/world is always interesting to explore, and it has my boy Yoshi to go along with it.

While I still mostly prefer Mario in 3D has that allows for more freedom and expansion with each game, Super Mario World shows 2D Mario at his absolute best. No matter which version you play, you will always be in for quite a ride. Thank you Super Mario World for not just getting me into Mario but getting me into gaming in general.

4.) Super Mario 64

When it comes to the Mario game that had the biggest impact on 3D platformers, very little would argue that Super Mario 64 is what helped set the golden standard of exactly that. Being the very first Mario game to be fully 3D, everything about Mario 64 just screams fun, adventure, excitement, and nostalgia.

I’ve played multiple versions of this game and every one of them provided me with the exact same experience. The level design is top notch, the environments are perfectly translated into 3D, the controls, while at times stiff, does feel about as good as it could be for one of the very first 3D platforming games, the hub worlds are addicting and fun to explore, and the soundtrack is so beautiful that it’ll make you want to cry.

While there are certain elements of the game that are dated such as the graphics, character models, and wonky camera, I don’t think Nintendo could have made a better start to Mario in the 3D world if they tried. Even to this day, I still have the theme of Princess Peach’s castle living rent free in my head.

3.) Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

If you wanna see a kart racer that is able to offer just about everything with immense satisfaction, this is how to do it. While the original Mario Kart 8 released on the Wii U in 2014, it was eventually able to get a remastered version on the Switch which many would argue makes Mario Kart 8 Deluxe the definite version of Mario Kart 8 but the very best Mario Kart game to date!

From the breathtaking advanced graphics to the fantastic track design to the rose gallery of nearly every notable Mario character ever, it’s able to give you anything you could ever want in a Mario Kart game and so much more. It doesn’t matter if you are playing single player or multiplayer, offline or online, race mode or battle mode, the main game or the DLC, there is not a single instance where the game is a chore to play.

Not only is this far in a way the best Mario Kart game but there’s even an argument of this being one of the best kart racing games out there. It’s able to take everything fans have loved about the previous Mario Kart games and is able to add in plenty of old and new elements to make this basically the top-tier Mario Kart experience. I can not recommend this game enough to anyone who is a Mario fan or a fan of good racing games.

2.) Super Mario Galaxy

If you want the Mario game that shows when the series became at it’s very best in terms of the sheer amount of scope, wonder and creativity, that would be Super Mario Galaxy. For the longest of time this was my favorite Mario game and the fact this is only number two on the list should not discredit the fact that this is a truly fantastic game.

Taking the direction of levels from worlds to galaxies was a brilliant movie, with tons of planets and open space for you to explore in. Each area of each galaxy you visits offers plenty of enjoyable challenges that help pushed the limits of what the Wii hardware could possibly do. It’s the kind of game that even after you beat the main story, you will wanna go back to 100% the whole thing and feel truly rewarded by the end. Throw in a beautiful orchestral soundtrack, impressive visuals that looks great even for the Wii, and the introduction of instant fan-favorite Rosalina, you got a geninuely terrific Super Mario experience.

While some might argue that Super Mario Galaxy 2 did this style of gameplay better, I still believe the original is the superior game as it felt more fresh, creative, and helped set the brilliant foundation for 3D Mario games going forward. I can not praise this game enough!

1.) Super Mario Odyssey

I’m probably gonna have some online buddies that are gonna fundamentally disagree with me on nearly every single level here but Super Mario Odyssey is to date my favorite Mario game! When it comes to that one Mario game that not only hits every single beat that I want it too but it does all with an absolute exclamation point, I can’t think of any Mario game that does that better than Odyssey.

This works greatly as not just the perfect culmination of everything the Mario franchise has built to up to this point but it evens works as a near perfect game that stands greatly on it’s own. The level design, whether it’s familiar or original, is superb in every sense of the world, the gameplay despite introducing so many elements at the same time all blend together beautifully without ever feeling disjointed or loose, the new worlds that are introduce is able to translate greatly to Mario and the characters, the new hat mechanic works like wonders, the boss fights absolute triumph, it’s gorgeous to look at, the soundtrack is one of the catchiest I’ve ever listen to, the story is one of the better ones in the series, and it has some of the best replay value out of any game I’ve ever played. It also has one of the funniest endings to a game I’ve played in recent memory. Seriously, if you did not at least chuckle at the end, you have no sense of humor!

I have wondered why Nintendo hasn’t bother to releasing a new and original Mario game since this one came out but I know believe because of the bar this game set that will be quite hard to top for the future. While I still look forward to anything Mario related in the future, I’m not sure how they will be able to top this one. Super Mario Odyssey is able to deliver every single Mario good you can possibly imagine and something even more. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna jam to Jump Up, Super Star!