Best Mario Game? (Choose One)

This is every Mario game in order from 1981-2011. My favorite is Super Mario 64    
  
Donkey Kong ( Famicom) - Japan release

• Donkey Kong Jr. (ColecoVision/Atari 2600) - North America release
• Donkey Kong Jr. (INTV/ VIC-20) - North America and Japan release
• Donkey Kong Jr. (Famicom) - Japan release
• Mario Bros. (Arcade/Game & Watch) - North America and Japan release
• Mario Bros. (Atari 2600, Atari 5200) - North America release
• Mario Bros. (Famicom) - Japan release
• Mario's Bombs Away (Game & Watch) - North America and Japan release
• Mario's Cement Factory (Game & Watch) - North America and Japan release

• Donkey Kong Hockey (Game & Watch)
• Pinball (Famicom/ NES) - North America and Japan release - Mario is found in the bonus stage
• Mario Bros. Special ( NEC PC-8801) - Japan release
• Punch Ball Mario Bros. (NEC PC-8801) - Japan release
• Tennis (video game) (NES) - Mario is the referee

• Super Mario Bros. (Famicom/NES) - North America and Japan release
• Wrecking Crew (Famicom/NES) - North America and Japan release - Mario is the main character

• All Night Nippon Super Mario Bros. ( Famicom Disk System) - Japan release
• Donkey Kong (NES) - North America and Europe release
• Donkey Kong Jr. (NES) - North America release
• Mario Bros. (NEC PC-8801) - Japan release
• Super Mario Bros. (ColecoVision ) - North America release
• Super Mario Bros. (Famicom Disk System) - Japan release
• Super Mario Bros. 2 (Famicom Disk System) - Japan release
• Super Mario Bros. Special (NEC PC-8801) - Japan release
• Vs. Super Mario Bros. (Arcade) - North America and Japan release

• Punch-Out!! (Famicom/NES) - Mario is the referee
• Mario Bros. (Famicom/NES) - Mario is the main character
• Super Mario Bros. (NES) - European and Australian release
• Mario Bros. II (Commodore 64) - European and North American release

• Donkey Kong ( Atari 7800) - North America and Europe release
• Donkey Kong (Famicom Disk System) - Japan release
• Donkey Kong Classics (NES) - North America release
• Donkey Kong Jr. (Atari 7800) - North America and Europe release
• Donkey Kong Jr. (Famicom Disk System) - Japan release
• Kaettekita Mario Bros. (Famicom Disk System) - Japan release
• Mario Bros. ( Atari 7800, XE Game System)
• Super Mario Bros. 2 (NES) - North America release
• Super Mario Bros. 3 (Famicom) - Japanese release
• Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt (NES) - North America release
• 3-in-1 Super Mario Bros/Duck Hunt/World Class Track Meet (NES) - North America release

• Alleyway ( Game Boy) - North America and Japan release - Mario appears in the bonus level, on the box art outside of Japan, and also drives/flies/controls the paddle on screen as shown in the intro
• Donkey Kong 2 (Game & Watch) - North America and Japan release
• Donkey Kong Classics (NES) - Europe release
• Super Mario Bros. (NES) - Europe release
• Super Mario Bros. 2 (NES) - Europe and Australia
• Super Mario Bros. ( Nelsonic Game Watch) - North America release
• Super Mario Land (Game Boy) - North America and Japan release
• Tetris (Famicom/NES) - North America and Japan release - Once the player beats Level 9 Height 5, Mario appears
• Tetris (Game Boy) - North America and Japan release - Mario and Luigi appear in 2-player games

• Dr. Mario (Game Boy)
• Dr. Mario (NES)
• Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES) - Brazil release
• Super Mario Bros. 3 (Nelsonic Game Watch)
• Super Mario Land (Game Boy) - Europe release
• Super Mario World ( Super Famicom) - Japan release
• Super Mario Bros. 3 ( NES) - North America release
• VS. Dr. Mario (Arcade) - North America and Japan release
• F-1 Race (Game Boy) - Mario is waving the checkered flag at the end of the race

• Mario the Juggler (Game & Watch) - North America and Japan release
• Mario Teaches Typing ( MS-DOS) - North America release
• Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES) - Europe and Australia release
• Super Mario World ( SNES) - North America release
• Super Mario Bros. 4 (Nelsonic Game Watch)
• NES Open Tournament Golf (NES) - North America release
• Super Mario Bros. & Friends: When I Grow Up (PC) - North America release
• Yoshi (Famicom) - Japan release
• Yoshi (Game Boy) - Japan release

• Super Mario USA AKA Super Mario Bros 2 (Famicom) - Japan release of Super Mario Bros. 2
• Super Mario Kart (Super Famicom/SNES)
• Super Mario Race (Nelsonic Game Watch)
• Yoshi (Famicom/NES, Game Boy) - The player controls Mario or Luigi
• Yoshi's Cookie (Famicom, Game Boy and SNES) - Japan Release
• Mario Paint (SNES)
• Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (Game Boy)
• Super Mario World (SNES) - Europe release
• Mario Is Missing! (DOS, SNES)

• Mario's Time Machine (DOS, SNES)
• Super Mario All-Stars (Super Famicom/SNES)
• Yoshi's Cookie (NES, Super Famicom) - North America and Japan release
• Mario Bros. Classic (NES) - Europe only
• Mario's Early Years! Fun with Letters (SNES) - North America only
• Mario's Early Years! Fun with Numbers (SNES) - North America only
• Mario's Early Years! Preschool Fun (SNES) - North America only
• Yoshi's Safari (SNES/Super Famicon)
• Mario and Wario (SNES/Super Famicon)
• Mario Is Missing! (NES)

• Manhole (Game & Watch)
• Donkey Kong (Game Boy)
• Donkey Kong (Nelsonic Game Watch)
• Super Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World (Super Famicom/SNES) - North America and Europe
• Mario's Time Machine (NES) - North America only
• Yoshi's Cookie (NES) - European release
• Hotel Mario ( CD-i)
• Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 (Game Boy) - Mario has a cameo at the end of the game
• Stunt Race FX (SNES) - Mario is on the border of some of the courses

• Mario's Tennis ( Virtual Boy)
• Mario Teaches Typing ( Microsoft Windows)
• Mario Teaches Typing ( Macintosh)
• Mario Clash (Virtual Boy)
• Mario's Picross (Game Boy)
• Mario's Picross 2 (Game Boy) - Japan only
• Mario's Super Picross (Super Famicom) - Japan only
• Undake 30 Same Game (Super Famicom Satellaview) - Japan only
• Dr. Mario BS Version ( Satellaview) - Japan only
• BS Super Mario Collection (Super Famicom Satellaview) - Japan only
• Mario's Game Gallery (PC)
• Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (SNES)

• Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (Super Famicom/SNES)
• Super Mario 64 ( Nintendo 64)
• Mario's Picross 2 (Game Boy) - Japan only

• Game & Watch Gallery (Game Boy)
• Game & Watch Gallery 2 (Game Boy) - Japanese release
• Mario Excite Bike (Super Famicom Satellaview) - Japan only
• Mario Kart 64 (Nintendo 64)
• Mario Teaches Typing 2 (PC)
• Mario Paint BS Han ( Satellaview) - Japan only
• Super Mario 64 (Nintendo 64) - European and Australian release

• Mario no Photopi (Nintendo 64) - Japan only
• Wrecking Crew '98 ( Super Famicom) - Japan only
• Mario Party (Nintendo 64) - Japan release
• Game & Watch Gallery 2 ( Game Boy)) - everywhere except PAL regions
• Game & Watch Gallery 2 ( Game Boy Color) - everywhere except Japan

• Super Mario Bros. Deluxe (Game Boy Color)
• Game & Watch Gallery 3 (Game Boy Color)
• Mario Golf (Game Boy Color, Nintendo 64) - Japan release
• Mario Party 2 (Nintendo 64)
• Mario Artist: Paint Studio (1999) - Japan only
• Super Smash Bros. (Nintendo 64)
• Mario Party (Nintendo 64) - release outside Japan

• Mario Golf (Game Boy Color) (Nintendo 64) - North America release
• Mario Tennis (Nintendo 64)
• Paper Mario (Nintendo 64) - Japan Release
• Mario Tennis (Game Boy Color) - Japan release
• Mario Party 2 (Nintendo 64) - release outside Japan
• Game & Watch Gallery 3 (Game Boy Color) - Europe release
• Mario Party 3 (Nintendo 64) - Japan Release
• Mario Artist: Talent Studio (N64DD) - Japan only
• Mario Artist: Communication Kit (N64DD) - Japan only
• Mario Artist: Polygon Studio (N64DD) - Japan only

• Dr. Mario 64 (Nintendo 64) - Japan release
• Mario Tennis (Game Boy Color) - release outside Japan
• Paper Mario (Nintendo 64) - release outside Japan
• Mario Party 3 (Nintendo 64) - release outside Japan
• Super Mario Advance (Game Boy Advance)
• Mario Kart: Super Circuit ( Game Boy Advance)
• Luigi's Mansion ( GameCube)
• Super Smash Bros. Melee (GameCube) - Japan and North America release
• Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 (Game Boy Advance) - Japan Release

• Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 (Game Boy Advance) - Release outside of Japan
• Super Mario Sunshine (GameCube)
• Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3 (Game Boy Advance)
• Donkey Kong (Game Boy Advance)
• Mario Party 4 (GameCube)
• Donkey Kong Junior 2 (Game Boy Advance)
• Game & Watch Gallery 4 (Game Boy Advance)

• Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 (Game Boy Advance)
• Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour (GameCube)
• Mario Kart: Double Dash‼ (GameCube)
• Mario Party 5 (GameCube)
• Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (Game Boy Advance)
• Nintendo Puzzle Collection (GameCube) - Includes Dr. Mario and Yoshi's Cookie

• Super Mario Fushigi no Korokoro Party (Arcade)
• Mario Golf: Advance Tour (Game Boy Advance)
• Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Game Boy Advance)
• Super Mario Bros. ( Classic NES Series) (Game Boy Advance e-Reader)
• Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (GameCube)
• Mario Pinball Land (Game Boy Advance)
• Dr. Mario (Classic NES Series) (Game Boy Advance)
• Mario Power Tennis (GameCube)
• Mario Party 6 (GameCube)
• Wrecking Crew (Game Boy Advance)
• Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels (Game Boy Advance) - Japan only
• Super Mario 64 DS (Nintendo DS) - Japan and North American release

• Super Mario 64 DS (Nintendo DS) - European and Australian release
• Yoshi Touch & Go (Nintendo DS)
• Mario Party 7 (GameCube) - North American and Japan release
• Super Princess Peach (Nintendo DS) - Japan release
• Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time (Nintendo DS) - North American and Japan release
• Super Mario Strikers (GameCube) - North American and Japan release
• Mario Superstar Baseball (GameCube)
• Mario Kart DS (Nintendo DS)

• Super Mario Strikers (GameCube) - European release
• Mario Party 7 (GameCube) - European release
• Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time (Nintendo DS) - Australian release
• Super Mario 64 DS (Nintendo DS) - Chinese release
• Super Princess Peach (Nintendo DS) - release outside Japan
• New Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo DS)
• Mario Hoops 3-on-3 (Nintendo DS)
• Game & Watch Collection (Nintendo DS)
• Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis (Nintendo DS) - North American Release - supporting character
• Yoshi's Island DS (Nintendo DS) - release outside Japan

• Super Paper Mario (Wii) - April 9, 2007
• Mario Strikers Charged (Wii) - May 25, 2007 (Japan)
• Mario Party 8 - (Wii) - May 29, 2007 (North America)
• Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis (DS) - release outside North America - supporting character
• Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (DS, Wii) - November 6, 2007 (U.S. release)
• Super Mario Galaxy (Wii) - November 12, 2007 (USA)
• Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 (Arcade) - 2007 (Japan)
• Mario Party DS (DS) - November 8, 2007 (Japan)

• Mario Kart Wii (Wii) - April 27, 2008 (USA)
• Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) - March 9, 2008 (USA)
• Mario Super Sluggers (Wii) - August 25, 2008 (USA)
• Dr. Mario Express (DSi)
• Dr. Mario Online Rx (WiiWare)

• Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! (DSi) - June 8, 2009 (USA)
• Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (DS, Wii) - October 13, 2009 (USA)
• Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story (DS) - September 14, 2009 (US)
• New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii) - November 15, 2009 (USA)

• Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii)
• Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! (DS) - November 14, 2010 (USA)
• Super Mario All-Stars 25th Anniversary Edition (Wii) - December 12, 2010 (USA)
• Mario Sports Mix (Wii) - November 25, 2010 (Japan)

Super Mario World. The End.

I like turtles.

Thousand Year Door.
 
Fuck your couch.

Super Mario World > Your Mom

You're a best Mario game.

Well, I'll have to go with Super Mario World. C'mon.

Super Mario Sunshine

I think it would've sufficed had you only listed the important games from the Platformer and RPG series. I doubt anybody thinks Tennis or Mario is Missing are the best Mario game :)

also: Super Mario World

@DeF: Some would say that a Mario Kart is the best Mario game.

But man this list is huge, I refuse to look at it and just say that the original Paper Mario or Super Mario 64 is my favourite.

Hotel Mario all day every day

@TehBuLL said:

Super Mario World. The End.

Ditto.

Super Mario World.  Its not only the greatest mario game, but arguably one of the greatest video games ever made.  Its one of the only generation(s) old games I've seen that, if it was released today could still hold its own.  Graphically, because of its unique art design, it looks awesome, even today.  Its fun, challenging with loads of unique levels and hidden content, and it still blows my mind that its two decades old at this point.

Obviously most people's decisions are going to be predominately determined by which mario game they played once they started really getting into gaming. And most of the choices made are very respectable. However, *ahem* SUPER MARIO 64 IS THE GREATEST MARIO GAME EVER MADE AND IS ITSELF ONE OF THE GREATEST GAMES EVER, PERIOD.

Oh and special recognition will be given to Super Mario Bros. 3 & Super Smash Bros Melee [note: recognition will not be applicable to Captain Falcon, who can rot in hell]

Super Mario Bros. 3.

Super Mario World.

And just so you know, GiantBomb itself is a giant database of games. Linking from here to Wikipedia is a little silly.

@smitty86 said:

SUPER MARIO 64 IS THE GREATEST MARIO GAME EVER MADE AND IS ITSELF ONE OF THE GREATEST GAMES EVER, PERIOD.

Mario 64 is pretty amazing.

Super Mario World. The End.

Super Mario Bros. 3, clearly.

Super Mario Sunshine. That was the first 3D Mario platformer I played so that sort of ended up being my Super Mario 64. I have a lot of nostalgia for it.

Yoshi's Island is probably my favourite. Not the best, technically, but hellish fun.

my favourite was probably either Thousand Year Door or Mario Sunshine, i enjoyed playing these over traditional standard mario platform games

Hotel Mario all day every day

Super Mario Sunshine, first mario platformer that i beat, I did play Super Mario 64 but I was too little to really do much in it. Though I also really enjoyed Super Mario Land for my Gameboy. 

@TehBuLL said:

Super Mario World. The End.

Super Mario 64. First Mario game I ever owned.

Super Mario 3 for me

Super Mario Sunshine or the Thousand Year Door.

Obviously most people's decisions are going to be predominately determined by which mario game they played once they started really getting into gaming...