2) it was almost impossible to believe this new game could be played on the same console. For anyone that graduated from the original Mario Bros (and glossed over the insane fever dream of Mario Bros. There was something magical about Super Mario Bros. NES / GameBoy Advance / Nintendo Switch Online / Virtual Console (Various) This cute new companion combined with Super Mario World’s laid-back, kid-friendly gameplay made it a huge success, leading to multiple re-releases on a number of different consoles, as well as its own spin-off TV series. Super Mario World was also the first time we were introduced to Yoshi, Mario’s dinosaur sidekick, who you can ride like a horse throughout the side-scrolling platformer.

Not only did the SNES allow for better graphics, it also meant that music could be composed using eight (!) sounds at once – and we think it has one of the best soundtracks of all time. Signalling Nintendo’s move away from the constraints of the 8-bit era, Super Mario World introduced gamers to a whole new world of color, with bright, captivating graphics and no less than 96 levels of addictive gameplay – it’s the kind of game you can revisit time and time again without ever getting bored. Released in 1990, Super Mario World was the first Mario title for the SNES, and it's had a special place in the hearts of gamers everywhere ever since.

SNES / GameBoy Advance / Nintendo Switch Online / Virtual Console (Various) We can’t wait to see what the Nintendo Switch remaster has in store for this classic title. It’s exploration-tinged platforming proved the model for practically every 3D platformer that followed (not to mention influencing every game developer making their first steps into 3D game design), with Mario 64 acting as the blueprint for Super Mario Odyssey and its ‘open world’ design.Ī nifty Nintendo DS remake not only brought the game into a handheld form, but also added a suite of great minigames and multiplayer support. That it is so playable today still speaks volumes on how near-perfect the game is, with its bold color palette and chunky level design holding up incredibly well today still. Bringing Mario into the 3D realm, Mario 64 had pinpoint-accurate control with the 64 pad’s mandatory analogue stick, and a wonderfully reimagined universe taking advantage of polygons over pixels. With 3D games still in their infancy, and full analogue control something of a pipe-dream and then-brand-new Nintendo 64 needing a flagship title, Super Mario 64 was a revelation. The most important game on this list? Probably.

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