Standing at over 200 video games, a number of motion pictures, and extra merch than you’ll be able to shake a Koopa at — the Mario franchise has change into a staple within the worldwide society, even together with non-gamers. Though most Mario titles like Tremendous Mario Bros. Marvel star the plump plumber, there are literally fairly a number of Mario video games within the sequence the place Mario isn’t the protagonist.

Mario Video games The place Mario isn’t the principle character

#10 – Mario is Lacking! (MS-DOS)

A Nintendo sport on the pc? Why, sure, it certain is! There simply can’t be an inventory of Mario video games not starring Mario, with out together with Mario is Lacking! Whereas there are actually higher video games to select from, there’s just one the place Luigi is compelled to be taught real-world historical past whereas battling King Koopa’s forces. Is it an excellent sport? Actually not. Is it price enjoying? Perhaps? If nothing else, play it for the novelty of being the primary Mario sport to be launched on PC. Simply bear in mind, Caveat Emptor and all that jazz.

#9 – Tremendous Mario Maker 2 (Change)

Don’t click on away! Sure, Mario is proven sporting that cute building hat, and sure, he’s selectable in the course of the motion mode. Nevertheless, the true stars of Tremendous Mario Maker 2 are the course creators. Mario didn’t create musical ranges the place the participant can stroll two steps, put the controller down, and luxuriate in a symphony of obscene noises as they careen throughout a superbly engineered stage. It was these superior people on the market who all the time dreamed of making their very own digital torture gadgets that Nintendo was more than pleased to provide them.

#8 – Yoshi’s Cookie (NES)

Yoshi’s Cookie is a puzzle sport that options Mario however is basically centered on Yoshi. Particularly within the NES model, Mario is toiling away within the kitchen, however the recipient of stated cookies is presumably Yoshi. So who actually is the protagonist right here? Exterior of this inferred plot, the sport is an identical puzzler the place gamers line up cookies to create rows and clear them. It’s an excellent quantity of enjoyable, particularly in versus, and if there weren’t so many nice titles to select from, would have jumped an excellent bit greater than quantity eight.

#7 – Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker (Wii U)

Tremendous Mario 3D World was enjoyable by itself however the inclusion of the Captain Toad ranges took it to an entire different degree. It was solely a matter of time till Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker took the titular explorer on his personal journey. Treasure Tracker is a enjoyable experience via heavy puzzle video games with no Mario in sight. If solely Nintendo would low cost it greater than a measly ten %, extra gamers would get to expertise the sheer pleasure of fixing these cute dice dioramas.

#6 – Wario Land: Tremendous Mario Land 3 (GB)

Though his identify is actually within the title, Tremendous Mario Land 3 doesn’t star Mario. As an alternative of the purple plumber, Nintendo presents the yellow slum-er in a surprisingly enjoyable departure from the sequence. Wario’s signature greed, which continues all over WarioWare: Transfer It!, is absolutely current right here. Wario’s key motivation isn’t to save lots of a princess, however as an alternative to earn sufficient moolah to get a fortress that’s larger than Mario’s. So he units out and robs actually everybody to get it. There aren’t many video games on the market, not to mention Mario video games, that encourage gamers to be grasping sufficient to buy their very own planet by the top, however Wario Land makes it occur.

#5 – Tremendous Princess Peach (DS)

That’s proper. Somebody remembers this sport exists. Tremendous Princess Peach was the primary (technically second if Princess Toadstool’s Citadel Run counts), starring the Mushroom Kingdom’s first girl. In contrast to different important sequence Mario Video games, Peach returns to her fortress after a lightweight stroll to discover a observe from Bowser explaining that he’s captured Mario and Luigi. This units Peach off and she or he goes on a Kill Invoice-style revenge mission to save lots of the brothers and thwart the lizard king’s nefarious plans. Okay. Perhaps much less Kill Invoice and extra Carebears, however nonetheless a extremely superior sport! Princess Peach’s journey made this checklist as a result of its extra laid-back gameplay, shift in narrative focus, and the truth that it took virtually twenty years years for her to get a follow-up sport in Princess Peach: Showtime! She deserves a lot extra.

#4 – Tremendous Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island (SNES)

Tremendous Mario World was a tall order to observe. It blew everybody’s minds again within the ’90s, leaving followers to surprise the place the sequel would take the brotherly duo. In 1995, Nintendo launched Tremendous Mario World 2 starring Yoshi as an alternative, and it was so significantly better for it. Set in a timeline the place Mario and Luigi are wee babes solely able to crying so loudly that Kamek is compelled to kidnap them to close them up, a bunch of Yoshis tackle the starring position and do a masterful job of babysitting whereas platforming. Yoshi’s Island stays a refreshing departure for the sequence with its extra laid-back method, targeting-based gameplay, and visible fashion. The discharge of Yoshi’s Crafted World and different nice Yoshi titles continues this custom with followers nonetheless loving each minute of them. Particularly since there’s not a crying child to lasso.

#3 – Luigi’s Mansion (GCN)

For years, Luigi stood quietly within the shadow of his older brother, even enduring the hell of an academic sport simply to carry him again so the franchise might proceed. Such was his destiny till Nintendo lastly gave him his personal sport alongside a poltergeist-infested mansion as well. Surprisingly, this nonetheless counts as a part of the Mario Recreation Franchise, and one more title that doesn’t star Mario Mario. Whereas Luigi’s Mansion 3 has a Pixar-esque appeal, it fails to hit the excessive notes of the GameCube unique. With distinctive mechanics and enemy design, Luigi’s Mansion is a superb sport to play for these wanting a change.

#2 – Mario Kart (Franchise)

3,2,1, it’s Mario Kart! Whereas there are many platformers not starring Mario, ignoring the spin-off video games with the mustachioed one’s moniker is a mistake. From 1992’s Tremendous Mario Kart, all the best way to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, an ensemble solid has taken to the highway with Mario usually being unnoticed. Whereas not each sport within the sequence has stats, once they do, Mario usually is center of the highway. He sometimes has a extra balanced acceleration, high velocity, and dealing with, making him a “protected” alternative for newbies. Veteran gamers will sometimes go for characters like Bowser or Toad to have a extra custom-made match to their playstyles. In most play classes, that leaves the choice of the suspendered hero of our story in lifeless final. Racing puns.

#1 – Mario Social gathering (Franchise)

Damage emotions, destroyed friendships, and the acrid scent of ripped flesh from sweaty bruised palms usually are not usually related to Mario video games. Since its launch in 1999, Mario Social gathering has change into a staple of the sequence that followers simply can’t get sufficient of. Whereas Mario is actually within the identify, and it may be assumed that each occasion is someway his occasion, egocentric, every sport options an ensemble solid. With extra fascinating characters to select from, Mario is commonly on the bench as his compatriots skip alongside the gameboard with out him. It takes the primary spot, not as a result of innovation in every entry, see Mario Social gathering Superstars, however from pure enjoyable issue. Each sport within the sequence is simply downright entertaining even with out the sanguine-hatted plumber main the best way.