It started back on the Nintendo Entertainment System with Super Mario Bros., and the legacy has continued through the generations leading to its latest console, the Switch, with Super Mario Odyssey. With such a large and vast lineup of Mario titles over the decades, there are naturally quite a few that can be tricky even for older gamers — but which among the dozens of Mario games are the hardest?
Updated November 14, 2022 by Ritwik Mitra: Mario is a character that pretty much everyone is familiar with at this point. This video game character has saved his beloved princess across several titles that have thrown this plumber into a bunch of challenging scenarios where he has to use everything in his arsenal to get through these hazards and thwart Bowser’s plan over and over again. Of course, there are times when Mario is put into situations that are extremely harrowing and can cause numerous problems for players who might not have the skills or the patience to get through these challenging circumstances unscathed.
The following games are great examples of Mario titles that are extremely tough and can cause many players to either give up on helping Mario save the princess or force them to learn the platforming mechanics inside out. These titles aren’t impossible by any stretch of the imagination, but they’re definitely tough enough that players should be ready for dealing with adversity at certain points.
20 Paper Mario
Release Date: 11 August 2000 Platform(s): Nintendo Switch, Nintendo 64, Wii, Wii U
If one were to rank the hardest Mario romps, there’s a good chance that this RPG classic for N64 would at least appear on the lower regions for quite a number of people. Like most role-playing games, this colorful journey allows players to grind and continually gain strength. And early on, the experience is whimsical and simple, as Nintendo eases players into the journey.
But over the course of this 23-hour ride, things start getting quite a bit rougher than its cute graphical style would let on. If Mario’s not thoroughly prepared for battle, with the proper abilities and items, there’s a good chance he’ll perish. This is especially the case with some of the tougher foes, such as the infamous “Master,” who must be taken out three times; each instance growing tougher.
19 Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury
Release Date: 12 February 2021 Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
The blend of old-school Mario and 3D platforming is seemingly an attempt to make the 3D Mario experience more accessible, but in the case of this converted Wii U game, it often makes for some tricky mechanics that can be hard to pin down.
Of course, this is still a fun and polished rendition of the plumber and company — especially when it comes to this more robust, refined version on Switch. Still, Super Mario 3D World can be rather jarring to both 2D and 3D fans, as the game largely tries treading that line in-between. Added to this is the tougher, more frantic Bowser’s Fury content, which adds even tougher baddies and busier level designs.
18 Super Mario Bros. 2 (Western Version)
Release Date: 9 October 1988 Platform(s): NES, Game Boy Advance
This bizarre version of Mario is the result of Nintendo of America opting to “rebrand” an existing game (Japan’s Doki Doki Panic) because the original “Super Mario Bros 2,” known in the West as The Lost Levels, was deemed too hard. Taking notes? Good, this will be on the test.
Ironically, though, this reworked rendition ended up being quite difficult in its own right, especially when revisiting it all these years later. Some fairly stiff mechanics, ample digging and exploration, and spooky Phanto masks that swiftly chase Mario — make for a uniquely tough journey. Playing as the high-jumping Luigi or dress-floating Peach can help matters, but they only go so far.
17 Hotel Mario
Release Date: 5 April 1994 Platform(s): CD-i
A Mario game that fans and Nintendo themselves would love to forget, Hotel Mario for the Philips CD-i is generally viewed as an awful chapter in this beloved franchise. From the cheesy cutscenes to the restrictive controls, Hotel Mario is not a place most would want to sleep.
But if that’s not bad enough, the game is also difficult to complete, as Mario must juggle shutting various doors; a task that’s both tricky and tedious. This isn’t helped at all by the various Philips CD-i controllers which are all not designed with a Mario platformer in mind. Progress can instantly be wiped out by an enemy coming through a door at an unfortunate time. Unlike other games on this list, this is one difficult Mario game that isn’t worth the time of fans.
16 Mario Party 1
Release Date: 14 December 1998 Platform(s): Nintendo Switch, Nintendo 64
In terms of individual minigames, fans can make an argument for plenty of Mario Party games to be considered the hardest. However, most would agree that the original for the Nintendo 64 still stands out for its unforgiving design.
Not only are some of the minigames in this title simply brutal, but the controls aren’t as tight as later entries. Players are also forced to rotate the analog stick a lot, which as anyone who’s held an N64 controller knows, is not fun. Finally, having all progress destroyed by Chance Time from another player is the stuff that nightmares are made of.
15 Super Mario Land
Release Date: 21 April 1989 Platform(s): Game Boy, Nintendo 3DS
Notable for being the first Mario game on Nintendo’s very first Game Boy handheld, Super Mario Land is a weird case. It feels and looks like a basic Mario game at first glance, but it has some unique elements and tricky gameplay hidden beneath its simple exterior.
One aspect that’s distinct is its quickly-escalating difficulty throughout. Like other Mario games, its simple controls are easy to pick up, but things just feel different. Mario’s momentum is off compared to normal and the small sprites and screen size of the Game Boy make otherwise easy jumps that much more challenging. Thankfully, this game isn’t nearly as long as others, so its frustration lasts only for a little while.
14 Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Release Date: 22 July 2004 Platform(s): Nintendo GameCube
Often regarded as the best in the Paper Mario franchise, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is one of GameCube’s finest RPGs with a sense of humor, a rewarding combat system, and great side quests. However, those wishing to complete the game fully might want to consult the help of a guide; as there’s much to do and plenty of tricky foes to defeat.
Aside from the usual confusion that comes with most RPGs, some of the boss battles in this game will leave players flustered and forcing them to return to the drawing board for more level grinding after being soundly defeated. Luckily it manages to keep the player engaged the whole time and is worth the effort.
13 Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island
Release Date: 5 August 1995 Platform(s): SNES, Nintendo Switch, Game Boy Advance
The often-forgotten sequel to Super Mario World, Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island looks like it should be one of the easiest Mario games on the surface. After all, how can a game with aesthetics seemingly ripped from a children’s pop-up book be that hard?
The game lulls players into a false sense of security with its graphics, however. Many stages have unforgiving stage hazards and expect the player to make pixel-perfect jumps. We pity those who attempt to 100% this game as some of the collectibles are hair-rippingly difficult to find.
12 Super Mario Odyssey
Release Date: 27 October 2017 Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
The newest title of the series Super Mario Odyssey is difficult for one purpose alone, and that is for completionists out there, as they are 999 Power Moons in total to collect. These Moons could be hidden anywhere on the massive worlds inside Super Mario Odyssey.
Some Moons are hidden under particular ground pound locations, and others are hidden high above the world and having to use a very particular set of jumps, which requires a lot of practice to be able to accomplish. Most of them are pretty easy to find. However, the last couple that is needed on a level will be exceptionally tricky to get. Adding the secret stages and boss challenges that conclude the game, and Odyssey can turn into a surprisingly rough ride.
11 Super Mario Galaxy 2
Release Date: 23 May 2010 Platform(s): Wii U, Wii
The sequel to Super Mario Galaxy was everything the already well-crafted first game had, but refined and further fleshed out. When it comes to difficulty Super Mario Galaxy 2 isn’t that hard, that is until the prankster comets fly over individual worlds.
The comets cause special conditions to occur on specific levels of that world. An example would be a speedy comet granting a time limit required to complete the stage, or the fast-foe comet that speeds up all enemies and obstacles on stage. These pesky comets truly rank up the difficulty by quite a bit.
But even the core experience gets tough after a few worlds. Finishing the game requires more skill than the first Galaxy, and completing it can be galactically hard.
10 Super Mario 64
Release Date: 23 June 1996 Platform(s): Nintendo 64, Nintendo Switch, Wii, Wii U
It’s hard to deny that Super Mario 64 looks hasn’t aged greatly, which is understandable being the first 3D Mario game. Still, it remains a masterpiece when it comes to its legacy, and really much of its gameplay as well. Back in the 90s, playing this was jarring for many gamers on account of its open-world aspects, and its variety of collectibles that could be overwhelming.
But even today, the game proves tricky when it comes to gathering certain stars, and wrestling with the wonky camera. An example of a particularly tough mission includes tasking Mario with using his flying cap to collect ten red coins that are scattered about the sky. This would be tough enough, as one must be precise to nab them, but to top it all off, there’s a fairly slim time limit to boot.
9 Super Mario World
Release Date: 21 November 1990 Platform(s): SNES, Game Boy Advance, Wii, Wii U
Generally, this is one of the most accessible titles to play in many areas, but it’s genuinely an amazing game. However, in this game, there are quite a few secrets to find that lead to Star Road being discovered. These secret stages are where Super Mario World really ramps up in terms of its action and difficulty.
Most stages possess outlines of blocks that appear in large numbers; these can be filled in by finding a key in the level and taking that key to a keyhole residing at a hidden exit. This alternate exit may lead to another route of levels to take, or it might lead to a colored block switch, which colors in some of the outlined blocks, and once all colored switches have been pressed, leads to new exits of certain stages.
8 New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Release Date: 12 November 2009 Platform(s): Wii, Wii U,
The Super Mario Bros. series has churned out many great platformers that are pretty accessible without being too easy. In the case of New Super Mario Bros. Wii, there’s no denying that Nintendo definitely pushed the envelope when it came to developing a pretty challenging game on the Wii.
Some of the levels in New Super Mario Bros. Wii are extremely tough and will frustrate many Mario veterans. Thankfully, with enough perseverance, players will be able to save Princess Peach while also improving their platforming skills!
7 Super Mario Bros.
Release Date: 13 September 1985 Platform(s): Nintendo Switch, NES, Wii, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo 3DS
This is the iconic title that began the legend of Mario, way back on the NES; however, back in the day, it was a pinnacle of gaming history. Having only a set number of lives to get through eight harsh worlds with four levels in each world is no easy feat.
Even more so, extra lives are scarce at best, and players mostly just acquire them through amassing 100 coins throughout their run. Provided that some lives remain, players will be given the option to restart the stage — absent save points. However, running out of the few lives players generally gather means it’s the end, and it’s back to the beginning of World 1 for more punishment.
6 Super Mario Sunshine
Release Date: 19 July 2002 Platform(s): Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo Switch
Sunshine is almost undeniably the hardest 3D Mario title, despite its seemingly cheery exterior and themes of cleanliness. Water is a primary mechanic in this title, and by using Mario’s water machine called F.L.U.D.D, the plumber can perform all kinds of satisfying moves and tasks.
But a few of these deceptively colorful levels can really be the stuff of nightmares, and produce feelings as grim as Shadow Mario himself. One example includes riding down a poison waterfall on a leaf collecting blue coins and that infamous pachinko machine level. This is compounded by having to battle with the worst camera in history. Another involves essentially any level that features a watermelon.
Despite some chaotic, teeth-grinding moments though, jetting around in F.L.U.D.D. and spraying the colorful locales clean yields some fun, satisfying bouts and great memories.
5 Super Mario Bros. 3
Release Date: 23 October 1988 Platform(s): NES, Nintendo Switch, Wii, Nintendo 3DS, Wii U
Though not the hardest of the 2D Mario games, Super Mario Bros. 3 was definitely a step in the right direction with its refinements over its predecessors. Sure, there may be the inclusion of those rather cheap Warp Whistles that essentially allow players to bypass half of the game. Yet, this also brought players the disservice of missing some of the best 2D platforming gameplay out there.
For those who didn’t opt for the cheap game skips and played this memorable journey properly, it really was a challenge. But while it’s frustratingly tough at times — especially the last few worlds — it was also fun trying to overcome the challenge. This classic game really rewards those who learn the chaotic stages through trial and error, though it also emphasizes raw skill. These traits are really what makes Super Mario Bros. 3 perhaps the best Mario game to date.
4 Super Luigi U
Release Date: 19 June 2013 Platform(s): Nintendo Switch, Wii U
Super Luigi U was designed to be a lot more difficult than its brother, New Super Mario Bros. U. It’s more geared towards experienced 2D Mario players than new arrivals, which New Super Mario Bros. U catered for instead.
Luigi handles almost jarringly differently from Mario, which is where the bulk of the game’s difficulty lies. Luigi is much harder to control; he’s more slippery and more floaty, but he’s got some advantages like his jump height, his speed, and he can hover after he jumps. Even when getting used to the mechanics, the game still throws some particularly hard obstacles within its busy stages.
3 Super Mario Maker
Release Date: 10 September 2015 Platform(s): Wii U, Nintendo 3DS
Super Mario Maker is easily one of the most revolutionary Mario games Nintendo has released. With more open 3D environments becoming the norm for this Italian plumber, it was clear that even the most challenging 2.5D platforming challenges around simply wouldn’t cut it.
This prompted Nintendo to release a title that essentially allowed players to create their own 2D platforming levels that can use one of the many styles Nintendo adopted for the series. The end result is a great and creative title that was somehow improved upon by its successor!
2 Super Mario Maker 2
Release Date: 28 June 2019 Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
This addition of Super Mario Maker 2 could be classed as cheating, as the main game isn’t hard at all. But what is tough is all of the user-created content people have made; many of which are insanely hard to the point where they verge on unplayable.
As a frame of reference: some of the levels have a clear rate of 0.01 percent out of millions of people attempting to complete the course, which is just absurd. It takes loads of patience and practice to be able to be part of that exclusive 0.01 percent club. In these cases, it’ll take hours to learn and beat the stage — or bowing out of the game with the few remaining slivers of pride.
1 Super Mario Bros. 2: The Lost Levels
Release Date: 3 June 1986 Platform(s): Nintendo Switch, Wii U, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo 3DS, Wii
The Lost Levels is the hardest 2D Mario of them all, to the point where many of the insane stages seem designed to make Mario fail over and over. The game can be particularly tough for first-timers, as there’s no way of knowing what hazards of foes are coming next, and there’s little chance to react to the ensuing chaos.
This reaches the point of sabotage at times. An example includes a hidden block that will inevitably bonk Mario on the head while leaping across a large gap, causing him to plummet to his doom. Even after playing this title a few times over, and wearing out that SNES controller in the process, it’s still tough as nails since fast reaction time and precision are required. The Lost Levels is all about experience and trial and error moreso than pure skill.
More: The Best Mario Games To Speedrun
