Super Mario: Every Game Ranked From Worst To Best

13. Super Mario Bros. 2

Mario Feat Copy
Nintendo

It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to dismiss Super Mario Bros. 2 as "not a proper Mario game", given the series had only really been defined by a single title upon its release. But it's an accurate sentiment; Super Mario Bros. 2 really isn't a proper Mario game.

Fearing the actual sequel to Mario's first princess extricating foray was too hard for Western sensibilities, Nintendo instead decided to redecorate their Japanese-only 1001 Nights themed platformer Doki Doki Panic! with inhabitants of the Mushroom Kingdom. The result is distinctly unnerving, with four playable characters, a strange savannah setting, and few of the tried-and-tested trappings of future Mario classics.

Technically an inventive, even excellent game, but the famous red cap just doesn't fit.

Editorial Team
Editorial Team

Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.