It’s been more than 20 years of Paper Mario history, and while we are still hoping for a new entry in the franchise, it still occupies a very important place in the hearts of Mario and RPG fans. Today, we will take a look at all the Paper Mario games and rank them from worst to best.
One disclaimer though: while ranking games usually tend to give the first entries on the list a bad look, in the case of Paper Mario, they are all worthy of your time and bring a lot of positive aspects and memorable moments. Think about them as the “least good” entries in the Paper Mario line of games. With that said, let’s get started!
Ranking criteria
Since these rankings tend to be more on the subjective side, I tried to compile both my in-game experience as well as the consensus between the fans and the critics for each of these games to determine which one is the best out of these. That means analyzing online chatter, user and site reviews, in-game mechanics and, of course, a little bit of nostalgia.
Paper Mario: Sticker Star
Out of all the entries in this list, Sticker Star is the only handheld Paper Mario game. It is also the first entry in the franchise that started to add major mechanics that defined the gameplay and also the title. Players get to find Stickers as a means of completing a collection, but also to use them actively during turn-based combat. Sticker Star also changed the classic looks of the franchise by incorporating a papercraft aesthetic.
With that being said, reviews and overall reception were all over the place. The overhaul of the battle system in favor of the use of the new Stickers was a heavy point of criticism. After all, what’s an RPG game without a traditional combat system like the previous games? This isn’t a bad game at all, but in the grand scheme of things, Sticker Star is just the first game that wasn’t a real universal hit. This leads us to…
Paper Mario: Color Splash
Speaking about changing the formula! Color Splash launched for the Wii U — yes, that thing existed — and saw the return of the Paper Mario franchise to home consoles after 13 years. Since everything Wii U was about incorporating the huge and interactive handheld that came with it — which was a console-sized behemoth — Color Splash featured gameplay that was designed around it. Say goodbye to Stickers and hello to trading cards which you can pick in your Wii U control screen! Hooray!
Well, the same criticism that haunted Sticker Star also applies to Color Splash. I mean, why would you try again a formula that wasn’t particularly loved by fans before? I imagine this: “Hear me out, why don’t we take the stickers out, and then use cards instead?” Genius, right? Well, not really. Again, this isn’t a dud at all, but I recommend playing the other entries in the franchise. You can even play the newest one!
Paper Mario: The Origami King
If you want to talk about getting back in shape, then The Origami King might be right up your alley. The latest entry in the Paper Mario franchise is a breeze of fresh air after a couple of entries that were simply not on par with the quality we all know and love about our favorite paper plumber. While there is a new concept similar to the previous entries that change the formula — in this case, origami — a more traditional turn-based combat system comes back but with a twist: now you battle inside a 360 ring which adds some more tactical thinking to your bouts.
This is the go-to game for those who want to pick a quality Paper Mario game on the Nintendo Switch. While it isn’t the best of the bunch — I mean, it is competing against giants in the gaming landscape — Origami King should be hailed for its reintroduction of proper companions and its integration of the origami theme.
Super Paper Mario
Super Paper Mario is the attempt of Nintendo to change the formula of the franchise introduced by the first two games. They succeeded by sacrificing some RPG elements in favor of traditional platforming. The use of perspective by changing from a 2D to a 3D perspective in real-time is eye candy for me and many fans. Moreover, the narrative and story design of Super Paper Mario is one of the biggest highlights not only of this game but of all games that preceded and succeeded it except for one.
With that being said, this game is not without criticism. Many resented the fact that companions were replaced by Pìxls, a species created by the Tribe of the Ancients that have a diverse selection of skills and powers. While entertaining, they lacked the iconic status of companions such as Parakarry, Goombario, Koops, and every party member that preceded this game. Game design-wise, players tended to veer towards the 2D aspect of the gameplay, with the 3D one feeling a bit lackluster and barren at times.
Paper Mario
There is nothing like the classics, and I cannot stress enough the hours and fun I had with this one. The original Paper Mario was the return to the RPG genre after the release of Super Mario RPG back in 1996. Each encounter, each party member, and the iconic aesthetic of this classic were groundbreaking at the time. Many fans still consider this one of the most iconic games of all time. There are elements from Super Mario RPG like the action commands that make this a spiritual successor to what we saw in the SNES – after all, Paper Mario was conceived first as a sequel.
This is almost a perfect game in my eyes, but I can see its story not being as strong as other entries in this list. However, this is still the highest-rated game by critics and the second fan-favorite game. Only second to…
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
What has been said about the original Paper Mario can be said about The Thousand-Year Door, but even more. Story-wise, this is arguably the best entry in the franchise, and it keeps the same iconic party members and gameplay mechanics that made Paper Mario what it is. The addition of badges and consumables makes stats a piece of information to be considered when planning your moves. This is also considered the climax of the original formula due to the subsequent changes that the franchise suffered throughout the years.
There is nothing that can be said negatively about this game, and the amount of hype that took place when the remake was announced in 2023 is a testament to that. Just do yourself a favor and pick it up when it drops on May 23, 2024. You can also try the other ones on the list, of course. As said before, there aren’t any Paper Mario games that can be considered trash or anything that resembles it. With that said, Paper Mario and Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door are a must, so prioritize them when you pick the next Mario game you wish to play.
