Summary
The firstPaper Mariotitle was released in 2001 for the Nintendo 64 and introduced fans to a new style of RPG. Though Nintendo had previously dabbled with Mario in an RPG setting inSuper Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Starsin 1996 for the SNES,Paper Mariowowed fans with its adorable 2D art in a 3D world style.
The first game was critically acclaimed, and so naturally, it went on to have several sequels and became an established series. With thePaper Mario: The Thousand-Year Doorremake set to launch on the Switch in 2024, this is a great time for newcomers and long-time fans to revisit the franchise’s best (and weakest) entries. None of these titles are bad, but which release is thebestPaper Mariogame?
Updated July 03, 2025 by Mark Sammut:Paper Mario has built a strange resume and reputation. Generally speaking, the franchise has yet to produce anything resembling a dud, with each entry overflowing with creativity, personality, and humor. However, most of the recent entries have been very divisive, a response stemming from the series gradually stepping away from its turn-based JRPG roots. That’s not to say these titles are bad, just that they might not be what long-time fans are searching for. Still, the worst Paper Mario game is still pretty good.
Paper Mario: Sticker Starwas the first handheldPaper Mariotitle. This entry refreshed the style that fans had grown accustomed to by adding an adorable papercraft feel to the graphics and making the game more of an action-adventure genre. Additionally, it lived up to its name by incorporating collectible stickers into the gameplay, with players being able to use them both in battle and the overworld. Stickers ranged in their use, mainly being used to perform abilities, but also being used in puzzle-solving or unlocking new areas.
The game received positive reviews on release, but they weren’t without their criticisms. While players and critics enjoyed the new charm of the papercraft visuals, there wasnegative feedbackabout the difficulty and the need to backtrack as players were lost about how and where they needed to progress. Additionally, fans disliked the lack of character variation that was present in some of the previous titles.
Paper Mario: Color Splashwas specifically designed to make the most out of the Wii U’s unique touchscreen controller. To this end, Nintendo introduced a new battle system that used cards, so players could use the gamepad’s touchscreen to paint, sort, and use them. Upon its reveal, fans were initially negative about the similarities betweenColor Splashand its predecessorSticker Star, as both were more action-adventure than the earlierPaper Mariotitles. Additionally, they both utilized the same collectible esthetics, though this time it was cards instead of stickers.
Despite the negativity before its launch, which also included fan petitions calling for the game to be canceled,Color Splashlaunched to positive reviews with many praising its delightful soundtrack and the detailed graphics of the craft items, such as the paper and paint.
The latest title to join thePaper Mariolineup isPaper Mario: The Origami King, which has just released for Nintendo Switch. This new title seeks to refresh the franchise once again by adding a new element — origami. Not only does this add a quirky and cute aesthetic to the game, but it also creates new gameplay options. For example, not far intothe game, Mariois given the 1000-Fold Arms move. As well as being a powerful battle move, this can also be used in the overworld to tear back parts of the scenery and uncover the way forward.
The battle system has also been overhauled; it still keeps the turn-based element of its predecessors, but also adds a new ring-based feature that allows players to think more tactically about their moves in these new puzzle-like battles.
Super Paper Mariomixed up the gameplay of the series by largely making the game utilize side-scrolling, adding more of a platformer feel. Mario can “flip” the levels, essentially changing between 2D and 3D perspectives, so that he can circumvent any obstacles in his way. This side-scrolling gameplay was inspired by a minigame fromPaper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, where players control Bowser in a side-scrolling stage.
Players can take control of Mario,Princess Peach, Luigi, and Bowser, all of whom have their own unique abilities, with Mario’s of course being able to flip dimensions. The game was praised for its humor and storyline, but there were criticisms about its lackluster soundtrack, as well as that the game was better when in 2D, as flipping to 3D made the environment seem barren.
Paper Mariowas the first of its kind, blending traditional RPG elements with the characters and elements from theSuper Marioseries to treat fans to a whole new experience. Though players take on the role of Mario, they are accompanied by NPC partners who each have unique skills in order to help Mario progress through the game, helping him to solve puzzles in the overworld as well asaccompanying him in battle.
Though players criticized that the puzzles and boss battles were surprisingly easy, the game was well-received and became one of the best-selling titles for the Nintendo 64. In comparison to some of the later entries in the series, the storyline is arguably weaker in the originalPaper Mario, but it still remains fantastic.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Dooris generally considered to be the fan-favorite of the franchise. As the secondPaper Mariotitle in the series, the game drew on many of the original elements of the first title, such as the visual style and turn-based battles.The Thousand-Year Doorhas been heralded as having the best storyline out of all thePaper Mariotitles, though the plot can be a bit of slow burner at the beginning.
Another well-loved aspect of the game is its use of NPCs, in particular,Mario’s NPC partners, similar to the same partner feature of the first title, and fans and critics alike found the battle system to be fun and engaging. The game also featured strong RPG elements, such as Mario being able to equip badges to gain better stats, as well as Mario’s strength being determined by his stats and consumable items being available to boost this.
