While gamers of all ages have locked themselves away in their online virtual caves, the best Mario multiplayer games are still championing couch co-op gaming and get-togethers with friends.
Nintendo has always held multiplayer gaming at the heart of its brand. From the original Super Mario Kart game for the SNES right through modern-classics like the Nintendo Switch games featured in this list, they have always produced games that bring us together.
The Nintendo Wii is a great example of this real-time socially engaging style of play, and I know that many families have turned to their favourite Mario multiplayer games on various consoles throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mario is a tour-de-force when it comes to multiplayer action, and we’ve picked 10 of the best Mario multiplayer titles for everyone’s favourite handheld-hybrid console, the Nintendo Switch.
1. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (2017)
The award for the best Mario multiplayer of all time has to go to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, the upgraded version of the legendary Wii-U racer.
Mario Kart is a game that anyone can pick up and play with ease. Even my Grandma could play this back in the N64 days, though I think cars flying upside down might have been a bit too much for her!
Being able to play Mario Kart on a plane or in the park with such good graphics still feels revolutionary. I’ve even played this game in tabletop mode using the two joycons to race against people in a remote village in the Italian mountains!
The new Deluxe version of this game has all the tracks from the original Wii-U game plus some new downloadable content. New characters such as the Inklings appear for the first time, and all of your favourite racers return to try and win big.
Players who aren’t as confident with video games can now turn on a smart steering function that moves their kart along the track without the need for turning or accelerating. That leaves plenty of time to concentrate on smashing other opponents with red shells or strategically placed bananas!
You can race and compete in battle modes both online or on the same sofa, and the 1080p graphics are rich and vibrant up on the big screen.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was always going to top this list as it’s such an accessible game and one that every Switch owner should have in their arsenal!
2. Mario Party Superstars (2021)
If you’ve never played a Mario Party title before, then you should probably take some time to evaluate your poor life choices. These games are jam-packed full of multiplayer goodness no matter whether you are playing against the computer or with your friends.
And in this game, we’ve got so much nostalgia to soak up too, with game boards from the first three Mario Party games and minigames from the N64 and GameCube era to tackle.
Do you know how long I’ve waited for Trace Race to come back into play again – I was the king of that game!
The boards on Superstars have been lovingly recreated and look incredible when you see them side-by-side with the original clips of the course in each intro. I love Super Mario Party too (and you’ll see it further down this list), but I love the simplicity of the dice in this game and the item minigames too.
It’s bright, it’s colourful, and it’s super family friendly!
3. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018)
What… a…game! Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is the biggest fighting game of all time. It features characters from pretty much every major Nintendo game series with a few more beside, all battling it out on stunning stages and worlds from your favourite titles!
There are 77 characters to play with in total including some that can be downloaded as part of an extra DLC pack.
I never thought I would see a game where Banjo & Kazooie faced off against Ryu!
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is button-mashing madness at its best. This edition incorporates a Super Smash ‘finishing move’ style attack that can be unleashed to destroy your opponents with a signature move, as well as all of the classic abilities and moves that each character is famous for.
Pull out a Hadouken with Ryu, charge up Samus’ plasma cannon, or suck up foes with Kirby. There are so many ways to play and tonnes of different modes to work through.
This Mario multiplayer never gets old and sessions can easily last for hours. Most of that time is probably taken up deciding which character you’re going to use!
4. Mario Strikers: Battle League Football (2022)
I can’t say enough good things about Mario Strikers Battle League Football; I’ve put a lot of time into mastering this game, and while it hasn’t helped me to beat random strangers on the internet, it has allowed me to beat my friends every single time we play.
I loved this series when it started on the GameCube, but having the addition of using coins to buy new items to soup up your characters is a great touch and one that really allows you to hone in on some sneaky team tactics.
And the online league is a great chance for you and your friends to work together to put your skills into practice.
Still, playing online in friendly matches is just as fun, and there is no better feeling than pulling off a super strike against a friend in the last second of a match!
5. Super Mario Party (2018)
Super Mario Party is the latest ‘new’ edition in the series. With special dice for each character and exciting new courses, it’s a fun and family-friendly game that everyone can enjoy.
Players take turns to roll a dice as they travel around a virtual board game filled with hidden surprises and challenges. Call allies, pick up items, and collect coins to trade for Stars!
At the end of each round is a mini-game where players compete against each other to win coins. Sometimes you might even have to gang up on one player or join teams to complete specific challenges.
If you’re looking for a Mario multiplayer that children or adults of all ages will love, then you can’t go wrong with Super Mario Party!
6. Super Mario Bros. Wonder (2023)
Super Mario Bros. Wonder might be a little short when it comes to the single-player mode, but one of the things that keeps us coming back again and again is the fact that we can tackle the adventure with friends.
Wonder is one of the trippiest games that we’ve ever played; it’s a real feast for the eyes from start to finish, and the 2D side-scrolling Mazza formula has really been shaken up a little with new powerups and epic visuals.
But as we said, it’s not the longest game in the series. Yet playing with friends using different characters and taking on different tasks each time helps to make things feel a little different every time you play.
Players can pick from 12 characters including Yoshis, Nabbit, and Luigi – just pick friends that can pull their weight, otherwise, you’ll end up carrying the show through the entire game!
7. Mario Golf Super Rush (2021)
I’ll be the first to say that I don’t like golf in real life – there’s a lot of walking around in bad weather, and my ball goes anywhere apart from where I want it to go. But in Mario Golf, I’m an absolute pro.
I’ve loved this series since I bought Toadstool Tour on the GameCube and spent hours (and I mean hours) playing with friends when we should have been revising for exams.
Speed Golf and Battle Golf are fun modes for those who want to add a little bit of spice to the game, but for me, there’s nothing more relaxing than taking DK, King Bob-omb, Shy Guy, and many other epic characters out on the field and working through 18 holes on epic courses.
I mean, when you take the walking out of the equation and can play while laid on the sofa with a bowl of chips on your stomach, then golf is great!
8. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury (2021)
Next up on our list of the best Mario multiplayer games is a new release that’s set to drop in February 2021. We’ve been very excited about this remake of the original Super Mario 3D World for a long time now.
In fact, we pretty much spend every moment thinking about the day when we can finally get our hands on it!
Super Mario 3D World + Bowsers Fury features all of the same co-op gameplay from the original title with tonnes of new features for fans to encounter while exploring this epic game.
Fed up of fire mushrooms? No problem; just grab a Super Bell and turn into a cat, giving you abilities that can help you to climb obstacles and scratch oncoming enemies!
Super Mario 3D World + Bowsers Fury is set to be a bright and vibrant adventure that you and three friends can play through either locally or online.
Play as Mario, Toad, Peach, or Luigi and try to get a high score at the end of each level. It’s all the goomba-stomping action that you know and love mixed in with lots of new surprises along the way.
And for once, Bowser isn’t trying to capture Peach, so she can join the gang instead of being carted off to the moon or some dank dungeon somewhere!
9. Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Games: Tokyo 2020 (2019)
Once bitter console rivals, the stars of our next Mario multiplayer game have put aside their differences and organised one of the best Olympic Games to date!
And even though the Tokyo 2020 games was unfortunately cancelled, at least you can experience the action from your living room with Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Games: Tokyo 2020!
Mazza and Sonic have been teaming up together since 2007 now when their first Olympic games title came out on the Wii. The graphics and the games have improve tenfold since then, and it has become a must-have title for many households across the globe!
But just what is it that makes these Mario & Sonic games so addictive?
Well, for starters you can use motion controls to compete in tonnes of sports with your favourite gaming characters…
… do you really need any more persuading than that?
There are brand new sports in this entry to the series too, with gamers taking on skateboarding, climbing, and karate for the first time ever. Try your hand at equestrian events, and see if you still have those skills from Mario Smash Football in an Olympic football tournament.
This new game also has 10 2D events that showcase all of your favourite Nintendo and Sega characters in their original 2D pixel forms too! It’s a real blast from the past and a great mode for any nostalgic gamers out there.
Whether you play single or multiplayer, button or motion, online or in person, this is one Mario multiplayer that won’t disappoint!
10. Mario Tennis Aces (2018)
I couldn’t get enough of the original Mario Tennis game for the N64, and Mario Tennis Aces adds to the series’ winning formula by including motion controls for real-life swinging action.
You can even get a tennis racket to stick your Joycon into for that true Wimbledon feel!
Whether you choose to play online or all looking at the same TV, there are so many modes and customisable options to make the ultimate tennis match for your family and friends.
There are over 20 playable characters to choose from in Mario Tennis Aces, so you can expect to see all of your favourite Nintendo faces appearing on the court.
Plus, if you’ve played Mario Golf before (one of the best Gameboy Color games), then you’ll know all about the single-player mode in these games.
The RPG elements, bosses, and exciting mini-games are back with a brand new Story Mode adventure to play through once your friends go home. Compete to become the best tennis player the Mushroom Kingdom has ever seen!
It’s the game that keeps on giving, keeps you fit, and keeps you coming back time and time again.
