Mario made his gaming debut in 1981 platform game Donkey Kong - a late addition after Nintendo couldn't get the rights to use the character of Popeye.
Even then, creator Shigeru Miyamoto thought that the Italian plumber would only be a bit part player, rather than ending up as Nintendo's mascot and one of the most profitable computer game characters in history.
He's featured in hundreds of games, many of which have launched new consoles and his popularity shows no signs of dipping - this year's Super Mario Bros. Movie has outgrossed every other film except the record-shattering Barbie.
And just this week saw the release of his latest adventure, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, on the Nintendo Switch.
It's already garnered rave reviews, making it one of the most highly-rated games to date.
Here's where it ranks in the pantheon of Mario tites, according to review aggregator website Metacritic.
He's featured in hundreds of games, many of which have launched new consoles and his popularity shows no signs of dipping - this year's Super Mario Bros. Movie has outgrossed every other film except the record-shattering Barbie.
![Super Mario 3D World was one of the main reasons to buy a Wii U console back in 2013, attracting a rating of 93. The sixth 3D version of Mario's adventures saw the Italian plumber attempt to rescue magical animals called Sprixies from the ever-present Bowser.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2023/10/20/8/Super%20Mario%203D%20World.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
5. Super Mario 3D World
Super Mario 3D World was one of the main reasons to buy a Wii U console back in 2013, attracting a rating of 93. The sixth 3D version of Mario's adventures saw the Italian plumber attempt to rescue magical animals called Sprixies from the ever-present Bowser.
![With a rating of 93, Paper Mario is the first non-pure platformer in this list. It was the first in a series of role playing games which challenged players to solve puzzles and defeat enemies in a turn-based battle system. The challenge remains the same though: beat Bowser. It was released on the Nintendo 64 in 2001.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2023/10/20/8/Paper%20Mario.jpg?crop=3:2&width=378)
6. Paper Mario
With a rating of 93, Paper Mario is the first non-pure platformer in this list. It was the first in a series of role playing games which challenged players to solve puzzles and defeat enemies in a turn-based battle system. The challenge remains the same though: beat Bowser. It was released on the Nintendo 64 in 2001.
![The most highly-rated game in the much-loved Mario Kart series, with a score of 93, is 2001's Mario Kart: Super Circuit for the Game Boy Advance. The mobile game retains all the features that make the games huge hits - racing Mario characters around a bunch of weird and wonderful tracks while using a range of creative power ups. This version added various multi-player options, including a battle mode.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2023/10/20/8/Mario%20Kart%3A%20Super%20Circuit.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
7. Mario Kart: Super Circuit
The most highly-rated game in the much-loved Mario Kart series, with a score of 93, is 2001's Mario Kart: Super Circuit for the Game Boy Advance. The mobile game retains all the features that make the games huge hits - racing Mario characters around a bunch of weird and wonderful tracks while using a range of creative power ups. This version added various multi-player options, including a battle mode.
![It may have just come out, but Super Mario Bros. Wonder has already broken into the all-time top 10 Mario outings. It's the first traditional side-scroller platform game in the series since New Super Mario Bros. in 2012 and was released on October 20, 2023. It has a rating of 93 on Metacritic and may still rise further.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2023/10/20/8/Super%20Mario%20Bros.%20Wonder.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
8. Super Mario Bros. Wonder
It may have just come out, but Super Mario Bros. Wonder has already broken into the all-time top 10 Mario outings. It's the first traditional side-scroller platform game in the series since New Super Mario Bros. in 2012 and was released on October 20, 2023. It has a rating of 93 on Metacritic and may still rise further.