Top 20 Best RPG Series of All Time

#19. – Paper Mario

# of Good Games in the Franchise: 3

Active: Yes

After Squaresoft and Nintendo had their falling out Nintendo relied on themselves to helm the Mario RPG series, but in this case they went with a paper craft motif. It started as a late release on the Nintendo 64 (originally called Super Mario RPG 2). A sequel was released for the Nintendo Gamecube which largely followed the formula established in the first. From here it saw releases on the Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, and Nintendo Switch. These were a bit removed from the previous iterations in that they had their own gimmicks and relied less on the RPG elements established therein.

The original Paper Mario is the only good RPG for the Nintendo 64. It was a late release but hype began early on in the console’s life. It was different than Super Mario RPG but retained the spirit in its battle system. The Thousand Year Door was even better on the Nintendo Gamecube. Intelligent Systems propelled the combat system in some fantastic ways which is why fans have been clamoring for a more traditional effort ever since. Sticker Star on the 3DS was a huge disappointment because it lessened the RPG elements in place of more casual gimmicks. The same goes for Color Splash on the Wii U. The Origami King did better, but failed to reach previous heights.

The Best Way to Play:

The original Paper Mario is available on the Nintendo Switch’s expansion pack. Paper Mario the Thousand Year Door is still a Gamecube exclusive unfortunately, as are the other games in the franchise for their respective platforms. Honestly the first two, as well as the Origami King, are the ones worth playing so you’ll need a Nintendo Switch and Gamecube/Wii to experience the high points of the series.