One of the most iconic locations in all of gaming, players were first introduced to the Mushroom Kingdom in 1985 with the release of the originalSuper Mario Bros.Since then, gamers worldwide have enjoyed exploring the surreal fungi-themed wonderland in numerous titles. There have been many different ways that the Mushroom Kingdom has been portrayed, and reinterpreted over the years throughout countless titles with some being better than others.
These games represented the Mushroom Kingdom the best, immersing players in the beloved setting. Note that this is not an assessment of the quality of each game, just how well they represent the iconic locale.
10New Super Mario Bros. U
Building off of what had been shown of the Mushroom Kingdom in previous 2DMarioGames,New Super Mario Bros. Udoes an excellent job showcasing the realm’s many diverse biomes. These include the tropical rainforests of the Soda Jungle, the mountainous rock candy mines, the grassy Acorn Plains, and much more.
RELATED:Every Mario Platformer Ranked By How Long They Take To Beat
Admittedly, this version of the Mushroom Kingdom is a bit basic by Mario game standards, strictly adhering to2D Mariolevel tropes. But what is shown is nonetheless vibrant and well-detailed, with enough interesting oddities to keep curious players interested.
9Super Mario RPG: The Legend Of The Seven Stars
The Mario RPGs often provide some of the most cohesive and complete looks at the Mushroom Kingdom, and this first entry is no exception.Super Mario RPG,for the first time, allowed players a rare opportunity to view the daily lives and homes of the land’s many diverse denizens when they weren’t being locked up in castles or turned intoblocks by Bowser.
Players even get a basic look at the Kingdom’s government,its economic systems, and theology throughout the course of the adventure.Super MarioRPGdid an excellent job fleshing out what had until that point existed as only a series of abstract level concepts and turning it into a fully developed world.
8Super Mario Odyssey
Players travel all throughout Mario’s world and even journey to the moon inSuper Mario Odyssey.As such, it came as a pleasant surprise that as part of the post-game, players could now explore one new location: the Mushroom Kingdom.
Essentially an expanded version ofPrincess Peach’sCastle fromSuper Mario 64, this version of the kingdom was a nostalgic blast from the past with many Easter eggs and references to past Mario games waiting to be uncovered. Most notably, the game’s main collectible moons are replaced with power stars, and players can use Cappy to possess Yoshi who is napping on the castle roof.
7Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
The second title in theMario & Luigiseries,Partners in Timeoffered players the unique opportunity to explore different locations in the Mushroom Kingdom decades in the past and witness the devastation created by the invading Shroob aliens.
Some of these can actually be a little disturbing, such as Toadwood Forest, which hadToads trapped in treesslowly having their life energy drained. Overall though, it’s good fun and offers a unique take on the iconic kingdom.
6Paper Mario
The follow-up toSuper Mario RPG,Paper Mariointroduced players to a version of the Mushroom Kingdom rendered in paper craft that made the world look as though it existed within a children’s pop-up book. Stylistic flourishes aside, this is easily one of the most complex portrayals of the realm ever put to a cartridge, with tons of memorable locations and lovable characters.
RELATED:Awesome Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do In Mario Strikers: Battle League
This game’sexcellent world-buildinggoes a long way towards makingPaper Mariofeel like an epic journey as players travel the length and breadth of the kingdom in search of the seven star spirits to stop Bowser.
5Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle
What is likely one of themost bizarre crossoversin history,Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battlesees the world of Mario combined with Ubisoft’s Rabbid franchise. The result is one of the wackier takes on the Mushroom Kingdom portrayed in a game.
What’s great is how this game fully embraces how absurd this crossover is. Rabbids cause all kinds of zany havoc throughout the world. It really is a joy to explore this version of the realm, and bear witness to sights like a bullet bill with a pair of Rabbid-themed underpants stuck to its head.
4Mario Kart 8
TheMario Kartseries has always been famous for allowing players the opportunity to race through the varied locales of the Mushroom Kingdom and beyond. This latest entry is no exception, featuring an eclectic selection from all throughout Peach’s Domain. These include man-made (orToad-made, technically) settings like Toad Harbor and the Electrodrome, as well as more natural environments like Shy Guy Falls and Dry Bone Dunes.
How any of these places connect to one another is never explained, nor is it ever explained how or why racetracks could be built through them. Nonetheless,Mario Kart 8showcases aspects of the Mushroom Kingdom almost never seen in the main series.
3Paper Mario: The Origami King
The latest entry of thePaper Marioserieswas divisive, to say the least, but nonetheless managed to deliver a solid new version of the Mushroom Kingdom. This iteration included a number of memorable new locations, some of which are actually references to places in other games and the real world.
These include Shogun Studios, which is heavily based on the real-life Edo Wonderland in Nikko, Japan; the many islands of the Great Sea; a sly reference to the setting ofThe Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker; and the hot spring resort town of Shangri-Spa, which is a reference to the mythic Tibetan valley.
2Super Mario 3D Land
Super Mario 3D Land takes a fairly utilitarian approach to its version of the Mushroom Kingdom with highly abstract geography designed primarily to support the title’s level design.
RELATED:Mario Games With The Most Replay Value
Nonetheless, there is something vibrant and striking about the varied locations in this game. The somewhat blocky look of the world creates a sort of back-to-basics feel that suits this version of the realm and makes it a joy to jump around in.
1Super Mario Bros.
This list would not be complete without the game that introduced players to everyone’s favorite fungal monarchy. While it might seem somewhat mundane after more than 35 years, it is easy to forget just how bizarre and amazing the Mushroom Kingdom was when players first explored it in 1985.
This place was a surreal fever dream of a place consisting of giant mushrooms, green pipes, and brick structures. It was alsofilled with strange creatures, including walking mushrooms with angry eyes, giant turtles, and man-eating plants. The Mushroom Kingdom has been reimagined and recreated countless times over the years, but there is still a certain timeless appeal to this first iteration.
