Super Mario RPG

What happens when Nintendo, a master of its craft, joins forces with Squaresoft, the king of Japanese RPGs? You get Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, one of the most unusual and at the same time most beloved adventures of the plumber Mario. Released in 1996 for the Super Nintendo, it is the first true RPG featuring Mario and a title that laid the foundations for many later spin-offs.

The game combines classic turn-based battles with something that wasn't a given at the time: action commands. If you press a button at the right moment of an attack or defense, you boost its effect, so combat stays tense and active. Add to that an isometric view, jumping and exploration in a platformer style, item collecting and a band of unexpected companions, among them the doll Geno and even Mario's eternal rival Bowser, who this time joins your side.

The story breaks the status quo: a giant sword crashes into the Mushroom Kingdom, scattering seven star fragments, and Mario must team up with unlikely allies to set right the wishes of the people. From a development standpoint it was the last major collaboration between Nintendo and Squaresoft on Nintendo hardware before Square headed to the PlayStation with its Final Fantasy series, which makes this game a symbolic full stop to an era.

Super Mario RPG, from what was then a top-tier studio, is a gem in terms of humor, design and music (composed by Yoko Shimomura). Its influence is undeniable: it launched the tradition of Mario RPGs, which continued with the Paper Mario and Mario & Luigi series. The game even received a modern remake for the Nintendo Switch in 2023, proving just how much popularity it retains to this day.

The game's overall tone is also worth noting. Super Mario RPG is saturated with humor, playfulness and unexpected moments, from bizarre enemies to lighthearted dialogue, while retaining an honest role-playing structure with levels, equipment and special attacks. This combination of accessibility and depth made it an ideal gateway into the genre for players who until then knew Mario only from platformers.

Culturally it is a crossroads of two gaming philosophies, from which something fresh and timeless emerged. For fans of Mario as well as classic RPGs it is a mandatory stop and one of the most accessible entries into the genre ever.

Why play: A witty, accessible and cleverly designed RPG in which Mario's charm meets Squaresoft's craftsmanship, and which kicked off a whole tradition of Mario role-playing games.