The Best Mario Games to Play as a Family

GuideMultiplayerMario Party

The games that get the whole family shouting in the living room. This selection runs through the best multiplayer Mario games: Super Mario Party and Mario Party Superstars, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and its four-player local mode, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury, New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, Luigi's Mansion 3 in co-op and Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games.

The world of Super Mario is not limited to solo adventures. Since its earliest days, the series has offered multiplayer titles built for shared fun with the family. Whether you want to laugh together, team up or throw shells at each other, here is our pick of the Mario games families love most, ranked by their accessibility, their fun factor and their co-op value.

Contents

• Top 7 family Mario games
• Quick comparison table
• Games by player age
• Games to avoid with the youngest players
• FAQ – Choosing the right Mario game for the family
• Conclusion

---

1. Super Mario Party / Mario Party Superstars

Champions of the friendly get-together, these games turn the console into an interactive game board with mini-games anyone can pick up.

• Players: up to 4
• Type: light competition
• Perfect for: all ages, even with zero gaming experience

---

2. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

The king of wild family races. Thanks to Smart Steering, even the youngest kids can have a blast.

• Players: up to 4 (local), 12 (online)
• Type: arcade racing
• Perfect for: laughing while flinging shells

---

3. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury

The co-op mode in 3D World lets you play with 4 at once, across levels designed for teamwork (or for gloriously funny shoving matches).

• Players: up to 4
• Type: co-op platformer
• Perfect for: players of any age, especially siblings

---

4. New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe

The 2D Mario classic, revisited. A few characters such as Toadette and Nabbit make things easier for younger players.

• Players: up to 4
• Type: 2D platformer
• Perfect for: a first step into platformers

---

5. Luigi’s Mansion 3

A two-player adventure, ideal for a parent + child duo. Gluigi can slip through gates, so co-op stays simple and smooth.

• Players: 2 (co-op), up to 8 (ScareScraper)
• Type: exploration, puzzle
• Perfect for: a calm, close-knit duo

---

6. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Tokyo 2020)

Dozens of different events to try out: perfect for multigenerational gatherings where everybody wants a turn.

• Players: up to 4
• Type: sports mini-games
• Perfect for: family get-togethers or complete beginners

---

7. Yoshi’s Crafted World

A gentle, colourful game built to be played alongside a very young child. There is almost no risk of frustrating failure.

• Players: 2
• Type: accessible platformer
• Perfect for: children under 7 years old

---

Quick comparison table

Game	Players	Type	Ideal for
Mario Party Superstars	1–4	Board mini-games	The whole family
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe	1–4 (local)	Racing	Kids and grown-ups
Super Mario 3D World	1–4	Co-op platformer	Groups of 2 to 4 players
New Super Mario Bros. U	1–4	2D platformer	Beginner kids
Luigi’s Mansion 3	1–2	Exploration / puzzle	Parent-child duo
Mario & Sonic Tokyo 2020	1–4	Sports, mini-games	Big gatherings
Yoshi’s Crafted World	1–2	Gentle platformer	Very young children

---

Which Mario games, by age?

• 3–6 years old: Yoshi’s Crafted World, Mario Kart with Smart Steering
• 6–10 years old: Mario Party Superstars, New Super Mario Bros. U
• 10–14 years old: Super Mario 3D World, Luigi’s Mansion 3
• 15 + and adults: every game, especially the competitive or strategic ones

---

What to avoid with the youngest players

Some games can spark frustration or prove too complex for children under 6 years old:

• Super Mario Odyssey: a solo adventure that is harder to follow along with in two-player
• Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: tons of fun, but far too chaotic for little ones
• Super Mario Maker: wildly uneven difficulty, often frustrating

🍄 Want to keep the adventure going? Discover our Mario figures in the shop.

---

FAQ – Picking the right family Mario game

• Which Mario game suits 5-year-olds best?
  Yoshi’s Crafted World, or Mario Kart 8 with Smart Steering switched on.
• Are there Mario games with simultaneous co-op?
  Yes: Super Mario 3D World and New Super Mario Bros. U support up to 4 players at the same time.
• Can you play Mario Party online?
  Yes, Mario Party Superstars offers a full online mode.
• Which Mario game is best for playing among adults?
  Mario Kart 8 Deluxe remains a safe bet, as does Mario Party for laid-back evenings.

---

Conclusion

Whether you prefer racing, platforming or zany mini-games, Mario games are a safe bet for family time. With their simple mechanics, their colourful visuals and their warm atmosphere, they bring every generation together around the same screen. Because in the Mushroom Kingdom, fun is made to be shared!

↑ Back to top