It also took advantage of the system's glasses-free 3D in a way that no other game has come close to, making the game feel truly alive. Perfect for on-the-go play, Super Mario 3D Land dug through every trick in the Mario design handbook whether it was immaculate 3D platforming, or throwback retro 2.5D retro levels. The 3DS entry is chockfull of some of the most fun, bite-sized Mario levels and absolutely filled to the brim with content. Super Mario 3D Land was the clear front-runner for best handheld Mario game until the Nintendo Switch came along.
We've excluded non-platformer titles like Super Mario Maker from our rankings. Note : This list was originally published in 2017, but has been updated to factor in newer games.
