Let’s be real for a second. Most RPGs take themselves way too seriously. You’ve got your brooding protagonists, your world-ending crystals, and enough lore to fill a library. Then there’s AlphaDream’s masterpiece. When Nintendo first decided to give the plumbing brothers their own role-playing saga, nobody really knew if it would stick. It did. It stuck so hard that even after the original developer went bankrupt, fans are still screaming for more. If you're looking to play through the mario and luigi games in order, you aren't just looking for a release list. You're looking for a vibe. This series is weird, funny, and surprisingly tough.
It’s about timing. It’s about the "Brothers' Moves." Honestly, it’s mostly about Luigi being the absolute goat while Mario takes the lead.
Superstar Saga: Where the Chaos Began (2003)
The GBA was a special time. We got Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, and it basically flipped the script on what a Mario game could be. You aren't in the Mushroom Kingdom for long. Instead, you head to the Beanbean Kingdom because Cackletta stole Princess Peach’s voice and replaced it with literal explosives. Yeah, her words turn into bombs. It’s bizarre.
This game introduced the dual-control mechanic that defines the series. You control Mario with A and Luigi with B. Simultaneously. It sounds like a recipe for a hand cramp, but it works flawlessly once your brain clicks into gear. The humor here is peak. You meet Fawful—easily the best villain in Mario history—who talks in broken English metaphors about mustard and fury.
If you’re playing the mario and luigi games in order, you have two choices for this one. You can hunt down the original GBA cartridge or play the 3DS remake, Superstar Saga + Bowser’s Minions. The remake is prettier, sure, but some purists (myself included) miss the expressive, chunky sprite art of the 2003 original. The remake adds a side-story about Goombas, but the core game remains a 20-hour riot of "High-Jump" and "Spin-Jump" puzzles.
Partners in Time: The One That Got Dark (2005)
Then came the DS. Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time is the "black sheep" for some, but I’d argue it’s the most creative. It involves time travel. You’ve got the adult brothers teaming up with Baby Mario and Baby Luigi. This means you’re managing four characters at once.
The villains are the Shroobs. They aren't funny. They’re purple alien mushrooms that basically commit planetary genocide. They’re terrifying in a way Mario games rarely are. Because of the four-button setup (A, B, X, Y), the combat gets chaotic. You’re stacking babies on shoulders to perform quadruple-strike attacks.
Interestingly, this is the only game in the series without a traditional open world. It’s mission-based through Peach’s Castle. Some people hated that. I think it keeps the pacing tight. It's a relentless game. It doesn't breathe much. You just keep moving, fighting, and trying not to let the Shroobs turn the world into a purple wasteland.
Bowser’s Inside Story: The Absolute Peak (2009)
Ask any fan about the mario and luigi games in order, and they will stop everything to talk about Bowser’s Inside Story. This is it. The magnum opus.
Why? Because you play as Bowser.
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Fawful returns and tricks Bowser into eating a "Vacuum Mushroom." Bowser inhales the entire cast, including Mario and Luigi. Most of the game takes place inside Bowser’s literal guts. While the brothers are navigating 2D platforming sections in his lungs or stomach, you’re controlling Bowser in the overworld.
- The mechanic where Bowser drinks water to flood his stomach so the brothers can swim? Genius.
- The giant Bowser battles where you turn the DS sideways? Phenomenal.
- The soundtrack by Yoko Shimomura? It goes harder than it has any right to.
This game sold millions for a reason. It balanced the screen time perfectly. You actually start to feel for Bowser. He’s a jerk, but he’s your jerk. Like Superstar Saga, this also got a 3DS remake (Bowser’s Inside Story + Bowser Jr.’s Journey), though notably, the remake runs at 30fps instead of the original's 60fps. That matters in a rhythm-based combat game. Stick to the DS original if you can.
Dream Team: The Long Road (2013)
When the series moved to the 3DS with Mario & Luigi: Dream Team, things got... long. Very long. We’re talking 40+ hours. The gimmick here is Luigi’s dreams. Mario enters "Dreamy Luigi’s" subconscious, where Luigi becomes a god-like entity. He can turn into a giant tower of Luigis, a wrecking ball of Luigis, or even a sun.
It’s imaginative as hell. The problem is the tutorials. My goodness, the tutorials. The game treats you like you’ve never held a controller before for the first ten hours. But if you can push past the hand-holding, the "Luiginary Works" are some of the most satisfying mechanics in the entire franchise.
It’s a beautiful game, too. The 3D effect on the 3DS actually helps with the timing of enemy attacks, which often come from the background. It’s a dense, meaty RPG that demands patience.
Paper Jam: The Crossover No One Expected (2015)
The final "new" game before AlphaDream closed its doors was Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam. It’s a crossover with the Paper Mario series. On paper (pun intended), it’s a dream match. In reality, it felt a bit safe.
The environments are your standard grass, desert, and fire worlds. No Beanbean Kingdom weirdness here. However, the combat is arguably the best in the series. You control three characters: Mario, Luigi, and Paper Mario. Paper Mario plays differently; he can make copies of himself and flutter jump.
The highlight? Giant Papercraft battles. Instead of the "Giant Bowser" touch-screen fights, you’re controlling a massive cardboard tank. It’s silly. It’s fun. It just lacks the "soul" of the previous entries. But for a completionist looking at the mario and luigi games in order, it’s a mandatory stop for the combat mechanics alone.
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Brothership: The 2024 Revival
For years, we thought the series was dead. Then, Nintendo dropped the trailer for Mario & Luigi: Brothership for the Switch. It’s a massive graphical leap, moving into a high-def stylized 3D look that mimics the old box art.
This entry focuses on "Shipshape Island" (part ship, part island) and navigating the vast ocean of Concordia. It brings back the "Brothers' Effects" and seems to lean heavily into the wacky, inventive combat that made the DS era so iconic. It’s the first game in the series not developed by the original AlphaDream team, but from what we've seen, the DNA is intact.
Where Does This Leave You?
If you're jumping in now, don't feel pressured to play every single one back-to-back. These are long games. They’re dense.
Start With These Steps
- Find a copy of Bowser's Inside Story (DS). If you only play one, make it this one. It’s the gold standard for how to write a comedy RPG.
- Check out Superstar Saga on Nintendo Switch Online. If you have the expansion pack, it’s right there. It’s the purest expression of the series' identity.
- Embrace the "Game Over." These games are harder than they look. Bosses often have "counter-only" phases where you have to dodge five attacks in a row to get a single hit in.
The reality of the mario and luigi games in order is that they represent a specific era of Nintendo creativity—one where they weren't afraid to make Mario look like a dork and Luigi look like a hero. It’s a series about two brothers who actually like each other, working together to punch things with giant hammers.
Pro Tip: In every game, focus your "Level Up" bonuses on Stache. It might seem like a joke stat, but it governs your critical hit rate and gets you better prices in shops. In the world of Mario & Luigi, looking good is literally a combat advantage.
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Keep your eyes on the enemy's feet during attacks; that's usually the tell for whether they're aiming for Mario or Luigi. Once you master the "dodge-counter," you aren't just playing a game—you're conducting a symphony of hammers and jumps.