What is the best game similar to New Super Mario Bros.?

The closest game to New Super Mario Bros. is Metal Slug 2, scoring 96/100 on our similarity scale. They share 7 gameplay attributes, including precision platforming, adventure storytelling and multiplayer gameplay. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.

What are the top games like New Super Mario Bros.?

The three closest games to New Super Mario Bros. are: 1. Metal Slug 2 (96/100, 7 shared attributes) 2. Metal Slug 3 (97/100, 7 shared attributes) 3. Rayman Origins (94/100, 7 shared attributes). All share New Super Mario Bros.'s most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 50 candidates across 8 dimensions.

Is Metal Slug 3 similar to New Super Mario Bros.?

Yes, very much so — Metal Slug 3 scores 97/100 similarity to New Super Mario Bros.. They share 7 attributes, including precision platforming and single-player focus. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.

What Platformer games are similar to New Super Mario Bros.?

The best Platformer games similar to New Super Mario Bros. are Metal Slug 2, Metal Slug 3, Rayman Origins and LittleBigPlanet. All share the Platformer genre alongside other key New Super Mario Bros. attributes like precision platforming, adventure storytelling and multiplayer gameplay.

How is similarity to New Super Mario Bros. calculated?

We compare New Super Mario Bros. against every game in our catalog using 8 gameplay attributes: genre, atmosphere, world structure, play modes, combat style, and more. Each category is weighted differently — genre matters more than visual style, for instance. The result is a 0-100 score reflecting how closely a game replicates the New Super Mario Bros. experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.

50 Games like New Super Mario Bros. that you should try

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New Super Mario Bros. is hard to replace: few games combine precision platforming, dark, oppressive atmosphere and melee combat in quite the same way. We compared New Super Mario Bros. against over 6,700 titles across 8 gameplay attributes and found 50 genuine alternatives — not generic genre suggestions. Metal Slug 2, Metal Slug 3 and Rayman Origins lead the list, with Metal Slug 2 reaching a 96/100 similarity score. Every game here is ranked by how closely it replicates what makes New Super Mario Bros. special.

iRank88/ 100

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GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

Top games similar to New Super Mario Bros.

50 similar games foundUpdated July 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to New Super Mario Bros.. Each one has been evaluated across 8 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.

#1Metal Slug 2

iRank89

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

MultiplayerCo-opSoloMelee2D

Steam👍 89%· 1.4K

Year 1998Dev DotEmu · SNK PlaymoreOn PlayStation 3 · Android · PC

✓ Same family of 2D platformers: precision platforming, adventure storytelling and melee combat

≠ Its own twist: shooter, first-person shooting and fantasy world, while skipping dark, oppressive atmosphere

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeDark2D

IGDB82· 6

Year 2000Dev SNK · D4 EnterpriseOn Xbox

✓ Both are 2D platformers — sharing precision platforming, dark, oppressive atmosphere and melee combat

≠ Where it differs: brings shooter, setting scifi and visual pixel, while skipping adventure storytelling

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMelee2D

Steam👍 94%· 5.9KIGDB89· 8

Year 2011Dev Ubisoft Montpellier · Ubisoft EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3 · PC · Mac

✓ Fits the 2D platformers cluster, with precision platforming, adventure storytelling and melee combat

≠ Its own twist: fantasy world and offline, while skipping dark, oppressive atmosphere

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayerCo-op2DSandbox World

IGDB96· 9

Year 2008Dev Media Molecule · Sony Computer EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3

✓ Same family of 2D platformers: precision platforming, single-player focus and multiplayer gameplay

≠ Stands apart with sandbox freedom, sandbox world and fantasy world, while skipping adventure storytelling

Details →

#5Sonic the Hedgehog 2

iRank87

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMelee2D

Steam👍 86%· 37IGDB90· 2

Year 1992Dev Sega Technical Institute · SegaOn PlayStation 3 · PC

✓ Both are 2D platformers — sharing precision platforming, adventure storytelling and melee combat

≠ Stands apart with setting scifi, offline and visual pixel, while skipping dark, oppressive atmosphere

Details →

Steam Nintendo

#6Donkey Kong Country Returns

iRank86

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayerCo-op2D

IGDB86· 7

Year 2010Dev Retro Studios · Nintendo

✓ Nearly identical: precision platforming, single-player focus and multiplayer gameplay.

≠ Missing: adventure storytelling.

Details →

Nintendo

#7Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

iRank85

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayerCo-op2D

IGDB86· 12OC84· 138

Year 2014Dev Retro Studios · Nintendo

✓ Nearly identical: precision platforming, single-player focus and multiplayer gameplay.

≠ Missing: adventure storytelling.

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayerCo-op2D

IGDB85· 4

Year 2010Dev Good-Feel · Nintendo

✓ Nearly identical: precision platforming, adventure storytelling and single-player focus.

≠ Missing: dark, oppressive atmosphere.

Details →

Nintendo

#9New Super Mario Bros. Wii

iRank81

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayerCo-op2D

IGDB81· 4

Year 2009Dev Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development · Nintendo

✓ Nearly identical: precision platforming, adventure storytelling and single-player focus.

≠ Missing: dark, oppressive atmosphere.

Details →

#10Super Mario Bros. Wonder

iRank93

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayerCo-op2DCasual

IGDB95· 7OC91· 150

Year 2023Dev Nintendo EPD Production Group No. 10 · NintendoOn Switch

✓ Both are 2D platformers — sharing precision platforming, single-player focus and multiplayer gameplay

≠ Stands apart with vibe casual and fantasy world, while skipping adventure storytelling

Details →

Nintendo

#11New Super Mario Bros. U

iRank80

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayerCo-op2D

IGDB80· 9

Year 2012Dev Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development · Nintendo

✓ Nearly identical: precision platforming, adventure storytelling and single-player focus.

≠ Missing: dark, oppressive atmosphere.

Details →

Nintendo

#12Donkey Kong Country

iRank80

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayerCo-op2D

IGDB80· 1

Year 1994Dev Rare · Nintendo

✓ Nearly identical: precision platforming, single-player focus and multiplayer gameplay.

≠ Missing: adventure storytelling.

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayerCo-op2DSandbox World

IGDB78· 10OC79· 57

Year 2014Dev Sumo Digital · Sony Computer EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3 · PS4

✓ Both are 2D platformers — sharing precision platforming, adventure storytelling and single-player focus

≠ Stands apart with sandbox freedom and sandbox world, while skipping dark, oppressive atmosphere

Details →

#14Yoshi's Woolly World

iRank79

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayerCo-op2DFantasy

IGDB79· 10OC80· 71

Year 2015Dev Good-Feel · Nintendo

✓ Same family of 2D platformers: precision platforming, single-player focus and multiplayer gameplay

≠ Where it differs: brings fantasy world and visual third person, while skipping adventure storytelling

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

Co-opSoloMultiplayerMelee2D

Steam👍 94%· 16IGDB60· 1

Year 1993Dev Treasure · Tec ToyOn PlayStation 3 · Linux · Android

✓ Same family of 2D platformers: precision platforming, melee combat and co op

≠ Where it differs: brings shooter, combat tactical and setting scifi, while skipping adventure storytelling

Details →

Steam

Complete list of New Super Mario Bros. alternatives

The full catalog of games sharing gameplay DNA with New Super Mario Bros., ordered from highest to lowest similarity score. Use the filters above to narrow down by genre, setting or game mode and find the alternative that best fits your playstyle.

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island

Platformer

Super Mario World

Platformer · Adventure

New Super Mario Bros. 2

Platformer · Adventure

Sonic Rush

Platformer

Sonic Mania

Platformer · Adventure

TowerFall Ascension

Platformer · Fighting

Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land

Platformer · Adventure

Spelunky 2

Platformer · Adventure

Kirby's Return to Dream Land

Platformer · Adventure

Ghosts 'n Goblins

Platformer · Shooter

Super Mario Maker 2

Platformer

Trials Evolution

Platformer · Racing

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

Platformer

Yoshi's Crafted World

Platformer

Sonic Lost World

Platformer · Adventure

Super Contra

Platformer · Shooter

Kirby's Dream Land 3

Platformer · Adventure

Kirby: Squeak Squad

Platformer · Adventure

Sonic & Knuckles

Platformer

Jazz Jackrabbit 2

Platformer · Shooter

Disney's Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers

Platformer · Adventure

Disney's Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers 2

Platformer · Adventure

Super Mario Bros. 3

Platformer

Mario Bros.

Platformer

Trials Rising

Platformer · Racing

Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!

Platformer

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest

Platformer

Sonic Forces

Platformer · Adventure

Contra: Hard Corps

Platformer · Shooter

Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards

Platformer · Adventure

Ice Climber

Platformer

Sonic the Hedgehog 3

Platformer · Adventure

Metal Slug 5

Platformer · Shooter

Doodle Jump

Platformer · Survival

Super Mario Bros.

Platformer

Explore games similar to New Super Mario Bros. by category

Rankings in the same genre

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best game similar to New Super Mario Bros.?: The closest game to New Super Mario Bros. is Metal Slug 2, scoring 96/100 on our similarity scale. They share 7 gameplay attributes, including precision platforming, adventure storytelling and multiplayer gameplay. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.
What are the top games like New Super Mario Bros.?: The three closest games to New Super Mario Bros. are: 1. Metal Slug 2 (96/100, 7 shared attributes) 2. Metal Slug 3 (97/100, 7 shared attributes) 3. Rayman Origins (94/100, 7 shared attributes). All share New Super Mario Bros.'s most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 50 candidates across 8 dimensions.
Is Metal Slug 3 similar to New Super Mario Bros.?: Yes, very much so — Metal Slug 3 scores 97/100 similarity to New Super Mario Bros.. They share 7 attributes, including precision platforming and single-player focus. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.
What Platformer games are similar to New Super Mario Bros.?: The best Platformer games similar to New Super Mario Bros. are Metal Slug 2, Metal Slug 3, Rayman Origins and LittleBigPlanet. All share the Platformer genre alongside other key New Super Mario Bros. attributes like precision platforming, adventure storytelling and multiplayer gameplay.
How is similarity to New Super Mario Bros. calculated?: We compare New Super Mario Bros. against every game in our catalog using 8 gameplay attributes: genre, atmosphere, world structure, play modes, combat style, and more. Each category is weighted differently — genre matters more than visual style, for instance. The result is a 0-100 score reflecting how closely a game replicates the New Super Mario Bros. experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.