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Super Mario Bros. 2

33 Games like Super Mario Bros. 2 that you should try

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Super Mario Bros. 2 is hard to replace: few games combine precision platforming, melee combat and fantasy world in quite the same way. We compared Super Mario Bros. 2 against over 6,700 titles across 7 gameplay attributes and found 33 genuine alternatives — not generic genre suggestions. Pinkman, Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment and Sonic Generations lead the list, with Pinkman reaching a 97/100 similarity score. Every game here is ranked by how closely it replicates what makes Super Mario Bros. 2 special.

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GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer
Tags
Solo
Year 1988Dev Nintendo R&D4

Quick answer

The closest game to Super Mario Bros. 2 is Pinkman — scoring 97/100 on our similarity scale. Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment and Sonic Generations follow close behind.

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Top games similar to Super Mario Bros. 2

33 similar games foundUpdated July 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Super Mario Bros. 2. Each one has been evaluated across 7 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.

Pinkman
Platformer2D Platformer
SoloMelee2DCasual
Steam👍 98%· 696
Year 2017Dev Viridino StudiosPlaytime ~3hOn PC

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

≠ Stands apart with vibe casual, while skipping fantasy world

Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment
Platformer2D Platformer
SoloMeleeFantasy2DPixel Art
Steam👍 94%· 481IGDB83· 6OC86· 32
Year 2017Dev Yacht Club GamesOn PlayStation 3 · PS4 · Linux

✓ Nearly identical: precision platforming, adventure storytelling and melee combat.

Sonic Generations
Platformer2D Platformer
SoloMelee2DThird Person3D
Steam👍 94%· 25KIGDB75· 10
Year 2011Dev Sonic Team · SegaOn PlayStation 3 · PC

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

≠ Its own twist: visual third person and visual 3d, while skipping fantasy world

Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse
Platformer2D Platformer
SoloFantasy2DCasualThird Person
Steam👍 90%· 4.3KIGDB68· 6
Year 2013Dev Sega Studios Australia · Disney InteractiveOn PlayStation 3 · PC · Android

✓ Same family of 2D platformers: precision platforming, adventure storytelling and fantasy world

≠ Where it differs: brings vibe casual and visual third person, while skipping melee combat

Disney's The Jungle Book
Platformer2D Platformer
SoloMelee2D
Steam👍 86%· 14IGDB70· 1
Year 1994Dev Eurocom Entertainment Software · Virgin Interactive Entertainment (Europe) Ltd.On PC

✓ Nearly identical: precision platforming, adventure storytelling and melee combat.

≠ Missing: fantasy world.

Ristar
Platformer2D Platformer
SoloMelee2DPixel ArtSci-Fi
Steam👍 100%· 11
Year 1995Dev Sega Enterprises, Ltd. · Tec ToyOn Linux · Android · PC

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

≠ Its own twist: setting scifi, while skipping fantasy world

Super Paper Mario
Platformer2D Platformer
SoloFantasy2DDarkLoot
IGDB78· 3
Year 2007Dev Intelligent Systems · Nintendo

✓ Same family of 2D platformers: precision platforming, adventure storytelling and fantasy world

≠ Its own twist: deep RPG systems, dark, oppressive atmosphere and loot and gear systems, while skipping melee combat

Gravity Circuit
Platformer2D Platformer
SoloMelee2DPixel ArtSci-Fi
Steam👍 94%· 3.5KMC89IGDB90· 1OC86· 14
Year 2023Dev Domesticated Ants · Plug In DigitalPlaytime ~2hOn PC · PS · Apple Macintosh

✓ Fits the 2D platformers cluster, with precision platforming, melee combat and single-player focus

≠ Where it differs: brings fighting mechanics and setting scifi, while skipping adventure storytelling

Super Mario Maker
Platformer2D Platformer
Solo2DPixel Art
IGDB90· 11OC89· 88
Year 2015Dev Nintendo EAD Software Development Group No.4 · Nintendo

✓ Nearly identical: precision platforming, single-player focus and visual 2d.

≠ Missing: adventure storytelling.

Sonic CD
Platformer2D Platformer
SoloMelee2DPixel ArtSci-Fi
Steam👍 90%· 5.5KIGDB85· 1
Year 1993Dev Sonic Team · SegaOn PC

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

≠ Its own twist: setting scifi and post-apocalyptic world, while skipping fantasy world

Duke Nukem
Platformer2D Platformer
SoloMelee2DPixel ArtSci-Fi
Steam👍 88%· 137
Year 1991Dev Apogee SoftwareOn PC · Mac

✓ Fits the 2D platformers cluster, with precision platforming, melee combat and single-player focus

≠ Stands apart with shooter and setting scifi, while skipping adventure storytelling

Disney's DuckTales
Platformer2D Platformer
Solo2DPixel ArtDark
IGDB86· 1
Year 1989Dev Capcom · Walt Disney Computer Software

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

≠ Its own twist: dark, oppressive atmosphere, while skipping adventure storytelling

Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc
Platformer2D Platformer
SoloFantasy2DThird Person
IGDB65
Year 2003Dev Ubisoft Shanghai · Feral InteractiveOn PC · Mac

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

≠ Its own twist: visual third person, while skipping adventure storytelling

Kirby's Adventure
Platformer2D Platformer
SoloMeleeFantasy2D
IGDB60· 1
Year 1993Dev HAL Laboratory · Nintendo

✓ Nearly identical: precision platforming, melee combat and fantasy world.

≠ Missing: adventure storytelling.

The Final Station
Platformer2D Platformer
SoloMeleePixel Art2DDark
Steam👍 87%· 9.3KIGDB72· 11OC74· 62
Year 2016Dev Do My Best Games · tinyBuildOn PS4 · Linux · PC

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

≠ Its own twist: survival mechanics, shooter and deep simulation, while skipping fantasy world

Complete list of Super Mario Bros. 2 alternatives

The full catalog of games sharing gameplay DNA with Super Mario Bros. 2, 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.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best game similar to Super Mario Bros. 2?
The closest game to Super Mario Bros. 2 is Pinkman, scoring 97/100 on our similarity scale. They share 5 gameplay attributes, including precision platforming, adventure storytelling and single-player focus. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.
What are the top games like Super Mario Bros. 2?
The three closest games to Super Mario Bros. 2 are: 1. Pinkman (97/100, 5 shared attributes) 2. Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment (97/100, 7 shared attributes) 3. Sonic Generations (97/100, 5 shared attributes). All share Super Mario Bros. 2's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 33 candidates across 7 dimensions.
Is Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment similar to Super Mario Bros. 2?
Yes, very much so — Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment scores 97/100 similarity to Super Mario Bros. 2. They share 7 attributes, including precision platforming and adventure storytelling. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.
What Platformer games are similar to Super Mario Bros. 2?
The best Platformer games similar to Super Mario Bros. 2 are Pinkman, Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment, Sonic Generations and Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse. All share the Platformer genre alongside other key Super Mario Bros. 2 attributes like precision platforming, adventure storytelling and single-player focus.
How is similarity to Super Mario Bros. 2 calculated?
We compare Super Mario Bros. 2 against every game in our catalog using 7 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 Super Mario Bros. 2 experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.