What is the best game similar to Super Mario Bros. 3?

The closest game to Super Mario Bros. 3 is Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, scoring 97/100 on our similarity scale. They share 5 gameplay attributes, including precision platforming, single-player focus and multiplayer gameplay. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.

What are the top games like Super Mario Bros. 3?

The three closest games to Super Mario Bros. 3 are: 1. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (97/100, 5 shared attributes) 2. Super Mario World (97/100, 5 shared attributes) 3. Ghosts 'n Goblins (97/100, 5 shared attributes). All share Super Mario Bros. 3's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 50 candidates across 6 dimensions.

Is Super Mario World similar to Super Mario Bros. 3?

Yes, very much so — Super Mario World scores 97/100 similarity to Super Mario Bros. 3. They share 5 attributes, including precision platforming and single-player focus. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.

What Platformer games are similar to Super Mario Bros. 3?

The best Platformer games similar to Super Mario Bros. 3 are Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Super Mario World, Ghosts 'n Goblins and LittleBigPlanet. All share the Platformer genre alongside other key Super Mario Bros. 3 attributes like precision platforming, single-player focus and multiplayer gameplay.

How is similarity to Super Mario Bros. 3 calculated?

We compare Super Mario Bros. 3 against every game in our catalog using 6 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. 3 experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.

50 Games like Super Mario Bros. 3 that you should try

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Looking for games like Super Mario Bros. 3? We analyzed its gameplay DNA — precision platforming, dark, oppressive atmosphere and fantasy world — against over 6,700 titles. These 50 alternatives are ranked by real similarity, not marketing tags. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island leads with 97/100, followed by the rest of the list.

iRank89/ 100

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GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

Top games similar to Super Mario Bros. 3

50 similar games foundUpdated July 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Super Mario Bros. 3. Each one has been evaluated across 6 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.

#1Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island

iRank100

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayerFantasy2D

IGDB100· 1

Year 1995Dev Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development · Nintendo

✓ Nearly identical: precision platforming, fantasy world and single-player focus.

≠ Missing: dark, oppressive atmosphere.

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayerFantasy2D

IGDB100· 1

Year 1990Dev Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development · Nintendo

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

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

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayerFantasy2D

IGDB90· 1

Year 1985Dev CapcomOn PC

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

≠ Stands apart with shooter and adventure storytelling, while skipping dark, oppressive atmosphere

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayerFantasy2DCo-op

IGDB96· 9

Year 2008Dev Media Molecule · Sony Computer EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3

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

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

Details →

#5New Super Mario Bros.

iRank95

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayerDark2DCo-op

IGDB95· 2

Year 2006Dev Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development · Nintendo

✓ Both are 2D platformers — sharing precision platforming, dark, oppressive atmosphere and single-player focus

≠ Stands apart with adventure storytelling, melee combat and co op, while skipping fantasy world

Details →

Nintendo

#6Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest

iRank70

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayerFantasy2D

IGDB70

Year 1995Dev Rare · Nintendo

✓ Nearly identical: precision platforming, fantasy world and single-player focus.

≠ Missing: dark, oppressive atmosphere.

Details →

Nintendo

#7Donkey Kong Bananza

iRank91

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayer2DSkill TreeThird Person

IGDB90· 3OC91· 172

Year 2025Dev Nintendo EPD Production Group No. 8 · NintendoOn Switch

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

≠ Where it differs: brings adventure storytelling, skill tree progression and visual third person, while skipping dark, oppressive atmosphere

Details →

Nintendo

#8Super Mario Maker 2

iRank88

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayer2D

IGDB87· 12OC88· 120

Year 2019Dev Nintendo EPD Production Group No. 10 · NintendoOn Switch

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

≠ Missing: dark, oppressive atmosphere.

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayer2D

IGDB86· 8

Year 2012Dev RedLynx · Microsoft StudiosOn PC

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

≠ Its own twist: racing gameplay, while skipping dark, oppressive atmosphere

Details →

Xbox

#10Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

iRank86

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayer2D

IGDB88· 12OC84· 138

Year 2018Dev Retro Studios · NintendoOn Switch

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

≠ Missing: dark, oppressive atmosphere.

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayer2DIsometricThird Person

IGDB87· 2

Year 2002Dev Dimps · THQ

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

≠ Where it differs: brings adventure storytelling, visual isometric and visual third person, while skipping dark, oppressive atmosphere

Details →

#12Kirby: Planet Robobot

iRank83

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayer2DRanged

IGDB82· 15OC84· 58

Year 2016Dev HAL Laboratory · Nintendo

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

≠ Where it differs: brings adventure storytelling and ranged combat, while skipping dark, oppressive atmosphere

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayerFantasy2DCo-op

Steam👍 94%· 5.9KIGDB89· 8

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

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

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling, melee combat and co op, while skipping dark, oppressive atmosphere

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayer2DIsometric

IGDB79· 1

Year 2001Dev Dimps · THQOn Android

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

≠ Where it differs: brings visual isometric, while skipping dark, oppressive atmosphere

Details →

#15Kirby Super Star Ultra

iRank77

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayer2DMagicMelee

IGDB77· 4

Year 2008Dev HAL Laboratory · Nintendo

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

≠ Stands apart with adventure storytelling, combat magic and melee combat, while skipping dark, oppressive atmosphere

Details →

Complete list of Super Mario Bros. 3 alternatives

The full catalog of games sharing gameplay DNA with Super Mario Bros. 3, 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.

Yoshi's Woolly World

Platformer

Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment

Platformer · Adventure

Super Mario Bros.

Platformer

Disney's DuckTales

Platformer

Claw

Platformer

Sonic Colors

Platformer · Adventure

Metal Slug 2

Platformer · Shooter

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

Platformer

Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land

Platformer · Adventure

Super Paper Mario

Platformer · RPG

Trials Fusion

Platformer · Racing

Donkey Kong Country Returns

Platformer

Kirby: Triple Deluxe

Platformer · Adventure

Sonic Lost World

Platformer · Adventure

New Super Mario Bros. 2

Platformer · Adventure

Sonic Rush

Platformer

Doodle Jump

Platformer · Survival

Worms 2

Platformer · Shooter

Circus Charlie

Platformer

Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels

Platformer · Adventure

Super Ghouls'n Ghosts

Platformer · Adventure

Super Mario Bros.

Platformer · Adventure

Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc

Platformer

Sonic & Knuckles

Platformer

Frogger

Platformer · Survival

Gumboy Tournament

Platformer · Racing

Kirby's Adventure

Platformer

Kirby & the Amazing Mirror

Platformer · Adventure

Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse

Platformer

Kirby's Dream Land

Platformer

Disney's Aladdin

Platformer · Adventure

Kid Icarus

Platformer · Shooter

Super Mario Bros. 2

Platformer · Adventure

ActRaiser

Platformer · Simulation

Ghouls 'n Ghosts

Platformer

Explore games similar to Super Mario Bros. 3 by category

Rankings in the same genre

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best game similar to Super Mario Bros. 3?: The closest game to Super Mario Bros. 3 is Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, scoring 97/100 on our similarity scale. They share 5 gameplay attributes, including precision platforming, single-player focus and multiplayer gameplay. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.
What are the top games like Super Mario Bros. 3?: The three closest games to Super Mario Bros. 3 are: 1. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (97/100, 5 shared attributes) 2. Super Mario World (97/100, 5 shared attributes) 3. Ghosts 'n Goblins (97/100, 5 shared attributes). All share Super Mario Bros. 3's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 50 candidates across 6 dimensions.
Is Super Mario World similar to Super Mario Bros. 3?: Yes, very much so — Super Mario World scores 97/100 similarity to Super Mario Bros. 3. They share 5 attributes, including precision platforming and single-player focus. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.
What Platformer games are similar to Super Mario Bros. 3?: The best Platformer games similar to Super Mario Bros. 3 are Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Super Mario World, Ghosts 'n Goblins and LittleBigPlanet. All share the Platformer genre alongside other key Super Mario Bros. 3 attributes like precision platforming, single-player focus and multiplayer gameplay.
How is similarity to Super Mario Bros. 3 calculated?: We compare Super Mario Bros. 3 against every game in our catalog using 6 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. 3 experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.