Hi there! If you’re joining us now, the month of march is gonna be all about platforming games – 2D, 3D, maybe even 2.5D.

We can’t very well do a platforming month without giving some spotlight to the portly plumber that made the genre a smash hit, and so here it is. Todays prompt focuses on the OG 2D template Mario games, as well as the various RPG spinoff subseries for good measure.
So, focusing specifically on the 2D efforts and RPGs, what are your most and least favorite Mario games? Any love for the NEW! Series? Are you a Mario RPG, Mario & Luigi, or Paper Mario kind of person?

Bonus: Any gimmicks, powerups or ideas that should’ve been carried forward in more games?

Extra Bonus: What tropes or aspects of 2D Mario games are overdone?

Extra Bonus Deluxe: What are the best implementations of classic Mario tropes and Iconography in the RPGs?

Tomorrow: 2D sonic