Genre: Difference between revisions

{{see also|List of games by genre}}

[[File:NSMBU DX screenshot.png|thumb|left|[[Mario]] and [[Fire Mario|Fire]] [[Toadette]] in [[Painted Swampland]] from ''[[New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe]]'', a sidescrolling platformer.]]

Platform games (often called '''platformers''') require players to control a character who traverses levels consisting of a multitude of platforms to [[Goal Pole|reach]] or [[Power Star|attain]] a particular goal.

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[[File:MLSSBM6.jpeg|thumb|left|Mario and [[Luigi]] battling two [[Beanie]]s in the RPG ''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions]]''.]]

Role-playing games (often abbreviated as RPGs) place Mario in a major role. Common gameplay features in RPGs include detailed storylines, a large cast of characters, and the ability to [[level up]]. Mario's first appearance in an RPG was in ''[[Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars]]''. Later, the [[Paper Mario (series)|''Paper Mario'' series]] and [[Mario & Luigi (series)|''Mario & Luigi'' series]] were introduced. Another common feature in RPGs is the ability to use items and special moves, and equip [[List of weapons in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars|weapons]], [[armor]], [[clothing]], [[badge]]s, and [[Accessory (Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars)|accessories]]. These items can be bought at [[Item Shop|shops]] or be found in [[block]]s and [[Treasure Chest|treasure chests]], while special moves are learned by the characters as the player progresses through the game and consume points (e.g. [[Bros. Point]]s in the ''Mario & Luigi'' series) when used. RPGs often have multiple playable characters with unique stats and abilities. ''Mario'' role-playing games often contain platforming elements.

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[[File:SMP image6.png|thumb|right|A screenshot of the [[Bumper Brawl]] minigame, which is from the party game ''[[Super Mario Party]]''.]]

Party games are multiplayer games usually involving short [[minigame]]s. This genre is dominated by the [[Mario Party (series)|''Mario Party'' series]], but the [[WarioWare (series)|''WarioWare'' series]] and ''[[Itadaki Street DS]]'' are also part of it. While most party games involve multiple players, some party games are single player, like certain ''WarioWare'' games. Luck is a large factor in party games, but players must also have a certain degree of skill. Party games are rarely played competitively and are usually played casually, although many also have story modes that can be completed.

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[[File:MK8 Electrodrome Splitting Paths.jpg|left|thumb|A race in [[Electrodrome]] in ''[[Mario Kart 8]]''.]]

Racing games involve speedy competitions with other characters. The main objective in racing games is to reach the finish line before the other racers and attain first place. Nearly all ''Mario'' racing games are part of the [[Mario Kart (series)|''Mario Kart'' series]], except for ''[[Diddy Kong Racing]]'', ''[[Diddy Kong Racing DS]]'', and ''[[Donkey Kong Barrel Blast]]''. All racing games in the ''Mario'' series involve [[item]]s or power-ups which can do various things like slow down the other racers or speed up the player. Racing games also build on this by providing battle modes in which items are used as weapons. Online racing was introduced with the release of ''[[Mario Kart DS]]'' and is integrated in every ''Mario'' racing game since.

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[[File:Mario-Sonic-2016-Wii-U-15.jpg|thumb|right|Mario's team playing against [[Silver the Hedgehog|Silver]]'s team in [[Football (Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games for Wii U)|Football]], as seen in the [[Wii U]] [[Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (Wii U)|version]] of the sports game ''[[Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games]]''.]]

The ''Mario'' franchise contains a large amount of games based on sports. Unlike most conventional sports games, ''Mario'' sports games feature items and obstacles. Racing and fighting games are sub-genres of sports games. The genre started with ''[[Golf]]'' for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]]. This genre of ''Mario'' games did not become well known until the release of the [[Nintendo 64]] with games like ''[[Mario Tennis (Nintendo 64)|Mario Tennis 64]]'' and ''[[Mario Golf (Nintendo 64)|Mario Golf]]'' for the Nintendo 64. Currently, ''Mario'' sports games include [[Mario Golf (series)|golf]], [[Mario Kart (series)|racing]], [[Mario Tennis (series)|tennis]], [[Mario Strikers (series)|soccer]], [[Mario Hoops 3-on-3|basketball]], [[Super Smash Bros. (series)|fighting]], [[Mario Baseball (series)|baseball]], and [[Mario & Sonic (series)|Olympic events]]. In addition, separately from those series are the games ''[[Mario Sports Mix]]'' and ''[[Mario Sports Superstars]]'', which feature four and five sports respectively.

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[[File:Dr. Mario Miracle Cure.png|thumb|left|A screenshot from the puzzle game ''[[Dr. Mario: Miracle Cure]]''.]]

Puzzle games test the player's reflexes and knowledge. The objective in most ''Mario'' puzzle games is to clear the screen of various objects similar to ''[[Tetris]]''. However, a few ''Mario'' puzzle games incorporate different types of gameplay such as ''[[Mario's Picross]]'' and [[Yakuman DS|mahjong]]. Games belonging to this genre include the ''[[Dr. Mario (series)|Dr. Mario]]'' series, ''[[Wario's Woods]]'', ''[[Yoshi's Cookie]]'', and ''[[Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition]]''. Other than the latter, unlike most ''Mario'' games, puzzle games do not have items. However, they generally have a large cast of characters.

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[[File:Match Start (Mario Galaxy).jpg|thumb|right|A basic VS. battle in ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]'', involving [[Mario]] and [[Bowser]].]]

Fighting games pit characters against each other in combat. The objective of most fighting games is to knock out the other characters. Fighting games are a sub-genre of sports games. This genre has exclusively been a part of the crossover [[Super Smash Bros. (series)|''Super Smash Bros.'' series]].

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[[File:Mariotype.jpg|left|thumb|A game mode in ''[[Mario Teaches Typing 2]]'' which teaches the player how to type and spell.]]

[[File:Pink Kong Jr Math.png|right|thumb|Gameplay of ''[[Donkey Kong Jr. Math]]'', a game that teaches mathematics.]]

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[[File:DDR Super Hard Difficulty Luigi.jpg|thumb|left|[[Luigi]] dancing in ''[[Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix]]''.]]

Dancing games are games where the player must step on the arrows of a dance mat according to in-game instructions. There are only two ''[[Mario (franchise)|Mario]]'' dancing games: ''[[Mario Undoukai]]'' and ''[[Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix]]'', based on the ''{{wp|Dance Dance Revolution}}'' series.

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[[File:Yoshi's Safariscreenshot.png|thumb|right|Mario riding [[Yoshi]] in a first-person view in ''[[Yoshi's Safari]]'' -- the only ''Mario''-related rail shooter to date.]]

Rail shooter games are games where the game follows a specific route and that the player must shoot all the enemies on the screen. The only ''[[Mario (franchise)|Mario]]'' rail shooter game to date is ''[[Yoshi's Safari]]''. To play it in single player, the player must use the [[Super Scope]].

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[[File:MarioKingdomBattle02.png|thumb|left|Artwork of Mario attacking with the [[List of weapons in Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle|Bwahnzai Bill]] from a [[Brick Block]] in ''[[Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle]]''.]]

These games involve turn-based gameplay (similar to an RPG) in a warfare-like scenario, involving the player tactfully positioning their characters to attack and defend against enemies. ''[[Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle]]'' is the only ''Mario'' franchise game dedicated to this genre.