Super Mario RPG: All Party Members Ranked

Now that Super Mario RPG is available to bless a new generation with its excellent cast, it’s time to put the argument of the best character to rest. Did any major changes emerge with this remake, or are characters just as powerful as they were in the past?

All Party Members Ranked in Super Mario RPG Remake

While the graphics and the soundtrack (which can be changed) may be new, the core gameplay that you knew and loved back in 1996 has been relatively unchanged. That also means that the core party that you used back on the Super Nintendo is just as OP today as it was back then. But, for those who haven’t gotten the chance to enjoy Super Mario RPG until the Nintendo Switch, here are our picks for the best party members, alongside the best squad you can use.

5. Bowser

As the King of Koopas, Bowser is an incredibly intimidating figure. However, as the adage goes, he’s very powerful when you face him as a boss but not as great when you get to add him to your party. Sure, he’s still very competent, as are all of the characters available in the game, but compared to the remainder of the party you have available to use, he’s just not as useful as one may expect.

He’s a tank and a half and can deal a tremendous amount of damage if kitted out correctly (we have a build guide here for you), but is easily one of the less impressive members of the cast overall. Still, we can’t help but love that we can cause chaos as the King himself.

4. Princess Toadstool/Peach

I already know this will be a controversial pick, but there’s a reason that Princess Peach falls this low on the list. She’s extremely useful, as she is an excellent healer. She can also unleash devastating attacks and is always a welcome party member. But she’s also the last party member you get, which limits her usefulness for most of the game.

However, once you have finally recruited the Princess into your party, it’s hard to swap her out at any given time. She’s incredibly useful in the later sections of the game and can keep your team healthy and happy at all given moments. I just wish she was available for a larger portion of it.

3. Mallow

This “frog” looks like he may be more bark than bite, but you’ll soon find out that he’s the exact opposite of that. A powerful sorcerer, if you’re planning on making your way through Super Mario RPG with Magic, you can’t do much better than Mallow.

Sure, he may look like a goofball (he really is, though), but he’s extraordinarily helpful in a fight. With the ability to see enemy HP during a tense situation, alongside his generally powerful add-ons that make him more formidable than he looks, Mallow is a great character to use through most of Super Mario RPG.

2. Mario

While this particular instance of Mario looks like he wants uppies more than he wants to save the Mushroom Kingdom, he quickly shows that he’s spent hours of his life stomping Koopas. While short and squat, the leading man of this RPG shows why it’s his name on the box with ease.

Mario has almost immediate access to a variety of powerful weapons and items that will help you put the hurt on these enemies, and is also incredibly well-rounded on the offensive and defensive ends of things. You’d better hope that Mario is good since he’s the only member of the team who can’t be swapped out with another character, so we’re glad that he’s placed here.

1. Geno

It’s easy to see why Geno has the following he does because he’s easily our pick for the best Party member in Super Mario RPG. He’s an offensive powerhouse, delivering swift justice to your foes at the speed of light, and he just looks rad while doing it.

If you build Geno up in the right ways, you’ll find that Super Mario RPG doesn’t even need changeable difficulties, because you can breeze through even the toughest of foes. However, this also means that you should keep some healing supplies on standby because his fatal flaw is the lack of defense he brings to the table.

What Is The Best Party In Super Mario RPG?

If you’re looking for the ultimate party to bring to any battle in Super Mario RPG, you should consider running Mario, Peach & Geno. While Peach may have landed in fourth place in our ranking, mainly due to the time you finally unlock her, her healing powers are extremely powerful and come in handy rather often. With Geno lacking the defensive capabilities of other fighters on the squad, she comes in clutch exactly when you need it. Plus, Mario is here with his well-rounded ability set.

Until you can unlock Peach, however, we would also recommend running Mario, Mallow & Geno. It feels wrong to leave Bowser off of either of these lists, but he does have plenty of times where his power can come in handy. Experiment, drop characters in and out of your party, and find what works best for you.

No matter if you played through Super Mario RPG countless times in your youth, or you’re experiencing it for the first time now, it’s an excellent addition to your Switch library. Be sure to check out our section below to find out how to use your musical prowess to impress Toadofsky, and learn more secrets about the game that you may not have known about.