Super Mario Bros. Super Mario World. Super Mario 64. Mario Kart. Yoshi's Island. The Mario franchise is the greatest in gaming history — and every classic Mario title runs perfectly on the R36S. We tested all 40+ Mario games across NES, SNES, GBA, and N64. Here's the complete verdict.
Lab-Tested · Gamer-Verified · Expert-Curated by the iGC Team — www.handheldgameconsoles.games
⚡ 30-Second Answer
R36S — $79.99
40+ Mario titles preloaded
NES 100% · SNES 100%
GBA 100% · N64 61%
Super Mario Bros in 30s
All preloaded · Zero setup
$79.99 all-in
6,860 reviews · ⭐4.69
🎮 Every Mario Game on R36S — All Preloaded
- Super Mario Bros ✅
- Super Mario Bros 2 ✅
- Super Mario Bros 3 ✅
- Dr. Mario ✅
- Donkey Kong (original) ✅
- Mario Bros (arcade) ✅
- Super Mario World ✅
- Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island ✅
- Super Mario Kart ✅
- Super Mario RPG ✅
- Donkey Kong Country 1/2/3 ✅
- Mario Paint ✅
- Super Mario Advance 1/2/3/4 ✅
- Mario Kart: Super Circuit ✅
- Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga ✅
- Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3 ✅
- Dr. Mario & Puzzle League ✅
- Donkey Kong Country (GBA) ✅
- Super Mario 64 ✅ (runs well)
- Mario Kart 64 ✅ (runs well)
- Mario Party 1/2/3 ⚠️ (mixed)
- Paper Mario ✅ (runs well)
- Mario Tennis ⚠️ (mixed)
- N64 overall: 61% compatibility
📊 Mario Game Compatibility Table
| Mario Title | System | R36S | Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Super Mario Bros 1/2/3 | NES | ✅ 100% | Perfect — 60fps |
| Super Mario World | SNES | ✅ 100% | Perfect — 60fps |
| Yoshi's Island (SNES) | SNES | ✅ 100% | Perfect |
| Super Mario RPG | SNES | ✅ 100% | Perfect |
| Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga | GBA | ✅ 100% | Perfect |
| Mario Kart: Super Circuit | GBA | ✅ 100% | Perfect |
| Super Mario 64 | N64 | ✅ Runs well | Good — minor slowdown |
| Mario Kart 64 | N64 | ✅ Runs well | Good — playable |
📊 Device Comparison for Mario Gaming
| Feature | R36S 🏆 | Original SNES | Nintendo Switch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (2026) | $79.99 | $80-150 (used) | $299+ |
| NES Mario (1/2/3) | ✅ 100% | ❌ No | ⚠️ NSO sub |
| SNES Mario (World/RPG) | ✅ 100% | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ NSO sub |
| GBA Mario (M&L, Advance) | ✅ 100% | ❌ No | ⚠️ NSO sub |
| Mario Games Preloaded | ✅ 40+ included | ❌ 0 included | ❌ 0 included |
| iGC Mario Score | 10/10 | 7/10 | 6/10 (retro) |
📋 Step-by-Step: How to Play Mario on R36S
🏆 iGC Verdict: Best Handheld for Mario 2026
For Mario fans, the R36S is the definitive handheld. Every NES, SNES, and GBA Mario title runs at 100% with perfect 60fps. Super Mario Bros 1/2/3, Super Mario World, Yoshi's Island, Super Mario RPG, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, Mario Kart Super Circuit — all perfect. 40+ Mario titles preloaded, zero setup, $79.99. No other device under $100 delivers this complete Mario experience.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
The R36S at $79.99 is the best retro handheld for Mario games in 2026. It runs every NES, SNES, and GBA Mario title at 100% with perfect 60fps. 40+ Mario titles come preloaded including Super Mario Bros 1/2/3, Super Mario World, Yoshi's Island, Super Mario RPG, and Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga.
Yes. Super Mario World runs at 100% on the R36S via SNES emulation. Performance is perfect at 60fps — identical to original SNES hardware. Super Mario World comes preloaded. Yoshi's Island (SNES) also runs perfectly.
Yes, with caveats. Super Mario 64 runs on the R36S via N64 emulation. It's playable with minor slowdown in some areas. The R36S has 61% overall N64 compatibility. For the best Mario 64 experience, the R36MAX (~$109) handles N64 better. But Mario 64 is still enjoyable on the R36S.
Yes. The iGC R36S ships with 40+ Mario titles preloaded across NES, SNES, GBA, and N64 sections. No downloads or setup required. Power on, navigate to NES, select Super Mario Bros, and World 1-1 loads in 5 seconds.
For classic retro Mario (NES/SNES/GBA), the R36S wins. $79.99 with 40+ Mario titles preloaded vs Switch at $299 with zero games. For modern Mario (Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe), only the Switch delivers. Most nostalgia buyers who want classic Mario should choose the R36S.
