Editing Genre

'''Genres''' are different types of [[List of games|video games]] classified by gameplay. With over 300 entries, the [[Mario (franchise)|''Mario'']] franchise has included a variety of different genres. The first ''Mario'' games were platformers, but the series has since spun off into various other genres.

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

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

[[File:SM64BobOmbBattlefield.png|thumb|Mario running on the [[Bob-omb Battlefield]], which is a course from ''[[Super Mario 64]]'', the first three-dimensional platform game in the ''Mario'' series]]

The majority of ''Mario'' games fall within the platformer genre, which itself can be divided into two sub-genres: side-scrolling and three-dimensional. '''Side-scrolling platformers''' (or '''side-scrollers''') usually allow travel in only one or two directions towards a [[Goal Pole]]. '''Three-dimensional''' (or '''3D''') '''platformers''' allow travel in any direction and usually consist of objective-based level completion. Classification is based upon movement style, so games such as ''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]'' with modern three-dimensional graphics are still classified as side-scrollers.

Most 3D platformers in the ''Mario'' series feature a menu for selecting what objective is to be achieved (or objectives in ''[[Super Mario Odyssey]]'') whenever Mario enters an area (except ''[[Super Mario 3D Land]]'' and ''[[Super Mario 3D World]]'', in which levels are completed by reaching a traditional Goal Pole). The player can also select objectives they have previously completed, including re-fighting bosses.

Most ''Mario'' platformers are part of the ''[[Super Mario (series)|Super Mario]]'' series, with the exception of ''[[Super Paper Mario]]'', which mixes platforming and RPG elements.

'''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 weapons, armor, [[clothing]], [[badge]]s, and accessories. These items can be bought at [[Item Shop|shops]] or be found in [[block]]s and [[treasure chest]]s, 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.

The battle system usually involves Mario, his partner(s), and enemies taking it in turns to attack, with [[Action Command]]s to every move. The ''Paper Mario'' series differs slightly from the other RPGs because the damage and [[Heart Point|HP]] ratio is lower and Mario and his partner always attack first, and attack power is achieved by getting [[hammer]]s and boots rather than leveling up. ''Paper Mario'' is also split into chapters for which stars Mario must get, and has chapter bosses, with minibosses along the way, while neither really exists in the other RPGs; only bosses exist, identifiable by different battle theme and higher HP (and often they are characters). ''Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars'' and ''[[Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door]]'' make it possible to completely defend against attacks (excluding magic attacks in ''Super Mario RPG''), or at least reduce the amount of damage taken. In the ''Mario & Luigi'' series, it is possible (and often necessary) to avoid enemy attacks altogether.

RPGs also feature normal ''Mario'' enemies, including [[Goomba]]s, [[Koopa Troopa]]s, and other common enemies. However, characters and locations originally found in an RPG rarely appear in other games.

Various other games have RPG elements fused into them, but they are not traditional RPGs in the sense the aforementioned series are, such as some of the handheld ''[[Mario Tennis (series)|Mario Tennis]]'' and ''[[Mario Golf (series)|Mario Golf]]'' games, namely ''[[Mario Tennis (Game Boy Color)|Mario Tennis]]'' and ''[[Mario Golf (Game Boy Color)|Mario Golf]]'' for the [[Game Boy Color]], ''[[Mario Tennis: Power Tour]]'' and ''[[Mario Golf: Advance Tour]]'' for the [[Game Boy Advance]], and ''[[Mario Golf: World Tour]]'' for the [[Nintendo 3DS]]. In these games, they fuse their respective sports with RPG-like mechanics. Another example is ''[[Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition]]'', which is a puzzle game with a heavy emphasis on RPG elements.

[[File:SMP image6.png|thumb|A screenshot of the minigame [[Bumper Brawl]], 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, such as 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.

[[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 (object)|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 items or power-ups that can do various things such as slow down the other racers and 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.

[[File:Mario-Sonic-2016-Wii-U-15.jpg|thumb|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 [[Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (Wii U)|Wii U version]] of the sports game ''[[Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games]]'']]

The ''Mario'' franchise contains a large number 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 such as ''[[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.

'''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 that in ''[[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.

'''Educational games''' are meant to both educate and entertain the player. Compared to that of the other genres in the ''Mario'' franchise, the number of educational games is relatively small. The purpose of educational games is to solve mysteries or simply learn how to do something, such as typing or math. Games belonging to this genre are usually developed by a third-party company. Due to this, characters may have different personalities. For example, Mario has full dialogue in ''[[Mario's Time Machine]]'', despite the fact that he rarely speaks in other games.

'''Rhythm games''' are games where the player must time button presses on a game controller or {{wp|dance pad}} in order to match the beat of music played during the game and the timing of symbols that appear onscreen. There are five ''[[Mario (franchise)|Mario]]'' rhythm games: ''[[Mario Undōkai]]'' and ''[[Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix]]'' are based on the ''{{wp|Dance Dance Revolution}}'' series, and the [[Donkey Konga (series)|''Donkey Konga'' series]] (''[[Donkey Konga]]'', ''[[Donkey Konga 2]]'', and ''[[Donkey Konga 3 JP]]'') is based on the ''{{wp|Taiko no Tatsujin}}'' series by the same developers and utilizes the [[Nintendo GameCube#DK Bongos|DK Bongos]] as a controller. All of these games feature minigames in addition to the rhythm-based gameplay, and with the exception of ''Mario Undōkai'', they can be played with a standard [[Nintendo GameCube]] controller.

'''Rail shooters''' are games played from a first-person perspective, where the player must shoot all the enemies on the screen while following a specific route. The only rail shooters in the ''Mario'' franchise to date are ''[[Yoshi's Safari]]'', which requires the use of the [[Super Scope]] in single-player mode, and ''[[Luigi's Mansion Arcade]]'', which uses the arcade machine itself as a controller.

==Turn-based tactics==

[[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]]'']]

Games in this genre 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. This genre is exclusive to the [[Mario + Rabbids (series)|''Mario + Rabbids'' series]].