At the end of the Super Nintendo's life cycle, Squaresoft and Nintendo teamed up to release the classic title, Super Mario RPG. The game was filled with tons of amazing characters, and it dove deep into the Super Mario universe's lore for the first time.
Though Super Mario RPG's playable cast is small — only offering five characters — each contributes to both combat and the game in a way that makes them unforgettable. However, the rest of the world is filled with cool, memorable characters who added to the world's overall charm, making it fun for new and veteran players of the time.
10 King And Queen Nimbus
Mallow’s parents, King and Queen Nimbus, are just as adorable as Mallow himself. After losing their boy for ages, they’re still confident enough in his abilities that they tell him to finish his adventure. Like Princess Peach, these royals are beloved by their people in Nimbus Land, making them easy to like.
In fact, King and Queen Nimbus barely act like royals at all. When they learn about Mario and the group's adventures, the King and Queen treat them like celebrities. They even ask the group for their autograph, which does make a kind of sense — it’s not like they get out much.
9 Toadofsky
The best part about expanded universes like Super Mario RPG’s are characters like Toadofsky. A composer for the mushroom kingdom, Mario and the gang show up to help him get through his writer’s block. While most Toads tend to be the same, Toadofsky stands out thanks to his obsession with music.
Though players only have to work with Toadofsky once, they can return to develop a deeper relationship, introducing him to more new music. Toadofsky also represents a more fun era of the console wars, as his biggest fear is working on video game music for a certain hedgehog that was in one of Sega's best games at the time.
8 Jinx
The master martial artist of the Super Mario RPG universe, Jinx is miniscule but mighty. The diminutive trainer turns up in Monstro Town, training one of Bowser’s assistants. When Mario beats his pupil though, Jinx challenges the hero himself.
As expected, Jinx is deceptively strong. Players can go through three rounds with Jinx, who keeps busting out progressively more dangerous, more powerful moves. However, beating Jinx rewards the player with one of the best accessories in the game, the Jinx Belt, which protects them against deathblows.
7 The Axem Rangers
Feeling like a more useful version of Team Rocket, the Axem Rangers were the best parody of Power Rangers aside from the Ginyu Force in the ‘90s. Though there’s not much to separate them visually, they all have their own special abilities that make beating them a challenge.
Considering the Axem Rangers have to be fought all at once, the player must think more tactically than ever for this battle. That said, it feels that much sweeter when the Axem Rangers are finally defeated and the player has recovered their star piece.
6 Boshi
Though Boshi was only in a short segment in Super Mario RPG, no one who played it will ever forget him. The character is introduced when Mario makes it to Yo’ster Isle, where all the Yoshis hang out. While most of the Yoshi characters are just palette swaps, Boshi stands out thanks to his spiked color and 90s shades.
Boshi was a bit of a bully, keeping the other Yoshi clan members from racing. To solve the problem, Yoshi asks Mario to help him beat Boshi in a race. Without knowing the trick, the resulting race is frustrating enough to remember long after finishing the game. Despite the frustration, the true shame is that Boshi wasn’t used after this game.
5 Peach
These days, it’s nothing special to see Princess Peach go for an outfit change and come along with the rest of the group. In Super Mario RPG, this was far less common. After being saved early on, Peach becomes a valuable member of the team in helping to save the world. Even before that, the story shows her as a competent and beloved leader of the Mushroom Kingdom.
In combat, Peach might not be good at dealing damage, but she’s an even better healer than Mallow. She can heal the entire party, and eventually gains the ability to both revive allies and mute enemies. It also never gets old seeing her hit enemies with a giant frying pan.
4 Mallow
The crybaby tadpole with weather powers, it’s hard not to love Mallow. One of two new characters joining the party, Mallow’s story takes the player places even Mario experts wouldn’t have expected.
Learning the truth about Mallow’s past is a great side story, but the character’s even better in battle. With Mallow, the player has access to healing without items. Even better, he’s got some great AoE spells thanks to his control over the weather. Mallow’s utility in battle makes him irreplaceable. It's just too bad Nintendo has forgotten about him.
3 Bowser
Usually the villain of most Super Mario games, Super Mario RPG tosses that idea out for something new. Thanks to the arrival of another dangerous Mario villain Smithy, Bowser actually loses his kingdom and is forced to work with Mario. This dynamic, while strange, never stops being funny.
In this universe, Bowser is written more like a nuisance than a villain, and acts like he’s doing Mario a favor working with him. In combat, Bowser represents the big bruiser of the group. He can deal the most damage and has some pretty decent special moves. The ability to summon Boo Ghosts is cool, and his poison attack is the best at crowd control.
2 Geno
People have been begging for Geno to be added to Super Smash Bros forever, in part because he was very cool in Super Mario RPG. Also, likely because he'd be such a powerhouse in the Smash Bros universe. A being from another world, Geno is forced to team up with Mario and his group out of a desire to fix Star Road. He’s kind, but driven, and easily one of the best new additions to Mario’s world.
In combat, Geno’s specials are some of the most powerful and some of the most visually impressive. He’s capable of buffing the rest of the party, or hitting enemies with dangerous spells. Players who truly master timed attacks can make the game a breeze with his Geno Whirl hitting for 9,999 damage.
1 Mario
As ever, Mario shines in every game he’s in. Though he never has a line of dialogue in Super Mario RPG, he’s still the same heroic plumber fans know and love.
Mario’s smart enough to not let his war with Bowser get in the way of restoring Star Road, and leads the team to recovering all seven pieces. He’s also got some of the best specials in the game thanks to his fire attacks. Players who master Mario's timing will be rewarded with some amazing crowd control.