GameTimeline

Release & story order

Mario & Luigi timeline

Every main Mario & Luigi RPG in US release order—from Superstar Saga on Game Boy Advance through Brothership on Switch (2024). Story order follows the bros' loose saga and skips the Paper Mario crossover. AlphaDream's original DS trilogy, the 3DS remake, and FAQ links to Paper Mario and Super Mario platformers.

Updated July 2026

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Release order Story order

Release order

When AlphaDream and successors shipped each Mario & Luigi RPG in the US—GBA (2003) through Switch (2024). The 2019 Bowser's Inside Story remake is a separate Release row; Paper Jam is a Paper Mario crossover.

  • Full saga → Superstar Saga through Brothership in release order
  • Newcomers → Bowser's Inside Story (DS or 3DS remake) or Brothership on Switch
  • Paper Mario fans → Paper Jam is optional crossover—not required for M&L story
  • Super Mario RPG and Paper Mario → separate timelines on this site
Story order tips

Loose bros saga in release order: Beanbean adventure → time-travel past → Bowser body hijinks → Pi'illo Island dreams → Concord Kingdom voyage. Paper Jam and the BIS remake stay off Story rows—FAQ explains why.

  • Core five: Superstar Saga → Partners in Time → Bowser's Inside Story → Dream Team → Brothership
  • Partners in Time visits baby Mario and Luigi—callbacks help after Superstar Saga
  • Skip Paper Jam on Story unless you want the Paper Mario team-up
  • Each game works standalone—order matters most for jokes and recurring characters

Timeline

When each game was released. Click a game for platforms, dates, and where it fits in your playthrough.

Release order

  1. Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga

    Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga

    GBARPGMainline

    Series debut—Beanbean Kingdom, Cackletta, and timed bro attacks on GBA.

    Overview
    AlphaDream paired Mario and Luigi as co-protagonists with action commands in turn-based battles.
    In-game setting
    Stardust Fields, Woohoo Hooniversity, and the Mario Bros. RPG template the series reused for years.
    Should you play it?
    Start of the saga—remastered visuals on Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack in supported regions.
    Release date
    US GBA launch November 17, 2003.
  2. Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time

    Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time

    Nintendo DSRPGMainline

    Baby Mario and Luigi join the adventure—time holes and Shroob invasion.

    Overview
    Four-character bro formations in battle—adult and baby pairs on dual screens.
    In-game setting
    Time travel to past Mushroom Kingdom; darker tone than Superstar Saga.
    Should you play it?
    Best after Superstar Saga for baby-bros callbacks—not a strict requirement.
    Release date
    US DS launch November 28, 2005.
  3. Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story

    Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story

    Nintendo DSRPGMainline

    Bowser playable—Mario and Luigi explore his body while he stomps the surface.

    Overview
    Dual campaigns switching between Bowser giant battles and micro bros inside his organs.
    In-game setting
    Widely considered the peak of the series—Fawful and the Dark Star.
    Should you play it?
    Essential entry—3DS remake adds Bowser Jr's Journey side mode (see next row).
    Release date
    US DS launch September 15, 2009.
  4. Mario & Luigi: Dream Team

    Mario & Luigi: Dream Team

    Nintendo 3DSRPGMainline

    Pi'illo Island—Luigi's dream world powers giant Dreamy Luigi attacks.

    Overview
    Dream points and rhythm-heavy bro moves on 3DS stereoscopic screens.
    In-game setting
    Antasma and the Pi'illo folk; lighter tone after Bowser's Inside Story.
    Should you play it?
    Story setup Brothership loosely echoes—play before Switch sequel if you want full context.
    Release date
    US 3DS launch August 11, 2013.
  5. Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam

    Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam

    Nintendo 3DSRPGCrossover

    Paper Mario crosses into the bros' world—tri-team battles on 3DS.

    Overview
    Three heroes in battle—Mario, Luigi, and paper Mario with trios attacks.
    In-game setting
    Not core M&L or Paper Mario canon—standalone crossover experiment.
    Should you play it?
    Optional—skip on Story order; see Paper Mario timeline for the paper RPG saga.
    Release date
    US 3DS launch November 13, 2015.
  6. Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr's Journey

    Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr's Journey

    Nintendo 3DSRPGRemake

    3DS remaster of Bowser's Inside Story plus Bowser Jr. side story mode.

    Overview
    Arzest remaster after AlphaDream's closure—new Bowser Jr's Journey strategy chapters.
    In-game setting
    Same main plot as 2009 DS game with refreshed visuals and music.
    Should you play it?
    Buy this instead of hunting the original DS cart—Story order still anchors on the 2009 row.
    Release date
    US 3DS launch January 11, 2019.
  7. Mario & Luigi: Brothership

    Mario & Luigi: Brothership

    SwitchRPGMainline

    Concord Kingdom voyage—Connect Wars bro moves on Switch after AlphaDream's hiatus.

    Overview
    Acquire-developed return on Switch—open-ish island exploration and co-op bro link attacks.
    In-game setting
    Latest mainline entry as of 2024—Snout-Sees and the Concord Kingdom.
    Should you play it?
    Current entry point after the series' long gap post-Dream Team era.
    Release date
    US Switch launch November 7, 2024.

FAQ

Release vs story order, Paper Jam crossover, Bowser's Inside Story remake, and links to other Mario RPG pages.

Play order

See the Mario games timeline for side-scrolling and 3D platformers. This page covers AlphaDream-style Mario & Luigi RPGs only—no platforming mainline rows here.

Story & canon

Release order lists every US launch—including Paper Jam (2015 crossover) and the 2019 Bowser's Inside Story remake. Story order keeps the five main saga chapters only: Superstar Saga through Brothership, using the 2009 Bowser's Inside Story as the story anchor (play the remake instead of hunting DS carts). Nintendo never published a strict M&L chronology—Story order follows fan saga consensus.

Paper Jam (2015) teams the bros with paper Mario—a crossover, not a sequel to Dream Team or a chapter of the <a href="/paper-mario">Paper Mario timeline</a>. It appears on Release order only. Skip it on Story order unless you want the trio gimmick.

Remakes & ports

Same main story. The 2009 DS original is the Story row anchor; Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr's Journey (2019, 3DS) remasters visuals and adds a Bowser Jr. side campaign. New players should buy the remake—only one Story row appears so you do not play both for plot.

Optional & related

More timelines

Other release-order and story-order guides on this site.