GameTimeline

Release & story order

Paper Mario timeline

Paper Mario from the 2001 N64 original through The Origami King (2020)—US release dates, classic partner-based RPG continuity vs the Sticker Star reboot branch, and FAQ for Super Paper Mario, TTYD Switch remake, and Mario & Luigi crossovers.

Updated July 2026

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Release order Story order

Release order

When Intelligent Systems shipped each chapter—Paper Mario (2001), The Thousand-Year Door (2004), Super Paper Mario (2007), then the Sticker Star reboot trio (2012–2020). Mario & Luigi crossovers and Paper Jam are FAQ-only.

  • Classic saga → Story tab: Paper Mario → TTYD → Super Paper Mario
  • Release order → includes Sticker Star reboot trio after SPM
  • Newcomers → TTYD Switch remake or Origami King—FAQ trade-offs
  • Mario & Luigi series—separate franchise—FAQ
Story order tips

Classic RPG saga: Paper Mario → The Thousand-Year Door → Super Paper Mario. Release order includes Sticker Star, Color Splash, and The Origami King as a separate reboot branch—Story order excludes them.

  • Core canon: Paper Mario → TTYD → Super Paper Mario
  • Sticker Star branch ignores partners—separate on Story order
  • TTYD is direct sequel tone to Paper Mario—play both first
  • On Story order, Super Paper Mario may be hidden—reveal when ready

Timeline

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

Release order

  1. Paper Mario

    Paper Mario

    N64RPGMainline

    Paper Mario (N64) folds RPG partners into a papercraft Mushroom Kingdom—Chapter structure with Bowser kidnapping Peach. Release tab year here is 2001.

    Overview
    Action-command battles and stickerbook charm that launched Intelligent Systems' Paper line. Sequel debates still measure new games against what Paper Mario established.
    In-game setting
    Series start. Story continues into TTYD then Super Paper Mario.
    Should you play it?
    Classic opener. Related RPGs: Mario & Luigi; platform cousins: Mario. Pair Paper Mario with startHere guidance before optional side rows.
    Release date
    US February 5, 2001 (N64). Platforms called out for this beat: N64.
  2. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

    Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

    GCRPGMainline

    Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is the GameCube peak—Rogueport chapters, audience battles, and beloved partners. Release tab year here is 2004.

    Overview
    Stage-battle crowd mechanics and denser writing many fans call the series best. Sequel debates still measure new games against what Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door established.
    In-game setting
    Story after N64 Paper Mario. Switch remake (2024) is the modern way—FAQ if listed elsewhere.
    Should you play it?
    Priority play on any Paper path. Pair Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door with startHere guidance before optional side rows.
    Release date
    US October 11, 2004 (GameCube). Platforms called out for this beat: GC.
  3. Super Paper Mario

    Super Paper Mario

    WiiPlatformer-RPGMainline

    Super Paper Mario flips between 2D/3D on Wii—quirky multiverse chapters with Count Bleck. Release tab year here is 2007.

    Overview
    Dimension flip platform-RPG hybrid; tonal shift from pure turn-based Paper. Sequel debates still measure new games against what Super Paper Mario established.
    In-game setting
    Story after TTYD on this page's RPG-focused track. Continuity with Super Paper Mario is easiest if you play neighboring required rows first.
    Should you play it?
    Keep for story continuity; later sticker/color games diverge mechanically. Pair Super Paper Mario with startHere guidance before optional side rows.
    Release date
    US April 9, 2007 (Wii). Platforms called out for this beat: Wii.
  4. Paper Mario: Sticker Star

    Paper Mario: Sticker Star

    3DSRPGReboot

    Paper Mario: Sticker Star rebuilds battles around sticker inventory on 3DS—divisive puzzle-combat redesign. Release tab year here is 2012.

    Overview
    Thing stickers and world objects as battle tools; lighter RPG stats. Sequel debates still measure new games against what Paper Mario: Sticker Star established.
    In-game setting
    Release milestone; not on this page's slim Story track (stops at Super).
    Should you play it?
    Optional for lore; play if you want post-Super Paper history. Pair Paper Mario: Sticker Star with startHere guidance before optional side rows.
    Release date
    US November 11, 2012 (3DS). Platforms called out for this beat: 3DS.
  5. Paper Mario: Color Splash

    Paper Mario: Color Splash

    Wii URPGReboot

    Paper Mario: Color Splash paints Wii U levels with paint hammers and card battles—another systems experiment. Release tab year here is 2016.

    Overview
    Paint restoration traversal plus card-based strikes. Sequel debates still measure new games against what Paper Mario: Color Splash established.
    In-game setting
    Release-only on this timeline's Story cut. Continuity with Paper Mario: Color Splash is easiest if you play neighboring required rows first.
    Should you play it?
    Completionist row between Sticker Star and Origami King. Pair Paper Mario: Color Splash with startHere guidance before optional side rows.
    Release date
    US October 7, 2016 (Wii U). Platforms called out for this beat: Wii U.
  6. Paper Mario: The Origami King

    Paper Mario: The Origami King

    SwitchRPGReboot

    Paper Mario: The Origami King folds Switch open-world ring battles against an origami King Olly threat. Release tab year here is 2020.

    Overview
    Circular positioning combat and large overworld set pieces. Sequel debates still measure new games against what Paper Mario: The Origami King established.
    In-game setting
    Latest Release mainline as of 2026; outside slim Story trio on this page.
    Should you play it?
    Modern Paper entry; Story tab still emphasizes classic N64→TTYD→Super path. Pair Paper Mario: The Origami King with startHere guidance before optional side rows.
    Release date
    US July 17, 2020 (Switch). Platforms called out for this beat: Switch.

FAQ

Release vs story order, classic vs Sticker Star reboot, TTYD remake, and spin-offs.

Release order

Release order follows US launch dates and includes Sticker Star, Color Splash, and The Origami King (2012–2020 reboot branch) after Super Paper Mario. Story order is the classic partner RPG saga: Paper Mario → The Thousand-Year Door → Super Paper Mario—excluding the Sticker Star trio.

Classic path: Paper Mario (NSO N64) → The Thousand-Year Door (Switch remake) → Super Paper Mario (Wii/NSO). Modern path: Origami King or TTYD remake alone—valid entry points. Reboot branch: Sticker Star → Color Splash → Origami King—optional side arc—FAQ.

Story & canon

Sticker Star (2012) shifted to sticker/card combat without classic partners—fans treat it as a soft reboot. Color Splash and The Origami King continue that design branch. They appear on Release order with a Reboot tag but not on Story order with TTYD.

Super Paper Mario is on both Release and Story order as the third classic chapter—after TTYD, before the Sticker Star reboot. It mixes platforming with an RPG plot (Count Bleck, the Void). Play it last on Story order before optional reboot games.

Remasters & ports

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (2024, Switch) remasters the 2004 GameCube game—same story, not a separate Release or Story row. Buy the remake instead of GC hardware for TTYD in 2026.

Optional & related

More timelines

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