Seriously. I cannot comprehend how all these other games are even being considered.
Mario 1 - classic
Mario 2 - not so classic, but fun and a top seller nonetheless
Mario 3 - in just about everybody's top 3 (usually at number 1)
Super Mario World - in just about everybody's top 5
Super Mario 64 - the game that made 3D gaming (in just about everybody's top 5)
Super Mario Sunshine - no so classic, but still better than most games out there
New Super Mario Bros. - the best 2D platformer of the past 10 or so years
Super Mario Galaxy - 3D platforming perfected
Platformers are great but fighters defined the consoles back in the day...Who remembers playing DreamCast Soul Caliber or Power Stone...Power Stone was the ^^^^!
Street Figter, Tekken, Virtua Fighter, Soul Caliber, Power Stone...
Not only does he have many awesome RPGs but he also has given us the Mario Party series, Super Smash Bro. series, Mario Kart series and then other favorites such as Mario golf, baseball, and soccer.