Here's the thing about games: you can never have enough. No matter how many incredible virtual worlds we've experienced, there's always something new on the horizon to get us excited for the next big game all over again. Even though there are plenty of stellar games to enjoy in the here and now, it's never too early to get excited for what's coming, and what could be.

Here's a look at our most anticipated games coming in 2016 and beyond, from original ideas like ReCore and Horizon: Zero Dawn to high-profile sequels such as Uncharted 4, Dishonored 2, and Mass Effect: Andromeda. It's going to be another great year for gaming - just try not to think about how long it'll be until we finally get to play these excellent-looking titles.

It’s taken years for Harmonix to take another shot at Amplitude, a music-and-rhythm game cherished fiercely by the people who actually played it back when it launched on PlayStation 2. Its new incarnation is aimed precisely at that crowd of longtime supporters, in part because they’re the ones paying for it through Kickstarter, and in part because it’s a game so evocative of the PS2’s more experimental days. In 2016 we’ll see those days modernized by Harmonix in a gorgeous, abstract rhythm game about blasting down a space highway, triggering pulsating notes, switching tracks and becoming immersed in the studio’s in-house electronic music.

Available: January 2016 (PS4), Early 2016 (PS3)

Every day is opposite day in XCOM 2. In this alternate history to XCOM: Enemy Unknown, the rogue organization XCOM is now the Rebellion to the aliens’ Empire. Earth has been overrun. The aliens now occupy our planet, forcing XCOM to become a leaner, faster operation. Firaxis' Greg Foertsch told us this new game is all about hit-and-run tactics. Your enemies outnumber you, are better armed, and have the home field advantage, so you need to hit 'em fast and get the hell out before backup arrives. As I noted in my , "XCOM: Enemy Within tried to reinforce a more frantic pace by introducing MELD. XCOM 2 bakes this playstyle into the core of its design."

Available: February 5 (PC, Mac)

It's no secret that Gearbox has struggled to step out from the shadow of its own massively successful Borderlands series. The studio's other projects (such as finishing Duke Nukem Forever and Aliens: Colonial Marines) have been met with … less than positive reception. Hopefully Battleborn, a unique spin on the co-op shooter formula that made Borderlands so popular, can turn things around. While it's not a MOBA per se, it certainly wears the influence of the genre on its sleeve to create a tightly-controlled experience that makes each level feel more directed and less meandering than its open-world predecessors. With tons of colorful characters to choose from and a distinct flair for personality, this may be the best chance Gearbox has to prove they're not a one-franchise wonder.

Available: February 9 (PS4, Xbox One, PC)

Deus Ex: Human Revolution was way better than it had any right to be. It also opened in 2007, an era when every series under the sun from RPGs to strategy games were being transformed into basic shooters. Instead of a dumb FPS, Human Revolution was an expert blend of story, role-playing, action and stealth. sees the same team of creators emboldened by their success and working on an even grander scale.

Available: February 23 (PS4, Xbox One, PC)

It's always nice to see a cult classic get a second chance in the spotlight. The original Mirror's Edge delivered the critically-praised and novel concept of a first-person parkour game, and those who played it generally loved it. Unfortunately, those numbers were a bit on the low side, and it looked like we would never get the chance to see the ideas present in Mirror's Edge refined into something better. Imagine our surprise when Mirror's Edge Catalyst appeared - this reboot developed by DICE (Battlefield 4, Battlefront) in the Frostbite 3 engine (used by most of EA's recent games, including the aforementioned Battlefield 4 and Battlefront) looks good enough to get us freerunning again.

Available: February 23 (PS4, Xbox One, PC)

A deadly virus has broken out and spread across the United States on Black Friday (and no, it's not amiibo fever), causing the government to collapse in under a week. In response, what remains of an organization called The Division must restore order and help prevent any further chaos. Of course, this means exploring a derelict New York City with friends and hunting for awesome loot, a la Destiny - though your friends might not stick around if you backstab them in the game's many PvP Dark Zones.

Available: March 8 (PS4, Xbox One, PC)

The Ghosts are back, and this time they’re free to roam the land, taking down tangoes as they see fit. is an open-world co-op military shooter, where you choose how to approach each mission. It’s designed for squads of four, and friends can drop-in to help out at any time, although the AI will take over if you just want to solo the game. It takes plenty of cues from Ubi’s other action games, like Far Cry and Assassin’s Creed, so expect stacks of mini-missions, side-ops, and different ways to approach each objective. Probably no elephants or honey badgers, though (unfortunately).

Available: TBA (PS4, Xbox One, PC)

Following a delay that pushed out of the 2015 holiday season, A Thief's End has a firm release date in March 2016, so everyone has three more months to emotionally prepare for the end of Nathan Drake. Of course, it's not certain that's what the title means - Nathan's long-lost brother Sam (new to the series and played by Troy Baker) also appears to be a thief, so it's anyone's guess which thief will be 'ending'. What we know for sure is that Sam convinces Drake to return to the globe-trotting, treasure-pilfering life for one last job off the coast of Madagascar. Sully is in tow for optimal joke making, and per the E3 demo we get plenty of the intense car chases we've come to love from Drake's adventures. Elena has yet to make an appearance, but no need to worry just yet - what would the last Uncharted game be without Elena? Sob.

Available: March 18 (PS4)

After breathing new life into the fighting game genre with 2008's Street Fighter 4, developer Capcom now finds itself in an interesting position with its upcoming sequel. SF4 found great success in going back to the basics, in keeping things simple. But sequels demand new ideas, and delivers by replacing the focus attack mechanic with three new designs: V-Triggers, V-Skills, and V-Reversals. So far, the result feels like a mix between Injustice: Gods Among Us and the Street Fighter Alpha series, with a heavy focus on giving each fighter individualized gimmicks. And if that doesn't get you pumped, well, there's always R. Mika.

Available: March (PS4, PC)

Quantum Break represents a big departure for Remedy - it’s not a story about a Mister Q. Break. As for the rest, well, it’s totally what you’d want from the creators of Max Payne and Alan Wake (starring Max Payne and Alan Wake, respectively): slick third-person action, extravagant graphics, environmental catastrophes, and a pulpy time-travel story driving you from one cliffhanger to the next. Quantum Break also has a live-action television component interspersed with gameplay episodes, balancing the developer’s desire to not only hook you on an unfurling plot, but to respect the fact that you probably don’t have time to watch and play the whole thing in one sitting. Not that it’ll be any less hard to put down, going by Remedy’s previous games.

Available: April 5, 2016 (Xbox One)

Once upon a time, Rare fans dreamed of a game they awkwardly dubbed 'Banjo-Threeie' - basically, the next Banjo-Kazooie game after the stellar Banjo-Tooie. Unfortunately, that game never materialized (Nuts and Bolts doesn't count). But next year, Yooka-Laylee - a new mascot-happy platformer made by a group of ex-Rare devs called Playtonic Games - promises to hit fans right in the nostalgia with a cheeky, cartoony, collect-a-thon-y return to form. If screenshots from the game's Kickstarter campaign are any hint, expect a 3D adventure-platformer where a bat and chameleon duo collect golden book pages called "Pagies" to expand the world around them. Add in that the character designer, environmental artist, and composers from Rare's good 'ol days are also on the project, and I'm starting to feel some deja vu.

Available: October (PS4, Xbox One, Wii U, PC, Mac)

A follow-up to the excellent classic role-playing game Divinity: Original Sin, this sequel easily sailed past its Kickstarter goal and looks set to build on the impressive manipulation tactics set by its predecessor. This time out, the theme is “how your origins affect who you are and what chances you get in life,” and you’ll be able to exploit character weaknesses to achieve your goals. If the first game is anything to go by, you can expect to get up to a lot of magic-based mischief.

Available: December (PC)

One of the most underrated open-world playgrounds is primed to make a hell of a comeback in 2016. The urban sandbox of the Crackdown universe is all about taking down crime lords in the most egregious, property-obliterating ways you can think of - and with the power of the Xbox One backing it, .

Available: TBA (Xbox One)

The master is back. After taking a supporting role on the development of Dark Souls 2, From Software's Hidetaka Miyazaki is back in the director's chair for the next (and last) installment in the Dark Souls saga. The grand finale to this legendary action-RPG franchise has a lot to live up to, and it's interesting that there seems to be a lot of Bloodborne's DNA in its make-up. So expect not only demon-stabbing, slashing and flaming, but also some of the best enemy designs around. No pressure, then.

Available: TBA (PS4, Xbox One, PC)

If you're looking for blood, gore, shotguns, and more gore, the new Doom looks like it has all of those bases covered. In the E3 2015 gameplay demo, we finally got to see Doom in action and it wasn’t long before we were seeing demons decapitated by shotgun blasts and ghouls being dismembered with a chainsaw. Doom looks like it's staying true to ye old shooter mechanics of yore, forcing you to pick up armor and health packs, but there is new flair added to the shooting with gruesome execution moves that allow you to stomp heads and rip the arms off of stunned enemies. Oh, the joy.

Available: TBA (PS4, Xbox One, PC)

During Bethesda's first ever E3 press conference, the company with announcements for Doom, Fallout 4… and Dishonored 2, sequel to the 2012 gaspunk sneak-a-thon Dishonored, right alongside. Set ten-plus years after the end of the first game, Dishonored 2 will feature two main characters: Corvo, our familiar protagonist, and Emily Kaldwin, his young charge-turned-magical-Assassin. Each will have their own storyline and set of powers, and if Dishonored 2's E3 trailer is any indication, you can be just as ruthless no matter who you choose.

Available: Spring (PS4, Xbox One, PC)

Media Molecule made a name for itself with off-the-wall game concepts populated by universally appealing characters, as seen in LittleBigPlanet and Tearaway. But Dreams is definitely its most experimental project yet, even by the studio's eccentric standards. What little we've seen of this surreal experience involves shaping objects and vignettes from a highly moldable, clay-like material, which can then be animated through a sort of PS4 puppetry and shared with other users (a la LBP). The idea is that you'll eventually wander through a string of completely unalike, ethereal visions, but how that'll function in terms of actual gameplay is still a mystery.

Available: TBA (PS4)

When Final Fantasy 15 arrives in 2016, it will have officially been in development for ten years. Despite name changes, platform shifts, and a brand new director taking over the game, it’s actually looking like it might have been worth the wait. Director Hajime Tabata has a flair for taking risks with Square Enix’s flagship series, as with the strange mix of manga melodrama and war documentary in his most recent release, Final Fantasy Type-0. The emerging themes of bombastic anime action and lend themselves nicely to a road trip story full of cars, camping, and magic roadside diners. All that helps make Final Fantasy XV an ambitious, truly unique entry not just in the series, but in the role-playing genre as a whole.

Available: TBA (PS4, Xbox One)

Gears is back, and while the series over time evolved into a brotastic locust-filled curb-stomp-fest (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing) many of us are excited that Gears of War 4 will bring back the darker, horror-tinged vibe that the series initially started out with. There's not much to know at this point other than the fact that the two leads, Kait and JD, are fighting bizarre creatures in courtyards and dark corridors with familiar weapons. The studio responsible for the franchise, now renamed to The Coalition, is led by Rod Fergusson, the former Director of Production at Epic Games, who has been working on the series since the first game.

Available: Holiday 2016 (Xbox One)

Halo Wars 2 ranks pretty high up there on the list of 'sequels we never expected to happen in 2016'. The first Halo Wars, while not a bad game, didn't exactly light the fires of passion in either the Halo fanbase or RTS players - partly due to its limited tactics and console exclusivity. Halo Wars 2 looks to change that in a couple of very important ways. First, it's coming to Xbox One and PC, and second, it's being developed by Creative Assembly, the studio behind the Total War franchise. Those guys and gals know their stuff, and it gives hope that Halo Wars 2 will be more complex and honor the RTS genre in a stronger way than its predecessor.

Available: Fall 2016 (Xbox One, PC)

It’s been a long and troubled development but Homefront: The Revolution is finally seeing the light of day and, from what we’ve played, it’s shaping up nicely. A sprawling open world city makes it feel like Far Cry with guerilla warfare and that’s just fine. Philadelphia in 2029 is ruled by the Greater Korean Republic and it’s you and a bundle of other (mostly leather clad) rebels taking on the city with explosives in hand. Just like Mad Max, everything goes boom here and there’s even remote-controlled explosive devices to take on the technologically-superior enemy. Dambusters is concentrating on weapon customization with every part of your weapon able to be satisfyingly swapped out for other bits. The action is suitably chaotic, too, with enemy drones sweeping in and sending you running for cover to replan your attack. Add in a motorbike to cross the city and Orwellian areas of the map to explore and this is an open world we’re excited to explore.

Available: TBA (PS4, Xbox One, PC)

This is just about the last game you'd expect from the team behind Killzone: a post-apocalyptic adventure game where you play as a young woman hunting robot dinosaurs. That's the concept behind (which we'll just be calling 'Horizon', thank you very much), where you'll be hunting mechanical prey with nothing but a bow, arrows, and whatever other gear you can collect from the object of your hunt. Since you have only the most primitive equipment to work with in this hostile world, you'll have to be clever about how you use it, setting traps or using stealth in places when a direct confrontation means death between some beastie’s mechanical jaws. Little is known about the story, but the sincere, unflinching way it approaches its premise (Robot. Dinosaurs.) more than has our attention.

Available: TBA (PS4)

After departing Epic Games in 2012, Cliff Bleszinski went on to start his own studio, Boss Key Productions. LawBreakers is the first effort from the new studio: a fast, futuristic, free-to-play arena shooter that harkens back to the days of like Unreal Tournament and Quake. LawBreakers evokes those classics' relentless pacing and verticality (yes, it's even got rocket-jumping), but mimics contemporary shooters like Overwatch and Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 in that you play as unique characters with special abilities. We're excited for LawBreakers' gorgeous, graceful carnage, though it remains to be seen how publisher Nexon will handle the game's microtransactions.

Available: TBA (PC)

LEGO Marvel’s Avengers assemble for the second time in this goofy, co-op friendly format but now, it’s based off the recent Marvel movies The Avengers and Avengers: Age of Ultron as well as the comics. It’s meant to be a celebration of everything Avengers related all in one - even Stan Lee will make an appearance as Iron Stan. It’ll likely be everything that you know and love about LEGO games, because Traveller’s Tales has got this formula nailed down.

Available: January 26 (Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS4, PS3, PS Vita, 3DS, Wii U, PC)

LEGO Worlds is already available on Steam Early Access and it’s what you picture it to be, a sandbox game that allows you to build an entire worlds made up of LEGO Bricks. Finally! The worlds are procedurally generated and you have landscaping tools carve out the LEGO paradise that you’ve always dreamed of. At least you never run the risk of stepping on stray pieces, because that hurts.

Available: TBA (PC, TBD)

It's easy to forget that Mario - the mustachioed mascot who sold millions by platforming through the Mushroom Kingdom - stars in some of the wittiest, most enjoy RPGs available. Both the Paper Mario and Mario Luigi games are known for their wry humor and their timing attacks - hitting a button in time with an attack to deal extra damage. Jam is an RPG mashup of both Mario role-playing universes. Considering the Paper Mario series has been in a weird place with its last two entries, hopefully this collaboration will return it to its RPG roots.

Available: Spring 2016 (3DS)

Commander Shepard's story is over and the Reaper invasion is behind us. Now what is the human race to do? Explore space, obviously. If Star Trek has taught us anything, it's that you can have some incredible adventures out in deep space. In Mass Effect: Andromeda, you take on the role of a new main character as he or she (or maybe it?) explores the Milky Way's neighboring galaxy Andromeda. Not much is known about the game yet, but we have seen glimpses of what appears to be a Mako-like land rover and the return of omni blades.

Available: Q4 2016 (PS4, Xbox One, PC)

Mega Man purists might have a tough time making the transition from the classic Blue Bomber to the new android Beck, but the spirit of the fighting robot is definitely in Mighty No. 9. The classic side-scrolling shooting and platforming gameplay has a new home, but this spiritual successor is still under the watchful eye of Mega Man creator Keiji Inafune. After beating each boss, Beck earns Mighty Skills that allow him to take additional forms (including a tank), or morph his arms to gain magnetic powers. Each new ability gives him access to previously closed off areas and exposes enemy weak points.

Available: March (PC, Xbox One, PS4, Xbox 360, PS3, Wii U, Vita, 3DS)

When it comes to Kirkman’s zombies, we’ve been from the sublime work of Telltale to the ridiculous awfulness that was Terminal Reality’s Survival Instinct. Overkill’s The Walking Dead wants to deliver the undead experience we really need and with the full support of Robert Kirkman himself, the Payday 2 devs might just deliver something (bloody) special. This slice of zombie action is all about co-op in post-apocalyptic Washington and is set in the comic book universe, not the TV show. It’s an FPS but has elements of stealth, survival horror and good old headshots as you and a friend attempt to survive in a world more than a bit hungry for your brains. We’ve not seen quite enough to know if Overkill can topple Telltale but it looks like it’s going to be gorily exciting to find out.

Available: TBA (PS4, Xbox One, PC)

Sometimes, suburbia just isn't big enough to contain an all-out war between the walking dead and sentient plant-life. Sometimes, you need to take the fight to the moon. Garden Warfare 2 is the follow-up to the team-based, third-person, surprisingly fun shooter based on Popcap's essential tower defense game, adding a bevy of fresh classes and chaos-encouraging arenas. Standout newcomers include a rapid-firing stalk of corn and a support-spell-casting rose for the Plants, while the Zombies have recruited an undead-piloted mech suit and a rotting superhero to their squad. Whether you're engaging in a 24-player melee or some lighthearted 4-player co-op, this backyard carnage is sure to be a hoot.

Available: TBA (PS4, Xbox One, PC)

Continuing the theme of post-apocalyptic robo-wildlife from Horizon, ReCore stars a girl and her mechanical dog-friend-thing with a plasma globe for a stomach, as they explore the wastes and fight other metal-based fiends. While not a lot has been revealed, there’s a mechanic that lets you insert your companion’s core into other robots for new abilities. It’s also being made by Keiji Inafune (the man behind Mega Man) and the makers of Metroid, so you can likely expect more than just your average run-and-shoot game.

Available: June 2016 (Xbox One)

Insomniac’s AAA reimagining of the original Ratchet and Clank, debuting alongside a full-blown movie based on the same source material, easily exceeds the usual parameters we apply to ‘remakes.’ Though the new Ratchet Clank brings its playful blend of platforming and weird weapons to planets we’ve seen before, we haven’t quite seen them in such a cutting-edge display of the PS4’s capabilities. Insomniac has also completely modernized the controls and camera, redone every cutscene to a Hollywood calibre and introduced new oddball guns. And yes, Mr. Zurkon is here too.

Available: April 16, 2016 (PS4)

You might be familiar with the concept of the , where standout games have been locked away on Nintendo's sixth-generation console seemingly for all time. Luckily, one longtime inmate is finally being freed thanks to Resident Evil Origins Collection, which bundles an HD remake of the GameCube prequel Resident Evil Zero with 2015's re-remake Resident Evil HD. Whether or not you're following the unlikely duo of Rebecca Chambers and Billy Coen for the first time, the prospect of blasting giant mutant tarantulas on a speeding train in glorious 1080p is pretty damn enticing.

Available: January 22 (PS4, Xbox One, PC)

When Hideki 'I just blocked you on Twitter' Kamiya makes a game, you should pay attention. He's the man behind Resident Evil 2, Devil May Cry, Viewtiful Joe, Okami, Bayonetta… are you seeing the trend here? Almost everything the guy touches turns to gold. Scalebound is Platinum's first Action RPG, incorporating elements of the team's trademark free-brawling action, only now you've got a dragon at your side, helping you out. The demos so far have all looked far too good to be true (surely no game can really handle all that climbing on beasties in a fast-paced action format), but it seems increasingly likely this will be another top-drawer hit. Oh, also check your Twitter - I hear Kamiya just blocked you.

Available: TBA (Xbox One)

Made up of ex-Bioshock developers, indie studio Fullbright used its expertise in crafting believable spaces filled with incredible detail and environmental storytelling with its breakout hit, Gone Home. Now, Fullbright reaches for the stars with Tacoma, a game set on a space station hundreds of thousands of miles from Earth. We don’t know much about Tacoma yet, but chances are good that you'll walk around the station hunting for clues, and solving some puzzles while an engrossing, non-linear narrative washes over you.

Available: 2016 (Xbox One, PC)

It's almost too good to be true. Following eight years in development and radio silence on its progress for the last three, it seemed like The Last Guardian would forever be a pipedream, the stuff that Team Ico fans sigh over in moments of quiet sehnsucht. But during E3 2015, Sony dropped a bombshell by revealing that not only is The Last Guardian alive, it's nearing completion and coming to PS4 in 2016. In The Last Guardian, you play as a young boy exploring a calmly empty fantasy world alongside his giant eagle-lion-dog, who learns to help you solve puzzles with a little training. Most of the game is yet mysterious, but the fact that its existence is not is probably the best news Ico and Colossus fans have heard in many moons.

Available: TBA (PS4)

What Remains of Edith Finch is by the creators of Unfinished Swan, the game where you lob black paint all over the place to discover the world in front of you. Edith Finch is visually different (less paint), but there is a similar element of discovery, as you (Edith) move through the world from a first-person perspective and unravel the story of your cursed family. It’s a series of short stories where you get to experience the lives of various family members, leading up to their death. Cheery, isn’t it? It's actually quite unsettling, but fascinating.

Available: TBA (PS4)

When I first met Mario in the arcade version of Donkey Kong, he was but a simple carpenter, wearing red overalls, a matching red hat, a blue shirt, and work boots. He may have been fighting a giant monkey, but Mario still felt too common to have a dense collection of costumes, let alone become a cosplayer. What a difference three decades makes.

This November sees add a cat outfit to Mario’s already huge collection of special power-enhancing clothes. A new addition to the dozens of costumes Mario makes this fitting time for GamesRadar to recount the dozens of different super-powered clothes Mario has worn over the years. Believe it or not, even I had forgotten a couple of these, though it’s hard to forget...

First seen: Super Mario Bros.

For many players in the west, Fire Mario was their introduction to the plumber, as the hero is wearing the outfit on the Super Mario Bros. box art. The fire-hurling combo of red and white have appeared in the majority of core Mario games, though the colors flipped post-Super Mario Bros. Super Mario Bros. 3 was one of the few times the red and white design was replaced, though remakes of SMB3 exchanged the all-orange attire with the standard look.

First seen: Super Mario Bros. 3

The second Super Mario Bros.--both US and Japanese versions--didn’t add any new costumes, so Super Mario Bros. 3 chose to bring them back with a vengeance. Chief among them was the cover-featured Raccoon Mario. Like a sexy Halloween costume, Mario simply adds ears and a tail to normal clothes, but with the added benefit of flight. The raccoon outfit lay dormant for years until it returned in New Super Mario Bros. 2. The reappearance was likely hastened by the popular return of...

First seen: Super Mario Bros. 3

Tanooki Mario doesn’t believe in half measures. If you’re going to dress as a magical raccoon, it’s best to go all the way with the furry getup. Based on Japanese myth, Tanooki Mario can not only fly, but also transform into a statue, and both those skills were recreated in Super Mario 3D Land. While the Tanooki Suit was pretty rare in Super Mario Bros. 3, the useful transformation was everywhere in 3D land, and it returns in Super Mario 3D World.

First seen: Super Mario Bros. 3

This green ensemble was fun, but it was also hard to handle. Frog Mario moved pretty well underwater, but his stuttering half-steps weren’t all that useful on land. About as rare as the Tanooki Suit, Frog Mario has yet to make a return outside of an allusion in Paper Mario: Sticker Star. If it ever does, we hope Nintendo can find a better approach to the controls.

First seen: Super Mario Bros. 3

This costume gave Mario a more sinister edge, with him stealing the powers of one of his most annoying enemies to use against them. Also hard to find, Hammer Mario could fling his unlimited supply of hammers as well as his enemies, plus it gave him a handy shell to hide in. Later games had spiritual successors to this costume, but the Hammer Bros. Suit has yet to truly return.

First seen: Super Mario World

Nintendo pushed all of Mario’s animal wardrobe to the back of the closet for Super Mario World. Almost all the old power-ups took a break to make room for Yoshi, and Mario’s flying ability was now tied to a simple yellow cape. The look certainly made Mario look more “Super,” but it was a little too simple for the then-new 16-bit console. Outside of Mario’s reflect move in Smash Bros., the cape has made few recent appearance, which is odd given how many retro powers appeared in recent Mario titles.

First seen: Super Mario Land 2

Super Mario Land was one of the few traditional Mario games headed by someone other than Shigeru Miyamoto, and that situation lead to some odd, one off outfits. The most prominently featured was Rabbit Mario. The bunny ears affixed to his head slowed descent on jumps just like the raccoon tail, but without the added benefit of flight. Because, as we all know, rabbits can’t fly, unlike raccoons.

First seen: Super Mario Land 2

Super Mario Galaxy seems to suggest that Mario can easily breathe in space, but Super Mario Land 2 makes that look like a recent development. In SML2’s few outer space stages, Mario dons a traditional space suit that would likely meet NASA regulations. Perhaps back then Mario could breathe in space, he was just being overly cautious.

First seen: Super Mario Land 2

Fire power-ups in Super Mario Land 2 gave the developers a real challenge. Without any colors beyond spinach green available for the Game Boy, how could the game tell players about the fire ability without red and white coloring? That’s where Mario gaudy feather comes in. It works great as a visual indicator of the power-up, but once Game Boy’s color pallette died out, so did this outfit.

First seen: Super Mario 64

Super Mario 64 brought Mario (and the platforming genre) into three dimensions, but in the switch over he lost much of his flare for fashion. The full bodied outfits and matching power-ups were replaced by timed abilities like the understated wing cap. Even if the flight was incredibly freeing, later entries ditched the cap when Mario took to the air.

First seen: Super Mario 64.

CGI graphics were still pretty novel in 1996, so Mario’s new invincibility power-up bit the style of Terminator 2’s T-1000, making his body a metallic, reflective surface. It made Mario temporarily safe from harm, but it also slowed him down considerably. Though Mario has dropped that power-up, Metal Mario has been spun off into his own character, one that frequently appears in Smash Bros. and sports games.

First seen: Super Mario Sunshine

Look, let's not insult the guy, but Mario just looks weird in short sleeves. He may be on vacation, but it feels odd to see that much bare skin on the guy, particularly when a talking water tank is on his back. Despite Mario’s attempts to accessorize with F.L.U.D.D., the item has only made a return appearances as a special attack in recent Smash Bros. games.

First seen: Super Mario Galaxy

After more than a decade of subtler transformations, Super Mario Galaxy was a welcome return to Super Mario Bros. 3’s tradition of introducing a ton of new power-ups. First up is Mario’s fuzzy new bee outfit, which gives him limited flight and the ability to stick to walls, though it isn’t very useful outside the honeycomb. And then there’s the unfortunate side effect of the costume vanishing when it touches water.

First seen: Super Mario Galaxy

The first Galaxy showed players that Mario looks great as a ghost, and we were able to see it happen without Mario dying. This recent addition changed Mario into his classic ghostly enemy, giving Boo Mario the power to turn invisible and float through walls. And it’s such a convincing outfit that it even scares Luigi (though he’s pretty high strung to begin with).

First seen: Super Mario Galaxy

This Mario transformation reminds me of the pretty, but functionally useless outfits that define artsy, high fashion. Mario looks avant garde wrapped in metal, but he can’t really get around all that well. That’s likely a reason that Spring Mario only appears in a handful of stages.

First seen: Super Mario Galaxy

How did it take until 2007 to have an Ice Mario? Despite it being the logical response to Fire Mario, the Ice Power didn’t appear until Super Mario Galaxy. Not only could Mario freeze enemies with balls of ice, he also became a skilled ice skater. When this power appeared in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, the icy skin was replaced with a more traditional red and blue pattern.

First seen: Super Mario Galaxy

Galaxy granted Mario the limited ability to fly whenever he shot out a star portal, but his black and red ensemble greatly expanded that power. It functioned pretty much like 64’s Wing Cap, but appeared even less. And unlike the other Galaxy powers, this form did not return in the sequel.

First seen: New Super Mario Bros. Wii

New Super Mario Bros. Wii marked the first original 2D Mario game on a console since World, and it made up for lost time by adding a couple new abilities to Mario’s wardrobe. First up was the propeller power-up. It dressed Mario in jumpsuit akin to a skydivers and added a large helmet with a propeller on top. Not only could the power send Mario into the clouds, but other characters could grab onto his feet to ride along with him.

First seen: New Super Mario Bros. Wii

Ice Mario is all well and good, but wouldn't you like to throw ice balls and slide on your tummy at intense speeds? That’s what the adorable Penguin Suit offered Mario and friends. It’s also pretty tough, as it can smash through blocks without scratching a flipper.

First seen: Super Mario Galaxy 2

Galaxy 2 brought back virtually every ability from the first game, plus it added Yoshi to the sub-series, and yet it still found room for a couple more new outfits. First up the rough and ready Rock Mario. The change of clothes wasn’t too useful when walking around, but if you give Rock Mario enough space, he can transform into a huge boulder, propelling himself forward at high speeds.

First seen: Super Mario Galaxy 2.

On the other end of Galaxy 2’s weight spectrum is Cloud Mario. The fluffy, cottony garb made Mario light enough to walk on clouds with little effort, and with a little shake of the Wii Remote, he could create happy little clouds of his own. The power-up hasn’t appeared since, save for an unlockable Mii costume in Mario Power Tennis.

First seen: Super Mario 3D Land

3D Land was primarily a celebration of the long-awaited return of Tanooki Mario, but the devs found time to create another transformation, one that’s been long overdue. Boomerang Bros. have been attacking Mario since the third game, and Boomerang Mario gave players a chance to finally return the favor. Let’s hope this one makes more returns than Hammer Mario.

First seen: New Super Mario Bros. 2

The Wu Tang Clan once rapped ”Cash rules everything around me,” and that’s very true for New Super Mario Bros. 2. The games hook was challenging players to collect as many coins as possible, which the Gold Mario transformation really helps with. It grant Mario with the Midas touch, changing every block his fireballs touch into coins. And in a strange insult to Luigi, this power-up turns the green one silver, further illustrating his second place status to Mario.

First seen: New Super Mario Bros. U

You’d think Mario wouldn’t need anymore flying rodents after raccoons and tanookis, but Wii U launch game New Super Mario Bros. U added squirrels to the menagerie. To be honest, the gliding powers of Flying Squirrel Mario might be the most logical flight ability he’s ever had. Even more logical is the power-up’s ability to hold onto walls, something its has in common with...

First seen: Super Mario 3D World

Mario’s cat transformation reaches new heights of cuteness, and it even changes Mario’s behavior. He starts meowing, running on all four, and climbing walls with his new claws. Cat Mario is also great at destroying things, though he mainly uses it on Goombas, unlike real cats, who choose to focus on ruining your most prized possessions.

First seen: Super Mario 3D World

The only thing better than one Mario is two Marios, right? Or three, or four - depending on how many Double Cherry power-ups you can snag without losing any of your doppelgangers, you can amass the beginnings of a small clone army. It's also handy to know that any fatal touch won't bring you to a halt as long as you've got a backup Mario waiting in the wings, and making it to the end of a level with all your copies still intact feels amazing. Go team!