The Super Mario series was pivotal to not just Nintendo as a developer and publisher, but it paved the way for the gaming industry to evolve into the juggernaut it is today in the modern era. People continue to love the games and characters after decades thanks to their distinct personalities, iconic designs, and welcoming vibes.
When it comes to villains in the Super Mario universe most people picture either Bowser, Boo, or a number of the smaller henchman found in the games. It's a shame because there are dozens of other underutilized and underused villains in the Super Mario series that are too great to live on the sidelines.
8 Rawk Hawk
A large and powerful enemy players come across in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door happens to be a bulky monochromatic bird named Rawk Hawk. This guy is a giant brute who loves to wrestle and often lets his arrogance get the best of him.
Some of the best bosses throughout the Super Mario series are physically imposing and force Mario to use his nimble athleticism in order to overcome the size and strength difference. Rawk Hawk ends up becoming indifferent and less antagonistic, but based on his personality all he'd need is the right carrot dangled in front of him to fall back into a spot where he stands between Mario and the end goal.
7 Crystal King
Most Super Mario games tend to feature haunted sections that offer a bit of weird and unnerving vibes to a game series that mostly deals with upbeat and energetic experiences. By now fans are getting tired of simply dealing with King Boo and other ghosts all the time in these environments.
By bringing back Crystal King from the original Paper Mario, it'll utilize a character who is naturally creepy and also fits the motif of most haunted levels and the vibe they're trying to put out. In terms of boss fight mechanics, the Crystal King would also provide an opportunity to deliver a fight that's a bit more challenging and unorthodox.
6 Doopliss
When people think about ghosts in Super Mario the first and only thing that comes to mind is Boo, deservedly so. That being said, it isn't the only villainous ghost antagonist to appear in the series, with Doopliss from Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door making a strong case for itself.
Sporting a red and blue birthday hat, blue bowtie, and red shoes reminiscent of a certain feisty plumber, this weirdo has been severely underused. Since Doopliss can duplicate others, he's perfect to play the role of a boss who sends out hordes of enemies Mario must avoid at all costs, and upon overcoming that challenge can face the festive ghost one-on-one.
5 Bowyer
Bowyer is a Super Mario enemy that carries a lot of the same energy as Doodlebob, a character from Spongebob Squarepants that's the subject of dozens of memes. He first appeared in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars. His primary occupation is as an arms dealer and his powers are rather interesting.
Not only can he manipulate arrows, but he can also use electrokinesis. Bowyer has an imperfect design that could add some much-needed chaos and flare to future titles in the Super Mario series. His design is neat because he's a living bow that's meant to resemble Bowser, and therefore has the name, Bowyer.
4 Bonetail
When asked who their favorite Super Mario character is most people will say, Mario, Luigi, Peach, Toad, or Yoshi more than likely. An unconventional but surprisingly popular answer alongside those is Dry Bones. This is likely due to the skeletal Koopa Troopas having the most hardcore designs of any character featured in the family-friendly titles.
This is where Bonetail comes in, a giant skeletal beast serving as an optional boss in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. The only thing cooler than Dry Bones is a giant Dry Bones that are much more dangerous and aggressive. He's one of three villainous brothers, the other two being named Hooktail and Gloomtail, respectively.
3 8 Bit Club
If there's one pattern Super Mario games love to rely on it's introducing a group of enemies Mario and his friends must defeat one by one as they work their way toward the end of the game. The 8 Bit Club is the shady collection of monsters from Super Mario Bros. 2, led by the angry entity known as Wart.
Unfortunately, the likelihood of Nintendo dipping back into this period of Super Mario's history is unlikely due to the circumstances surrounding the game's existence. The 8 Bit Club is made up of Mouser, Tryclyde, Fryguy, Clawgrip, Birdo, Robirdo, Hawkmouth, and their previously mentioned leader, Wart.
2 Army Hammer Bro
Hammer Bros. are one of the most classic enemy types in Super Mario's extended history, but not many people know there's an underused version of this enemy waiting in the wings. Army Hammer Bro appeared in Super Princess Peach and sports a black set of clothing, matching the color of his shell.
Super Mario games can often get criticized for palate-swapping enemies despite having unused variations begging to be used. Players hate running into a well-timed pair of Hammer Bros. impeding their progress, so throwing in a more powerful general can add an even more challenging confrontation.
1 Cortez
It's a shame that Nintendo has let one of their best villain designs fall by the wayside after Cortez appeared on the scene in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. He's a giant skeleton who functions like an amalgamation of various pirate corpses, wielding a variety of weapons.
Very rarely in Super Mario games are players scared or intimidated by the enemies they're vanquishing, but Cortez brings a bit of formidable energy to the series. He has everything one needs in a notable villain, from the name to the appearance and specific power set, Cortez would be a welcome addition to whatever Super Mario Odyssey successor Nintendo has in the works.