These are the 10 best Super Mario games — and there's never been a better time to play them (NTDOY)

The Mickey Mouse of video games, Super Mario himself, is approaching a major milestone this year: His first major game, "Super Mario Bros.," turns 35 in September.In the decades since that first game, Mario has gone on to become an international icon with the starring role in dozens of games.But which games — of those dozens — are the best of the best? We've ranked the Top 10, and you've finally got time to play them all while stuck indoors!Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

A mustachioed Italian plumber with a penchant for jumping on the heads of his enemies is, unbelievably, one of the most popular video game characters in the world. Hell, he's one of the most popular characters in the world period. 

Of course I'm talking about your friend and mine: Mario!

It's been more than 35 years since Mario first appeared in 1981 arcade classic "Donkey Kong," and, since then, he's been in a lot of games (the Mario Wiki estimates somewhere in the neighborhood of 170). These range from classics like "Super Mario World" on the Super Nintendo, to more esoteric fare like "Hotel Mario" and "Mario's Time Machine." He's even on smartphones now!

Perhaps you have kids at home who fell in love with Mario games through "Super Mario Odyssey," the latest in the franchise? Or maybe you did? Good news: There's a ton of history to dig through!

That's where this list comes in: We put together the 10 best Mario games ever made and where to find them (excluding spin-offs like the "Mario Tennis" franchise, "Mario Kart," "Mario Party" and "Paper Mario"). If there were ever a time to play these classics, the time is now!

Original author: Ben Gilbert