Play Mario & Luigi - Bowser's Inside Story (eu) Online

I first played Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story when it came out on the Nintendo DS in 2009. It was developed by AlphaDream, a studio that handled a few other Mario RPGs. The DS was a great platform for this kind of game, with its two screens and touch controls allowing for some clever mechanics that felt fresh at the time.

You control Mario and Luigi, and for a big chunk of the game, you also control Bowser from the inside. Your main goal is to stop a disease called the blorbs from spreading across the Mushroom Kingdom. The gameplay splits between exploring the overworld and navigating Bowser's body, which is like a series of organic, screen-by-screen dungeons. Combat uses timed button presses for more powerful attacks, and a key feature lets you use the touch screen to guide Bowser as he inhales enemies and objects. The pacing is brisk, with puzzles and boss fights that require you to think on your feet. It feels like a clever and surprisingly physical adventure.