10 Best One-Off Mario Characters

Summary

• Some Mario characters are left behind despite their potential for depth & popularity. Give them another chance to shine.
• Characters like Boshi, Captain Syrup, & Mallow have unique traits & stories that deserve more exploration in new games.
• From Bob-Omb (Bobby) to Vivian, these one-hit wonders have fan appeal & potential for richer narratives in future Mario games.

When a series gets as big as the Mario games, a few characters are unfortunately bound to be left behind in its unyielding yet forgetful wake. Not everybody can be a Waluigi or Daisy. Sometimes, as good as a character is, you might only see them a single time.

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But that doesn't mean they're any less deserving of a second chance. Just like every game is someone's favorite, right down to the most obscure entries, every character also has fans, regardless of how prolific. But which of these one-hit wonders are most deserving of the spotlight once again?

10 Boshi

Super Mario RPG

Mario has Wario, Luigi has Waluigi, and Peach has the diminishing effectiveness of a monarchy in a modern political climate. Everybody loves a good nemesis. So why aren't there more? Shouldn't someone like Yoshi have one too?

Well, maybe he does. Enter Boshi, the speedy dinosaur with sunglasses you probably want ready to challenge you to a race in Super Mario RPG. This game and its remake remain Boshi's only appearance, but if he kept coming back, Yoshi could have a proper antagonist of his own. Plus, he's relatably motivated by cookies, as we all should be.

9 Captain Syrup

Wario Land Series

While technically appearing in more than one game, Captain Syrup is effectively still a one-off character given her perpetual entanglement with the Wario Land series. But somebody with a design that cool deserves far more credits to their name.

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Captain Syrup has been the main antagonist in Wario Land games for years, with admittedly a pretty big gap since her last substantial appearance. But her suave look and penchant for treasure hunting really feel wasted confined to one series. How about a more chaotic take on the Captain Toad formula but with her instead?

8 Mallow

Super Mario RPG

Everybody always talks about Geno as the standout Super Mario RPG character. But really, what does he have? He's got an interesting look and a pretty nice move that can one-shot almost anybody. But what do you know about his personality? Nothing, cause he barely has one.

Harsh? Maybe. But also, consider Mallow. He's an expressive little cloud who can take out a room of enemies like nothing. He also cries a lot, but who among us doesn't? Don't shame people for showing emotion. More Mallow in other games could result in more fun. Granted, it could also result in numerous casualties.

7 Bob-Omb (Bobby)

Paper Mario: The Origami King

Say what you want about the battle system in Paper Mario: The Origami King, but the writing in this game is shockingly good. It's easily one of the funniest Mario games out there, and the characters are a huge reason for that.

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One such standout is Bob-omb (aka Bobby), an amnesiac and reckless Bob-omb visually almost identical to every other Bob-omb in the Mario games aside from his lack of a fuse. Not only is his story shockingly tragic, he somehow manages to set himself apart despite his lack of a unique design. He probably can't be in more games for... spoiler reasons. But he deserves it anyway.

6 O'Chunks

Super Paper Mario

Super Paper Mario's unique visual style remains unmatched, and it also keeps a sense of humor all its own. This extends to one of its antagonists, O'Chunks. Yes, just the name alone is enough to earn him top marks.

This beefy pugilist combines an Irish-coded name with a Scottish-coded personality. He's one of several baddies you'll fight throughout the game and one of several who actually gets a wholesome ending. So his bombastic mannerisms could easily come back someday.

5 Bombette

Paper Mario

The original Paper Mario may not be renowned for its companions like its sequels, but you'd do well to appreciate what it offers. One such offering is Bombette, an outspoken Bob-omb buddy who is pink so you know she's a girl.

Effectiveness in battle aside, which she has in spades, Bombette is also just a joy to have around for her comments. Her exasperation at her constantly failing paramour Bruce attempting to woo her is also a joy, despite the unfortunate aspect of finding humor in a woman being tormented.

4 Ms. Mowz

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

You might not even know about Ms. Mowz. She's an optional follower in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. Follow the anonymous posting at the Trouble Center and you'll eventually find yourself with this sneaky thieving rodent.

She's just enjoyable to have around. Her confidence and flirty personality are infectious, and she can detect hidden items with her special ability. Maybe she was too much for some players and that's why she hasn't come back. But as a counterpoint, no, she's awesome.

3 Starshade Bros.

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga

How often do you get to see unique-looking Toads in Mario games? Aside from modern Paper Mario games' tendency to avoid original characters, it's not much. So when the Starshade Bros. showed up in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, it was a real treat.

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They teach Mario and Luigi new moves but keep things fun along the way. They have stylish glasses and look like handsome Squidward wearing Toad hats. That's enough to make them memorable, but they're also just funny. So why haven't we seen them again?

2 Mimi

Super Paper Mario

Like O'Chunks, Mimi is one of the antagonists of Super Paper Mario. Unlike O'Chunks, Mimi is kind of terrifying. Her default form is a cute little pixel lady. Her second form is a spidery horror beyond comprehension. We all have off days.

But despite her twisted and oddly sinister baseline personality, even she isn't beyond redemption as Peach proves late in the game. It's a wonderful message. Everybody is worthy of love, spider legs and all.

1 Vivian

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

If the endless posts of love on Tumblr and pretty much all other social media platforms are to be trusted, Vivian is beloved in the Mario fandom, and for good reason. Her story in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door was already tragically endearing even before the remake explicitly confirmed the already canon fact that Vivian is trans.

It's not difficult to see why so many fans are drawn to Vivian. Trans fans can relate to her struggles with having to deal with her sisters' torment. But even aside from that, she's still just so charming and well-written that it's wild knowing she hasn't been in another game since. Please fix that, Nintendo.

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