Summary
Princess Peach, of the Mushroom Kingdom, is one of the quintessential ‘damsels in distress’ in the gaming sphere. In fact, it could be argued she basically codified the trope: more often than not, at the end of the assorted lava pits, Koopa armies and spike traps Mario has to navigate, there Peach is, waiting to be liberated with cake in hand.
However, that isn’t to say this iconic monarch is totally helpless. Far from it. As you’d reasonably expect from a head of state, she’s more than capable of fighting battles solo, and has contributed tothe Mario Bros.' endeavours (and her own!) in some pretty major ways.
Updated Jun 12, 2025 by Bobby Mills: WithPrincess Peach: Showtimemarking our favourite princess' second solo adventure, the spotlight has never been fixed more squarely on her – both figuratively and literally, given the game’s theatrical bent. What better time to spruce up our list showcasing her finest hours?
Take heed – there’ll be a few minor spoilers for assorted Mario RPGs, as well as some of the new forms in Princess Peach: Showtime, in this ranking!
10Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam
Not A Paper Thin Personality
Paper Jam delivers a crossover Mario fans had long clamoured for, between the Paper Mario and Mario & Luigi RPG series. When Luigi accidentally knocks over the storybook containing the paper universe, its inhabitants are dumped across the kingdom, including the wafer-thin counterparts of all the main cast. Sadly, that means Bowser too, and both incarnations of the Koopa King promptly band together and whisk the two Peaches away.
The game keeps cutting back to the princess duo as they swap stories in captivity and gather intel on the Bowsers' plot. Their efforts prove vital in reversing Luigi’s clumsy mess-up. Not only does this build character, but it shows some real agency – especially when Paper Peach realises that she can just… slip through the cage bars. Problem solved!
9Super Mario Odyssey
Double The Rejection
Super Mario Odysseydeals with another ofBowser’s many attempts to marry Peach, evidently forgetting that the first time he tried that it ended up ripping a hole in reality. Things look bleak at the outset; Mario’s been defeated, his iconic hat’s in tatters, and the princess has beenforced into a bridal gownin preparation for the big night.
It all comes to a head on the moon, of all places. Peach decides she’s had enough when, after a truly awesome escape sequence where she helps commandeer Bowser, he and Mario start fighting over her heart. She’s not having any of that – and so she abandons them in the Earth’s orbit, hijacking Mario’s ship to head off on a vacation of her own. She’s probably earned it.
8Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Everyone Gets To Be A Villain Eventually
The Mario RPG titles typically feature more outlandish narratives than your garden variety platformer, andThe Thousand-Year Dooris no different. Though Peach has again been kidnapped, this time it’s by the sinister alien X-Nauts as opposed to Bowser. In a bizarre twist of fate, the ship’s computer, TEC, takes one look at the pretty princess and falls for her. WALL-E this ain’t.
Peach turns his affection to her advantage, using TEC to email Mario info about the Crystal Stars' whereabouts, and just generally sneaking about the place. It sure beats sitting in her cell all day. Plus, in a series first, she actually becomes the main villain by the end, possessed by the evil Shadow Queen. TTYD is easily as much Peach’s game as the big M’s.
7Super Mario 3D Land
Taking Matters Into Her Own Brolly
Super Mario 3D Land is,by Mario standards, a pretty milquetoast entry. It plays things tremendously safe; but understandably so, as this was the launch window for the 3DS, a quirky system Nintendo needed to get folks on board with. The one area in which it deviates, though, is Princess Peach’s side plot. Over the course of the adventure, you’ll start getting photos in between each world, detailing her exploits.
Let’s just say Bowser isn’t too happy with her. It isn’t long before she breaks out of prison and starts whaling on his entire army, leaving naught but smouldering, umbrella-battered bodies in her wake. By the time Mario reaches the final level, she’s just casually standing around, waiting for him. We love a proactive princess.
6Mario + Rabbids Series
Intergalactic Royalty
In contrast to Paper Jam, theMario + Rabbidsgames represent a crossover that no one ever thought was remotely possible, let alone asked for. Still, this duology surprised with some tight battles, amusing writing, and gorgeous stage design. One of the standout features is the bulky roster of party members to choose from, and good old Princess Peach is among the very best.
In the first game, her healing, cleansing jumps, and Royal Gaze are invaluable in tough fights. In Sparks of Hope, her shotgun blaster and Team Barrier make her exceptionally versatile. And she’s a lot more tolerable than her ‘bwaah’-ing Rabbid knockoff, to boot.
5Super Paper Mario
Out Of Her Two-Dimensional Depth
Peach doesn’t start Super Paper Mario in the best spot. Having been kidnapped by the vengeful Count Bleck, she’s put under hypnosis by his servant Nastasia and forced to wed Bowser. In doing so, she fulfills an ancient prophecy that tears all dimensions asunder. But she doesn’t stay down for long. After being rescued in Gloam Valley, she joins Mario’s quest to stop Bleck, and becomes a permanent playable character.
Peach’s parasol lets her skip platforming sections with ease, and those heels allow for a bit of extra damage when stomping foes. Narratively, she shows strength, too – personally taking down the terrifying Mimi, and rescuing Nastasia during Bleck’s castle collapse (despite her evil deeds), showing a real purity of heart that proves she deserves to rule.
4Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
Savior Of Time And Space
Partners in Time isby far the darkest of the Mario RPGs, presenting us with a post-apocalyptic version of the Mushroom Kingdom where Shroob invaders have laid ruin to Toad Town, and strapped its inhabitants to energy-sucking trees. For real. But the dourest moment comes right near the end, where the time-displaced Princess Peach’s fate is revealed.
The Mario brothers initially see it as a typical kidnapping, thinking gathering up the McGuffins, Cobalt Star shards, will rescue Peach. However, the truth is very different: far from being captured, Peachvoluntarilyremained in the past to keep the Elder Princess Shroob subdued, having personally fought and imprisoned her in the Cobalt Star. The pieces of which must never be reunited. Whoops.
3The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Pink And On The Big Screen
For the Mario Bros.' first (animated) big screen adventure, the characters needed to be refined beyond the one-note traits they possess in the games. For Peach, the writers opted to expand on her role as a leader, and it turned her into one of the stronger portrayals of the character we’ve yet seen.
Peach joins Mario and Toad, leads the mission, and wields a halberd in battle. She’s no passive princess. She also shows hidden depths, however, chatting with Mario about her insecurities and wondering where her home world is. It’s implied to be Earth; sequel, please?
2Super Princess Peach
Top Billing, Top Fun
As one of Peach’s only solo adventures, Super Princess Peach is a shoe-in for our list. This oft-forgotten 2005 DS title saw Mario being the one in trouble; he, Luigi and all the Toads are clapped in irons and Bowser assumes the throne, making use of the ‘Vibe Scepter’. This wand drives everyone in the kingdom’s emotions haywire – but Peach, being a stoic soul, is able to control hers and uses them as newfound powers.
You’ll platform your way through a host of colourful worlds, tapping which ‘Vibe’ on the bottom screen you wish for Peach to switch to. Anger lets you burn things down, Sadness lets your tears water plants, and so on. Her new chatty parasol, Perry, lent even more charm. Peach excels when she steps up to the plate.
1Princess Peach: Showtime!
Kick Butt, Stage Left
The announcement of Showtime came as a very pleasant surprise for Peach fans everywhere, notching up her second starring role in over a decade. In this Switch adventure, the princess must make her way through an enchanted theatre to take down Madame Grape, a diva with warmongering intentions, and her minions the Sour Bunch,donning a variety of costumes that grant her new powers. Balan says ‘hi.’
There’s Swordfighter Peach, which lets you hack down targets with a rapier; Pâtisserie Peach, which sees her refine her baking skills; Detective Peach, for catching crooks; Mighty Peach, which sees her cosplay as a Wonderful 101 character; and more. Partner character Stella’s cute as a button, to boot.
Showtime is particularly notable for being one of the few Switch titles to run on the Unreal Engine, which lends it an arresting visual style andan appropriately cinematic scope to the bosses.
