I assume you removed Galaxy and Odyssey because they are clear winners otherwise? I think 64 would give them a good run for their money. Mario 3D World is my favorite Mario game full stop though.

Oooo, good one. The Galaxy games and Odyssey are indeed my top picks, so ruling them out is interesting.

I gotta go with Mario 64. If you didn't play in back in the day it's hard to overstate just how mind blowing it was, the way it pioneered three dimensional playgrounds in a way that felt so enthralling and revelatory. Where so many other games were struggling to make gaming work in 3D, Nintendo absolutely nailed it on their first attempt.

It also has a really unique mood; the music and visuals create this surreal, liminal feeling that makes it stand out from it's more light-hearted peers and makes it more memorable and compelling.

Super Mario 64 for me, regardless of the stipulations. Having played it recently, I can confirm it’s as brilliant as ever.

Super Mario 64. I didn't play it back in the day, but I am proud to say that I played it knowing no secrets such as stars locations and such and I managed to get all the 120 stars all by myself. No internet help. Each hidden star found felt like I was Christopher Columbus "finding" the American continent

Man… I did not expect the Sunshine disrespect in the poll. Oomphf! (Though I do agree that yeah, 64 is probably a comfortable winner out of these four.)

I don't need to exclude Galaxy or Odyssey. I'm meh on Galaxy. Super Mario 64 easily. Game blew me away in 1996. To go from NES,NES to that was mind blowing. I can't stand Sunshine at all. Odyssey was nice as was 3D World but didn't love them. Didn't bother with Galaxy 2.

Besides Galaxy 1 and 2, probably 3D Land or 3D World. Apart from Galaxy 1 and 2 I’m much more of a fan of the early 2D Super Mario Bros games.

Mario 64 is my favourite 3D Mario, even if I include Galaxy 1, 2 & Odyssey. Controls are timeless and no other 3D Mario utilises the wall jump, back flip, long jump, side flip, leap n grab and general jumping as much in it's level design. The level design has the perfect blend between tight and explorable, not too big to get lost in, every corner feels different. The castle & grounds in the over world feels special. Being able to jump through wall paintings is magical & imaginative. The over world feels liminal, solm & has many secrets making it feel eerie like the Spencer mansion in Resident Evil 1. The old graphics contrast with the colourful imagery to make it feel even more eerie as time goes by, making it age like a fine wine. The music is so iconic & 90s. Even the title screen is fun, the amount of fun we had stretching Mario's face, moving his jaw down to open his mouth really wide, then closing it. Then moving his jaw up & down, side by side to make the mouth move like he is talking, pinching his ears, poking him in his eye, then realising we can pull Mario's cap up making his eyes widen, then down over his face until his eyes go through his hat feeling like we just discovered a gap in some boundry all by our selves that the devs didn't even notice like a secret is so special & so unsung. This game is possibly my favourite game of all time and is so nostalgic to me, it has a special place in my heart.
I love all Mario games. My two most favourite Mario games of all time is Mario 64 & Super Mario World (SNES), (& Mario Kart 8 if I could include it in my top two lol).
3D World was amazing too and would be my 2nd choice if I can't include Galaxy 1 & 2, Sunshine would be 3rd (joint with or after Odyssey if I could include it), and 3D Land would be 4th place.

3D World. It even claps Odyssey for me, so it's a very easy choice.

I did enjoy 3D World, it just didn't quite have that ambition that I want out of a 3D Mario.
64, Galaxy 1/2, and Odyssey fired my imagination and felt like epic extravaganzas, whereas 3D World was felt comparatively safe.
Still an extremely polished and very fun game though.

Sunshine is... not my cup of tea, nor is that whole era of Nintendo frankly.