Mario and Luigi adventure games feature Mario and Luigi as the heros, accompanied by playable characters from the Nintendo pantheon. Each adventure pits you to defeat Bowser in different ways. Progress is through talking to characters, exploring, developing your abilities and taking on enemies in turn-taking combat.

Each of the games introduces a different twist to the role-play action and focus on the story much more than the Mario platform games. There is whimsy in the air as you take on these quests to bring peace back to the mushroom kingdom.

Superstar Saga first introduces the duo-combat aspect of game-play where you swap between to two brothers during exploration and combat. Partners in Time puts you in control of not only Luigi and Mario but Baby Mario and Baby Luigi as well. Bowser's Inside Story puts you inside your enemy so you not only control Mario and Luigi but also Bowser himself. Dream Team lets you enter characters dreams and control multiple copies of characters in new ways. Paper Jam puts you in control of paper versions of Mario and Luigi in ways that lead to new puzzles and attacks.

The different Mario and Luigi games are available on the following systems, with the early games being re released on the Nintendo 3DS:

• Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (2003) on Game Boy Advance, Wii U Virtual Console, Nintendo 3DS
• Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time (2005) on Nintendo DS, Wii U Virtual Console
• Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story (2009) on Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS
• Mario & Luigi: Dream Team (2013) on Nintendo 3DS
• Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam (2015) on Nintendo 3DS