The Mario games aren't supposed to be story-oriented. Let's run through everything.
SMB: BOWSER TURNED EVERYONE INTO A BRICK, PRINCESS HAS BEEN KIDNAPPED SO IT CAN'T BE REVERSED. GO GET HER.
SMB2: SAME THING
SMB2USA: THIS DREAM WORLD IS BEING TOOK OVER HELP
SMB3: KOOPALINGS STOLE WANDS GO GET BACK OH AND THE PRINCESS WAS KIDNAPPED WHILE YOU WERE GONE
SMW: KIDNAPPED ON VACATION
SM64: I BAKED A CAKE FOR Y-KIDNAPPED
SMS: SMW AGAIN NOW WITH ADDED WATER PUMPS
SMG: LETS GO GET THE PRINCESS BACK FROM SPAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACE
SMG2: LETS DO THE SAME THING
SM3D LAND: PRINCESS WAS KIDNAPPED, FETCH
NSMB SERIES: THE PRINCESS WAS KIDNAPPED GO GET
PM SERIES: THESE ARE SPINOFFS THAT ARE STORY ORIENTED SO OKAY
YOSHI: BABIES AND ♥♥♥♥
M&L: SAME AS PM
LUIGI MANSIONS: BOO
seriously
has there ever been a main mario game in which the story plays an important role




