The third title in the Mario & Luigi series, Bowser's Internal Narrative brought the franchise back from a four-year vacation. Controlling a rampaging Bowser or the two bros. trapped inside his gullet, the series definitely took a turn for the bizarre with this entry.

Grant Buell: This is the first RPG I have ever beaten, and for good reason - I have always found RPGs to be repetitive, dry, frustratingly complex experiences, but Mario and Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story is none of the above. The colorful graphics, hilarious dialogue, and immersive battle system all scream fun, and once you learn the basics of how to dodge enemy attacks and enhance your own, there's no going back. The game mechanic of switching between controlling the Mario brothers and Bowser is fun and adds a lot of variety to the experience, and the additional powers that the characters frequently get make every section of the game feel new. I never once felt the need to grind in this game; it's paced perfectly. Fun music and sound effects round out an amazingly polished experience. This game is definitely one of the best of 2009.

I picked the most suggestive image we have for this game.
You're welcome.

Zach Miller: This threequel in the successful and charming Mario & Luigi series is the best since the original Superstar Saga, although it plays very differently. Developer Alpha Dream smartly mixes things up with equal parts Bowser and the Mario brothers this time around, to hilarious effect. Bowser plays like a grumpy daikaiju in the overworld while the plumbers are trapped inside the Koopa King's body, moving through a colorful menagerie of side-scrolling environments. The game is incredibly clever, the animation is beautiful, and the localization is second to none. What's not to love?