Mario and several of his closest friends have starred in Nintendo games over the years. Luigi had his own shot in the ghost-hunting Luigi's Mansion, Princess Peach got to show what she was made of in her own Nintendo DS platformer, and Yoshi has a Story, a Cookie and an Island of his own. But what about the lesser known characters that never had a solo shot? That's why we, in conjunction with GoNintendo, came up with a list of characters that deserve their own games. Check out our picks and see if you agree.

Read GoNintendo's picks.

Toad

Originally introduced during the NES era (he's a playable character in Super Mario Bros. 2), Toad is always true to heart, ready to provide assistance to Mario whenever it's necessary. Over the years, he's been in the background, but we believe that he can stand on his own.

Toad is playable in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, but we think Nintendo should go the extra mile and thrust him into the spotlight. We can see him starring in a WiiWare platformer, with a pick-up-and-throw play style similar to Super Mario Bros. 2. For that matter, he'd also be a shoe-in for his own puzzle game. It could be something along the lines of Bejeweled, but using colored mushrooms instead of jewels. Finally, we don't see any reason why Activision couldn't add him as a playable character in its Guitar Hero/Band Hero games. With mushroom guitar in hand, of course.

Blooper

This underwater squid should look familiar to fans of the original Super Mario Bros. He appears in the underwater stages, swimming frantically towards Mario with his tentacles. He's appeared in various Mario games, including Paper Mario and Super Mario Galaxy. He constantly pops up in Mario Kart Wii as well, spitting ink onto the screen so you can't see where you're going. (Apparently, he can survive out of water.)

He serves a purpose in each of these games, and that's why we feel he's ready for the big time. Nintendo should give him an underwater platforming adventure for the Nintendo DS, similar to The Incredible Starfy. Give him ink-shooting capabilities, so he can blind enemies while charging into them with a head butt or a tentacle whip attack. He'd also fit right in with a new variation of Mario Paint, with characters controlling him and using his ink to draw on the page. (OK, that might be a little creepy.) He could even be a great bonus character in Nintendo's upcoming, Endless Ocean 2.

Boo

Every time you visit a dark, haunted house in a Mario game, chances are you'll find Boo. This playful (yet still dangerous) ghost will try to hide when you face him. Once you turn around, he'll swoop in to attack. There are times he'll attack on his own, and others when he's surrounded by his fellow Boo buddies. Boo is an important character in the Mario universe, especially in Super Mario Galaxy, where you can transform into Boo Mario.

Boo also made appearances in other Mario games, including the baseball game Mario Super Sluggers and more recently in Mario & Sonic At the Olympic Winter Games. He's an able sportsman (or rather, sportsghost), so it's about time that Nintendo highlight his athletic abilities. We could call it Boo Party, and have him compete against other players in ghostly mini-games. He'd also do great in a platforming game, but with an emphasis on stealth. Imagine him sneaking up on enemies, rather than jumping and bopping them on the head. It's so crazy, it might just work.

Goomba

The Goomba is one of the most instantly recognizable characters in the Mario universe. That's because he's the first enemy you run into in Super Mario Bros., waddling around like the evil little mushroom he is. The Goomba has since appeared in a number of Mario titles, but it really stood out in the Paper Mario games. There, Mario actually met up with a kind Goomba character who mimicked his every move, even going as far as to call himself Goombario. It was a nice change of pace from being the same old grumpy Goomba.

That said, Goombario deserves his own game. Give him a platformer on the Nintendo Wii, where players can swing the Wii remote to swivel his legs and kick enemies over. He could also copy several of Mario's attacks, including the butt slam and, with his head, a hammer smash. This would also be an ideal opportunity to involve multiplayer, as members of Goombario's family could join the fun. Hey, if Mario can do it with New Super Mario Bros., then why can't Goombas? Another good alternative would be a puzzle game, where players form pieces around Goombas to free them from cages. Think of it as Tetris, but with a little more strategy thrown in for good measure. C'mon, Nintendo, doesn't Goombario deserve the love? Of course he does.

Lakitu

Lakitu made his NES debut in Super Mario Bros. He appeared in stage 4-1, floating through the sky on a cloud while throwing Spinies at you. The only way to defeat him is to find a platform high enough to jump off of and bonk his head.

Since then, he's done a couple of small villainous turns in sequels, before eventually calming down and befriending Mario. He acts as a reporter and cameraman in Super Mario 64 (he's the one you call upon for camera adjustments), and also notifies you of which lap you're on in the Mario Kart games.

Lakitu spends most of his time floating around and carrying a fishing pole, so we think it's only fitting to give him a game where you retrieve stuff. He could take part in grabbing mini-games on WiiWare or DSiWare, earning prizes and achieving a high score. He could also use this tactic in a platforming game, picking up items and throwing them at enemies. And, of course, we have to suggest a fishing game. A lot of fishing games are available for the Wii, but most of them are below average. It's time for Nintendo to step up with reel in hand and give us one that we want to play, with Lakitu in the starring role. Catch us a 15-pounder, big guy.