What are the BEST appearances of Bowser in the Mario Franchise?

[Andy 28!]

I think is Super Mario Galaxy, he really took seriously his plan without joking and you can see how powerful is when he is decided to defeat Mario, the cinematic of the UFO is absolute cinema, probably the best Bowser battle in the main games, and he isn't fine only with defeat Mario and kidnap Peach, he's DESTROYING THE UNIVERSE so the battle feels like if Bowser wins is the end of the world, also in Bowser's Fury he has one of the best appearances and he only wants destroy Mario and nothing more cares about even his Son, but I don't think that is his best appearance but if you think that I totally understand why. Also in Bowser's Inside Story has a really good retreating of Bowser and the same goes for Brothership.

 

[ThatOneUniqueToad]

The best portrayal of Bowser in my opinion HAS to be in the RPGs. While most games has him be the titular villain, here he can be the butt of the joke at times. Bowser's Inside Story and TTYD has this the best, as they both involve him getting involved in all sorts of goofy shenanigans throughout the story. I know I didn't play Brothership past Bulbfish Island, but while hard to follow along, I like him here too. And considering how much I trash Origami King, I like him here also. Like King Olly, I have my gripes on his screentime.

 

[Andy 28!]

The best portrayal of Bowser in my opinion HAS to be in the RPGs. While most games has him be the titular villain, here he can be the butt of the joke at times. Bowser's Inside Story and TTYD has this the best, as they both involve him getting involved in all sorts of goofy shenanigans throughout the story. I know I didn't play Brothership past Bulbfish Island, but while hard to follow along, I like him here too. And considering how much I trash Origami King, I like him here also. Like King Olly, I have my gripes on his screentime.

I don't have TTYD and I know some things but I don't want to see spoilers because I'm trying to get the remake, his appearance in Origami King is really good he made me laugh a lot specially with the phrase "What a weird family" to Olivia and Olly, and in Bowser's Inside Story I need to explain? He's the MAIN CHARACTER (with Mario and Luigi).

 

[Xiahou Ba]

It's Mario Party, especially his Mario Party 4 appearance. I firmly think it's one of the most terrifying in the series, whenever you land on his space, there's a lot of tension because you don't know if it'll be just a Koopa Kid or him himself (sometimes Koopa Kid spawns and then Bowser smashes you anyway). And the Bowser minigames he forces you to play *has* to have a loser, so it makes these minigames incredibly terrifying even if the penalty isn't something much, because you don't want to be THAT loser.

 

[Waluigi Time]

The first three Paper Mario games are the ones that endeared me to him. He's such a ham.

 

[Hooded Pitohui]

his appearance in Origami King is really good he made me laugh a lot specially with the phrase "What a weird family"

I'll second this. The recent RPGs - particularly Origami King and Brothership - have done a great job with Bowser. They've struck a good balance between making him feel menacing and like a serious, powerful threat (to the Bros. and to other villains!) while keeping his goofier side intact. On top of it, they've added a sentimental side to him that comes through in his care for Bowser Jr. and for his minions.

I had a lot of quibbles with Brothership, but I found its handling of Bowser unassailable. It's exactly what I want out of Bowser when he's not being the final boss or joining the heroes.