Marshmello Albums Ranked: Fan Favorites (2025)
From anonymous producer to global superstar, Marshmello's journey is one of modern music's great success stories. While his chart-topping singles are famous, his studio albums tell a deeper story.
Sorting through the Marshmello discography can be a challenge. That's why we're exploring the Marshmello albums ranked, guided first by the voices that matter most: the fans.
This list reflects community sentiment to find what many consider the best Marshmello album. Later, we'll see how that compares to current popularity data.
Ranking Marshmello's albums: The fan favorites
Here's how the albums stack up based on fan sentiment, community discussions, and overall buzz.
We're starting with the most beloved.
1. Joytime (2016)
Marshmello's debut studio album, Joytime, was a powerful statement. It was self-released through his own Joytime Collective label.
The record immediately found an audience, hitting the top of the iTunes electronic albums chart on its first day.
Critics noted its strong and consistent formula. It was built on smooth bass lines, sharp synths, and classic trap percussion.
Key tracks:
- Keep It Mello (feat. Omar LinX)
- Summer
It's no surprise that Joytime claims the top spot for fans. For the day-one "Mellogang," this album is the foundational text.
It established the pure, unfiltered sound that launched his career, and that originality gives it a special place in his discography.
2. Joytime II (2018)
Released two years after the original, Joytime II was promised to be a direct continuation of its predecessor's sound.
Marshmello previewed new material from the album at the 2018 Electric Daisy Carnival, building hype among his core audience.
However, the album received a notoriously harsh review from Rolling Stone. They called the record monotonous and criticized the lack of guest features.
Key tracks:
- Stars
- Rooftops
The divide between critical and fan reception is clear here. While some reviewers found it repetitive, fans clearly appreciated the return to the classic Joytime formula.
Its high ranking shows that delivering on a promise to the core fanbase often matters more than critical acclaim.
3. Shockwave (2021)
Shockwave marked Marshmello's fourth studio album and featured a wide array of high-profile collaborations.
The record included tracks with artists like Megan Thee Stallion, Juicy J, TroyBoi, and Subtronics, showcasing a diverse range of sounds.
This project earned significant recognition, including a nomination for Best Dance/Electronic Album at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards.
Key tracks:
- Shockwave
- House Party
Landing in the middle of the fan ranking, Shockwave represents an interesting point in Marshmello's career.
The Grammy nomination highlights its quality and ambition. Yet for some fans, the move towards varied collaborations might have diluted the focused sound they loved on the Joytime series.
4. Sugar Papi (2023)
Marshmello's fifth studio album, Sugar Papi, was his first full-length exploration of Latin music.
The project was a massive collaboration, featuring Latin music titans like Young Miko, Manuel Turizo, Anuel AA, and Farruko.
He produced all tracks on the album, working alongside notable producers from the Latin music scene including Edgar Barrera.
Key tracks:
- El Merengue
- Sou Musa do Verão
The fourth-place fan ranking for Sugar Papi makes perfect sense. It's a bold and well-executed pivot into a completely different genre.
While commercially successful and critically interesting, it's a departure from the EDM roots that many original fans signed up for. This makes it more of a side project than a core entry for them.
5. Joytime III (2019)
The third installment in the series, Joytime III, was packed with collaborations from the electronic music world.
It featured joint tracks with producers like Slushii, Flux Pavilion, and Wiwek. It also included a notable feature from rock band A Day to Remember.
In a unique promotional move, all 13 songs were released early through a video game, building buzz for the album's official drop.
Key tracks:
- Rescue Me
- Proud
It might seem strange to see a Joytime album at the bottom of the fan ranking. This placement could suggest a few things.
By the third entry, the formula may have felt less fresh to some listeners. It's also possible that it was overshadowed by the massive, pop-leaning singles Marshmello was releasing around the same time.
Picked your top Marshmello classic? Check out Marshmello's discography on their Roll The Record Artist hub.
Marshmello albums: A look at popularity data
While fan sentiment paints a rich picture, current popularity data can offer another interesting angle.
This looks at an artist's discography through a different lens.
Below is a ranking of Marshmello's albums based on their popularity scores from available data. This reflects which releases are currently seeing significant engagement.
| Popularity Rank | Album Title | Release Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sugar Papi | 2023 |
| 2 | Joytime | 2016 |
| 3 | Joytime III | 2019 |
| 4 | Shockwave | 2021 |
| 5 | Joytime II | 2018 |
Quick FAQs about Marshmello's albums
Q: How was Marshmello's debut album received?
A: It was received positively for its target audience. Festival Forecast gave Joytime a 7.5/10 rating, praising its strong and consistent formula of bass, synths, and trap elements.
Q: What was the lead single from Joytime?
A: The first single released from the album was "Keep It Mello." The track features a collaboration with rapper Omar LinX.
So there you have it. We've explored the Marshmello albums ranked by both fan love and current engagement data.
The results show a fascinating split. Fans cherish the original sound, while newer, more experimental projects capture a wider, more current audience.
Ultimately, the "best" Marshmello album is the one that connects with you. Each record captures a different moment in an incredible career.
What does your personal ranking look like?