Silverhand

The Mario & Luigi games are similarly approachable and good RPGs, Superstar Saga (the first one) especially. They are handheld games so maybe a bit more difficult to play together with someone, though you could emulate them very easily to play on a more suitable device.

Sea of Stars also might be worth a try. Takes a lot of inspiration from Paper Mario.

Good fucking riddance. I hate these things, people leave them just lying across the sidewalk all the time.

Your Only Move is Hustle is pretty much exactly what you described.