Mario (franchise)

From Mariopedia, a wiki on Mario, Yoshi, Wario, Donkey Kong, Super Smash Bros., and more!
Jump to navigationJump to search

This article is under construction. Therefore, please excuse its informal appearance while it's being worked on. We hope to have it completed as soon as possible.

It has been requested that this article be rewritten. Reason: some games in this article are not within the Mario franchise but instead Donkey Kong, dedicated crossover series, and so forth, and have to be relocated accordingly

Mario

The current logo for the Mario franchise

Mario franchise logo used from 1996-2011
First installment Mario Bros. (Game & Watch) (1983)
Latest installment Super Mario RPG (Nintendo Switch) (2023)
Number of installments 300+
Sub-series Donkey Kong; Yoshi; Wario

Super Mario; Super Mario Land; Paper Mario; Mario & Luigi; Mario vs. Donkey Kong; Dr. Mario; Super Mario Advance; Mario Party; Mario Kart; Mario Golf; Mario Tennis; Mario Strikers; Mario Baseball; Mario Artist; Mario's Early Years!

A poster showing several characters in the Mario series in a group photo.

Mario is a long-running video game franchise published by the popular gaming company, Nintendo. It stars the titular Italian plumber Mario. The franchise has been running for more than a quarter of a century, and in its lifespan has released more than two hundred video games. The series also holds the title of best-selling video game franchise in history, with over 262 million combined units sold as of March 2015.[1] The franchise has also been branded Super Mario, after its flagship series of the same name, although Mario Bros. is the first series within the Mario franchise.

The franchise began in 1981 with the arcade video game, Donkey Kong, and has since then taken off into its own franchise. Originally created by Shigeru Miyamoto, Mario, going under the name Jumpman when Donkey Kong was first released, is the main protagonist throughout most of the series; the main antagonist of the series is Bowser, the King of all Koopas. The Mario series has contained many different genres of games, from platformers to role-playing games, and from puzzle games to party games. The most popular games in the series are a part of what is known as the main series, or the Super Mario series, which consists of 2D and 3D platformers; at least one is released per home console and one per handheld (bar the Game Boy Advance). Even though several games are released, not all of them are available in all countries or on all platforms. Some are only available on certain platforms in certain countries as well.

The Mario series has been released on a large array of systems, including home consoles, handheld game systems, and even personal and Macintosh computers. Originally starting out with an 8-bit game, the Mario series has gone through many graphical changes throughout the years. The series has spawned numerous sub-series, ranging from the racing games of the Mario Kart, to the board game-like Mario Party series, and even the sports-themed Mario Golf, Mario Tennis, and Mario Baseball series, as well as many more. It also plays a large part in the storyline of its partner series, the Yoshi, Donkey Kong, and Wario series, two of which spawning from the Mario series.

In total, there are 200+ Mario games.

Overview

History

1981-1985: Pre-NES

The Game that started it all!

The Mario series began in 1981 with Donkey Kong. Created by Shigeru Miyamoto, Donkey Kong was Nintendo's first big success. In the game, Mario was known as "Jumpman," but it was later changed to the former when Nintendo of America nick-named the character "Mario" after their landlord, Mario Segali or perhaps Jumpman is a different person entirely.

Jumpman returned to the series as the antagonist of Donkey Kong Jr., but he was replaced by Stanley the Bugman in Donkey Kong 3. In 1983, Mario got his own game, Mario Bros., which introduced his brother, Luigi.

Mario and Donkey Kong also appeared in several Game & Watch games.

1985-1994: NES Era

Mario's first major adventure!
Mario seeing a Venus Fire Trap in Super Mario Bros. 3

Mario's first outing on the NES was Super Mario Bros. It sold around 40 million copies worldwide, making it the bestselling game of all time. The game introduced many of the hallmarks of the series including Bowser, Princess Peach, Toads, Mushrooms, Fire Flowers, Starmen, Koopas, and Goombas.

In the wake of the success of Super Mario Bros., a sequel, Super Mario Bros. 2 was released in 1987. In Japan, the game was similar to Super Mario Bros., but was considered too challenging for American gamers at first. It was later released in America as Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels on the Nintendo Wii's Virtual Console and the compilation Super Mario All-Stars. Instead, the American Super Mario Bros. 2 was the same as the Japanese game Doki Doki Panic, but with Mario characters. The American version allowed players to play as Princess Peach and Toad for the first time, and was re-released in Japan as Super Mario USA.

In 1989, Mario made his debut on the Gameboy with Super Mario Land. It sold 18.06 million copies, making it the bestselling game not bundled with a console in history. This game introduced Princess Daisy, though it was some time before she was seen again.

Mario returned to the NES in 1990 with Super Mario Bros. 3, which returned to the formula of Super Mario Bros. It introduced many new powers such as the Raccoon Leaf, Tanooki Suit, and Frog Suit, and was the first appearance of the Koopalings. It sold 17.8 million copies.

1990-1996: SNES Era

Mario sees a Rex for the first time in Super Mario World for the SNES.
How Yoshi helped save the Mario Brothers.

In 1991, Mario debuted on the Super Nintendo with Super Mario World. This game introduced Mario's companion, the fan favorite Yoshi. It sold 20.60 million copies worldwide.

Mario returned to the Gameboy in 1992 with Super Mario Land 2, which introduced his rival, Wario. In the same year, Mario set the standard for kart racing games with Super Mario Kart. It at the time it was (and some say, still is) the best racing game available.

In 1994, Toad and Wario closed the NES with a bang with puzzle-game Wario's Woods. It is the only game to star Toad as the sole hero.

Mario's next Super Nintendo title was released in 1995, depicting the iconic plumber as a baby in Yoshi's Island: Super Mario World 2. Instead of controlling Mario, the player controlled Yoshi on a quest to rescue Baby Luigi from the Koopas, led by Baby Bowser and his caregiver Kamek, both of whom would become staple enemies in future Yoshi series titles.

Mario's last game on the Super Nintendo had him delve into the RPG genre. Super Mario RPG is fondly remembered by fans and is often listed as one of the top games for the Super Nintendo. Interestingly, this is the first game (besides Super Mario Kart) that let players play as Bowser.

1996-2001: Nintendo 64 Era

The big shift into a 3D World!
Ever played a board game? Well imagine you are the board pieces! That's what Mario Party is!

Super Mario 64 was released in 1996, making it a landmark year for the Mario series. The game made the transition from 2D to 3D very well, and set an example for how 3D platformers should feel. The game sold 11.62 million worldwide, making it the bestselling game for the Nintendo 64.

In 1999, Mario was once again pushed in a new direction with Mario Party, which combinated board games and video games. It was an odd concept, but it was very well done and resulted in an excellent game to play with friends. Another new idea developed in 1999 was Mario and sports: that year, Mario Golf was released and well received. However, perhaps the strangest departure that year was a fighting game. While Super Smash Bros. isn't technically a Mario game, it's still noteworthy. The game featured characters from some of Nintendo's most popular franchises, and went on to become the fifth bestselling game for the Nintendo 64.

In the year 2000, Mario tried out another sport. Mario Tennis was as successful as Mario Golf was before it. This game also debuted Wario's brother Waluigi.

In the year 2001, Mario returned to the RPG genre, but with a new twist: Paper Mario featured the hero as a paper cut out.

2001-2006: Nintendo GameCube Era

A Spooktacular Mystery Adventure for Luigi!
Vacation is on in Super Mario Sunshine! Elements from this game would continue to be used in later games (esp. for the next 6 years)!

The Game Boy Advanced was released in mid-2001. In its launch was Super Mario Advance, which was a remake of the American Super Mario Bros. 2, adding new graphics and a few new additions, such as a remake of Mario Bros. that could be played with 4 players. Later that year, the Nintendo GameCube was introduced to the gaming world, as was a game starring Luigi, Luigi's Mansion. The game strayed away from platforming and focused on the use of the Poltergust 3000 to solve puzzles and capture ghosts haunting the green-clad plumber's new abode. 2001 also saw the sequel to 1999's fighter Super Smash Bros. with Super Smash Bros. Melee, the best-selling game on the Gamecube.

Super Mario Advance 2 came out early in 2002. A remake of Super Mario World, it had new graphics, but unlike the original Advance, it had many new features as well. Mario's first big GameCube game was also released in 2002: Super Mario Sunshine. Like his brother, Mario was wielding a new device in his latest quest; in this case, it was F.L.U.D.D. Also in 2002 came Super Mario Advance 3, a port of Yoshi's Island.

In mid-2003, Mario Golf had a huge update on the GCN with Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour. It did not have any of the humans from the original; instead, it added tons of new features to add to its wackiness, plus a new, easier mechanic for swings. Mario got his first RPG on a portable system in 2003. For the Game Boy Advance, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga featured both of the brothers fighting simultaneously.

2004's Super Mario Advance 4 was more or less a port of Super Mario All-Stars's remake of Super Mario Bros. 3, but it had a few tiny changes, such as yet another Mario Bros. remake addition. Also in 2004, Mario Golf: Advance Tour was released. It was a lot like the GBC version of Mario Golf, but now it has new characters, courses, and 3D graphics. There were RPG elements to the game, too, which meant one's character stats could be totally different from another's of the same character. It was possible to link to Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour and transfer characters to it.

The year continued to be groudbreaking as Mario went back to his roots and went up against his old antagonist Donkey Kong for the first time in 10 years. Mario vs. Donkey Kong's gameplay was similar to Donkey Kong '94's gameplay, but with entirely new levels. Mario Power Tennis, the sequel to 2000's Mario Tennis, was also released; it featured several new characters and modes, along with Power Shots. Finally, the sequel to Paper Mario came out in 2004: Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door played similarly to its predecessor, but in a new setting with an unrelated story.

2005 stretched Mario's boundaries a bit further by adding rhythm games his resume. Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix featured remixed games as well as characters from the Mario series. Mario also tried a couple of new sports in 2005. Mario Superstar Baseball mixed the great American pastime with Mario; Super Mario Strikers, on the other hand, brought an exiting version of contact-soccer/football to the series. The GBA version of Mario Power Tennis came out in 2005, called Mario Tennis: Power Tour. It added RPG elements and Humans to a game that was otherwise similar to the GBC Mario Tennis. Unfortunately, the GCN version could not link up to the GBA game.


2004-2010: Nintendo DS Era

It's Yoshi's time to Shine in Super Mario 64 DS, the game is a remake of the N64 game and introduces many new features and improvements!
The Mario series returns to it's roots 21 Years after the good old classic with a couple new modern elements!

In late 2004, the Nintendo DS was released and with it came an enhanced remake of Super Mario 64 titled Super Mario 64 DS. This game adds Yoshi, Luigi, and even Wario as playable characters, new levels, an expanded story, and a new Minigame mode along with a VS Mode.

Late in 2005, two Nintendo DS titles came out featuring Mario. The first was Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, the sequel to Superstar Saga that threw time travel and Baby Mario and Luigi into the RPG fray. Next came Mario Kart DS, which was the very first Nintendo online game. Along with 16 new courses, it included 16 old favorites (4 from each of the past Mario Karts).

Princess Peach got her own game in 2006. Super Princess Peach is a platformer like the previous Mario platformers, but it has its own unique characteristics. The next DS title continued the old Super Mario Bros. genre in a unique way with the New Super Mario Bros. With new abilities and graphics added to the old platforming action, the game is truly a worthy successor. Mario then tested his skills on the courts with Mario Hoops 3 on 3. Along with his usual friends, he also went up against some opponents from the RPG Series Final Fantasy. 2006 also saw a sequel for the SNES's Yoshi's Island: Yoshi's Island DS. This time, the game featured the younger versions of several fan-favorite characters. 2007 also saw the release of Mario Party DS with everything to expect from a basic Mario Party game but with a brand new Story Mode.

With the Nintendo DSi's release in January 2009, new games such as Dr. Mario Express and Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! were released. These could be purchased from the new eShop for the system.

In late 2009, Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story for the Nintendo DS was released. This game is yet another entry in the Mario & Luigi series and it sees Mario and Luigi traveling in Bowser's Body to help Bowser save the Mushroom Kingdom. This is Bowser's first time being a protagonist in a Mario game.

In late 2010, the final Nintendo DS Mario game was released. Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! This game is yet another installment in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series with more Mini Mario puzzling fun.

2006-2012: Wii Era

Mario is ready for an Adventure that's OUT OF THIS WORLD!!!
Return back to the fun 2D style with some multiplayer Mario!
Blast back into Space with Mario and Yoshi!
Ready to get behind the Wheel and realistically steer as you play Mario Kart?!

The technological advancements of the Wii resulted in a slew of innovative new ideas swelling the Mario series from 2007 onwards. The first glimpse of this was the dimension-flipping of Super Paper Mario, which set it apart from the previous Paper Mario titles and blurred the lines between 2D side-scrollers and 3D RPGs. After some Wii installments of staple Mario series, such as Mario Party 8 (Mario Party series) and Mario Strikers Charged (Mario Strikers series), the gravity-defying Super Mario Galaxy (sequel to Super Mario Sunshine / Super Mario 64 DS) was released. Walking off platforms no-longer necessarily resulted in Game Overs as Mario traveled through space to rescue Peach, defeat Bowser, and change the face of gaming yet again.

Later in 2008, Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Super Smash Bros. Series) and Mario Kart Wii (Mario Kart Series) and Mario Super Sluggers (Mario Baseball series) were released.

In late 2009, New Super Mario Bros. Wii was released. This game is yet another Super Mario Bros. game that sees Mario, Luigi, Yellow Toad, and Blue Toad going on an adventure to save Peach again. This game also marks the long-awaited return of the Koopalings.

In mid-2010, the highly-anticipated sequel to Super Mario Galaxy Super Mario Galaxy 2 was released. This game combines the innovative space adventure of the first game with Yoshi, new Power-Ups, and more surprises.

In late 2010, Super Mario All-Stars Limited Edition was released to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Super Mario Bros. Fortune Street was also released in late 2011 and the final Mario game on the Wii was Mario Party 9 released in early 2012. This game takes a new spin on the Mario Party series with a new board/turn system, new items, and more surprises.

2011-2019: Nintendo 3DS Era

One of Mario & Luigi's latest RPG adventures together sees them returning to the Beanbean Kingdom! Get ready for laughs and fun along the way because there will be heaps of both!
A neat blend of 2D and 3D Mario all with everybody's favorite Tanooki Suit!
A Golden-Age Mario adventure perfect for anyone who loves Mario and wants to get rich quick!
Paper Mario saves the Paper World with the Power of Stickers! Adventure awaits in this fun-crafted Paper World!

The Nintendo 3DS brought forth a new feature. The ability to view your screen in 3D. This was first utilized with the first Mario title for the 3DS. Super Mario 3D Land. This game is a blend of 2D and 3D Platformers containing elements from both genres. A month later, Mario Kart 7 was released with Gliding and Underwater features bringing a whole new racing experience that you never thought was possible.

Mario Tennis also got the 3D treatment with Mario Tennis Open. A new 2D Platformer for the 3DS was released as well titled New Super Mario Bros. 2. This game mainly revolves around collecting Coins. In late 2012, Paper Mario: Sticker Star was released. In this game, you fight foes with the Power of Stickers and use them to solve Puzzles in a fun new world made entirely out of Paper.

In early 2013, 2 new titles were released for the 3DS. Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon and Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move. The former was released for the Year of Luigi. This wouldn't be the only game released for the Year of Luigi as there were more to come!

In mid-2013, Mario & Luigi: Dream Team was released. A new entry in the Mario & Luigi series, Mario and Luigi explore the real world and the dream world to defeat a new evil.

In late 2013, Mario Party: Island Tour was also released. This game introduces 6 boards with a fun new gimmick for each one. The game also has many different game modes. This game also marks Bowser Jr.'s debut as a playable character in Mario Party.

In early 2014, Mario Golf: World Tour was released. The first Mario Golf game in almost a decade. Also released in early 2014 was Yoshi's New Island. This game returns to the classic gameplay of the original Yoshi's Island. In late 2014 Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS was also released.

In early 2015 Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars was released for the 3DS exclusively in Japan. It was also released internationally for the Wii U.

In late 2015, Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam was released as a crossover between the Mario & Luigi series and the Paper Mario series. It involves Mario and Luigi teaming up with Paper Mario to stop Bowser and Paper Bowser from taking over the Mushroom Kingdom with their combined armies.

In early 2016, Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge was released. The game was also released for the Wii U as well.

In late 2016, Mario Party: Star Rush was released. Also released was a port of Super Mario Maker titled Super Mario Maker For Nintendo 3DS. Super Mario also hit the App Store with the release of Super Mario Run.

In early 2017, Mario Sports Superstars was released along with Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World. A port of Yoshi's Woolly World on the Wii U.

In late 2017, a new Mario & Luigi game titled Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions was released. This game has a very similar plot to the original but with a new side story involving Bowser's Minions on a mission to rescue Bowser. Also released was Mario Party: The Top 100. A compilation game of 100 fan-favorite Minigames from previous Mario Party games.

In 2018 two remakes/ports were released. The first was Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker for Nintendo 3DS. The second was Luigi's Mansion Nintendo 3DS which acted as a preview for Luigi's Mansion 3.

In early 2019, the final Mario game for the Nintendo 3DS game was released. A new Mario & Luigi game. This game is a remake of Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story titled Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey. This game retains a very similar plot to the original game but with a new side story starring Bowser Jr..

In late 2019 Mario Kart Tour hit App Stores as well as Google Play with many features from the more recent titles. The game also used many tracks from Mario Kart 7. Along with it came Dr. Mario World.

2012-2016: Wii U Era

A new Mario adventure with a new twist: The adventure ENDS at Peach's Castle instead of STARTING there!
It's Luigi's turn to shine!
If you thought Super Mario 3D Land was fun, you are sure to love Super Mario 3D World! It's got more fun levels, multiplayer action, and get this: Peach and Toad (and later Rosalina too) also join in on the fun!
You've been dreaming for days, weeks, months, and even years to be able to make your own Mario levels. Impossible you say?! Well with Super Mario Maker, that dream is now a reality!

After the success that was the Wii, Nintendo expanded on that with the release of the Wii U. To start the Wii U line off, New Super Mario Bros. U was released. A 2D Platformer with several new gimmicks. Later in mid-2013, New Super Luigi U was released to celebrate the Year of Luigi. The game contained the overall same style as it's predecessor but included reskins of the levels making them more challenging (but shorter to make up for the higher difficulty). In late 2013, Super Mario 3D World was released. This game was the sequel to Super Mario 3D Land on the 3DS. It also introduced Peach and Toad as playable characters and received tons of praise from fans and critics. Dr. Luigi was also released in late 2013 for the Year of Luigi.

In mid-2014, Mario Kart 8 was released which took kart racing to a whole new level as now racers can not only glide and dive, they can also race above walls and across ceilings thanks to the new Anti-Gravity feature. Later that same year, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U was released.

In late 2014, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker was released. A spinoff revolving around the adventures of Captain Toad and Toadette and their quest to collect Power Stars and lost treasure.

Early 2015 saw the release of Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars and Mario Party 10. The former included several new features to the MvsDK series such as a revamped Workshop and buyable items. Mario Party 10 introduced Bowser Party, a new 5-player mode where the 5th player controls Bowser on his quest to stop the 4 other players from succeeding. Mid-2015 saw the release of Dr. Mario: Miracle Cure.

In late 2015, three notable games were released. The first was the highly anticipated Super Mario Maker which was released for the 30th Anniversary of Super Mario Bros.. With this game, you can finally create the Mario levels of your dreams with 4 game styles based on past games. The second was Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash, a new Mario Tennis game with new playable characters such as the Sprixie Princess and new features such as the Mega Mushroom. The third was a follow-up to Yoshi's Story titled Yoshi's Woolly World, after 2 Years of delay, the game was released in late 2015. This game includes fun new gameplay mechanics, a cute new art-style, and everything to expect from a good Yoshi game.

Not too many games were released for the Wii U in 2016 but there was still a fair share, the first game was Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge in early 2016 which is a new puzzle game which is in line with the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series. The second was in late 2016 Paper Mario: Color Splash. A new Paper Mario game and the final Mario game for the Wii U with a focus around using Paint to restore the color to Prism Island which has been drained of it's color by Bowser-(Black Bowser rather)'s goons and using Battle Cards for a fun new battle experience and puzzle solving.

2017-present: Nintendo Switch Era

Mario's biggest adventure yet in Super Mario Odyssey! Join Mario as he teams up with Cappy to explore the World and stop an evil Wedding!
Toadette joins Mario on his latest 2D adventure! Here, she now has the ability to become the one and only Peachette.
Ready for the crossover of the Century? Mario and Rabbids team up to beat one massive evil!
Never thought we'd ever see Mario and Bowser Jr. team up?! Well that's what happened during Fury Bowser's savage rampage on Lake Lapcat.

The new and innovative Nintendo Switch also brought some new and innovative games to the Mario series. The first one was early 2017's Mario Kart 8 Deluxe an enhanced port of Mario Kart 8 which brought back some classic fan favorites including Bowser Jr., King Boo, and Dry Bones along with a Battle Mode revival. Late 2017 saw Mario's greatest adventure yet in Super Mario Odyssey where Mario explores the world with his new friend Cappy and has to stop Bowser from marrying Peach. Also released in late 2017 was a RPG spinoff with Mario and Rabbids titled Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle.

In mid-2018 two exciting games were released, the first was Mario Tennis Aces was released. It introduced some new fun innovations to Mario Tennis and a brand new story mode. The second was Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker for Nintendo Switch a port of Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker on the Wii U with new levels based on Super Mario Odyssey. In late 2018, Super Mario Party was also released with many new characters and some classic Mario Party gameplay. The game acted as a soft reboot to the Mario Party series. Also in late 2018, the highly anticipated Super Smash Bros. Ultimate was released.

In early 2019, New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe was released, a combo-port of both New Super Mario Bros. U and New Super Luigi U featuring all the same levels/modes from both games but with some new features such as Toadette being a new playable character, a new Super Crown power-up for Toadette, the ability to select you character as you play instead of only being able to play as Mario (Luigi for New Super Luigi U) in Single Player. In mid-2019, Super Mario Maker 2 was released with several new customization options, new items to add to levels, and a new theme based on Super Mario 3D World.

In late 2019, the high-anticipated Luigi's Mansion 3 was released. In this game, Luigi must travel back to the Mansion to rescue Mario and his friends once more from the evil King Boo and his new accomplice Hellen Gravely. Also released in late 2019 was Yoshi's Crafted World, a sequel to Yoshi's Woolly World which continues the adventures of a crafted Yoshi with some fun new gameplay elements, new bosses, and more.

The Mario series started the 2020's off in mid-2020 with Paper Mario: The Origami King. A new game with exciting new gameplay elements, a brand new, innovative, and fun way of battling foes, and Mario, Olivia, and Bowser's Army teaming up and exploring new exciting areas to stop King Olly and his team from taking over.

In late 2020, 3 games were released for the 35th Anniversary of Super Mario Bros., the first was Super Mario 3D All Stars which includes 3 fan-favorite 3D Mario games in one game, it also includes new controls to fit the Nintendo Switch, much higher resolution, and a soundtrack section to enjoy the 3 games' music. Also released was Super Mario Bros. 35, a battle royale-style of Super Mario Bros. online where players compete to be the winner. The third game was Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit, a spin-off to Mario Kart which utilizes Controller Toys of Mario and Luigi in Karts with Cameras attached to the heads. You can then set up a layout around your house to effectively make a real-life Mario Kart track. You can play by yourself or with friends. It is also worth noting that Super Mario 3D All Stars and Super Mario Bros. 35 were limited releases that were only available for purchase until March 31, 2021.

In early 2021, a remake of Super Mario 3D World titled Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury was released. It includes the same overall story as the original but also includes a new story involving the frightful and dangerous Fury Bowser plotting to take over Lake Lapcat with his Cat Army and Mario and Bowser Jr. have to team up to bring Bowser back. In mid-2021, Mario Golf: Super Rush was released, a new Mario Golf game with new characters, features, and more.

In late 2021, Mario Party Superstars was released, a new Mario Party game with some classic gameplay with a select few boards and minigames from previous Mario Party games.

In 2023, the next 2D installment of the Super Mario series was released, Super Mario Bros. Wonder.

Common elements

Plot, themes, and characters

A gallery, showing several characters from the Mario series, as well as its partner series with respective icons. Which is your favorite?
A character size chart, showing many characters from the Mario series, as well as its partner series. The series has always been known for it's diverse variety of colorful characters.

The whole series revolves around the adventures of an extensive cast of recurring characters. The main protagonist of the series, the titular Mario, is a fictional Italian-American plumber who is portrayed as the hero of a realm called the Mushroom Kingdom, which he endeavors to defend by traversing his way through stages filled with obstacles and enemies. His arch-nemesis is Bowser, the king of the Koopas, a race of evil-driven anthropomorphic turtles. Bowser is responsible for most, if not all, of the Mushroom Kingdom's invasions, and almost always appears as the final boss, who constantly and consistently attempts to put an end to Mario and his friends. Mario's younger but taller brother, Luigi, often participates in his adventures alongside him; in early games, he was only playable in the two-player mode. The Mushroom Kingdom's ruler, Princess Peach, is Mario's love interest and recurring damsel in distress; she repeatedly falls victim to Bowser's kidnappings and has to be rescued by Mario, but occasionally serves as a protagonist herself. Another prominent sidekick of Mario's is Yoshi, a dinosaur-like creature who serves as a riding mount to Mario, and has a long tongue which he uses to eat food and enemies; this character became so popular after his debut that he was spun off into his own franchise. Mario also has a greedy, hot-tempered doppelganger rival named Wario, who has antagonized Mario on various occasions, and also serves as an anti-hero (and sometimes hero) with his own adventures which generally involve money grubbing and treasure hunting. Donkey Kong, a muscular and somewhat dim-witted ape, originally served as Mario's first rival in his arcade debut, but eventually became the main protagonist of his own franchise. Other significant recurring characters in the franchise include the Toads, inhabitants of the Mushroom Kingdom and servants to Peach, who often support Mario during his adventures; Princess Daisy, the tomboyish ruler of a kingdom called Sarasaland; Wario's brother and partner in crime Waluigi; Professor Elvin Gadd, an aging scientist and inventor; and Rosalina, a mysterious figure who watches over the cosmos.

Bowser's army usually known as the "Koopa Troop". Be ultra careful though. These guys are very loyal to Bowser. One idiotic move and you will be zinged.

Throughout his adventures, Mario faces a wide variety of enemies that make attempts to hinder his progress. The Goombas, mushroom-like creatures that betrayed the Mushroom Kingdom, are extremely weak to the extent that a single stomp is enough to defeat them. Koopa Troopas, foot soldiers of Bowser, retract in their shells if stomped on, after which they can be used to attack other foes. Many different species of Koopa exist, including the aerial Paratroopas, the projectile-wielding Hammer Bros., the hard-shelled Buzzy Beetles, the cloud-riding Lakitus and their pets the Spinies, the skeletal Dry Bones, and the sorcerous Magikoopas. Other recurring enemies of Mario include the Boos, timid ghosts that cover their faces whenever the hero stares at them; Piranha Plants, man-eating flora that dwell within pipes; Bullet Bills, projectiles that are shot out of cannons called "blasters"; Bob-ombs, anthropomorphic bombs with short tempers leading to inevitable explosions; Chain Chomps, tethered ball-and-chain creatures that lunge at Mario when in close proximity; Bloopers, squids that like to corner and close in on their prey; Cheep Cheeps, fish with wing-like fins and the ability to attack above the surface of the water; Thwomps, rectangular rock creatures that flatten whoever passes below them using their own weight; and Podoboos, living fireballs that inhabit lava pits and attack by leaping upward out of the lava. Major individualized minions of Bowser include his son Bowser Jr.; a seven-member clan called the Koopalings; Kamek, a high-ranking Magikoopa who often serves as one of Bowser's top acolytes; and Boom Boom, a powerhouse that attacks by flailing his arms.

Locations

The central location of the Mario universe is the Mushroom Kingdom, which Peach rules over and Bowser regularly invades. The kingdom has a diverse landscape that includes forests, deserts, snowlands, beaches, mountains, and plains. When Bowser invades the kingdom and kidnaps Peach, he takes her to his castle, usually situated in a volcanic world, and Mario and his friends have to travel there and defeat some of Bowser's most powerful minions, as well as Bowser himself, in order to get the princess back. Some games have been set in locations other than the Mushroom Kingdom, such as the island where Yoshi and his dinosaur friends live, and Isle Delfino, a large dolphin-shaped tropical resort.

Gameplay mechanics

Did You Know: The Super Mushroom, one of the most iconic Mario series items, was ranked FIRST on UGO Networks' list of the 11 greatest video game power-ups of all time. The site's reviewers called it "quintessential."[2]

In the main Super Mario series, Mario traverses his way through the games' various levels by defeating enemies, collecting coins, and solving puzzles. Since his earliest games, Mario has been defined by his trademark jumping ability, which he commonly uses to help him progress through the playfield and defeat the majority of his enemies. This ability has seen numerous evolutions throughout the series, including the Spin Jump from Super Mario World; and the Triple Jump, Wall Kick, and Long Jump, all introduced in Super Mario 64. In the 2D platformers, Mario must reach a single-exit objective (marked by a flagpole or other object) within a set time limit to get to the next sequential level; the 3D games' levels, however, are less linear and allow Mario to walk around freely and gather special objects, like Power Stars, Power Moons, and Shine Sprites, that allow him to progress further into the game.

Another integral element of Mario series gameplay is the use of items, which Mario can use to power himself up. Often these items can be found in special item blocks, labeled with a question mark (?), which alternatively can also yield coins.

Many power-ups in the Mario games are mushrooms. The most iconic of this category of power-ups is the Super Mushroom, which increases Mario's size and allows him to break brick blocks. When hit by an enemy, Mario reverts to his smaller size instead of losing a life. While Mario is already in Super form, most blocks that would contain a Super Mushroom instead offer a more powerful power-up. The Japanese Super Mario Bros. 2 introduced the Poison Mushroom, which behaves more like an enemy, shrinking or killing Mario whenever he comes in direct contact with it. The New Super Mario Bros. series introduced two additional mushroom power-ups: the Mini Mushroom, which shrinks Mario into miniature size, allowing him to run faster, jump higher, walk on water, and access areas he normally cannot; and the Mega Mushroom, which grows Mario into a towering, invulnerable giant who destroys enemies and the environment by running through them.

Certain items exist that grant Mario an extra life. The most recurring and significant is the 1-Up Mushroom, which appears similar to the Super Mushroom but is green instead of red. It is sometimes hidden in invisible item blocks, and in the 3D games, it sometimes appears when Mario walks in a particular area. Although the 1-Up Mushroom is the most common extra life-granting item in the series, there are other items that serve the same or a similar function, such as the 3-Up Moon introduced in Super Mario World, which grants three extra lives instead of one.

"Fire Mario" is one of the character's most common powered-up forms. There are also numerous other Power-Ups Mario obtains (some of which are more useful according to popular belief).

There are also power-ups taking the form of flowers, which allow Mario to shoot projectiles of various kinds. The first and most significant is the Fire Flower (nicknamed Kinga by some fans), which turns Mario into his fire form, in which he is able to sling bouncing fireballs at incoming enemies. Mario's fireballs instantly kill most enemies on contact, except for certain enemies which are fire-resistant, like the Buzzy Beetle. Later games introduced alternate variants of this item, such as the Ice Flower, which allows Mario to shoot balls of ice that can also freeze enemies in ice blocks to be used as platforms or projectiles; and the Gold Flower from New Super Mario Bros. 2, which turns Mario into gold and allows him to turn bricks into coins and earn bonus coins for defeating enemies.

Another prominent item in the series is the Super Star (also called the Starman), a flashing anthropomorphic star which grants Mario temporary invincibility, allowing him to kill virtually any enemy upon making contact with it. Some games feature substitutes for this item, like Super Mario 64, where Mario can resist harm using the Metal and Vanish Caps; and Super Mario Galaxy and its sequel, where invincibility is provided by the "Rainbow Star," which also progressively increases Mario's speed, to the point where he becomes almost uncontrollable as his power wears off, and allows him to break through certain objects.

Coins are a common element in Mario game design, traditionally incorporated as puzzles and rewards. Most Super Mario games award the player an extra life once a certain amount of coins are collected, commonly 50 or 100. There are also special variants of Coins, such as Dragon Coins in Super Mario World, Red Coins in Super Mario 64 and a number of games afterwards; and Star Coins in the New Super Mario Bros. games. In Super Mario 64, Sunshine, 64 DS, and the Galaxy games, coins replenish health (and air, when Mario is underwater). In RPGs, Coins can be used to purchase items and other useful things. In Super Mario Odyssey, Hearts are now used to replenish health instead of Coins.

One of the Mario series' most common modes of transportation is the Warp Pipe, a drain pipe-like structure which comes in a number of different colors (the most common being green). Warp Pipes provide access to secret underground areas that often host mass amounts of Coins, and can also function as platforms that allow Mario to traverse from one area to another; some pipes even launch the hero into the air. Special well-hidden areas in early games, known as "Warp Zones," contain pipes that allow players to skip several levels and even entire worlds at once. Most 3D games in the series feature cannons that allow Mario to progress through levels and reach otherwise inaccessible areas; to use them, he jumps into the barrel, aims himself and is fired at his target.

Mario games

1980's (1981-1989)

Title, original release and system Synopsis and Ratings
Donkey Kong

In 1981, the Mario series officially started with the release of Shigeru Miyamoto's creation - Donkey Kong. Originally released in the arcades, Donkey Kong became a very popular game amongst gamers, eventually spawning many remakes and ports. In 1981, Mario had yet to be called so -- rather, he was called "Jumpman" during that brief era; it was only a few years later that Mario Segale would rename the aforementioned character to "Mario". Mario was also a carpenter in the game and would not be a plumber until Mario Bros. Since then, the name has become very popular among the video game community; he is considered to be one of Nintendo's mascots. Since the release of Donkey Kong in 1981, Mario has appeared in over 200 games, and has been referenced in several more. The object of the game was to control Jumpman to get to the top of the construction site while also trying to dodge barrels to reach Pauline, who had been kidnapped by Donkey Kong.
USA 1981
Arcade Machine
(Ratings unavailable)
Donkey Kong (Game & Watch)

A year after the release of Donkey Kong, Nintendo remade the game on their Game & Watch system while retaining the same name. As in the original game, Mario's girlfriend Pauline has been kidnapped by Donkey Kong. Now, Mario must climb up a construction site while dodging barrels the ape throws at him in order to reach him; he must then use a crane to knock the girder out from under him. This game would later be ported into three future Game & Watch games: Game and Watch Gallery 2, Game & Watch Gallery 4, and Game & Watch Collection; while the Game Boy releases lacked a second screen, all three retained the original gameplay. There were also two game modes: an easy mode and a hard mode.
USA 1982
Game & Watch
(Ratings unavailable)
Mario Bros.

Two years later, in 1983, Mario got his own game - using his current name. In Mario Bros., Mario and his brother Luigi - who first debuted in this game - were traversing the creature-infested depths of the sewers. This game is Mario's debut as a plumber. Mario and Luigi had to fight such creatures as Fighter Flys, Shellcreepers and Sidesteppers to clear each stage, while also collecting coins during the levels as payment. Mario Bros. is the 1st Mario game with infinite levels (and last.) Since its release, it has been released as a minigame with several other games, as well as being re-released once. It also received a sequel, Mario Clash, in 1995.
USA 1983
Arcade Machine
(Ratings unavailable)
Mario Bros. (Game & Watch)

On the same year as the NES game, Mario Bros. for the Game & Watch was released. However, despite the similar names, it bears no resemblance to the arcade game. In this game, Mario and Luigi work for a bottling company and are loading bottles on a truck for delivery. Being on a dual-screen game system that opened up like a book, the game allowed for two players, Mario being on the right and Luigi on the left. This game was later re-released in Game & Watch Gallery 3.
USA 1983
Game & Watch
(Ratings unavailable)
Mario's Cement Factory

Another release on Game & Watch, Mario's Cement Factory involves Mario running around a cement factory in order to open hatches to prevent the cement behind them from overflowing; if it does so, the cement will injure a factory worker, and will count as a miss. Mario must also avoid touching the factory floor, which will electrocute him and count as a miss, and three results in a game over.
USA 1983
Game & Watch
(Ratings unavailable)
Mario's Bombs Away

Another Game & Watch release, Mario's Bombs Away involves Mario, as a member of the army, transporting bombs from one side of the screen to another while avoiding enemy torches or fires started when Mario's friend carelessly tosses his cigarettes into puddles of oil. When he reaches the other side, Mario can only give a bomb to his friend when his hands are down, and must hand him four more to cause them to blow up on the enemy. As with the previous game, three misses results in a game over.
USA 1983
Game & Watch
(Ratings unavailable)
Golf

Before the release of Super Mario Bros., Mario appeared in his first ever sports game: Golf — it was released in 1984. The gameplay is relatively simple: the player must strike the ball with the correct amount of force in order to get a good shot. The more good shots and the player gets, the more points he or she is likely to earn. Golf Mario is stated to be the playable character (even he is not seen in his traditional clothing) but the original version instead claims the golfer name is Ossan.
USA 1984
NES
(Ratings unavailable)
Mario Bros. Special

A game developed by Hudson Soft, Mario Bros. Special wasn't a port of the original game, but a complete remake, with new graphics and sounds. Instead of having to defeat every enemy in the level, the game involved trying to get to the top of a level, where the exit to each level is.
Japan 1984
PC88
(Ratings unavailable)
Punch Ball Mario Bros.

Punch Ball Mario Bros., also released only in Japan by Hudson Soft, involved basically doing the same thing as in Mario Bros., but also involved using Punch Balls to hit enemies, stunning them, and then they could be kicked away like normal. Another difference between this and the original was that the platform pattern was reversed.
Japan 1984
PC88
(Ratings unavailable)
Wrecking Crew

In June of 1985, Nintendo released Wrecking Crew in Japan for the Famicom Disk System, then later that year in other parts of the world for the NES. The concept of the game revolved around Mario (and Luigi, if a second player were to join the game) who were in the middle of a demolition site. While at the site, they had to break down all of the concrete walls with their hammers found in each level. The player would encounter several enemies, none of which could be defeated with the hammer that Mario (or Luigi) would carry. Rather, they would have to trap enemies under steel drums. The game also featured a new character: Foreman Spike, who would occasionally appear to outdo Mario at breaking down the concrete walls, and who could push Mario off of ledges. The game also featured a custom level creator, the first game in the Mario series to ever do so.
Japan 1985
Famicom
(Ratings unavailable)
Super Mario Bros.

On September 13, 1985, Mario starred in his very first game outside of the arcades, Super Mario Bros., which became extremely successful. Mario, and his brother Luigi, had to set out on a massive adventure across the Mushroom Kingdom to rescue Princess Toadstool and the Mushroom Retainers from the evil King Bowser. After traversing through eight massive worlds, filled with enemies, the brothers eventually reached Bowser's Castle, finally rescuing Princess Toadstool. Super Mario Bros. was the best-selling video game for the NES in 1999,[3] and, until surpassed by Wii Sports in 2009, the best-selling video game of all time. Super Mario Bros. also had a major part in both the takeoff of the NES and the revival of the American video game industry after the crash in 1983.
Japan 1985
NES
(Ratings unavailable)
Super Mario Bros. Special

Super Mario Bros. Special is the true "lost" game of the series, which was made by Hudson Soft for the PC88 series of Japanese PCs and officially licensed by Nintendo. SMB Special was the very first licensed sequel to Super Mario Bros. to appear, released a few months before Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels in 1986. While superficially very similar to the original Super Mario Bros., the game features completely-original levels and lacks a screen-scrolling mechanism. Jumping and running physics also differ from the original, providing a more challenging experience than Super Mario Bros. Due to the PC88's technology being slightly inferior to that of the NES/Famicom, the graphics and audio differ slightly from the original NES game as well, although they are closely emulated, and does not include Luigi or a multiplayer mode.
Japan 1986
PC88
(Ratings unavailable)
Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels

Following the success of Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels was released just one year later in Japan. The gameplay and story were almost identical to its predecessor, but it was not released in the United States due to its extreme difficulty.[4] Some gameplay elements were changed slightly, such as Bloopers flying in midair, wind to help the player jump across abysses, and other minor changes.
Japan 1986
NES
(Ratings unavailable)
VS. Super Mario Bros.

VS. Super Mario Bros. was a two-player arcade game released in Japan in 1986. The game was mostly the same as the original game; Mario or Luigi went on a quest to save the princess from Bowser and restore order to the Mushroom Kingdom. The game was harder than Super Mario Bros. in that it had less warp zones and more enemies. The game even featured levels from Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels.
Japan 1986
Arcade Machine
(Ratings unavailable)
All Night Nippon Super Mario Bros.

All Night Nippon Super Mario Bros. was an officially licensed hack of Super Mario Bros. Gameplay was the same but many characters such as the Mushroom Retainers were replaced with Japanese celebrities from the radio show All Night Nippon. Other changes were also made for this game, such as World 1 being set during night time and Princess Peach's outfit was changed. The game was only released in Japan.
Japan 1986
Famicom Disk System
(Ratings unavailable)
I Am a Teacher: Super Mario Sweater

I Am a Teacher: Super Mario Sweater is a 1988 Famicom Disk System game released only in Japan. It was designed by Royal industries Co. Ltd., a Japanese appliance and sewing machine company. The company realized that they could make a lot of money by releasing a sweater-design program, which led to this game. Players could design the sweater they want, and the company would make a real-life version for 2,900 Yen (about $24).
Japan 1986
Famicom Disk System
(Ratings unavailable)
Famicom Grand Prix: F-1 Race

Famicom Grand Prix: F-1 Race was a game released only in Japan for the Famicom Disk System. The game involved playing as Mario and racing other computer-controlled vehicles to try and win first place; winning a Grand Prix resulted in the player winning money, which could be used to buy cars. The cars also had limited health, which decreased if the player hit walls or other cars and if they drive off-road. Players can also stop for a pit-stop and repair their car, giving them more health and fuel, but it took time away from the race.
Japan 1986
Famicom Disk System
(Ratings unavailable)
Kaettekita Mario Bros.

Kaettekita Mario Bros. (translated as Return of Mario Bros., but also commonly known as Mario Bros. Returns in English-speaking countries) is a Japanese game for the Famicom Disk System. The game has several modes that can be accessed from the main menu. The "Original Mario Bros." mode plays, for the most part, similarly to the Mario Bros. game that was released to arcades. However, there are several differences: some new levels were added, Mario and Luigi can now change direction in mid-air (much like modern remakes), the graphics and music were improved, high scores can now be saved and advertisements appeared between levels. Some were for upcoming Mario games, such as Super Mario Bros. 3; others were for the Japanese food company Nagatanien, who sponsored this game. There is also a two-player version of this mode, in which both players are active at the same time.
Japan 1986
Famicom Disk System
(Ratings unavailable)
Golf: Japan Course

Golf: Japan Course is a golfing game released only in Japan starring Mario and Luigi. The courses in this game were created based on actual Japanese golf courses. The game was compatible with a service called Disk Fax, in which players, using a machine, could send their save data and high scores to Nintendo. Using this service, a contest was held in which the winner received a gold copy of this game, featuring a higher difficulty and an extra course.
Japan 1987
Famicom Disk System
(Ratings unavailable)
Golf: U.S. Course

Released a few months later as a sister title to Japan Course, Golf: U.S. Course is a Japan-exclusive golf game. Like with Japan Course, the courses in this game are based on real golf courses in the United States. This game was also compatible with the Disk Fax service, and a contest was held featuring this game as well, with the same prize and the gold disk having the same additional features.
Japan 1987
Famicom Disk System
(Ratings unavailable)
Super Mario Bros. (Game & Watch)

Two years after the release of Nintendo's first biggest commercial success, the company released a remake of Super Mario Bros. as a Game & Watch title. Being a remake of the game, it essentially has the same plot, but with only eight levels; however, after beating every level, they will have to be repeated. Mario will have to go through nine loops, each time with the levels increasing in difficulty. There are also two types of levels: scroll screen levels, in which Mario will have to reach a certain point to advance, and timer screen levels, in which Mario must get through the world in a given amount of time. Additionally, another difference between the original and this remake is that Mario will find Princess Toadstool at the end of every level, without having to fight a boss.
USA 1987
Game & Watch
(Ratings unavailable)
Famicom Grand Prix II: 3D Hot Rally

Famicom Grand Prix II: 3D Hot Rally was the Japan-only sequel to Famicom Grand Prix: F-1 Race. Mario and Luigi were two playable characters, and could drive one of three cars: Kattobi, Yonque and Monster.
Japan 1987
Famicom Disk System
(Ratings unavailable)
Super Mario Bros. 2

Two years later in 1988, Nintendo released yet another Mario game for the NES - Super Mario Bros. 2. Despite the fact that the game's title has "2" in it, it was not the direct sequel to Super Mario Bros.Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels was, however it was not released outside of Japan. In this game, Mario, Luigi, Princess Toadstool, and Toad had to save the dream world of Subcon from the diabolical Wart. After fighting their way through seven strange worlds, they eventually stopped the evil Wart, saved Subcon, and Mario woke up from his dream. Super Mario Bros. 2 would eventually be released in Japan as Super Mario USA.
USA 1988
NES
(Ratings unavailable)
Super Mario Bros. 3

Another two years had passed by the time the next mainstream Mario game had been released: Super Mario Bros. 3. It was the most expansive Mario game on the NES, as it featured many levels, items, and enemies. Bowser and his seven Koopalings wreaked havoc across the Mushroom World after turning all of the Mushroom Kings into various animals. Mario and Luigi had to traverse through many worlds, castles, seas, forests, and deserts to fix the wrongs the Koopalings had caused. Eventually, the brothers reached Bowser and defeated him, rescuing Princess Toadstool once again.
Japan 1988
NES
(Ratings unavailable)
Super Mario Land

Mario made the jump to Nintendo's first handheld system in 1989, with the release of Super Mario Land. Selling a total of 18.06 million copies[5], it became the bestselling video game not to be bundled with a system in history for quite some time. In this game, Mario had to traverse across the four worlds of Sarasaland to save the Princess Daisy from the alien Tatanga along with his family. With the help of new features such as the Superball, Marine Pop, and the Sky Pop, Mario was able to stop Tatanga and his team and save Daisy.
Japan 1989
Game Boy
(Ratings unavailable)
Alleyway

Alleyway was a game made in a classic breakout-style. Its gameplay involved using the paddle, which is driven by Mario, to hit a ball to destroy the blocks above it. Every fourth round in the game a sprite from Super Mario Bros. would appear.
Japan 1989
Game Boy
(Ratings unavailable)

1990's (1990-1999)

Title, original release and system Synopsis and Ratings
Dr. Mario

Dr. Mario was the first game in the Dr. Mario series; it was released for the NES in 1990. The game brought the basic concept of the series to the players' attention immediately, as they would start the game off having to reorganize falling Megavitamins in order to eradicate viruses from the screen. Once all viruses have been eliminated, the player would move on to the next level. As the game progressed, each level rose in difficulty, providing more viruses for the player to eliminate and less space to maneuver the Megavitamins in. Dr. Mario was ported and remade many times after its original release.
Japan 1990
NES
(Ratings unavailable)
Super Mario World

One year after the release of Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World had been released on a whole new home console — the Super Nintendo. It was with this game that the Mario series had been upgraded from 8-bit to 16-bit graphics. Though the games' graphics would later be revolutionized once again, this was indeed a huge step at the time. During the story of Super Mario World, while Mario, Luigi, and Princess Toadstool were vacationing in Dinosaur Land, Bowser and his seven Koopalings once again kidnapped the Princess. With the help of the Yoshis and Dolphins, the brothers traversed across the vast area of Dinosaur Land. As they made their way to Princess Toadstool, they thwarted each Koopaling who stood in their way until they reached Bowser. Once again, Bowser had been defeated and Princess Toadstool had been rescued.
Japan 1990
SNES
Gamespot - 8.5: Great
Mario Roulette

Mario Roulette was a Japan-only arcade game released in 1991. Mario, Peach, Bowser, and Yoshi were the main characters. The graphics were mostly from Super Mario World.
Japan 1991
Arcade Machine
(Ratings unavailable)
Mario the Juggler

Years after the release of the previous Mario-based Game & Watch game, Nintendo released Mario the Juggler, a remake of the first Game & Watch game Ball and the final Game & Watch unit created. The game stars Mario, in which he is attempting to juggle various items and objects from the Mario series. Over time, the number of objects needed to be juggled will increase from one to three, and will fall faster with time. As with all Game & Watch games, three misses is a game over.
USA 1991
Game & Watch
(Ratings unavailable)
Mario Teaches Typing

In 1991, Mario Teaches Typing was released. This game was the first Mario edutainment game released. The game used several Mario-related elements to teach young kids how to type. To advance through the game itself, the player must type the letters or words on the screen. By doing so correctly, the player can cause several actions to occur. Another gameplay mode allowed the player to type the first letter of a word.
USA 1991
MS-DOS
(Ratings unavailable)
NES Open Tournament Golf

NES Open Tournament Golf was a golf-oriented game that featured Mario characters. The game doesn't take place in the Mushroom Kingdom, instead taking place in three real world locations: America, Japan, and the United Kingdom.
Japan 1991
NES
(Ratings unavailable)
Super Mario Bros. & Friends: When I Grow Up

Super Mario Bros. & Friends: When I Grow Up is a DOS computer game featuring Mario and friends released in 1992. It is an Electric Crayon game and was published by Merit Software. The game is essentially a coloring book on the computer. A few pages have animated sequences. Career themed pages include Policeman, Attorney/Judge, Chef/Waiter, Business Executive, Ballet Dancer, and Homemaker. Characters in the game include Mario, Luigi, Peach, Toads, and Bowser, who is depicted in both his game and DIC cartoons appearances. Link makes a cameo.
Japan 1991
MS-DOS
(Ratings unavailable)
Super Mario Bros. Print World

Super Mario Bros. Print World is a printing game for the MS-DOS, IBM Tandy and Apple II. It featured figures from Super Mario Bros. 3.
USA 1991
(Ratings unavailable)
Mario Paint

Released on the SNES in 1992, Mario Paint was highly interactive, even utilizing the SNES Mouse. The game had a series of four sequels on the failed N64 add-on, the Nintendo 64DD, known as Mario Artist. The game's title screen was interactive, as each letter of the words 'Mario Paint' would cause a different effect on the title screen. In Art Mode, the player could draw several different creations on a canvas displayed on-screen; these drawings would have elements that were highly influenced from Super Mario World. The game also featured the ability to make Stamps, which were a type of sprite that the player could create in a separate game mode. In addition, the player could create their own music samples using the game's Music Mode.
Japan 1992
SNES
(Ratings unavailable)
Super Mario Kart

Two decades ago, in 1992, the Mario Kart series had begun with the release of Super Mario Kart. It was one of the first games ever to be made that was 2-dimensional with 3-dimensional renderings. The game featured eight playable characters: Mario, Luigi, Princess Toadstool, Yoshi, Toad, Bowser, Donkey Kong Jr., and Koopa Troopa. Though the player could not pick from a selection of karts, each character was pre-assigned with a kart, each with a different weight, speed, and acceleration. This game was also heavily influenced by Super Mario World, as many of the racecourses took place somewhere within the borders of Dinosaur Land; the game also featured the Cape Feather, which was found in Super Mario World.
Japan 1992
SNES
(Ratings unavailable)
Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins

Three years later, Mario reappeared on the Game Boy with the release of Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins. It was less popular than its predecessor, but not by a lot.[6], Super Mario Land. This story picked up right where the last one left off. After rescuing Princess Daisy, Mario returned to his castle, only to find that it had been taken over by his old nemesis, Wario. Mario must collect six golden coins scattered across Mario Land in order to regain access to his castle and defeat Wario.
Japan 1992
Game Boy
(Ratings unavailable)
Mario is Missing!

In 1992, Nintendo added to the list of Mario edutainment games by releasing Mario is Missing!. The game was originally released for MS-DOS, but was later released on the NES, SNES, and then released again on the PC. The game was also the first to feature Luigi as the main playable protagonist. The story revolves around Bowser, who has kidnapped Mario and taken him to his fortress in Antarctica. Bowser then plans to steal several shipments of hair dryers in order to melt the icy continent and flood the world. Luigi must then travel through several locations on Earth in order to retrieve several artifacts to help him rescue his brother. The game was designed to be simple in battle, as the enemies and bosses found throughout the game could not harm the player.
USA 1992
MS-DOS
(Ratings unavailable)
Mario Unkurukai

Mario Unkurukai was a Japan-only arcade game based on dancing. The game was mostly meant for small children. The game is almost the same as the later game Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix, except for the two neutral spaces and no two-player mode.
Japan 1993
Arcade Machine
(Ratings unavailable)
Super Mario All-Stars

In 1993, a compilation of NES Super Mario Bros. games had been released. The game was titled Super Mario All-Stars. The game contained Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels (the first U.S. release of that game), Super Mario Bros. 2, and Super Mario Bros. 3. The games featured updated graphics to fit the 16-bit memory of the Super Nintendo. Not many other changes had been made to the games. One year later, in 1994, a second installment called Super Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World had been released. As its name implies, it has all the previously mentioned NES games as well as the addition of Super Mario World. A Wii remake of the original compilation game called Super Mario All-Stars Limited Edition was released in 2010.
Japan 1993
SNES
(Ratings unavailable)
Yoshi's Safari

In 1993, Nintendo released Yoshi's Safari for the SNES. The game carried over many aspects of Super Mario World, featuring many of the same bosses and enemies (such as Chargin' Chucks), and having Mario ride Yoshi throughout the game. Yoshi's Safari is notable for being the only shooter in the Mario series, utilizing the Super Scope to facilitate gameplay. The story revolved around Mario and Yoshi traveling through the vast realms of Jewelry Land. Their mission was to save King Fret and his son, Prince Pine, from the diabolical Koopalings who were terrorizing the land.
Japan 1993
SNES
(Ratings unavailable)
Mario & Wario

Mario & Wario is a puzzle game only released in Japan, on the Super Famicom in 1993. The game featured three different modes of difficulty and ten levels in which the player had to guide Peach (easy), Mario (intermediate), or Yoshi (hard) to reach Luigi, who is the goal of each level. After Wario drops a random item on the player's head, be it a bucket or a jellyfish, Wanda the fairy must then help guide the player to Luigi in order to advance to the next level. The game was one of very few titles to utilize the SNES Mouse.
Japan 1993
Super Famicom
(Ratings unavailable)
Mario's Time Machine

Mario's Time Machine is yet another edutainment game in the Mario series. It was released in 1993 for NES, SNES, and PC. The game is an attempt to teach children various aspects of world history. As such, Mario must use his time machine to travel throughout various time periods in history, dating back to 80,000,000 B.C., all the way up to 1989 A.D.. Mario must collect artifacts from each period of time he visits in order to progress through the game. Should the player fail at retrieving the artifacts in the wrong order, the ending will show Bowser escaping to Paradise, requiring the player to start the game over completely; however, if the game is completed in an orderly fashion, the player will win the game. This game is also notable for being the first and only game in the Mario series that has Mario speaking in full phrases.
USA 1993
SNES
(Ratings unavailable)
Wario's Woods

Wario's Woods is a puzzle game released originally for the SNES in 1993; it was later released for the NES in 1994. The game features Toad as the main protagonist, the only Mario game to ever do so. As Toad was out walking one day, he accidentally ran into a large forest owned by the evil Wario. Wario was sending out many of his monsters to attack the Mushroom Kingdom. With the help of Birdo and Wanda, Toad had to protect the Mushroom Kingdom from the monsters' inevitable infiltration.
Japan 1994
NES
(Ratings unavailable)
Mario's Early Years! Fun with Numbers

Mario's Early Years! Fun with Numbers was the first game in the Mario's Early Years! series. Released in September 1994, the game was aimed at small children and was meant to teach them the basics of numbers and counting. To clear the game, the player must go through various worlds, represented by islands with different environments, waking up a sleeping Luigi, and doing various number-related activities.
USA 1994
SNES
(Ratings unavailable)
Mario's Early Years! Fun with Letters

Mario's Early Years! Fun with Letters was released in October 1994, as the second game in the Mario's Early Years series. The game's purpose was to teach children the basics of the English alphabet and how to spell words. The game, like the others, involved players going to different words, each one teaching them different subjects involving the alphabet. The player does this by clicking on objects to interact with them. The player can go down one of two pipes; the first will allow the player to experiment freely, and the other will allow the player to awaken a sleeping Luigi, who will watch the player and compliment him as they play through to complete the area.
USA 1994
SNES
(Ratings unavailable)
Mario's Early Years! Preschool Fun

Mario's Early Years! Preschool Fun was the third and final game in the Mario's Early Years series, released in November 1994. The game once again involved sending Mario to different islands that taught the player various subjects that pertained to real-world education.
USA 1994
SNES
(Ratings unavailable)
Tetris & Dr. Mario

As the name states, Tetris & Dr. Mario is a game released on the SNES as a two-in-one game featuring a remade version of both Tetris and Dr. Mario. While the core games remain the same, some additions are made for this release. In Dr. Mario, the player has the option of facing a computer on one of three difficulties. There is also a "Mixed Match" game, in which both players compete to beat Tetris mode B, a round of Dr. Mario, and Tetris mode A consecutively.
USA 1994
SNES
(Ratings unavailable)
Hotel Mario

In 1994, Hotel Mario was released for the Philips CD-i, and was developed by Philips Media. The game was rather obscure and received very little attention due to the lack of interest in the Philips CD-i. The plot deals with Bowser and his seven children, the Koopalings, who have once again taken over the Mushroom Kingdom; this time, they built a series of hotels, of which, one is hiding Princess Peach. Once Mario and Luigi become aware of this, they set out on a mission to stop Bowser and his children once more and rescue the Princess. The main goal of each stage is to close all of the doors on each floor in order to progress to the next stage or location. However, enemies commonly interfere with the player's goal, thus reopening the doors, requiring them to be closed once more. The name of each hotel is a portmanteau on a Real World hotel, such as the Ritz Carlton hotel.
USA 1994
Philips CD-i
(Ratings unavailable)
Undake30 Same Game

UNDAKE30 Same Game Taisakusen Mario Version was a puzzle game that was released in 1995 in Japan. The game could be controlled with a standard joypad or the Super Famicom Mouse and was similar to the card game Monte Carlo. The game centers around a large playing field composed of a random arrangement of Mario Heads, Coins, Yoshi Eggs, Fire Flowers, and Super Mushrooms. If two or more icons are connected, the player can move the cursor and click to make all the connected icons disappear. Now the icons above fall down and the Player can clear even more icons. Also, there is an undo move that allows the Player to take back the last move, and move back as far as wanted. Once the entire grid is clear, the game ends. The game was developed by Hudson Soft.
Japan 1995
Super Famicom
(Ratings unavailable)
Satella-Q

Satella-Q is a series of quiz game events released exclusively for Japan for the Satellaview (an add-on for the Super Famicom) in 1995. Within the game, Toad was featured as the main and primary character as he guided the players through the number of quizzes and minigames that were available. Each installment of the game series was divided into episodes and each was released at different times during the same year of the game's release. At the moment, it is also the longest-running of the Satellaview broadcasts to this point.
Japan 1995
Satellaview for the Super Famicom
(Ratings unavailable)
Mario's Picross

In 1995, Nintendo released Mario's Picross for the Game Boy. Mario's Picross was a puzzle game that spawned a sub-series containing two additional games: Picross 2 and Super Mario Picross. The game featured a paint-by-numbers puzzle system, in which there was a 100-square screen for the player to maneuver around. Once the puzzle was completed, the player would advance to the next one, which would increase in difficulty somewhat. A total of 192 puzzles could be found in the game, found throughout three different modes: Easy Picross, Kinoko, and Star — each of which contained 64 puzzles. There was also a time-trial mode, which contained 64 puzzles, (that were previously beaten), that would appear at random.
Japan 1995
Game Boy
(Ratings unavailable)
Mario's Tennis

In 1995, the first installment to the Mario Tennis series was released —Mario's Tennis. It inspired the creation of several more games in the series, (the next being Mario Tennis for the Nintendo 64). The game had seven playable characters, all of which were featured in Super Mario Kart, with the exception of Bowser who did not appear in this game.
USA 1995
Virtual Boy
(Ratings unavailable)
Mario's Super Picross

The Japan-only sequel to Mario's Picross, Mario's Super Picross wasn't released in the west due to the poor reception the original received. The game was mostly the same as the original; the only real difference was that Wario was put into the game.
Japan 1995
Super Famicom
(Ratings unavailable)
Mario Clash

Mario Clash is an obscure Mario Bros. remake for Virtual Boy. In the game, the player must use Koopa Shells to hit enemies and knock them out of platforms, so they can progress. New enemies not present in Mario Bros. appeared in this game, like Thornys, Lobbs and Snakes.
Japan 1995
Virtual Boy
(Ratings unavailable)
Mario's Game Gallery

Mario's Game Gallery was an obscure Mario video game for young children released in 1995. Children could play games like "Go Fish", "Checkers", "Backgammon", "Dominoes", or "Yahtzee". Depending on the game, the player either plays against Mario or Bowser. This is the first Mario game in which Charles Martinet provided Mario's voice, not to be confused with Mario Teaches Typing. In 1998, the game was re-released under the name Mario's FUNdamentals.
USA 1995
MS-DOS
(Ratings unavailable)
BS Super Mario USA


The pseudo-sequel to Super Mario USA (Super Mario Bros. 2), BS Super Mario USA was released as four installments, and each one involved the player heading into each world to collect a gold Mario statue and defeat the bosses until finally reaching and defeating Wart. Each level could be replayed until the clock reached 50 minutes. As the player progressed, St. Giga's Satellite radio would stream an audio drama to tell the story. After the events of Super Mario Bros. 2, the King of Subcon had golden Mario statues put up all around Subcon, to thank him and his friends for their deeds. However, three Birdos, Mouser, Tryclyde, Fryguy and Clawgrip have stolen them, and now Mario must get them back and defeat Wart again.
Japan 1996
Satellaview
(Ratings unavailable)
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

The first Mario RPG to be made was one of the last Super Nintendo games to be released — Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars. To many, it was a success, as it received great reviews amongst players.[7] This Mario game also introduced the turn-based battle system to the series. HP, Speed, Attack, Defense, Magic Attack, and Magic Defense were all features that Mario, his partners, and enemies all carried. In the story, Princess Toadstool was kidnapped once again by King Bowser; Mario set off on a brief adventure to rescue her. After battling Bowser, Mario did not get the chance to fully rescue the princess. A large sword fell from the sky and plummeted straight into Bowser's Castle, destroying the Star Road, while sending the three into different directions. After Mario wakes up back in the Mushroom Kingdom, he sets out on an adventure to find out what happened all the while still having to rescue Princess Toadstool. Along his journey, Mario meets characters such as Mallow and Geno, all of whom join him in hopes of defeating Smithy, the cause of the Mushroom Kingdom's current state. This is the first game in which Bowser allied with Mario, and in which Bowser and Princess Toadstool were playable characters.
Japan 1996
SNES
(Ratings unavailable)
Super Mario 64

Not long after the release of Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, Nintendo released a new system and a new game — Super Mario 64. The game was a success. It was the first fully 3-Dimensional Mario game to ever be made, thus revolutionizing the appearance of Mario games to date. The game sold over eleven million copies by 2007.[8] Because the game had such amazing success, people began to create rumors of glitches[9] and unlockables in the game. Perhaps one of the most notable rumors was that Luigi was a playable character in the game.[10] This was also the second game to call Princess Peach by her current name (with Yoshi's Safari being the first). In the game, Mario was invited to Princess Peach's Castle to eat a cake she had baked. However, when Mario arrived at her castle, he had discovered that Bowser had taken it over and had stolen almost all of the castle's Power Stars— there were some which he did not know existed. As Mario traversed through fifteen different painting worlds, he eventually recovered enough Power Stars to battle Bowser and take back the castle, freeing Peach from her stained-glass prison.
Japan 1996
Nintendo 64
IGN - 9.8: AmazingGamespot - 9.4: Superb
Picross 2

Picross 2 was one of the two Japan-only sequels to Mario's Picross, the other being Mario's Super Picross. The game was, like the other sequel, mostly the same as the original. During gameplay, the player could be given hints on how to create specific images. Mario and Wario, who are apparently the two playable characters, both had different puzzles to be solved.
Japan 1996
Game Boy
(ratings unavailable)
Mario Teaches Typing 2

Mario Teaches Typing 2 was released for the computer in 1996, as the sequel to Mario Teaches Typing. The game featured several changes and improvements from the first game. In the game, Mario and Luigi are walking near Bowser's Castle when a typewriter suddenly appears in front of them. To their surprise, it then begins to type on its own, producing a message that says to type the magic words to destroy Bowser's Castle. However, he must type it correctly, or risk the typewriter self-destructing. Mario tries to type the magic words, but his horrible typing cause the typewriter to self-destruct. Mario and Luigi must now recollect the three pieces to the machine to destroy Bowser's Castle.
USA 1996
MS-DOS
(ratings unavailable)
Mario Kart 64

Mario Kart 64 was released as the second installment in the Mario Kart series, and was the first to use 3-D graphics. This game also included division of characters by weight classes. Donkey Kong Jr. and Koopa Troopa were taken out of this game, but two new characters were added: Donkey Kong and Wario, both in the heavy class. This game also introduced a four-player Vs. mode. The game involves each character racing each other to get first place, using items attack the drivers ahead of or behind them.
Japan 1996
Nintendo 64
IGN - 8.1: GreatGamespot - 6.4: Fair
Excitebike: Bun Bun Mario Battle Stadium

Excitebike: Bun Bun Mario Battle Stadium is an Super Famicom racing game released in 1997. It is an obscure remake of the NES title, Excitebike. In this game, all human bikers were replaced with Mario characters. The game was somewhat based off of the Mario Kart series. The characters were Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Toad, Wario and Princess Peach. The players could download more parts of the game via Satellaview.
Japan 1997
Super Famicom
(Ratings unavailable)
BS Super Mario Collection

A remake of Super Mario Collection, (Super Mario All-Stars in North America) BS Super Mario Collection is a game for the Super Famicom add-on Satellaview. Like with BS Super Mario USA, as the player progressed through the game, voice acting and music would be streamed to the system using the Satellaview's Soundlink capabilities.
Japan 1997
Super Famicom
(Ratings unavailable)
Wrecking Crew '98

In 1998, Wrecking Crew '98, the Japan-only sequel to Wrecking Crew was released. The game had similar mechanics to that of its prequel, as the player had to line up panels in a color-coded manner in order to get rid of them; there was also the option to smash them with a hammer. The game also featured the ability to rain a large amount of panels on the opponent, causing them to have more difficulty clearing the stage. The story tells that Mario, on his way home, discovers Bowser on a campaign to build several high-rises in the Mushroom Kingdom, which are destroying the plant life of the area. As Mario attempts to trump Bowser's plot, he must fight his old nemesis, Foreman Spike, along with other villains such as Eggplant Man.
Japan 1998
Super Famicom
(Ratings unavailable)
Mario no Photopi

Mario no Photopi is a creativity game released for the Nintendo 64 in 1998 only in Japan. The game's cartridge has two slots for SmartMedia cards in the top, allowing importing digital photos and other images and for transfer between the cards. The pictures can be edited and decorated with font, artwork from the Mario series, borders and other graphics.
Japan 1998
Nintendo 64
(Ratings unavailable)
Mario Party

In 1999, Nintendo released the first Mario Party game to ever be made — Mario Party. The game was a whole new aspect on multi-player capabilities in the Mario series; most games up until now mainly featured a 2-player versus mode, with the exceptions of a few sports spin-offs. The game mechanics worked near-identically to that of a board game: players would rove around the board, moving from space to space, and hitting a Dice Block in order to move said spaces. The players could earn Coins by playing and winning minigames; with a certain amount of coins, the players could buy Stars. Despite the fact that this was a party game, it also had a single-player mode, in which the player would play against CPUs. There were six playable characters in the game: Mario, Luigi, Peach, Donkey Kong, Yoshi, and Wario. Each character had one board modeled after them, in addition to two other boards in the game — one dedicated to the game's antagonist, Bowser, and the other unlockable after collection one-hundred Stars.
Japan 1998
Nintendo 64
IGN - 7.9: GoodGamespot - 7.2: Good
Super Mario Bros. Deluxe

In that same year, Nintendo released another hit, Super Mario Bros. Deluxe. It sold a total of 2.8 million copies in the United States alone.[11] The game was one of the highest rated games according to Gamespot and IGN. This game, though for the Game Boy Color (which didn't have particularly long or large games), had many features and unlockables. It featured two games in one - Super Mario Bros. and The Lost Levels. This was only the second time that The Lost Levels had been released in the United States. There were also many unlockables such as You vs. Boo, a Yoshi Egg Finder, a Calendar, a Photo Album and much more. A multiplayer mode was also available, which was very similar to the You vs. Boo mode.
USA 1999
Game Boy Color
IGN - 10: MasterfulGamespot - 9.9: Superb
Mario Golf (Nintendo 64)

Considered by many to be the first Mario modern-sports game, and the first installment in the Mario Golf series, Mario Golf combined the classic mechanics of golf with various Mario-related elements. The game is compatible with the Game Boy Color-version of the game, allowing one to transfer their GBC character to the N64 version, and characters from this game can be sent over to the GBC game.
Japan 1999
Nintendo 64
IGN - 8.3: GreatGamespot - 8.7: Great
Mario Golf (Game Boy Color)

Released only months after Mario Golf on the Nintendo 64, Mario Golf on the Game Boy Color had many similarities to the original, while also having several differences. A main difference was that this game was similar to an RPG. Players had more control over their character, could explore the area, interact with characters, and level up. The game was compatible with the Mario Golf for Nintendo 64; by linking the GBC with the N64, one could transfer their character to the Nintendo 64 Mario Golf, and characters only in the N64 game could be transferred to the GBC game.
Japan 1999
Game Boy Color
IGN - 10: MasterpieceGamespot - 7.2: Good
Mario Artist: Paint Studio

Released for the failed N64DD only in Japan, Mario Artist: Paint Studio played mostly the same as Mario Paint, in which the player used different painting tools to create drawings. The game also allowed the player to view and manipulate images of famous Nintendo characters. Using the Game Boy Camera or video tape with the Nintendo 64 Capture Cartridge, images could be imported. It is also possible to create a short, 35-frame animation. The player can also play minigames and explore three 3D worlds and take pictures of the creatures inhabiting it.
Japan 1999
N64DD
(ratings unavailable)
Mario Party 2

The Mario Party series continued in late 1999 when Nintendo released Mario Party 2 on Nintendo 64, the sequel to the original Mario Party. The game re-used most of the mechanics of the original: players went around a board, hitting dice blocks, to reach the Star Space and collect it. The story, however, is different; one day, the characters decide to create their own world, which was named Mario Land. However, they soon begin to argue over a good name for the world, and, while this is going on, Bowser invades the new world, taking an area for himself. Now the characters must go through the world, to stop Bowser and take back their world.
Japan 1999
Nintendo 64
IGN - 7.9: GoodGamespot - 7.8: Good

2000's (2000-2009)

Title, original release and system Synopsis and Ratings
Mario Artist: Talent Studio

Mario Artist: Talent Studio was one of the few games released for the N64DD, as a part of the Mario Artist series. The primary feature of this game allowed the player to create characters and insert them into movies and animations, and they could also be imported into the other Mario Artist games. Images from cameras and videos can also be imported as 3-dimensional models, and then animated. Movies could also be created by linking a video camera to the Nintendo 64 Capture Cartridge.
Japan 2000
N64DD
(ratings unavailable)
Mario Artist: Communication Kit

Mario Artist: Communication Kit was released in Japan about one month after the previous game. The game mostly acted as an accessory for the others, allowing the player to upload his creations online using a RandNetDD internet service, send creations from one game to the other, and even allowed them to ask Nintendo for a printout of their images. A secret option in the menu let the player download pre-made content for the other games.
Japan 2000
N64DD
(ratings unavailable)
Paper Mario

After another two years had passed, Nintendo released another Mario RPG game — Paper Mario. It was the first Mario role-playing game since the release of Super Mario RPG for the Super Nintendo. Paper Mario brought up a whole new concept for graphics in the Mario series, as everything in the game was made to look as if it were made out of paper. Once again, Mario had to set out on a long mission to save Princess Peach from Bowser. As Mario set out on his adventure, he met citizens of various villages that wanted to assist him on his journey, the first of which was Goombario. At the end of each chapter, Mario and his partners would fight a boss, eventually leading to the freedom of a Star Spirit. When Mario and his partners had freed all of the Star Spirits, they were prepared to fight Bowser. After an epic two-part battle with Bowser, Mario eventually rescued Princess Peach from her current fate. Paper Mario is the only Mario role-playing game to date in which Bowser acts as the main antagonist; in all other Mario role-playing games, Bowser has either taken the role of an ally, or as a somewhat minor antagonist. Paper Mario has inspired five sequels to date — Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Super Paper Mario, Paper Mario: Sticker Star on the Nintendo 3DS, Paper Mario: Color Splash, and Paper Mario: The Origami King.
Japan 2000
Nintendo 64
IGN - 9.0: OutstandingGamespot - 9.5: Superb
Mario Artist: Polygon Studio

Mario Artist: Polygon Studio was the final released game for the Mario Artist series. The game let the player create, render, color, and then texture 3D models. They could also import these models into the other games. These models can also be used in various microgames.
Japan 2000
N64DD
(ratings unavailable)
Mario Tennis (Nintendo 64)

The first sports-oriented Mario game, Mario Tennis was released on the Nintendo 64 in 2000. The game not only introduces Waluigi into the Mario series, but it also re-introduces Daisy and Birdo. Mario Tennis also has several game modes: Exhibition, tournament, special tournament, ring shot, Bowser stage, and the Piranha challenge. This game is also compatible with its Game Boy Color counterpart, able to transfer information between the two. The game is compatible with the N64 version, allowing players to transfer info from the two games.
Japan 2000
Nintendo 64
IGN - 9.0: AmazingGamespot - 8.2: Great
Mario Tennis (Game Boy Color)

Months after the release of Mario Tennis on the Nintendo 64, another version was released for the Game Boy Color. The game features four modes: the Mario tour (the game's story mode), exhibition, and linked play, which requires two Game Boys linked together; and a mini-game mode. The game's story involves playing as Alex or Nina, who are trying to rise through the ranks at the Royal Academy, a tennis school.
Japan 2000
Game Boy Color
IGN - 9.0: AmazingGamespot - 8.0: Great
Mario Party 3

In 2000, Nintendo released Mario Party 3, the third installment in the Mario Party series. The game once again incorporates the same game mechanics from the previous installments: go around a board to collect Stars, and the player with the most wins. However, there is still an original story mode. One day, Mario and friends are relaxing when the Millennium Star arrives and puts them in a toy box. Now, to earn the respect of the Millennium Star and become the Superstar, they have to collect the seven Star Stamps.
Japan 2000
Nintendo 64
IGN - 6.4: OkayGamespot - 7.5: Good
Dr. Mario 64

Dr. Mario 64 was the third installment in the Dr. Mario series. The game was mostly the same as the original; players had to drop pills into a jar to kill the germs. However, this time, the game had a story mode. In it, the time is flu season, and Dr. Mario wishes to use Megavitamins to cure everyone. However, Wario wishes to steal these and become rich, but Mad Scienstein beats him to it. Now Dr. Mario must go after Mad Scienstein to get his vitamins back.
USA 2001
Nintendo 64
IGN - 5.0: MediocreGamespot - 7.0: Good
Super Mario Advance

Super Mario Advance was released onto the Game Boy Advance as a remake of Super Mario Bros. 2, based mostly off of the Super Mario All-Stars version of the game. One of the main differences between this and the original was the inclusion of voices for Mario and friends and bosses. There is also a point system, along with new Ace Coins; collecting all five earns the player a 1-up, along with a star over the level on the level selection screen. An option to play the classic Mario Bros. was included as well. The game's plot remains the same: the dream land Subcon is taken over by Wart, and Mario and friends must save the land from his reign.
Japan 2001
Game Boy Advance
IGN - 8.0: GreatGamespot - 8.2: Great
Mobile Golf

Mobile Golf was released only in Japan as part of the Mario Golf series. The game featured similar gameplay to Mario Golf on the Game Boy Color. Several characters from the GBC game could be unlocked as well.
Japan 2001
Game Boy Color
(ratings unavailable)
Mario Kart: Super Circuit

Mario Kart: Super Circuit (known as Mario Kart Advance in Japan) was the third Mario Kart game in the series, released onto the Game Boy Advance. The game mostly involved the same gaming elements as the previous installments, but also contained additions. One new feature in this game is the inclusion of five cups: the four original cups (Mushroom, Flower, Star, and Special), and the new Lightning Cup. The game also included a sort of Retro Grand Prix, which was basically all the original Super Mario Kart courses; this marks the first time retro courses have been in a Mario Kart game.
Japan 2001
Game Boy Advance
IGN - 9.5: AmazingGamespot - 8.2: Great
Mario Family

Mario Family was the first sewing machine to be operated by a Game Boy Color. The sewing machine used was the JN-100. The game worked by receiving instructions from the Game Boy Color so the player could then embroider the designs. The designs were all Mario-themed and came from games such as Super Mario Bros, Super Mario Land and Super Mario World. The game was only released in Japan.
Japan 2001
Game Boy Color
(ratings unavailable)
Luigi's Mansion

In late 2001, Nintendo released the GameCube, and one of the launch titles was the Luigi's Mansion. The game was the second ever Mario game to star Luigi as the main protagonist in the game, after Mario is Missing; all other games prior to this one had Luigi portrayed as a sidekick or some sort, or off on his own mission. At the beginning of the game, Luigi is shown walking up to the large mansion that he won in a contest. Inside the mansion, Luigi encounters a few unfriendly beings, only to be saved by Professor Elvin Gadd. The Professor tells Luigi that the mansion is haunted with hundreds of ghosts, and sends him in to stop them in hopes of rescuing Mario. As Luigi passes through the various rooms of the house, eliminating ghosts with the Poltergust 3000, he eventually runs across some of Mario items: his hat, his shoe, his glove, and his star. After taking them to a ghostly fortune teller, Luigi discovers that Mario is indeed still alive and is being held captive by the Boos. Thus, Luigi travels forth more, ridding the mansion of any Boos along the way. Eventually, he finds King Boo's lair, finding Mario trapped within a painting frame. Luigi is whisked away to the mansion's roof, where he battles King Boo and its huge Bowser suit. After defeating King Boo, Luigi takes the framed Mario back to E. Gadd's lab, where he is soon thereafter freed.
Japan 2001
GameCube
IGN - 7.0: DecentGamespot - 7.9: Good
Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2

Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2, the sequel to Super Mario Advance, was released near Christmas as a remake of Super Mario World for the SNES. Several changes were also made to this game; one of them being the ability to switch between playing as Mario or Luigi by pressing R Button. Another change is that the player can save from wherever, instead of having to beat a castle, fortress, or ghost house before saving (however, the player can still save by doing that). Mario Bros. was also included in this game. The story is also the same as before; Peach is captured by Bowser in Dinosaur Land, and Mario and Luigi must save her.
Japan 2001
Game Boy Advance
IGN - 9.3: AmazingGamespot - 9.4
Super Mario Sunshine

In 2002, Mario was back in action in his own three-dimensional platformer once again. While on his way to a vacation with Princess Peach and her loyal steward, Toadsworth, they discover a large glob of Graffiti in the shape of Mario's head at Delfino Airstrip. Mario then finds an interesting machine, called F.L.U.D.D., that helps him rid the island of Graffiti. After he collects a total of ten Shine Sprites, an impostor bearing a striking resemblance to Mario kidnaps Princess Peach. Mario then must redeem his identity (because of Shadow Mario) by ridding the entire island of Graffiti, all the while having to rescue Princess Peach. Towards the end of his adventure, he discovers that Shadow Mario is actually Bowser Jr. in disguise. After fighting Bowser and his son, Mario rescues Princess Peach, finally allowing them to start their vacation.
Japan 2002
GameCube
IGN - 9.4: OutstandingGamespot - 8.0: Great
Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3

A remake of Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3 is the third game in the Super Mario Advance series. Many changes were also made to this game, mostly being level redesigns and additions and graphics changes. Mario Bros., like always, was included as well. The story remains the same: Baby Mario and Baby Luigi are being carried by a stork, until Luigi falls out. Now Mario, allied with the Yoshis, must get Luigi back from Baby Bowser.
Japan 2002
Game Boy Advance
IGN - 9.4: AmazingGamespot - 9.2
Mario Party 4

Nintendo's first Mario Party game for the GameCube was Mario Party 4. The game once again re-uses the gaming mechanics of the previous installments. Toad, Koopa Troopa, Goomba, Boo, and Shy Guy discover the Party Cube, and they invite the characters to celebrate the birthday of a character. However, the five have decided that the characters should win the presents, and, pretty soon, Bowser arrives to create confusion.
Japan 2002
GameCube
IGN - 6.9: OkayGamespot - 7.2: Good
Mario Bros.-e

The original Mario Bros. game was ported to the e-Reader, a Game Boy Advance add-on. The game is almost identical to the original as the only differences are that there are different coloured Shellcreepers and there is no two-player support. This game was only released in the USA.
USA 2002
e-Reader for the GBA
(Ratings unavailable)
Mario Party-e

The first before Mario Party release on a handheld console was Mario Party-e in the 2003. It comes with 64 cards, a playboard, and an instruction booklet.
USA 2003
e-Reader for the GBA
IGN - 8.0: Great
Super Mario Fushigi no Janjan Land

Super Mario Fushigi no Janjan Land, translated as Super Mario Ching-Ching Land of Mystery, was a Japan-only arcade game. The game was a medal game featuring many elements from Super Mario Bros. 3.
Japan 2003
Arcade Machine
(rating unavailable)
Nintendo Puzzle Collection

Nintendo Puzzle Collection was a Japan-only three-in-one game, featuring Dr. Mario, Panel de Pon, and Yoshi's Cookie. The main difference between the original versions of the games and these are the updated graphics.
Japan 2003
GameCube
(rating unavailable)
Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3

Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 was released as a remake of Super Mario Bros. 3 for the NES. It is the final game in the Super Mario Advance series. Many of the changes mostly included Mario being able to do things he couldn't in the previous version (for example, being able to break giant bricks as Raccoon or Tanooki Mario). Another addition is the ability to play as Luigi, along with the ability to give one bro's lives to the other. One of the major additions to the game is the inclusion of World-e, where the player can play e-Reader levels by using special cards compatible with the Game Boy. Despite this, the plot, like in the past three, remains the same. Mario Bros. is also once again included in the game.
Japan 2003
Game Boy Advance
IGN - 9.5: AmazingGamespot - 8.9: Great
Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour

The Mario Golf series continued when Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour was released in 2003. The second game in the series, featuring sixteen Mario characters, Toadstool Tour featured several game modes, including a tournament mode, a doubles mode, match play, and several others. A few in-game features include Fast Fairways, which allow the ball to roll farther than on normal freeways; Warp Pipes, which will send the ball through to the pipe on the other end of that one when the ball is hit through it; and Chain Chomps, which cause an O.B. shot when the ball is hit toward them.
USA 2003
GameCube
IGN - 8.0: GreatGamespot - 8.3: Great
Mario Kart: Double Dash!!

The fourth installment in the Mario Kart series, Mario Kart: Double Dash!! introduces a one-time addition for the series: two players riding on one kart, one to throw items and the other to drive, and the player can switch between the driver and item user. While characters can be put on teams, each one has their own kart. Each character also has something else that was a one-time addition: a Special Item, an item which only a certain character can obtain. There is also a new type of item box, the Double Item Box, which allows the player to obtain two items at once. The characters are once again divided into light, middle, and heavyweight classes, and yet another new feature divides the karts in this way too; the combination of characters will determine the weight class of kart chosen.
Japan 2003
GameCube
IGN - 7.9: GoodGamespot - 7.9: Good
Mario Party 5

The Mario Party franchise continued in 2003 with the release of Mario Party 5. The game once again follows the same old "go around the board to collect stars" mechanics, with few changes, the most notable being the new Capsule system for items. The story involves the Star Guards wanting to invite the biggest dreamers to the Dream Depot, and they choose Mario and friends. However, Bowser and Koopa Kid want to take over the dreams and ruin them, and it's up to Mario and the gang to stop him.
Japan 2003
GameCube
IGN - 7.9: GoodGamespot - 6.9: Fair
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga

Towards the end of 2003, Nintendo released a huge Mario hit for the Game Boy Advance — Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga. The game was the first Mario role-playing game to ever be released on a handheld system. The game featured Mario and Luigi, both being playable at the same time. After the evil Cackletta and her henchman Fawful infiltrated Princess Peach's Castle, they stole Princess Peach's voice in order to help dominate the world. Soon thereafter, the Mario bros. head off for the Beanbean Kingdom. After much traversing through the borders and Hoohoo Village, they eventually reached Beanbean Castle Town. When they enter the borders of the city, they find it in ruins. As they reach Beanbean Castle, they find that it too had been terrorized, and that Queen Bean was not herself. After battling her, the bros. set out on an additional mission to find all of the pieces of the Beanstar. After a long journey through the Mushroom World, they eventually reached Bowser's Castle, where Cackletta's Spirit was hiding out. It was a tiresome and fierce battle, but the bros. prevailed as always. The Princess was saved, and the Beanstar was retrieved. All was back to normal once again. This game eventually had a sequel for the Nintendo DS, Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time and another one in 2009, called Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story.
USA 2003
Game Boy Advance
IGN - 9.0: AmazingGamespot 9.2: Superb
Mario Golf: Advance Tour

Mario Golf: Advance Tour was released as the latest installment in the Mario Golf series. The game continued to use the RPG-style gameplay, featuring eight Mario characters, four of which need to be unlocked, Advance Tour featured new game mode, including a doubles tournament. By linking the GBA with the GameCube, one can transfer the two main characters of this game over to Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour.
Japan 2004
Game Boy Advance
IGN - 9.5: AmazingGamespot - 8.2: Great
Mario vs. Donkey Kong

Released in 2004, Mario vs. Donkey Kong was a game for the Game Boy Advance. As its name would imply, it revolves around the concept of Mario fighting Donkey Kong. The game had a similar concept to that of Donkey Kong. After Donkey Kong had seen an advertisement on television for Mini Mario toys, he went to the store to purchase some. Since the store was out of stock, Donkey Kong raided the toy factory and stole all of their Mini Mario toys. Because of a hole in the bag in which he was storing the toys, the toys all fell out. Mario, the three Toad factory employees, and all the toys began to mock Donkey Kong. Thus, Donkey Kong kidnapped the three Toads and climbs atop the factory. It is then up to Mario to rescue the Toads.
USA 2004
Game Boy Advance
IGN - 8.5: GreatGamespot - 8.0: Great
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

In 2004, Nintendo released the indirect sequel to Paper MarioPaper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. The game was a huge hit, reaching Player's Choice status. The story starts out with Princess Peach in a mysterious town, called Rogueport, looking through someone's rummage sale. She vanishes soon thereafter. After receiving a letter from Princess Peach (mailed before she went missing) Mario sets off on a trip to Rogueport. After arriving there, he finds Toadsworth. To his dismay, Princess Peach mysteriously vanished from Rogueport. So, Mario and his current partner set out on a journey to save Princess Peach, and retrieve the seven Crystal Stars. After a long journey, Mario and his partners set the final Crystal Star in the Thousand-Year Door, they finally unlocked the entrance to the Palace of Shadow — a dark place locked away for an entire millennium. After fighting Sir Grodus, leader of the Secret Society of the X-Nauts, they fought the demonic Shadow Queen. After possessing Peach, the Shadow Queen revealed her true form and battle Mario and his partners. The battle was enormous, and required the motivation of people from across the Mushroom Kingdom to win. The Shadow Queen was defeated, and Rogueport and all surrounding areas were able to relax and return to their lives. Two years later, Super Paper Mario was released for the Wii. It wasn't the direct sequel to this game, but it continued the adventures of the Paper version of Mario.
Japan 2004
GameCube
IGN - 9.1: AmazingGamespot - 9.2: Superb
Mario Pinball Land

In Mario Pinball Land, Mario, Princess Peach, and several Toads are waiting in line to try a new ride at the Fun Fair: The Air Cannon. To ride, the customer must first go through the Spherasizer, a device that will safely compress anybody into the shape of a ball. Afterward, they are fired out of a cannon toward a target. As Peach was about to take her turn, two Goombas showed up and redirected the cannon, sending her flying right into Bowser's Castle. Mario then uses the Spherasizer, to get to Bowser's castle and save the princess. The game is basically pinball, but includes various power-ups to help Mario.
Japan 2004
Game Boy Advance
IGN - 5.0: MediocreGamespot - 7.5: Good
Super Mario Fushigi no Korokoro Party

Super Mario Fushigi no Korokoro Party, translated as Super Mario Rolling Party of Mystery, was a Japan-only arcade remake of Mario Party 5. A difference between this and console Mario Party games is that this game could be played by up to six players.
Japan 2004
Arcade Machine
(ratings unavailable)
Mario Power Tennis

Mario Power Tennis was released as the follow-up to Mario Golf on the Nintendo 64, and the second installment to the Mario Tennis series. The game includes an exhibition mode, a tournament mode, and a mini-game mode. Characters are divided into six classes: all around, speedy, power, technique, tricky, and defense. Like in other Mario sports titles, each character has their own Power Shots to help the player.
Japan 2004
GameCube
IGN - 8.5: GreatGamespot - 8.9: Great
Mario Party 6

Mario Party once again returned in 2004 when Mario Party 6 was released. Unlike the past games, one thing was changed in the gaming mechanics: the inclusion of a microphone, which allowed the player to speak and play in Mic mini-games. Another thing that was changed was that every 3 turns, the time of day would change from day to night, and vice versa. The two game hosts, Brighton and Twila, were friends until Brighton asked who was more impressive. This sparked the feud between the two, which Mario and friends hope to stop by collecting Stars and completing the Miracle Book.
Japan 2004
GameCube
IGN - 7.0: GoodGamespot - 6.9: Fair
Super Mario 64 DS

A remake of the original Super Mario 64 and the first Mario game on the Nintendo DS, Super Mario 64 DS incorporates all of the game's old elements, while introducing several new ones (four playable characters and 30 new Power Stars are two examples of this). The game begins the same as the old one; Peach invites Mario to the castle for cake. However, instead of just Mario, Wario and Luigi come for cake, while Yoshi sleeps on the roof of the castle. Bowser then takes over the castle, captures Peach, and has his minions locks Mario, Luigi, and Wario inside three rooms. Lakitu then wakes Yoshi up, and now he has to save Mario and the others in order to save the princess once again, this time through teamwork.
USA 2004
Nintendo DS
IGN - 8.9: GreatGamespot - 8.4: Great
Mario Party Advance

The first Mario Party release on a handheld console was Mario Party Advance in 2005. The game had four modes: Shroom City, Play Land, Party Land, and Challenge Land. Shroom City involves the same gaming mechanics as past Mario Party games; However, players travel around inside a car, doing odd jobs for the inhabitants of the city to obtain mini-games and Gaddgets. Play Land allows the player to play the mini-games and Gaddgets they've earned. Party Land lets the player compete to earn coins, and Challenge Land is a multi-player mode where players can compete. Just as soon as the player arrives to party, Bowser arrives and scatters the mini-games and Gaddgets across Shroom City. Now Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Yoshi must go around and retrieve them all.
Japan 2005
Game Boy Advance
IGN - 6.0: OkayGamespot - 6.5: Fair
Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix

In 2005, Nintendo released the first and only Mario rhythm game: Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix. The game was a Mario edition of the popular Dance Dance Revolution series produced by Konami. The game featured Waluigi as the main antagonist, who had stolen all of the Music Keys from Truffle Tower. Toad then informs Mario of Waluigi's mischief; Mario then sets out on a mission to retrieve the Music Keys back from him. Mario must then visit various locations, dancing to remixes of Mario themes in order to proceed to the next location. The game had five levels of difficulty; the hardest of which contained more than 200 steps in each song.
Japan 2005
GameCube
IGN - 8.0: GreatGamespot - 7.0: Good
Mario Tennis: Power Tour

Mario Tennis: Power Tour was released in 2005, as the counterpart to the GameCube version. It is similar to the Game Boy Color version of Mario Tennis, with the exception of the addition of Power Shots to this game. Unlike the previous Mario Game Boy Advance sports titles, this game isn't compatible with the GameCube version. In the game, either Clay or Ace have entered the Royal Tennis Academy. During this time, however, masked players have arrived at the academy, and begin to defeat to the other students. Wanting to learn who these masked players are and defeat them, Clay and Ace decide to enter a Junior tournament, to eventually rise through the ranks and find out who the mysterious players are.
Japan 2005
Game Boy Advance
IGN - 9.0: AmazingGamespot - 8.5: Great
Dr. Mario & Puzzle League

Dr. Mario & Puzzle League was a "2-in-1" game released on Game Boy Advance, featuring Puzzle League and a remake of Dr. Mario. Dr. Mario was mostly like Dr. Mario 64, but with the pill container being 13 cells tall instead of 16. Puzzle League was a complete remake of the original. Both games also have a feature allowing the player to flip the Game Boy Advance ninety degrees, giving the player a higher resolution playing field. They also have a multi-pack multiplayer feature and the ability to download a demo feature to the GBA.
Japan 2005
Game Boy Advance
IGN - 7.8: GoodGamespot - 8.0: Great
Super Mario Fushigi no Korokoro Party 2

The sequel to Super Mario Fushigi no Korokoro Party, Super Mario Fushigi no Korokoro Party 2, also a Japan-only arcade game, had the main feature that allowed eight to sixteen people to play at one time.
Japan 2005
Arcade Machine
(ratings unavailable)
Mario Kart Arcade GP

Mario Kart Arcade GP was the first Mario Kart game to be released in an arcade. The game featured not only Mario characters but also Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, and Blinky, the red Pac-Man ghost. It had two models: one with a data card dispenser and slot, and one without. Before the player can play, they have to take a picture, the player's face being framed with a Mario hat and mustache. The game features 24 courses and over 100 items, with each character having four special items. Instead of the normal Mushroom, Flower, Star, and Special cups, there are four new ones: Mario Cup, DK Cup, Pac-Man Cup, Bowser Cup, and Rainbow Cup.
USA 2005
Arcade Machine
(ratings unavailable)
Super Princess Peach

Released in 2005, Super Princess Peach is a platformer for the Nintendo DS. As its title would imply, Princess Peach is the main protagonist. The story is of Bowser sending a large army of his minions to infiltrate Princess Peach's Castle. Because she is not there at the time of the attack, Mario, Luigi, and several of the castle's Toads are kidnapped. Princess Peach must then set out on a long journey — along with her helpful parasol, Perry — in order to rescue those who had been kidnapped and stop Bowser from using his ultimate weapon: the Vibe Scepter, which is capable of making creatures feel emotions and transforming them to fit their feelings. Super Princess Peach featured many extras; among them were three mini-games in which the player had to use the stylus to control Toad. There were also puzzles — only unlocked after all the Puzzle Pieces had been retrieved. Lastly, there were several songs from the game that Princess Peach could collect; these songs would later be played by Peach's band, the Peach Hit Five.
Japan 2005
DS
IGN - 7.8: GoodGamespot - 7.2: Good
Mario Party 7

Mario Party still returned when Nintendo released Mario Party 7 in November 2004, the final installment on GameCube. The game once again incorporated all the mechanics from previous releases, including the microphone and mic-exclusive mini-games. However, one feature is included, which allows up to eight players to party, with two players sharing one controller. The game's story involves the gang going on a cruise around the world. However, since Bowser wasn't invited, he has decided to get his revenge, by trying to make the cruise horrible for the gang.
Japan 2005
GameCube
IGN - 7.0: GoodGamespot - 6.5: Fair
Mario Superstar Baseball

Mario Superstar Baseball was the first baseball-oriented game in the Mario series. The game features an exhibition mode for baseball, a minigame mode, a practice mode, and a Toy Field mode. A unique feature for these games is Chemistry, the compatibility between teammates. Good chemistry shows when a player is hitting while a compatible character is on base, and it shows when throwing the ball to a friend. Bad Chemistry does the exact opposite, though it only occurs on the field. Another special feature is a character's Star Skill, a unique move that a character can perform while pitching or batting.
USA 2005
GameCube
IGN - 7.9: GoodGamespot - 8.0: Great
Mario Kart DS

Mario Kart DS, is the fifth installment in the Mario Kart series. This game has an assortment of old characters, while introducing three new characters to the series. They include Dry Bones, Shy Guy (who is only available in DS Download Play), and R.O.B., a robot that was an accessory for the NES. This game brings back old courses and introduces new, classical courses that appeared in the Wii installment. They include Desert Hills, Peach Gardens, and Delfino Square. This game also includes missions, where the player has to complete tasks in order to advance. Mario Kart DS, shows what Nintendo is capable of throughout the Mario Kart series.
USA 2005
Nintendo DS
IGN - 9.5: AmazingGamespot - 9.2: Superb
Super Mario Strikers

The first soccer-oriented Mario game, Super Mario Strikers was released on GameCube in 2005. The game is just like soccer, but with no rules and referees, and the ability to use power-ups. Each team consists of five players: the team captain, three sidekicks of the same type, and the goalkeeper. Matches can be from 2-15 minutes long, though the default is five. Each team captain also has a special ability, known as a Super Strike, which allows them to kick the ball straight to the goal.
Europe 2005
GameCube
IGN - 7.6: GoodGamespot - 7.2: Great
Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time

In 2005, Nintendo released the sequel to Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga; it was titled Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time. The game once again allowed Mario and Luigi to be playable at the same time, but it also allowed newcomers to the Mario & Luigi series — Baby Mario and Baby Luigi — to be playable as well. The story revolved around the invasion of the Mushroom Kingdom by a group of extraterrestrial terrorists, known as the Shroobs. The Shroobs had invaded the past and was quickly taking over all of the Mushroom Kingdom. Mario and Luigi, after teaming up with their infant selves, were eventually able to stop this catastrophe after defeating Princess Shroob and Elder Princess Shroob. The invasion immediately went into retreat and the Mushroom Kingdom returned to its normal self, thanks once again to the Mario bros.
USA 2005
Nintendo DS
IGN - 9.0: AmazingGamespot - 8.9: Great
New Super Mario Bros.

This newest installment of the Super Mario Bros. series was released for the Nintendo DS in 2006. New Super Mario Bros. was the first 3-dimensional sidescroller ever in the Super Mario Bros. series. The story revolves around Mario and Luigi, who, once again, are out to rescue Princess Peach; this time from Bowser Jr. The Mario Bros. had to travel through several worlds full of Bowser's minions in order to finally rescue the Princess. This game marked the debut of Dry Bowser. The game featured a two-player mode, in which the Mario Bros. would endure races through various levels collecting Big Stars.
USA 2006
DS
IGN - 9.5: AmazingGamespot - 9.0: Superb
Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis

The sequel to Mario vs. Donkey Kong, Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis features the return of the minis trying to stop Donkey Kong and save Pauline. In the game, Mario's Toy Company has just opened a new theme park: the Super Mini Mario World Theme Park, a theme park dedicated to the Mini Mario, Mini Peach, Mini Toad, and Mini Donkey Kong toys. At the park's grand opening, Donkey Kong sees Pauline and falls in love with her. He tries giving her a Mini Donkey Kong toy, but Mario also offers her a Mini Mario toy. Donkey Kong is then heartbroken as he sees Pauline accept the Mini Mario, so he causes havoc in the park and kidnaps Pauline. After Donkey Kong gets away with Pauline, Mario doesn't know what to do to save her until two Mini Marios that survived Donkey Kong's fit of rage show up.
USA 2006
DS
IGN - 7.0: GoodGamespot - 8.2: Great
Mario Kart Arcade GP 2

Despite the poor ratings of the original Mario Kart Arcade GP, a sequel was created two years later. Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 once again featured characters from the Mario and Pac-Man series, along with Mametchi, a Tamagotchi. A feature that was copied from the original game was the Mario Card, which acts as a player's save file. A new feature in this game is the inclusion of Mario coins, which, when enough of these and regular coins have been collected, will unlock special prizes. In addition to all the old courses returning for this game, there are also two new cups: the Yoshi Stage and Waluigi Stage. Other new features include faces to frame the photo taken with and Internet rankings.
Japan 2007
Arcade Machine
(ratings unavailable)
Super Paper Mario

Nintendo released yet another installment in the Paper Mario series in 2007, with the release of Super Paper Mario. The game introduced a whole other dimension to the series with Mario having the ability to flip between the second and third dimensions. This new feature was commonly required to pass up various road blocks or to defeat enemies throughout its eight chapters. The story revolves around Count Bleck, an evil mastermind that plans to destroy not only the Mushroom World, but all worlds and dimensions in existence. After reading a prophecy in the Dark Prognosticus, he had already devised a plan on how to do so. Thus, Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, and even Bowser teamed up, (with the help of many Pixls), to help stop Count Bleck and his vile plans. However, to do so, Mario and his friends had to collect all eight Pure Hearts in order to even have a chance to stop Count Bleck.
USA 2007
Wii
IGN - 8.9: GreatGamespot - 8.8: Great
Mario Strikers Charged

The latest installment of the Mario Strikers series, Mario Strikers Charged showed what Nintendo had to offer. The game has the original captains and sidekicks, but it introduces more captains and sidekicks. It introduces Boos, Diddy Kong, and many more characters. It has an assortment of stadiums to choose from. This game also features Wi-Fi Connection. Being the latest installment in its series, it is unknown if a sequel will come out.
Europe 2007
Wii
IGN - 8.3: GreatGamespot - 7.5: Good
Mario Party 8

Mario Party 8, is Nintendo's ninth installment in the Mario Party series. This game introduces two new playable characters, Blooper and Hammer Bro, and a new host, MC Ballyhoo. This game has an assortment of new mini-games and new game boards. There are five modes in the Star Carnival: The Party Tent, where players can have a classic game of Mario Party; The Minigame Tent, where players can play mini-games; the Extra Zone, where players can play extra mini-games; the Fun Bazaar, where players can buy mini-games, items, and various other things; and the Star Battle Arena, which acts as the game's story mode. Mario and friends have been invited to the Star Carnival to party, and the winner of their game gets a year's supply of candy. However, just as one of the gang is crowned the Superstar, Bowser steals the Star Rod they were to receive, and now Mario and friends must defeat Bowser and get it back.
USA 2007
Wii
IGN - 5.2: MediocreGamespot - 6.5: Fair
Super Mario Galaxy

The latest main installment into the Mario platformer series was released by Nintendo in the end of 2007, Super Mario Galaxy for the Wii was an adventure on galactic proportions. The story is told that every hundred years, a comet soars over the Mushroom Kingdom, raining stars down upon the land. Princess Peach invites Mario to her castle to join in on the festivities, only to have Bowser and Bowser Jr. crash the party. Bowser once again kidnaps Peach, but orders Kamek to send Mario into a small planetoid. Mario then has to bounce from galaxy to galaxy, collecting Power Stars along his way. After encountering Rosalina and her Lumas, Mario learns that he needs to collect the Grand Stars in order to stop Bowser from completing his plan to create a new galaxy. The game introduces many new items to help Mario along his journey, including the Boo Mushroom, Bee Mushroom, Ice Flower, and many more. Super Mario Galaxy has a few similarities to Super Mario 64, including the fact that Mario must travel to various locations — this time galaxies instead of painting worlds — in order to defeat Bowser. This game gives Mario only three life points, as opposed to the eight that he had in Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario 64 DS but he can increase his life points up to six by use of the Life Mushroom.
Japan 2007
Wii
IGN - 9.7: AmazingGamespot - 9.5: Superb
Mario Party DS

For the very first time, Nintendo developed a Mario Party game for the Nintendo DS. Mario Party DS came out a week after Super Mario Galaxy and in the same year as its prequel, Mario Party 8. In this game, five meteorites fall from the sky. The next day, Mario and the gang are discussing this when Kamek drops invitations for the Mario gang; Bowser has invited them to his castle for a banquet. However, once Mario and the gang arrive, they are captured, shrunk to a microscopic size, and thrown out of the castle. Now, they have to get back to Bowser's Castle to be restored to their normal height, helping people along the way. This game features many mini-games and it has a unique storyline compared to the other game in its series. All the playable characters that appear, appeared in Mario Party 8. About a year and a half later, Nintendo developed its sequel which is only available in Japanese.
Japan 2007
Nintendo DS
IGN - 7.0: GoodGamespot - 8.0: Great
Dr. Mario Online Rx

Dr. Mario Online Rx is the first WiiWare Mario title. Gameplay is basically the same as previous Dr. Mario titles except this game utilizes the Wii's motion sensor. The character can play as either Dr. Mario or their personal Mii. This game also has a multiplayer feature and uses Nintendo Wi-Fi to play against other players online. Virus Buster, a mini-game from Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day! was also included in this game. The game is downloadable for 1000 Wii Points in all regions.
Japan 2008
WiiWare
(Ratings unavailable)
Mario Kart Wii

Mario Kart Wii is the sixth installment of the Mario Kart series. A Wii Wheel, designed from the ground up for the Wii, is included in the package because Nintendo aimed that it would make it a more realistic steering experience. It is, however, compatible with other controllers as well. It features many classic Mario Kart characters as well as several new ones. Mario Kart Wii takes a step in a new direction, as twelve players are present in normal races. All twelve racers head to the finish in a multi-lap race around a given circuit; along the way, they may employ items, engage in horseplay, and take shortcuts to try and come in first.
Japan 2008
Wii
IGN - 8.5: GreatGamespot: 8.5: Great
Mario Super Sluggers

The sequel to the GameCube title Mario Superstar Baseball, Mario Super Sluggers uses several of the elements from the previous game while also incorporating several new features, such as advanced Wii controls and a Challenge Mode, which was created as the most important feature of the game. The Challenge mode also incorporates a story mode, involving Mario and his team trying to reach and defeat Bowser and his team.
Japan 2008
Wii
IGN - 7.4: GoodGamespot - 6.5: Fair
Dr. Mario Express

Dr. Mario Express was released several months after Dr. Mario Online Rx but on DSiWare. Gameplay is very similar but the Virus Blaster minigame is not included and there is also no multiplayer feature. This was the first Mario DSiWare game.
Japan 2009
DSiWare
(ratings unavailable)
Mario Party Fushigi no Korokoro Catcher

Mario Party Fushigi no Korokoro Catcher was the third Mario Party Japan-only arcade game. The game was based on Mario Party 8, with its main feature being the crane game, and the game allowed up to sixteen players, though each one will be playing a different game. The game's boards were based on Mario Party 8, but they are completely linear. Red and Blue spaces also have a different purpose; sometimes, when the player lands on a blue space, a block hovering over the space will be broken and one of seven events will occur. A mini-game will not be played after every turn. There are also five game events: a Fever Chance Game, a Crane Chance game, a Kurūn Challenge, a Jackpot Challenge, and a Double Up Game. Many of the mini-games in the game were also taken from Mario Party 8; however, the games were changed to work with the game's controls.
Japan 2009
Arcade Machine
(ratings unavailable)
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story

In 2009, another sequel of the Mario & Luigi series was released for the Nintendo DS. In this installment, an epidemic called The Blorbs swept across the Mushroom Kingdom, and it's up to Mario and Luigi to find a cure. However, determined to defeat the Marios, Bowser seeks help from Fawful, where he eats a "Lucky Mushroom". The mushroom gives Bowser the ability to inhale with great force. Bowser uses this ability to consume the Mushroom Kingdom, citizens and all. Throughout the adventure, Bowser realized he was used by Fawful, and in retaliation, goes off to stop his evil scheme. Meanwhile, Mario and Luigi, being inside Bowser's body, does whatever it takes to help Bowser in his quest, by messing with Bowser's insides to affect Bowser in a good way. This is the first time an RPG was created for the same platform as its predecessor. This also marks the first time Bowser is playable in the series, as well as the first time in the entire franchise where he is the protagonist.
Japan 2009
DS
IGN - 9.5: AmazingGamespot - 9.0: Superb
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!

In 2009 a third Mario vs. Donkey Kong game was released; Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! Unlike the previous two games, this game was released on DSiWare instead of a normal handheld console. In this game Mario and Pauline open the Super Mini Mario World Theme Park. Donkey Kong causes trouble when he kidnaps Pauline after becoming enraged because he missed out on a ticket. After Mario uses the Mini Marios to rescue Pauline, it turns out the whole thing was a test for the Mini Marios. This game also used Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.
USA 2009
DSiWare
(ratings unavailable)
New Super Mario Bros. Wii

The sequel to New Super Mario Bros. for the DS, New Super Mario Bros. Wii was released in November 12, 2009 in Australia. This installment includes four players simultaneously controlling their characters, a feature Shigeru Miyamoto had wanted for years. This game also returns the Koopalings, absent since Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga, in their first 3-D models. In the story, Bowser and his minions kidnap Peach by using cake as a disguise. Mario, Luigi, Blue Toad, and Yellow Toad travel to eight worlds to save the princess. This game also reintroduces rideable Yoshis, although they can only be ridden in a few levels. The Penguin Suit and the Propeller Mushroom are new power-ups in this game. This game also includes the Super Guide, a demo video for those who are struggling in a particular level.
Australia 2009
Wii
IGN - 8.9: GreatGamespot - 8.5: Great

2010's (2010-2019)

Title, original release and system Synopsis and Ratings
Super Mario Galaxy 2

Super Mario Galaxy 2 is a 3D platform game for Wii, and the sequel of Super Mario Galaxy. In the game, Princess Peach invites Mario to this year's Star Festival. On the way, he finds a lost Baby Luma. Once he gets to the town, to his surprise, Bowser, who is now gigantic, attacks Toad Town and flees with the princess. Mario follows him in space and the adventure begins. During the adventure, Mario meets Lubba, the Cosmic Spirit, The Chimp, Bowser Jr., the Toad Brigade, and other characters. To navigate through the galaxies, instead of the Comet Observatory, Mario uses the Starship Mario. The 2-Player mode has been upgraded from the previous game: the second player can control Co-Star Luma, who can grab items and stun enemies. The game also features Yoshi, who Mario can use to eat and stun enemies, and he also has three power-ups: the Bulb Berry, the Blimp Berry, and the Dash Pepper. Other than these additions, the gameplay mechanics are reused from the first game.
USA 2010
Wii
IGN - 10.0: MasterpieceGamespot - 10.0: Prime
Super Mario All-Stars Limited Edition

Super Mario All-Stars Limited Edition is a Wii port of Super Mario All-Stars. This game features a book detailing the history of Mario and a soundtrack of various songs from Mario games. It was released for the 25th anniversary of the release of Super Mario Bros.
Japan 2010
Wii
IGN - 7.0: Good
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! is the fourth game in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series, after the DSiWare title Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!. Because of the opening of his new park, Mario is giving Mini Pauline toys to the first 100 guests; Donkey Kong gets to the park and charges to the front of the line, but finds out he is 101st guest to arrive. He's anxious to win the toy, but Mario tells him that the toy is out of stock. Enraged, Donkey Kong kidnaps the real Pauline and Mario and the toys run towards him as the adventure begins. This was the last Mario game for the Nintendo DS before the Nintendo DS Lite was discontinued in April 2011 and the whole standard Nintendo DS Line was discontinued in November 2013.
USA 2010
DS
IGN - 9.0: AmazingGamespot - 8.0: Great
Super Mario 3D Land

Super Mario 3D Land is a main series game for the Nintendo 3DS. The game combine the elements of a Mario 3D platformer with a 2D sidescroller, using elements like a time limit, linear levels, and even a flagpole at the end of each level. This also marks the first time an original 3D Mario platformer has been released on a handheld system. Several elements from Super Mario Bros. 3, such as Boom-Boom, the Super Leaf, and the Tanooki Suit, returns in this game, as well as featuring several new elements. The term "land" was used in homage to past Mario titles. In the game, a tree with Super Leaves on its branches is affected during a storm, and all the leaves are blown off the tree. The next day, Princess Peach checks the tree, but is captured by Bowser. Later, Mario and three Toads show up and find a letter, which reveals that Bowser has kidnapped the princess and stole the leaves. Now Mario must go off to save the princess again.
Japan 2011
3DS
IGN - 9.5: AmazingGamespot - 8.0: Good
Mario Kart 7

Mario Kart 7 is the third Mario Kart game on a handheld console after Mario Kart DS and Mario Kart: Super Circuit, and also the latest installment in the Mario Kart series. Mario Kart 7 was unveiled with the Nintendo 3DS. The most prominent features are that the players can fly through the air with a glider and drive underwater with propellers, both attached to their karts. Another unique feature is that, instead of selecting a pre-made kart to drive, the player can customize their own kart, choosing between several premade kart bodies, wheels, and gliders. Mario Kart 7 also marks the return of coins, their first appearance in a Mario Kart game since Mario Kart: Super Circuit. This game is also the first to have online multiplayer be supported by Nintendo Network.
Japan 2011
3DS
IGN - 9.0: AmazingGamespot - 8.0: Great
Mario Party 9

Mario Party 9, a sequel for Mario Party 8, is a Wii game. The game use a similar gameplay mechanic as Mario Party Advance in that the players move around in a vehicle. Players take turns as the captain, rolling to dice to move the vehicle. Instead of attempting to collect coins to buy Stars, the players attempt to earn the most amount of Mini Stars on each board by collecting them from the board, winning minigames, and beating bosses. They must also avoid Mini Ztars, which decrease the player's current total of Mini Stars. The game also has two boss battles integrated into each board; the players try to take down a boss together, while also trying their best to increase their individual scores. The game's story first involves Mario and friends looking at the night sky when they suddenly see Mini Ztars being sucked into a vortex; the ones behind this are Bowser and Bowser Jr. Mario and friends then head off to save the Mini Stars by defeating Bowser. The game is developed by Nd Cube, the first in the series to not be developed by Hudson. This was the last Mario game released for the Wii before it's discontinuation in October 2013.
Europe 2012
Wii
IGN - 7.0: GoodGamespot - 6.0: Fair
Mario Tennis Open

Mario Tennis Open for the Nintendo 3DS is the sixth installment in the Mario Tennis series. The game function the use of gyroscopic controls. The player can use the touch screen to choose from various types of shots. The game also features Online multiplayer supported by Nintendo Network.
USA 2012
3DS
IGN - 6.5: OkayGamespot - 5.5: Mediocre
New Super Mario Bros. 2

New Super Mario Bros. 2 is a mainstream Mario game for the Nintendo 3DS. Several gameplay elements are based upon Super Mario Bros. 3, as it features Raccoon Mario and the P-charge bar which were introduced in that game. However, the primary focus of gameplay is on collecting as many Coins as possible, with each level providing numerous ways to earn many, such as the Gold Ring, which turns enemies golden to give the player coins, and the Gold Block, which allows the player to wear a block on their heads and collect coins as they run. The game's primary objective is collecting one million coins. The game also features a 2-player co-op mode, as well as a Coin Rush mode, which challenges players to earn as many Coins as possible in three randomly selected levels. This game is also the first Mario game to feature downloadable content.
Japan 2012
3DS
IGN - 8.5: GreatGamespot - 7.0: Good
Paper Mario: Sticker Star

The fourth game in the Paper Mario series, Paper Mario: Sticker Star. The game returns to the traditional turn-based RPG battle system used in the installments before Super Paper Mario. However, this game uses a new sticker-based attack system for battle, instead of the traditional system; players must gather stickers in order to attack enemies, and each sticker may only be used once. The game takes place on the night of the Sticker Fest, where the Sticker Comet appears once per year in Decalburg. However, Bowser appears and unintentionally shatters the comet, splitting it into the seven Royal Stickers that fly across the land; one of them lands on Bowser and increases his power. When Mario recovers from being knocked out, he finds the festival in ruin, and Princess Peach missing. Joining with the sticker fairy Kersti, Mario begins his journey to recover the Royal Stickers and defeat Bowser to save Peach.
USA 2012
3DS
IGN – 8.3: GreatGamespot – 7.5: Good
New Super Mario Bros. U

New Super Mario Bros. U is a launch title Mario platformer for the Wii U. The game features a flying squirrel power up and Baby Yoshis. The game supports four players at once, like in New Super Mario Bros. Wii. The game also has what is called "Boost Mode", where a player with the Wii U's GamePad can make platforms appear. The game later received add-on content in 2013 in the form of New Super Luigi U, an expansion starring Luigi as the main character released to commemorate the Year of Luigi. The game features more difficult courses in place of the original ones, and plays using Luigi's trademark physics.
USA 2012
Wii U
IGN – 9.1: AmazingGamespot – 8.5: Great
Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon

Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon is the Nintendo 3DS sequel of Luigi's Mansion for the Nintendo GameCube. The basic premise is that Professor E. Gadd is researching the ghosts in Evershade Valley, when the Dark Moon shatters and causes the once friendly ghosts to turn evil. Thus, Luigi sets out with the Poltergust 5000 to solve the problem. Instead of one, the game features five mansions to explore. There is also a multiplayer mode, the ScareScraper.
USA 2013
3DS
IGN: – 9.3: AmazingGamespot – 6.5: Fair
Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move

Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move is the fifth installment in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series. After a huge success with the Super Mini Mario World Theme Park in the previous game, the Mario Toy Company decides to host an annual Mini Toy Carnival. Donkey Kong joins Pauline to run a game arcade inside the carnival.
USA 2013
3DS (eShop)
IGN: – 7.0: Good
Mario & Luigi: Dream Team

Mario & Luigi: Dream Team is the fourth installment in the Mario & Luigi series. Released as part of the Year of Luigi celebration, the game mostly centers around the world of Luigi's dreams, as gameplay shifts between the real world and Luigi's dream world. Many elements from the previous installment, Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, return, such as Starlow, badges, and an entire species based upon the character Broque Monsieur. The game involves Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, and her Toads traveling upon invitation to Pi'illo Island, where they discover a temple containing a magical pillow. Luigi resting on the pillow opens a portal to the dream world, allowing a villain named Antasma to take Peach into the dream world. The brothers must travel between the real and dream worlds to find Antasma and save Peach.
Europe 2013
3DS
IGN – 8.0: GreatGameSpot – 8.0: Great
Mario Kart Arcade GP DX

Mario Kart Arcade GP DX is the tenth game in the overall Mario Kart series, and the third game in the Mario Kart Arcade GP series of Mario Kart games. The game re-uses the glider and underwater driving mechanics seen in Mario Kart 7, and also introduces a tank mechanic, in which by collecting a special item the player's kart is transformed into a tank, the turret being controlled by a second player. The game also features five cups, two being unlockable, and two courses per cup, a total of ten courses.
Japan 2013
Arcade Machine
New Super Mario Bros. U
+ New Super Luigi U

A compilation of both New Super Mario Bros. U and New Super Luigi U on the same disk, released exclusively with the Mario & Luigi Deluxe Wii U set (known as the Premium Pack in Europe). New Super Mario Bros. U + New Super Luigi U includes notable changes to the originals, including a new title screen and over 200 videos included as bonus content.
USA 2013
Wii U
Super Mario 3D World

A follow-up to Super Mario 3D Land, Super Mario 3D World features the same style of gameplay, being based on the 2D games but in a 3D environment. The game features five playable characters; players can play as either Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Toad, or Rosalina (once she is unlocked), the default four featuring their abilities from Super Mario Bros. 2. Several new and returning power-ups, enemies, and items are also featured. The game involves Bowser capturing the Sprixie Princesses, and the main characters chasing him to the Sprixie Kingdom to stop him.
Japan 2013
Wii U
IGN – 9.6 - AmazingGameSpot – 9.0 - Superb
Mario Party: Island Tour

Mario Party: Island Tour is the thirteenth overall installment in the Mario Party franchise, and the second on a handheld console. The game returns to the traditional board gameplay of the Mario Party franchise, but each board includes its own style of play.
USA 2013
3DS
IGN – 5.5 - MediocreGameSpot – 7.0 - Good
Dr. Luigi

Dr. Luigi is a download-only game available on the Wii U Nintendo eShop. Released as part of the Year of Luigi, the game is a Dr. Mario-style game starring Luigi as the main character instead. The core gameplay remains similar to the Dr. Mario games, though this title features the mode Operation L, in which players stack special L-shaped megavitamins to defeat viruses.
USA 2013
Wii U
IGN – 7.5 - Good5.0 - Mediocre
Mario Golf: World Tour

Mario Golf: World Tour is a Mario Golf title released on the Nintendo 3DS. It is the fifth in the series overall. The game features connectivity to the internet, allowing players around the world to play against each other, either in normal matches or in specialized matches, similar to the internet features of Mario Kart 7.
USA 2014
3DS
IGN – 8.6 - GreatGameSpot – 7.0 - Good
Mario Kart 8

Mario Kart 8 is the eighth installment in the Mario Kart franchise. In addition to having many returning elements from past games, such as glider and underwater sections of tracks and kart customization from Mario Kart 7 and bikes from Mario Kart Wii, Mario Kart 8 also features courses with anti-gravity segments, allowing racers to drive along vertical and upside-down surfaces. The game also features Miiverse integration in the form of a feature called Mario Kart TV, where players can share replays of races and viewers can comment on them.
Japan 2014
Wii U
IGN – 9.0 - AmazingGameSpot – 8.0 - Great
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is a puzzle platform game released for the Wii U. Expanding upon The Adventures of Captain Toad levels from Super Mario 3D World, the game stars Captain Toad, who must navigate through a series of small, diorama-like stages to reach the Power Star at the end.
Japan 2014
Wii U
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars is the next game in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series, set to be released on both Nintendo 3DS and Wii U. The game was first shown in a demo at GDC 2014 to show off Nintendo's Nintendo Web Framework to developers. The game was officially confirmed at E3 2014. While the core gameplay is the same as in Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem, several new features such as Mini Luigis and an improved level creator with new sharing capabilities.
USA 2015
Wii U, Nintendo 3DS
Mario Party 10

Mario Party 10 is the next installment in the Mario Party series and the direct follow-up to Mario Party 9 currently in development for the Wii U. In addition to the returning Party Mode, the game features the all-new Bowser Party mode. In this mode, one player uses a Gamepad to play as Bowser and face off against the other four players. Also confirmed is amiibo Party, in which the players use amiibo as pieces on a small board.
Japan 2015
Wii U
Super Mario Maker

Super Mario Maker is a Super Mario course builder released Wii U in 2015. It allows players to create and edit levels based on Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, and New Super Mario Bros. U.
Japan 2015
Wii U
Dr. Mario: Miracle Cure

Dr. Mario: Miracle Cure is the next installment in the Dr. Mario series. It follows the same formative gameplay as the previous Dr. Mario titles with Dr. Luigi also in on the act as well.
Japan 2015
Wii U
Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash

Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash is the next installment in the Mario Tennis series. It follows the same standard as previous Mario Tennis games however, there is a new Mega Mushroom gimmick in it. This game also introduces the Sprixie Princess as a playable character.
USA 2015
Wii U
Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam

Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam is the fifth installment in the Mario & Luigi series. A crossover with the Paper Mario series, it involves the Paper world getting unleashed on the real world. Mario, Luigi, and Paper Mario team up to stop the two Bowsers from taking over the Mushroom Kingdom with their combined armies.
Japan 2015
3DS
Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge

Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge is a game that allows players to use their Amiibos to create Minis for the game. The game maintains the overall puzzle-platformer style from previous Mario vs. Donkey Kong games. It has a couple differences as well such as the world map instead of the classic level select from previous games.
Japan 2016
Wii U/3DS
Paper Mario: Color Splash

Paper Mario: Color Splash sees Mario, Peach, and Toad venturing to the Prism Island to save it from being drained of it's color. Here, Mario meets (and teams up with) Huey as they both set out to find the missing Paint Stars. They will need to challenge the Koopalings as well as the dangerous Black Bowser to save Prism Island. This was the last Mario game ever released for the Wii U before it's discontinuation on January 2017.
USA 2016
Wii U
Mario Party: Star Rush

Mario Party: Star Rush is yet another Mario Party adventure which take players on various boards yet again. This time however, the game is Amiibo compatible which makes for all more fun. The game includes more minigames and bosses as well.
Japan 2016
3DS
Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS

Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS is a 3DS Port of Super Mario Maker for the Wii U which is basically the same overall but lacking Costume Mario and Online Sharing. The game has Streetpass Support to share locally. Aditionally, there are 100 pre-installed levels for the game.
Japan 2016
3DS
Super Mario Run

Super Mario Run is a auto-running for Super Mario. Players use the touch screen to make Mario jump and collect Coins. Mario will defeat enemies and battle bosses along the way as well. The overall design is similar to New Super Mario Bros. U
USA 2016
iOS
USA 2017
Android
Mario Sports Superstars

Mario Sports Superstars is a Mario Sports title. It mixes several Sports such as Golf, Baseball, Soccer, Tennis, etc. Players compete in each event to get the most points to win.
USA 2017
3DS
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is an enhanced port of Mario Kart 8 for the Wii U. It has the same overall tracks and gameplay. Bowser Jr., King Boo, and Dry Bones return as playable characters. The Inklings also make their debut in this game and the battle mode has been revamped for the game as well bringing 4 additional game modes to the table.
USA 2017
Nintendo Switch
Mario Kart Arcade GP VR

Mario Kart Arcade GP VR is another entry in the Mario Kart Arcade series. Hence the name, it is a virtual reality game and you play as only a few characters. Other than that, the gameplay is relatively the same as any other Mario Kart game.
Japan 2017
Nintendo Switch
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions is the sixth entry in the Mario & Luigi series. A remake of the original Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, the game sees Mario & Luigi revisiting the Beanbean Kingdom to stop Cackletta and Fawful. Meanwhile, an untold story unfolds. Captain Goomba (and the rest of Bowser's Minions) go on a long Mission to rescue Bowser from the clutches of the villainous Fawful.
USA 2017
3DS
Super Mario Odyssey

Super Mario Odyssey is a 3D Platformer which returns to the open-World style like Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario 64 DS. It sees Mario and his new friend Cappy going on a long adventure through areas based on real-world locations They collect Power Moons to power up their ship The Odyssey to chase down Bowser who wants to marry Princess Peach. Returning from previous 3D Mario games is the Health Meter as well.
USA 2017
Nintendo Switch
Mario Party: The Top 100

Mario Party: The Top 100 is a Mario Party game which includes a selected 100 of the "best" Mario Party Minigames from previous installements and they're all added in this game and given the 3D Treatment. The game also has boards as well as in previous installments. Some things in the game are tweaked however and every instance of Koopa Kid has been replaced with Bowser Jr.
USA 2017
3DS
Mario Tennis Aces

Mario Tennis Aces takes the usual Mario Tennis experience to a whole new level. It includes several new features and new characters. It is also the first Mario Tennis game since Mario Tennis: Power Tour to actually include a Story Mode.
USA 2018
Nintendo Switch
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker for Nintendo 3DS

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker for Nintendo 3DS is an enhanced port of Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker. It has the same overall plot as the original only this time housing new levels bonus levels based on Super Mario Odyssey. Other than that, the game is true to the original. Involving Captain Toad having to rescue Toadette from the clutches of Wingo.
USA 2018
3DS
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker for Nintendo Switch

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker for Nintendo Switch is an enhanced port of Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker for the Nintendo Switch. It has the same overall plot as the original only this time housing new levels bonus levels based on Super Mario Odyssey. Other than that, the game is true to the original. Involving Captain Toad having to rescue Toadette from the clutches of the villainous Wingo.
USA 2018
Nintendo Switch
Super Mario Party

Super Mario Party is the new style for Mario Party. A soft reboot for the series, this game returns back to the classic Mario Party gameplay, going across boards and collecting Stars, playing Minigames, and battling Bosses.
Japan 2018
Nintendo Switch
Luigi's Mansion Nintendo 3DS

Luigi's Mansion Nintendo 3DS is a remake of Luigi's Mansion on the GameCube. The game acts as a preview of Luigi's Mansion 3. The game's overall plot is the same as the original. Involving Luigi defeating Ghosts to save his brother Mario from the clutches of the evil King Boo.
USA 2018
3DS
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey is an enhanced remake of Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story on the Nintendo DS. It includes a new side story called Bowser Jr.'s Journey which involves Bowser Jr. and the Koopa Troop going on an adventure to find a cure for the Blorbs. The game is the seventh game in the series as well as the final Mario game to be released for the Nintendo 3DS (before it's discontinuation in September 2020) and the final game developed by AlphaDream before filing for bankruptcy in October 2019. The game includes several new features/changes, updated graphics and more new twists and surprises.
USA 2019
3DS
New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe

New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is a port/combo of New Super Mario Bros. U and New Super Luigi U on the Nintendo Switch. It has the same levels from both games. This time, any character can be played as in single player mode. Along with that, Toadette is also playable along with a new power-up called the Super Crown which turns her into Peachette. Overall, the story remains true for both game modes.
USA 2019
Nintendo Switch
Super Mario Maker 2

Super Mario Maker 2 is the direct sequel to Super Mario Maker on the Nintendo Switch. The game adds new content to the game (such as Luigi, Toad, and Toadette now being playable) as well as a new theme based on Super Mario 3D World. The game includes several more new features as well.
Japan 2019
Nintendo Switch
Dr. Mario World

Dr. Mario World is a game for iOS and Android. This game uses the classic gameplay of Dr. Mario which takes advantage of the Smartphones' touch screens to dispatch viruses.
USA 2019
iOS/Android
Mario Kart Tour

Mario Kart Tour is a Mario Kart game. It includes classic racing styles and many characters and items. It also includes several new tracks and also includes a Mission Mode. The gameplay is similar to Mario Kart 7, Mario Kart 8, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
USA 2019
iOS/Android
Luigi's Mansion 3

Luigi's Mansion 3 is the sequel to Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon. After Mario, Peach, and several Toads were kidnapped by King Boo and Hellen Gravely, Luigi sets out to rescue them and free his mansion of the ghosts once more. The gameplay is very similar to previous installments with some new surprises.
Japan 2019
Nintendo Switch

2020's (2020-present)

Title, original release and system Synopsis and Ratings
Paper Mario: The Origami King

Paper Mario: The Origami King is a game for the Nintendo Switch and the sixth installment in the Paper Mario series. The game involves an evil mastermind named King Olly taking over and turning Bowser's army into Origami creatures and Mario teaming up with Olivia to save the Mushroom Kingdom from total conquest. Mario and Olivia even end up forming a truce with Bowser's Army (the members who weren't Origami-fied) to stop King Olly and his team.
USA 2020
Nintendo Switch
Super Mario 3D All-Stars

Super Mario 3D All-Stars is a compilation of 3 fan favorites in the 3D Super Mario games to celebrate the 35th Anniversary of Super Mario Bros.. Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy all received remasters on the Nintendo Switch. The game includes, updated quality in graphics, new controls (to suit the Nintendo Switch), and a full soundtrack for all three games. The game was available in stores until March 31, 2021.
USA 2020
Nintendo Switch
Super Mario Bros. 35

Super Mario Bros. 35 is a game for the Nintendo Switch to celenrate the 35th Anniversary of Super Mario Bros.. It is a battle royale styled platformer where players compete in the game (online) until one player is the last man/woman standing. The game was only available until March 31, 2021 however as of that date, it can now no longer be played without hacks.
USA 2020
Nintendo Switch
Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit

Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit is a new Mario Kart game apart of the 35th Anniversary of Super Mario Bros.. The game includes real-toys of Mario and Luigi in Karts with cameras attached to them which players can link to the Nintendo Switch and effectively make their own Mario Kart course in their own home. Despite the new groundbreaking change, the gameplay is overall the same to other Mario Kart games.
USA 2020
Nintendo Switch
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury

Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury is an expanded port of Super Mario 3D World on the WII U. It includes the overall same storyline as the original but alongside it, it also includes a brand new story taking place in Lake Lapcat. Bowser has turned into a frightening horror called Fury Bowser and Mario and Bowser Jr. have to team up to change him back by collecting Cat Shines. The gameplay as well as the Power-Ups also remain the same too.
USA 2021
Nintendo Switch
Mario Golf: Super Rush

Mario Golf: Super Rush is a new game in the Mario Golf series. It includes some new playable characters such as Pauline, Chargin' Chuck, and King Bob-omb. It also includes several new modes such as Speed Golf and a brand new story mode involving the Miis. The game itself also has several new features and surprises.
USA 2021
Nintendo Switch

Cancelled games and tech demos

Title Summary Planned system
Super Mario's Wacky Worlds

Super Mario's Wacky Worlds was a planned game for the Philips CD-i. The game came close to development but was cancelled due to disinterest in the CD-i. The game was to focus on Mario travelling the world. The game came extremely close to completion, and in fact several prototypes exist, but gameplay is limited due to the game being incomplete. The game would have served as a sequel to Super Mario World.
Philips CD-i
Mario Takes America

Mario Takes America is another cancelled game for the CD-i. The game's concept initially impressed Philips, who wanted to release a Mario CD-i game, but the game was cancelled due to Philips being unsatisfied with the games process. The game would have focused on Mario arriving in New York and attempting to make his way to Hollywood to star in his own film.
Philips CD-i
Mario Demo

The Mario Demo was a Tech Demo displaying the 3D features of the Virtual Boy. The demo simply showed Virtual Boy written on the screen and Mario standing underneath it. The letters then flew out onto the viewer. This demo was presumably never intended for home release.
Virtual Boy
VB Mario Land

VB Mario Land was a game planned for the Virtual Boy. It was cancelled due to the Virtual Boy being discontinued because of its unpopularity. The game was to be part of the Super Mario Land series. Not much is known about its storyline, but Wario was to be featured in the game. A Virtual Boy version of Mario Bros. was possibly going to be included.
Virtual Boy
VB Mario Kart
According to German magazine Big N, a game tentatively titled VB Mario Kart was being developed for the Virtual Boy console. [12] It was cancelled presumably due to the discontinuation of the Virtual Boy.
Virtual Boy
Super Mario RPG 2

Super Mario RPG 2 was the original title of Paper Mario. It was initially created as a sequel to Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, but the name was changed due to complications involving Square Soft (now Square Enix), the gaming company that developed Super Mario RPG. The screenshots shown for the game under its original title have some elements not included in the finished game, such as Poochy's appearance and differently designed locations.
Nintendo 64
Luigi's Mansion
Luigi's Mansion was originally going to be a game on the Nintendo 64, but was cancelled as Nintendo moved on to the Nintendo GameCube. The game's idea was then going to be used as a Tech Demo for the GameCube, but Nintendo decided to make it a full game.
Nintendo 64
Mario Artist
Four games were released for the Mario Artist series on the failed Nintendo 64DD (N64DD). Originally eight games were planned. The other four were cancelled due to the failure of the N64DD. They were Mario Artist: Game Maker, Mario Artist: Graphical Message Maker, Mario Artist: Sound Maker and Mario Artist: Video Jockey Maker.
Nintendo 64DD
Super Mario 64 2
Super Mario 64 2 was another unreleased game for the N64DD. The game would have followed the 3D style of Super Mario 64 and was even announced to have a multiplayer feature in which the other character would play as Luigi. The game was cancelled due to disinterest in the N64DD. It is believed that some aspects of this game were used in later 3D games including the very remake for Super Mario 64.
Nintendo 64DD
Mario Paint 64
Mario Paint 64 is yet another cancelled game for the N64DD. Not much is known about what gameplay would have been like. This game was to be one of the few games to use the Nintendo 64 mouse. The game was cancelled for the same reasons as the other cancelled N64DD titles.
Nintendo 64DD
Super Mario 128

Super Mario 128 was a tech demo for the GameCube which was used to experiment with elements that could be used in future 3D titles. The demo showed 128 Marios being spawned and running around, as well as demonstrating the use of "sphere walking." Although elements from this demo were used in games such as The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and Super Mario Galaxy, Shigeru Miyamoto later revealed that this demo had directly served as the basis for Pikmin.
Nintendo GameCube
Peach's Castle

Peach's Castle was a Tech Demo for the GameCube. It was made by Nintendo and sent to various game developers to show the graphics capabilities of the GameCube. The demo showed many of the areas of Princess Peach's Castle, some of which have never been seen in any other games and even included a statue of Metal Mario.
Nintendo GameCube
Face to Mario

Face to Mario was a tech demo for the Nintendo DS. This demo showed a picture of Mario's face which could be squeezed and pulled around, similar to the start screen in Super Mario 64. Wario's face also appeared.
Nintendo DS
Super Paper Mario

Super Paper Mario was originally planned for the Nintendo GameCube but was reworked on the Wii with the same name. The main difference between the beta version and the final one was that it appeared that Tippi was the only Pixl and she morphed into the other Pixl forms. Several enemies shown in the GameCube version were also removed from the final version.
Nintendo GameCube
Super Mario Spikers

Super Mario Spikers is a cancelled game intended to be on the Wii being developed by Next Level Games, who also developed the Mario Strikers games. It was to be a volleyball game that incorporated wrestling elements. Production was stopped during 2007 due to clashing with Nintendo's code of honor.
Wii
New Super Mario Bros. Mii

New Super Mario Bros. Mii is a tech demo for the Wii U presented at E3 2011 to demonstrate the console's Off-TV Play function. It is based off of New Super Mario Bros. Wii, except the player can choose to play as his or her Mii. The demo can be played without use of a television and needs only the Wii U GamePad, which has a screen on it, to play the game. Several elements of this game, such as using Miis as playable characters, have been incorporated into New Super Mario Bros. U.
Wii U

Mario sub-series

Artwork Summary List of Games
Super Mario Series
1985-present

The Super Mario series launched Mario into stardom as The King of Platforming. The series originally started on the NES as a trilogy of three Super Mario Bros. games released between 1985 and 1990 (however, Japan and USA had two different Super Mario Bros. 2s, making four games). When the SNES was released in 1991, so was Super Mario World, known in Japan as Super Mario Bros. 4: Super Mario World. The original side-scrollers then gave way to the 3D platformers, with Super Mario 64 for the Nintendo 64 in 1996 and Super Mario Sunshine for the GameCube in 2002. In 2004, the popular Super Mario 64 was remade for the Nintendo DS (as a launch title) as the even better Super Mario 64 DS which has new levels, a new story, and new playable characters alongside Mario including Yoshi, Luigi, and even Wario. In 2006 the original style of 2D platforming was revived with New Super Mario Bros. for the Nintendo DS. That was followed by three Wii games: the 3D platformer Super Mario Galaxy and its eventual sequel, Super Mario Galaxy 2, and 2009's sequel to the DS game, New Super Mario Bros. Wii, which is the first side-scrolling Mario game to have four players in simultaneous cooperative and competitive modes. The next game, Super Mario 3D Land for the Nintendo 3DS, combines elements from 2D and 3D Mario platformers. New Super Mario Bros. 2 was later released, as the third installment of the New Super Mario Bros. games. Another game, New Super Mario Bros. U, the fourth installment of the New Super Mario Bros. games, is released for the Wii U. Almost all the games in the Super Mario series have the basic plot of Bowser kidnapping Princess Peach, who then has to be rescued by Mario, although the American version of Super Mario Bros. 2 is drastically different, due to the fact that it is based on an unrelated game titled Doki Doki Panic. To this day the Super Mario series is the most successful and critically acclaimed video game series ever.

Mario Golf Series
1987-present

The Mario Golf series is one of Mario's first sports spin-offs. This sub-series revolves around the grassy sport of golf. Mario and his friends (and enemies in some games) grab their golf clubs and tees and prepare to compete to see who the best golfer is. The series started with the release of Golf for the NES in 1984. The only playable character in the game was Mario, who appeared in much different apparel than usual. Past there, the series started to introduce more and more playable characters, including Luigi, Peach, Bowser, and many others. Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour features the largest cast of playable characters ever; it also has the compatibility to be linked to the Game Boy Advance game, Mario Golf: Advance Tour, for the addition of new characters. The home-console-to-handheld-system linking capability is a feature that has been available since the release of Mario Golf for the Nintendo 64. The games feature the exact same rules as a real world golf game; however, many Mario elements are added as obstacles throughout some courses, giving the series even more originality.

Super Mario Land Series
1989-1994

The Super Mario Land series is a sub-series very similar to the Super Mario Bros. games. The first game in the series plays very closely in gameplay compared to the series. The game sees Mario trying to rescue Princess Daisy, who has been kidnapped by Tatanga. Mario can also find Mushrooms; Flowers; Coins; and Stars throughout the game, another feature of the Super Mario Bros. series. However, the second game in the series plays a little differently. In this game, Mario tries to free his castle from the evil clutches of Wario, who has stolen the castle during the events of the first game. The third game is not only the final Super Mario Land title, but also the first game in the Wario Land series, in which Wario is the main hero, and goes on his own quests.

Dr. Mario Series
1990-present

The Dr. Mario series is a puzzle-themed sub-series of the Mario series; it stars Mario's physician alter-ego, Dr. Mario. Other characters that have appeared in the series are Princess Peach as "Nurse Toadstool" and Wario. The series revolves around a Tetris-like concept in which the player must line up Megavitamins in a color-synchronized pattern in order to rid the screen of Viruses. As each level progresses, the game grows more and more difficult, providing the player with more Viruses to eradicate and less room to maneuver the Megavitamins.

Mario Kart Series
1992-present

The Mario Kart series is one of the most popular genres of Mario spin-offs. Like the title says, players can race each other with Mario characters. The first game in the series is Super Mario Kart, released for the SNES in 1992. It has eight characters: Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, Toad, Koopa Troopa, Bowser and Donkey Kong Jr. The courses take place mostly in the same locations, and courses in the same location are numbered (e.g. Koopa Beach 1). There are five courses in one cup, and the Special Cup is only playable in 100cc. This later changed in Mario Kart 64, in which there are four courses per cup and the Special Cup is playable in every Engine Class (cc). Also, Wario and Donkey Kong take the places of Koopa and Donkey Kong Jr. and courses are unique. It is also the first Mario Kart that can be played with up to four players. More features have been added over the years (e.g. VS in Mario Kart: Super Circuit, more karts in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, Classic courses and Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection usage in Mario Kart DS, bikes in Mario Kart Wii). Some functions were also removed in subsequent games (e.g. two racers rode in one kart in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, but not in the subsequent games; Mario Kart DS included missions, which were replaced by the competitions in Mario Kart Wii). Like the Mario Party series, more and more characters have participated in the Mario Kart series (e.g. Rosalina, R.O.B. and Petey Piranha). The items (which were introduced in the first Mario Kart) also got more additions (like Mega Mushroom, Blooper and Bob-omb). Character-specific Special Items were briefly included in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!.

Mario's Early Years! Series
1994-1994

The Mario's Early Years! series was a small Mario edutainment series for the SNES that taught players about subjects like numbers and the alphabet. Each game involved going to different worlds, waking up a sleeping Luigi, and doing his activities to clear each world. The player could react with surrounding objects by clicking on them.

Mario Tennis Series
1995-present

The Mario Tennis series is yet another sports sub-series of the Mario series. The series revolves around the concept of tennis, as the games' titles imply. The series started in 1995 with the release of Mario's Tennis for the Virtual Boy. Despite the fact that Nintendo started the series on an unpopular game system, four more games have been released to date. The games stay fairly close to the real world concept of tennis; however, there are some Mario series features added to each game. Many human characters are introduced in the sub-series — as with the Mario Golf series — though they were never seen in any other Mario series or games. The latest release in the series was Mario Tennis Open for the Nintendo 3DS.

Mario Party Series
1998-present

The Mario Party sub-series is the largest Mario spin-off series to date. With a total of eleven main games and one on the e-Reader, the sub-series has been released on the Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, GameCube, DS, and Wii. There were also quite a few games that were only playable on arcade machines in Japan. The series started in 1999 with the release of Mario Party. The gameplay of the series is much like a board game, and the usual goal is to collect the most Stars. Minigames are a major part of every single installment. While the actual game boards rely on luck — either from the Dice Block, or from which paths the player takes — the mini-games rely on skill. The player must perform various tasks in each mini-game; some mini-games will award the player with coins as long as they play, while others require the player to win to earn coins. Many characters have been playable throughout the series, including characters such as Koopa Kid, Hammer Bro, and several other unique characters.

Mario Artist Series
1999-2000

The Mario Artist series was a Japan-only series released for the Nintendo 64DD. Only four games were ever made for the series. Four other games were announced, but, due to the failure of the N64DD, they were never released.

Paper Mario Series
2000-present

The Paper Mario series is a series of Mario role-playing games. As its name implies, all the characters and elements in the game appear to be made from paper. The series started in 2001 with the release of Paper Mario for the Nintendo 64. The game used a similar battle system to that of Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars; the player would attack an enemy for one turn, then the enemy would attack the next. The first team to reach 0 HP would lose the battle. The series generally revolves around collecting multiple objects from evil beings in order to stop the ultimate evil faced in the game. The series also utilizes partners throughout its games; each partner has unique abilities to help the player progress through the overworld, as well as in battle.

Super Mario Advance Series
2001-2003

Started in 2000, the Super Mario Advance series is a four-game series consisting of remakes of Mario series (and one Yoshi series) games on the Game Boy Advance. Despite appearing as ports of the original games, each of the four contains new content (i.e. Yoshi's Island having six new levels, Super Mario Advance 4 is compatible with e-Reader, etc.). The four games also feature a remake of Mario Bros., which has a multiplayer mode for up to four players.

Mario & Luigi Series
2003-present

The Mario & Luigi series is yet another Mario sub-series. This sub-series is formed of a series of role-playing games for Nintendo's handheld systems. The first game in the series is Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, released in 2003 for the Game Boy Advance. The series features games with long, detailed stories full of battles that the player must endure in order to Level Up and progress through the game with ease. The battles are turn-based, much like those from Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars and the Paper Mario series. In the games, the player must control both Mario and Luigi; in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, the player also had to control their baby forms and in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, the player also controls Bowser. The series has yet to feature Bowser as the main antagonist of a game; however, he usually ends up falling victim to the ways of the games' true villains.

Mario Baseball Series
2005-2008

The Mario Baseball series is the latest sports-based spin-off in the Mario series. As its name implies, it revolves around the concept of baseball. This sub-series features more playable characters in a single game than in any other spin-off title, with a total of more than forty in the most recent installment, Mario Super Sluggers. The series originated with Mario Superstar Baseball for the GameCube, which was developed by Namco. The sequel was released on the Wii in 2008 in Japan and North America; however, no announcements of release dates in Europe or Australia have been announced.

Mario Strikers Series
2005-present

The Mario Strikers series (known as the Mario Football series in Europe) is a soccer-based sports spin-off in the Mario series. The series has only two installments: one for the GameCube, and one for the Wii. The Mario Strikers series features many playable characters in its few installments. The first release is Super Mario Strikers for the GameCube; it features eight team captains, along with four different types of sidekicks. The second installment, Mario Strikers Charged, features twelve team captains and eight types of sidekicks to select from.

Related franchises and series

Spinoffs

Emblem Name Summary List of Main Games
Yoshi franchise

The Yoshi franchise is perhaps one of the most tightly linked partner series to the Mario series. While all of the games star Yoshi and his island's villagers, some games also feature Baby Mario, Baby Luigi, and several other infant characters from the Mario series. With the release of his self-titled debut, Yoshi earned his own series in 1991. The series then spawned several games from there. While some Yoshi games are in the puzzle genre, the main series takes place on Yoshi's Island, where he must constantly save his island and the Star Children from imminent doom.

Wario franchise

The Wario franchise is another fairly large Nintendo franchise. The series started with Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3, in which Wario was the main protagonist in the game. Despite the game's title, Mario made only a small cameo appearance. From there, the Wario Land sub-series spawned five more games over the next fourteen years. The most recent Wario Land game was released for the Wii in 2008; this game was titled Wario Land: Shake It!. The Wario series also has another sub-series — the WarioWare series. This sub-series consists of several games, all of which contain microgames. The Wario series finally received a playable character in the Super Smash Bros. series when Wario was included in Super Smash Bros. Brawl's lineup.

Partnered franchises

Emblem Name Summary List of Main Games
Donkey Kong franchise

The Donkey Kong franchise is the parent of the Mario franchise. It began in 1981, with the release of Donkey Kong. Donkey Kong posed as the main antagonist in the game; the main protagonist, Mario (nicknamed Jumpman at the time), had to rescue Pauline from the angry ape. Over a decade later, the series would adopt a whole new premise with the release of Donkey Kong Country. Though the game was 16-bit, it had the appearance of a 3-dimensional sidescroller — somewhat like New Super Mario Bros.. Donkey Kong Country introduced a different Donkey Kong, who has since appeared throughout the Donkey Kong games and Mario spinoffs, and Cranky Kong, the Donkey Kong from the earlier Donkey Kong games prior to Rare's involvement. Donkey Kong Country featured both Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong as the main protagonists throughout the game. The series later released two more sequels to Donkey Kong Country, which featured new playable characters such as Dixie Kong and Kiddy Kong. The latest three-dimensional Donkey Kong platforming game was Donkey Kong 64, for the Nintendo 64. It brought new characters into the series such as Tiny Kong and Chunky Kong. At E3 2010, Nintendo announced a side-scrolling revival of the original Donkey Kong Country series for Wii, Donkey Kong Country Returns, released later that same year.

The Legend of Zelda franchise
The The Legend of Zelda franchise is closely related to the Mario franchise, although its relation is more subtle and different than with the Donkey Kong franchise. The Legend of Zelda began in 1987, with the release of the titular game of the same name. The game was developed concurrently alongside Super Mario Bros., and since then, a mainline Super Mario platforming game has often been developed concurrently with a The Legend of Zelda game, such as Super Mario 64 with The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Sometimes, Mario concepts were originally intended for The Legend of Zelda, such as Fire Bars. Mario enemies such as Chain Chomps, Bob-ombs, and Thwomps have commonly appeared throughout the 2D The Legend of Zelda games. Furthermore, variants of Mario enemies exclusively appear in the The Legend of Zelda franchise, such as Manhandlas, a large Piranha Plant variant that debuted in the first The Legend of Zelda, comparable to how Pouncers, a Thwomp variant in Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3, have not appeared outside the Wario games. Similarly, Octoombas, a variant of The Legend of Zelda's Octorok, have not appeared outside the Mario franchise. The Legend of Zelda can be considered one step away from being a Mario spinoff, and it even had an animated television show included as part of The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!.

Crossovers

Image Summary of Crossover Technical Information
Game & Watch series

The Game & Watch series is one of the oldest series of games Nintendo has made. The series lasted for eleven years, from 1980 to 1991 and had five installments, each of which are a compilation of games; some of the games have extremely simple concepts, (such as Ball, where the player must simply juggle), while others have more detailed gameplay, (such as Donkey Kong Jr. and Super Mario Bros.). The Game & Watch series has had a total of thirteen games that revolve around the Mario series in some way.

Super Smash Bros. series
1999-present

With the release of Super Smash Bros. in 1999, Nintendo started the Super Smash Bros. series. Though the series is more of a crossover series for all of Nintendo's major series, it has featured seven different Mario characters: Mario, Luigi, Peach, Bowser, Dr. Mario, Rosalina, and Bowser Jr. Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, and Wario have also appeared as playable characters; however, they are shown to represent their own series. In the games, players select whichever character they want, and then fight against each other on a specific stage. Each character has different move-sets, clearly defining them from one another. Characters can also use items to harm other characters or help themselves in some way. The game is an all-out fight among some of Nintendo's most popular video game characters.
NBA Street V3

NBA Street V3 is a basketball game developed by EA Canada, a division of Electronic Arts, for the GameCube, Xbox, and PlayStation 2. Due to a deal between Nintendo and EA to have Nintendo's intellectual properties in their games, Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach appear as playable characters. USA 2/8/2005

System: GameCube, Xbox, PlayStation 2

Yakuman DS

Yakuman DS is a Mahjong-themed game for the Nintendo DS; it was released only in Japan. The game stars several Mario series characters and enemies. The game features a total of thirteen characters to play as and 21 opponents to face against. In order to progress through the game, the player has to win a game of Mahjong against an opponent; he or she will then face the next opponent. The game was later released in Japan with an Online Mode under the title, Yakuman DS with Wi-Fi. Japan 3/2005

System: DS

Tetris DS

Released in 2005 in Europe, Tetris DS is the only installment of Tetris to be on the DS. This installment in the successful puzzle series features many Nintendo-related characters and elements. The game has several modes, all of which have themes from older Nintendo games. Among the many themes, the Mario series themes are Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3, Donkey Kong, Duck Hunt, the Mario Kart series, and many more. Several Mario characters also appear in the game, including Mario, Bowser, Frog Mario, Raccoon Mario, Goomba, Donkey Kong, and Yoshi. Europe 4/21/2005

System: DS

SSX on Tour

SSX on Tour is a snowboarding-oriented game released in 2005 developed by EA Montreal and published by EA Sports BIG. The game was released on a total of four systems: Nintendo GameCube, Xbox, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation Portable. The game involves characters racing on snowboards (or, alternatively, skis) to reach the end of the track first, while using the environment around them as ramps to perform tricks. Due to a deal between Nintendo and EA, Mario, Princess Peach, and Luigi were included as playable characters. USA 10/11/2005

System: GameCube, Xbox, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable

Mario Hoops 3-on-3

Released in July 2006, Mario Hoops 3-on-3 is a basketball-oriented game developed by Square Enix featuring several elements from the Mario series. The game features 21 playable characters, 5 of which are from the Final Fantasy series. Each character also has a unique Special Shot. There are a total of sixteen courts to play on, each one in a different tourney, and there are four tourneys: the Mushroom Tourney, Flower Tourney, Star Tourney, and Rainbow Tourney. Hidden on each court are ? Panels, which will provide the player with an item that can be used on foes. The game has four basic gameplay modes: a challenge mode, an exhibition mode, a tourney mode, and a matchup mode (Wi-Fi is used to find other players). Japan 7/27/2006

System: DS

Itadaki Street DS

Released for the Nintendo DS only in Japan, Itadaki Street DS is a multi-player virtual board game. The game combines elements of the Itadaki Street and Mario Party series, such as the addition of mini-games. The game is themed similarly to that of Monopoly, as players much purchase shops and buildings in order to succeed in the game. Opposers who land on a player's property must pay a fee to the property's owner. Under certain circumstances, property can be stolen from one another as well. The game features a total of 22 playable characters — eleven of which are from the Mario series, while the other eleven are from the Dragon Quest series. Japan 7/21/2007

System: DS

Mario & Sonic (series)
2007-present

The Mario & Sonic series is a sports-based series focused on Nintendo and Sega characters competing in the Olympic Games. The first installment, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games was released for the Wii in 2007; it was later released for the DS in 2008. The game stars sixteen playable characters: eight from the Mario series, and eight from the Sonic series. The game includes several games that were taken directly from the Summer Olympics; it also includes a few that were created solely for the game. The players of the game have to reenact some of the motions required to take part in the Olympic games in order to have a chance at winning. For example, the 100m Freestyle requires the player to move the Wii Remote and Nunchuk in a pattern similar to that of swimming in order to make progress in the competition. A sequel entitled Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games was released in the fourth quarter of 2009, which revolves around the Winter Olympics. A third game, Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games, was released on the Wii in November 2011 and on the Nintendo 3DS in February 2012, once again focusing on the Summer Olympics. Later, another installment focusing on the Winter Olympics again, Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, was released in late 2013 on the Wii U.

Systems: Wii, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, Wii U

Captain Rainbow

Released only in Japan, Captain Rainbow is an action-adventure game for the Wii. The game revolves around a character named Nick, whose alter-ego is that of a superhero known as "Captain Rainbow". After the superhero's show began to lose popularity due to another superhero that had attracted Rainbow's audience, he decided to travel to Mimin Island, where it is said that wishes can come true. The game features many Nintendo characters and elements; some have a role in the story, while others do not. The Mario series has much representation in the game. Birdo appears as a main character in the game. In the game, she has to be rescued from her cage by Captain Rainbow. Other Mario series elements that are found in the game include Piranha Plants, Warp Pipes, and even a picture of Mario. Japan 8/28/2008

System: Wii

Art Style:PiCTOBiTS

In 2009 Art Style: PiCTOBiTS was released as part of the Art Style series only available on WiiWare and DSiWare. This game featured sprites of Mario characters from Super Mario Bros. and Wrecking Crew along with characters from other classic Nintendo games. The game is played by clearing falling megabits by merging them with megabits of the same color with the stylus, which eventually form sprites of classic Nintendo characters. POW Blocks and coins are also part of the gameplay. Japan 1/28/2009

System: Nintendo DS (DSiWare)

Mario Sports Mix

Mario Sports Mix, is a game that features an assortment of sports which include dodgeball, hockey, volleyball, and basketball. This game also has an assortment of characters to choose from including the Final Fantasy characters that appear in Mario Hoops 3-on-3 and Slime from the Dragon Quest series. Slime also appears in Itadaki Street DS. Mario Sports Mix has a selection of courts and rinks to choose from. Some of the courts and rinks are capable of multiple sports. This game also features Nintendo Wi-Fi connection and it has tournaments. The tournaments have three tourneys for each sport, and each sport has three more hard tourneys. After beating each tournament once, the player can go back and use alternate routes. These routes lead to unlockable characters, alternate colors for some characters, and even some secret courts and rinks. Japan 11/25/2010

System: Wii

Fortune Street

Fortune Street, is a Wii game that was developed with the cooperation of Square-Enix and Nintendo. It is considered to be a follow-up of the Nintendo DS crossover game Itadaki Street DS, and the predecessor plays similarly to it. This game is the first Itadaki Street title to be released outside of Japan. Japan 12/01/2011

System: Wii

Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition

Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition is a Mario-themed game in the Puzzle & Dragon series developed for the Nintendo 3DS by GungHo Online Entertainment. The game features the Puzzle & Dragons gameplay of matching icons to damage enemies mixed with elements from the Mario series, including characters and enemies, using power-ups for the matchable icons, and the overworld map. Japan 4/19/2015

System: Nintendo 3DS

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is a crossover between the Mario and Rabbids series' developed for the Nintendo Switch by Ubisoft. The game is a Roleplaying Game and features RPG-style gameplay of using various moves to damage enemies mixed with elements from the Mario series, including characters and enemies. It also uses various weapons such as blasters and the story involves Mario and friends and the Rabbids teaming up to stop an evil that was accidentally unleashed on the Mushroom Kingdom by the Rabbids. USA 8/29/2017

System: Nintendo Switch

Other media

Television

Series Name Synopsis # of Episodes
Amada Anime Series: Super Mario Bros.

The Amada Anime Series: Super Mario Bros. was a three-episode series of OVAs based on well-known fairy tales in Japan. The first story, Super Mario Momotarō, is based off the story of the same name, and involves Bowser stealing Princess Peach and Mario heading off to save her; the second, Super Mario Issun-bōshi, is also based off of the story of the same name, in which Mario is a one-inch tall boy trying to discover the world on his own; and the third, Super Mario Shirayuki-hime‎, involves the tale of Snow White, in which Bowser is the evil queen trying to rid himself of Princess Peach so he can be called the most beautiful again.
3
The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!

The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! was the first animated television series to revolve entirely around the Mario series. It debuted in 1989 and ended in 1990. The show was loosely based on Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros. 2. Each episode would have Mario, Luigi, Toad, and/or Princess Toadstool fighting against King Koopa in some way. In addition to the animation, the show featured a short live-action segment with each episode. One episode would air per day from Monday to Thursday of each week; on Friday, The Legend of Zelda cartoon would air. The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! was renamed 'Club Mario' in 1990.
52
The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3

The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 was the second Mario animated series to be made; it debuted in 1990 and ended in 1991. Unlike its predecessor, which aired four days a week, The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 only aired once a week, on every Saturday morning. As its title implied, the show was based off of Super Mario Bros. 3, thus, the show's atmosphere had morphed somewhat to make a more fitting link between the show and the game. Each of Bowser's seven Koopalings appeared in the show, however under entirely different names. Among many other things from Super Mario Bros. 3 that had been implemented into the cartoons included the various power-ups of the game, such as the Frog Suit and Super Leaf.
26
Super Mario World

The Super Mario World animated series was the third and final animated Mario series; as its name implies, it was based somewhat off of the game of the same, Super Mario World. It was a short-lived series, debuting and ending in the same year: 1991. The show featured mostly the same features that The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 had, only some of it had been twisted to match the story of Super Mario World a little better. It also introduced Yoshi to the cartoons and an entirely new character exclusive to the show: Oogtar the cave-boy.
13
Mario All Stars

Mario All Stars was a show that was first released in 1994, produced once again by Nintendo and DiC Entertainment. Similar to the game the show is named after, the show was a compilation of the animated segments from The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! and the Super Mario World cartoons; despite the fact that the commercials from the show featured bits from The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3, the segments from this series were never aired. The show's intro was the intro The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!, with bits from the Super Mario World intro; the background music was the ending theme for Super Mario World.
52
Super Mario Club
Super Mario Club was a Japanese television show mostly featuring information on upcoming Nintendo events.
The Super Mario Challenge
The Super Mario Challenge, which aired from 1990 to 1991, was a show hosted by Mario, who was played by John Lenahan. The show featured two guests who would play various Mario games released at the time. They would have to complete various challenges, like seeing who could collect the most coins in a level, or who could finish a level fastest.
King Koopa's Kool Kartoons

King Koopa's Kool Kartoons was a live-action TV show created by DiC Entertainment. The spin-off of The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!, King Koopa was the host of the show, his appearance having been changed from his appearance in the cartoons to make him look more believable for this show. They would have Koopa reading fan mail and hosting quizzes for the TV audience, the answers to said quizzes being sent to Koopa via mailing them. He would also show 1920/1930's public domain cartoons, which were not related to the Mario series.
Club Mario
Club Mario was a replacement for the live action segments of The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! during the 1990's. The show featured Mario-obsessed teenagers goofing about between the animated segments. These live-action segments starred characters Tommy Treehugger and Co M.C..
Saturday Supercade

Saturday Supercade was the an animated series based on various popular arcade games at the time, including Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr.. The show ran from September 1983 to September 1984. Starting its run three years before the release of the anime movie, Saturday Supercade was the first animated adaptation of any Mario-related games. The Donkey Kong segments outline the adventures of Pauline and Mario as they chase Donkey Kong around the world to catch him after escaping from their circus, and the Donkey Kong Jr. segments highlight the adventures of Donkey Kong Jr. and his friend Bones. Since the show's ending, no official reproductions of the cartoons currently exist.

Literature

Title Summary
Super Mario Brothers: Trapped in the Perilous Pit

Super Mario Brothers: Trapped in the Perilous Pit was the first Mario Golden Look-Look Book, published in 1989. It was written by Jack C. Harris. As Mario and Luigi are trying to repair the castle's pipes, Bowser tries to capture Peach. Mario tries to fight him as Super Mario, but is defeated. Luigi then saves him by using a Fire Flower. As the bros then try to push back Bowser's minions, they fall into a pit. Bowser then throws Peach into the pit and seals the entrance, leaving no escape.
Super Mario Bros. 3: Happy Birthday, Princess Toadstool!

Super Mario Bros. 3: Happy Birthday, Princess Toadstool! was the second Golden Look-Look Book, published in 1990. As the Mario bros are heading for Peach's castle, Mario is sad. He wanted to get the princess a Starman, which Luigi also wanted to get her, so they decide to have a contest to see who can get one first.
Super Mario Bros. 3: The Secret Bridge

Super Mario Bros. 3: The Secret Bridge was the third and final Golden Look-Look Book, also published in 1990. Mario, Luigi, and Peach have heard of a secret bridge in the Mushroom Kingdom, so they decide to set off on an adventure to find it.
Nintendo Comics System

Nintendo Comics System is a series of Nintendo-related comic books published by Valiant from 1990 to 1991. While the imprint featured comics based on multiple franchises such as The Legend of Zelda, Metroid and Captain N, its comedy-oriented Super Mario series, based primarily on the Super Mario Bros. trilogy, was the most prominent, and introduced a number of recurring original characters such as Wooster and the Mushroom King. Along with long and short stories a number of fake advertisements and letter pages were printed, as well as a four-issue miniseries called Game Boy that had Mario battling Tatanga, the antagonist of Super Mario Land, in the Real World.
Nintendo Adventure Books

The Nintendo Adventure Books are a series of twelve Choose Your Own Adventure-style books published in the early nineties. Ten installments of the series are based on the Mario franchise, the first six on the Super Mario Bros. trilogy, and the final four primarily on Super Mario World. Each book had only one true ending (all others usually resulted in the death of the main character, called a "Game Over") that readers reach by correctly solving puzzles and obtaining the right items, while also tallying up points and/or coins given as awards for the right course of action.
Super Mario-Kun

Super Mario-Kun is a Japan-only manga series describing Mario's adventures, somewhat based on the scenarios in the video games.
Club Nintendo

Club Nintendo was the German equivalent of Nintendo Power; it was a series of magazines dedicated to everything Nintendo-related. However, Club Nintendo had a unique feature: every other month, a comic was published by Club Nintendo, generally featuring Mario-related characters and species. The first comic issue debuted in April of 1991. Over a span of eight years, Club Nintendo released a total of 37 comics that were based around the Mario series.
Nintendo Power Comics

A comic anthology which had its chapters published monthly for exactly one year by Nintendo Power from 1992 to 1993, Super Mario Adventures follows Mario, Luigi, Yoshi and Toad as they set off to save Yoshi's people and Princess Toadstool from the Koopalings and Bowser, who intends to forcibly marry the princess. Shortly after its run was complete the series was reprinted in graphic novel format, with a previously released Mario vs. Wario story as bonus content; The Birthday Bash, a second Mario vs. Wario comic, was published a year later, in January 1994.
Super Mario Advance

Super Mario Advance is a short chapter book published by Scholastic Books Inc. in 2001. Telling the story from Super Mario Bros. 2, the book takes place in the land of Subcon. This book allows the reader to choose their own story path by picking one of the story's four protagonists: Mario, Luigi, Toad or Princess Peach.
Super Mario-Kun (Pikkapika Comics)

Like the earlier-released manga of the same name, Super Mario-Kun is a series of five mangas released only in Japan. They were released from 2004 to 2006.
Mario and the Incredible Rescue

Mario and the Incredible Rescue is a short chapter book written by Tracey West and published by Scholastic Books Inc. in 2006. It includes locations from Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars such as Kero Sewers, Tadpole Pond and others.

Film

Title Summary
Super Mario Bros.: Peach-hime Kyushutsu Dai Sakusen!

Super Mario Bros.: Peach-hime Kyushutsu Dai Sakusen!, which can be roughly translated as Super Mario Bros.: The Great Mission to Save Princess Peach, is an anime movie that features Mario as the movie's main protagonist. It was released in 1986 in Japan and was never localized for any other region. The movie's plot revolved around Peach, whom gets kidnapped by Bowser right before Mario's eyes. Mario and Luigi then meet a dog named Kibidango who brings them to the Mushroom Kingdom. There they learn from the Mushroom Hermit that Bowser cursed the inhabitants of the Kingdom and abducted Peach because he wants to marry her. The Mario brothers then agree to go to Bowser's Castle together with Kibidango and save Peach. Along the way they obtain the three mystical items that are required to defeat Bowser, namely a Super Mushroom, a Fire Flower, and a Super Star. They encounter many enemies from the Mario series, until they finally reach the Castle in a flying ship. There, Mario defeats Bowser, saves Peach, and returns her to the Mushroom Kingdom. Peach's magical pendant then lifts the curse that was casted on Kibidango, transforming him into Haru-ōji, an aristocrat from the Flower Kingdom. Mario and Luigi then leave the kingdom again, presumably returning to the grocery store they were working at the beginning. For some reason, Bowser and his minions can be seen working in the store in the end.
Mario Kirby Meisaku Video

Mario Kirby Meisaku Video which translates into English as Mario Kirby Masterpiece, was a short educational video based on adventures involving Mario and Kirby separately. It was intended to teach children the Chinese Kanji letters. In the Mario section, several treasures get stolen by the "Mysterious thief W" and Mario goes out to find the thief who is soon revealed to be Wario. Mario chases Wario and eventually defeats him and returns the treasures. The video was only released in Japan and copies are extremely rare.
Super Mario Bros.

The Super Mario Bros. film was a movie released in 1993, loosely based on the Super Mario Bros. series of video games. The movie was considered a financial failure; the estimated production of the film was $42 million, but the gross revenue failed to reach even $21 million. The movie starred Bob Hoskins (as Mario), John Leguizamo (as Luigi), and Dennis Hopper (as King Koopa). In the movie, Mario and Luigi must rescue Daisy, the princess of Dinohatten, from King Koopa's idiotic cousins — Spike and Iggy.

Main features of the Mario series

Major characters

Main protagonists

Character Brief Biography First appearance
Mario

Mario is the main protagonist in his titular series of games. He made his debut in 1981, with the release of Donkey Kong for arcades across the world. Mario (or "Jumpman" rather), had to fight his way through several mazy stages full of obstacles and enemies in order to rescue Pauline from the large ape, Donkey Kong. After that, Mario became largely popular, receiving another game for the arcade — Mario Bros.— and then several more games for the newly-developed home game console, the NES. Throughout almost thirty years, Mario has been the star of the largest game franchise Nintendo has published. Many characters have fought alongside Mario in his adventures in platformers and RPGs, but many have also fought against him during those times. Mario has gone through many physical changes, from his original 8-bit appearance, to his current 128-bit appearance. Mario commonly rescues Princess Peach, as well as several others, such as Mushroom Retainers, as his adventures continue. Mario has even been accepting enough to team up at times with his greatest foe, Bowser.
Donkey Kong (Jumpman)
Mario Bros. (Mario)
Luigi

Luigi is Mario's taller, younger, twin brother. Luigi first debuted alongside Mario in Mario Bros. in 1983, fighting off the many enemies as a plumber. Luigi reappeared in Super Mario Bros. for the NES, playable only in the two-player mode of the game. He later appeared in Super Mario Bros. 2, being playable in one-player mode for the first time along with Toad and Peach. Luigi has appeared in many of Mario's games, but there were some from which he was excluded — among which are Super Mario Land and Super Mario 64 . Luigi received his first starring role in Mario is Missing!, in which Luigi had to go on a search for Mario. Several years later, Luigi received a similar role in Luigi's Mansion, having to search for and rescue his brother. Luigi has appeared in every single Mario spin-off to date, from the Mario Party series to the Mario Kart series.
Mario Bros.
Princess Peach

Princess Peach — originally "Princess Toadstool" — is one of the main protagonists in the Mario series, and she usually plays the damsel-in-distress. Princess Peach is the ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom, and is protected by many Toads. However, her protection commonly fails and eventually results in her being kidnapped, be it by Bowser, or by another villain. Princess Peach's original appearances would leave her without an initial design, however, she was later given a standard design in Super Mario Bros. 2. Super Mario Bros. 2 also marked the debut of Peach's first playable appearance, something not found often in mainstream Mario games. Princess Peach was repeatedly the victim of kidnapping for many years, until she finally took over the role of the main protagonist. In Super Princess Peach, she had to rescue Mario, Luigi, and many of the Mushroom Kingdom's Toads from Bowser and his minions. For spinoff installments in the Mario series, Peach is almost always a playable character which the player can choose.
Super Mario Bros.
Princess Daisy

Princess Daisy is the second most prominent female in the Mario series, and she is the ruler of Sarasaland; in her first appearance, Daisy had been kidnapped by Tatanga and had to be rescued by Mario. The redhead princess has appeared in many Mario games since Super Mario Land, most regularly as a playable character. Compared to other females in the Mario series overall, especially in the princess category, Daisy is known for being a tomboy even since her debut as a damsel-in-distress; a role she has yet to subsequently fill. Daisy has a strong affinity for flowers; her special abilities, clothing, and any other general representations always deal with flowers. Aside from her strong friendship with her cousin Princess Peach, Daisy also shares ties with many other characters such as Luigi.
Super Mario Land
Rosalina

Rosalina is one of the main characters in the Mario series. She debuted in Super Mario Galaxy installments, but subsequently started to appear in many more Mario games, most notably the Mario Kart series, and even as a playable character in Super Mario 3D World. She is the adopted mother of the Lumas, which are also popular to Super Mario Galaxy. Her main duty is to watch the Lumas and help keep the galaxies safe. Throughout the game, Rosalina gives helpful and important advice and tips to Mario.
Super Mario Galaxy
Yoshi

Yoshi is one of the main protagonists in the Mario series, and he is also the main protagonist of his own series. Yoshi is native to Yoshi's Island, along with his fellow species. Yoshi's first appearance was in Super Mario World, in which Mario would ride Yoshi across the various levels of the game. Yoshi later appeared in his own series of games as a playable character. His only appearances in main Mario games after that were either the same as in Super Mario World or non-playable. Yoshi has appeared in almost every Mario spin-off game to date, always as a playable character. He has starred in every game in the long-running Mario Kart and Mario Party sub-series, and has commonly appeared in the Mario Tennis and Mario Golf sub-series.
Super Mario World
Birdo

Birdo is a character in the Mario series. Birdo first appeared in Super Mario Bros. 2 as a boss enemy, and she appears in numerous Mario titles to date. Birdo is shown to have a strong affection towards Yoshi. Birdo is actually a member of a species that shares her name; in Japan Birdo goes by the name Catherine. Like Yoshi, she is sometimes reduced to the role as a species, rather than a single playable character. Birdo also has caused much controversy over her gender. In the American versions of games, Birdo is referred to as a female, but in the Japanese versions, Birdo is a male that is referred to as a female.
Super Mario Bros. 2, (Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic)
Toad

Toad is a protagonist in the Mario series, and he is commonly found in the company of Princess Peach. Toad originally played the role of Princess Peach's assistant, as well as her guide and guardian throughout her travels; however, he has been reduced to lesser roles since his debut appearance, with his role in main games having been replaced by Toadsworth. His first playable appearance was in Super Mario Bros. 2. He appeared a few years later as the main protagonist of Wario's Woods; with the help of Birdo and Wanda, Toad had to defeat the monsters Wario was sending out from his woods to attack the Mushroom Kingdom. Though he appears identical to many others in his species, Toad is actually an entirely different character; this causes much confusion as to whether or not certain Toads are the Toad discussed.
Super Mario Bros.
Toadette

Toadette is the most prominent female member of the Toad species, and from time to time, she appears a playable character in Mario spin-off titles. She is generally paired with her brother Toad, and always has similar abilities as him. She was first seen as an unlockable character in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, in which she was Toad's partner. She has since reappeared in the Mario Party and Mario Kart series. Toadette appeared in two mainstream Mario games, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, and a cameo in the opening of Super Mario Galaxy. Aside from personal traits she is well regarded as the female version of Toad.
Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
Toadsworth

Toadsworth is a protagonist in the Mario series, and he serves as Princess Peach's personal steward. He has replaced the role of Toad since the release of Super Mario Sunshine. He also appeared in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door as Peach's steward; the player could talk to him at any time at the inn at Rogueport. Toadsworth also appeared in New Super Mario Bros.; in this game, he didn't act as Princess Peach's steward; rather, he ran the Toad Houses found throughout the various worlds of the game. Toadsworth has also appeared as a host of a few spin-off titles, such as Mario Kart: Double Dash!! and Mario Party 7. He has appeared as a playable character only in the Mario Baseball installments.
Super Mario Sunshine
Professor Elvin Gadd

Professor Elvin Gadd is a scientist and the creator of Gadd Science, Inc. His career focuses on capturing ghosts that terrorize the Mushroom Kingdom. He first appeared in Luigi's Mansion where he invented the Poltergust 3000 a device used to capture Boos and other ghosts that inhabit the Mansion. He also has made many other inventions such as F.L.U.D.D., the Game Boy Horror and even a Time Machine.
Luigi's Mansion
Donkey Kong

Donkey Kong is a character that appears in the Mario series, but is the main protagonist of his own series. Donkey Kong (or Cranky Kong rather) made his first appearance in his titular arcade game released in 1981, appearing as the games main antagonist. He later appeared as a sort-of protagonist in Donkey Kong Jr., as he was the caged victim of Mario (or Jumpman rather) to be taken back to the wild. Today's Donkey Kong has appeared in the Mario series mostly in spin-off games since his arcade days. In the Mario Party sub-series, Donkey Kong originally appeared as a playable character, but eventually became a feature found on most boards from the fifth installment on. He has also appeared in some spin-offs with Diddy Kong, such as Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour and Mario Kart: Double Dash!!. Donkey Kong has recently reappeared as an antagonist in the Mario series, once again rivaling Mario in Mario vs. Donkey Kong and Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis.
Donkey Kong (Original Donkey Kong)
Donkey Kong Country (Current Donkey Kong)
Diddy Kong

Diddy Kong is Donkey Kong's nephew and lives in the Kongo Jungle. Diddy Kong made his debut in Donkey Kong Country. He has also appeared throughout sports like Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour and Mario Superstar Baseball, along with Donkey Kong. He also has a peanut popgun and rocket barrels in Donkey Kong 64, and also has them in Super Smash Bros Brawl. He even has his racing series called Diddy Kong Racing, and this game features characters from other series.
Donkey Kong Country
Baby Mario

Baby Mario is the baby version of Mario. He appears in the Yoshi series as well. Baby Mario has rescued his brother, Baby Luigi, in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island and in Yoshi's Island DS. He also appears in many spin-off series such as the Mario Kart and the Mario Baseball series. Baby Mario also appeared Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time where he helped Mario and Luigi save Princess Peach from the Shroobs. After making his first appearance in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Baby Mario has made many more appearances, mostly in spinoff installments for the Mario series, with the most notable being Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time.
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Baby Luigi

Baby Luigi is the baby version of Luigi. He appears in the Yoshi series where he is kidnapped by Kamek twice. With his brother, Baby Mario, Baby Luigi appears in spin-off series such as the Mario Baseball and the Mario Kart series. He also helps Mario and Luigi rescue Princess Peach from the Shroobs in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time. After appearing in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island , Baby Luigi has appeared in many more games; like Baby Mario, his most notable appearance has been in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time.
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island

Main antagonists/anti-heroes

Character Brief Biography First appearance
Bowser

Bowser is the main antagonist throughout most of the Mario series. He first appeared in Super Mario Bros. for the NES, having kidnapped Princess Toadstool. He is the King of all Koopas, and is found to be the final boss in almost all platformers. However, Bowser has, on occasion, teamed up with Mario to help save the world. Bowser has shown signs of affection towards Princess Peach over the years; so despite the fact that he is a villain, he has never put her in any mortal danger. Rather, he has consistently attempted to put an end to Mario, Luigi and Yoshi. Bowser has appeared in almost every spin-off game in the Mario series; however, he has never once appeared as a playable character in the Mario Party series (with the exception of a minigame in Mario Party 4). Bowser was also made the protagonist of Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story.
Super Mario Bros.
Bowser Jr.

Bowser Jr. is Bowser's cool son, introduced to the Mario series; he is sometimes considered a replacement for the Koopalings or Boom Boom. Bowser Jr. first appeared in Super Mario Sunshine, acting as the game's main antagonist. He was convinced that Princess Peach was his mother, and thus kidnapped her back from Mario. Bowser Jr. has commonly reappeared in mainstream Mario games, alongside Bowser, usually in the act of kidnapping Princess Peach. He has appeared as a playable character in some games as well; among these are Mario Kart: Double Dash!! and Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour.
Super Mario Sunshine
Koopalings

The Koopalings consist of Bowser's seven loyal minions: Larry Koopa, Morton Koopa Jr., Wendy O. Koopa, Iggy Koopa, Roy Koopa, Lemmy Koopa, and Ludwig von Koopa. Oftentimes, the Koopalings act as high-ranking leaders of the Koopa Troop and mostly appear as bosses in the various Mario series games. The Koopalings are known for taking long hiatuses between their appearances, most recently appearing in New Super Mario Bros. U where Morton, Wendy, Roy and Lemmy have different weapons. After Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, they have not reappeared outside of the main series games. Since their introduction in Super Mario Bros. 3, the Koopalings were thought to have been Bowser's children, as the English manual and various other media released at the time showed said affiliation. However, an interview with Shigeru Miyamoto in late 2012 states that the Koopalings are not Bowser's children, and that Bowser Jr. is his only offspring.[13] They will have their playable debut in the upcoming Mario Kart 8. They also appear in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U as palette swaps for Bowser Jr.
Super Mario Bros. 3
Wario

Wario is Mario's greedy, hot tempered arch-rival appearing in the Mario series as a an antagonist and sometimes antihero and/or hero, and he is the main protagonist of his own series. Wario first appeared in Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins, having taken over Mario's estate. Wario mostly appeared in Mario spin-offs after that game. He is always a playable character, and is often found partnered in some way with Waluigi. Wario appeared in Super Mario 64 DS as one of the games four playable protagonists who helped save Peach from Bowser; he was the last playable character to be unlocked, and was unlocked after defeating Chief Chilly. Wario is a burly person, generally classified as a heavy character in some manner. The Nintendo Power magazines have stated several times that Wario is actually the cousin of Mario and Luigi, though this wasn't fully noted until 2018 where it was stated to be a possibility.
Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins
Waluigi

Waluigi is one of the few reoccurring characters to have never appeared in a mainstream Mario game. He is commonly alongside his brother Wario aiding him in many ways. He first appeared in Mario Tennis for the Nintendo 64, in which he was Wario's partner-in-crime; a trait that he would follow throughout almost every appearance he makes. Waluigi has appeared as the main antagonist in only one game: Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix. In this spin-off, Waluigi had stolen all of the Music Keys in hope of world domination. The only other significant connection Waluigi has is with Luigi, who Waluigi considers to be his biggest rival. Not much has ever been revealed about Waluigi's past, so where he comes from, and who he is related to is a mystery. Although he is mostly believed to be Wario's brother, this wasn't fully noted until 2018 where it was stated to be a possibility.
Mario Tennis
Kamek

Kamek is a high ranking Magikoopa in the Koopa Troop. Kamek has cared for Bowser since he was a child. Kamek's first appearance was in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island where he foresaw that two babies born that night would cause great trouble for the Koopa Troop. Kamek captured one of them, Baby Luigi, but failed to find the other one, Baby Mario. Kamek continued to serve Bowser for several years, trying to kidnap Mario & Luigi, but failing. Kamek is also a leader of his own group known as the Toadies, who follow Kamek's every whim. Kamek also made an appearance in the spin-off game, Mario Party DS, once again serving as Bowser's Acolyte. He then made his first playable appearance in Mario Party 9.
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
King Boo

King Boo first appeared as a playable character in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!. He was introduced as the king of the Boo species and is a minion of Bowser. Under the name of Big Boo, King Boo appears again in Super Mario 64 DS, kidnapping Luigi. After that, King Boo has been participating in a few spin off games, including Mario Superstar Baseball, Mario Party 8, Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, and Mario Kart Wii. Two other King Boos appear in other Mario games.
Luigi's Mansion (Overall)
Mario Kart: Double Dash!!(Main King Boo)
Big Bob-Omb

Big Bob-omb is a recurring boss throughout the Mario series, and he is the leader of the Bob-omb species. He first appeared in Super Mario 64, where he resides in Bob-omb Battlefield as the first boss of the game. In the remake, Big Bob-omb, Yoshi had to face Big Bob-omb himself twice. Big Bob-omb, like many other certain bosses, takes pride in his royal status and mustache. After Super Mario 64, Big Bob-omb made several reappearances antagonizing the heroes, such as in Mario Kart DS, the Mario Party series, and the Mario Baseball series. His latest appearance was in Mario Golf: Super Rush where he made his playable debut.
Super Mario 64
Petey Piranha

Petey Piranha is a recurring boss throughout the Mario series. He first appeared in Super Mario Sunshine, where he was partly responsible for the mess in Delfino Plaza. Like all other boss characters, Mario made quick work of the overgrown Piranha Plant. After that, he went on to antagonize the heroes further in games like Mario Pinball Land and Paper Mario: Sticker Star, or to participate in sports like Mario Super Sluggers and Mario Strikers Charged.
Super Mario Sunshine
Gooper Blooper

Gooper Blooper, is a recurring boss throughout the Mario series. Along with Petey Piranha, Gooper Blooper first appeared in Super Mario Sunshine, where he tried to take over the market area in Ricco Harbor. After that, Gooper Blooper appeared in many spin-offs, antagonizing the heroes more further. He also appears as an obstacle in Mario Hoops 3-on-3 and in Mario Power Tennis. He has appeared as a boss in Super Princess Peach and then has appeared in Mario Super Sluggers. Three years later, he recently appeared in Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games as a boss, without Petey Piranha for the first time. He most recently reappeared in Paper Mario: Sticker Star as a giant boss who loves music, possess a crown and is the source of the forest's curse.
Super Mario Sunshine
Dry Bowser

Dry Bowser first appeared in New Super Mario Bros. when Bowser falls into the lava and reveals his undead form. He later appears as the boss of World 8 where he is shown to be immune to fire. His next main series appearance is in Super Mario 3D Land, appearing as the boss of the Castle stages in the Special Worlds. He would make his playable debut in Mario Kart Wii as a heavyweight driver, and in Mario Tennis Open he is classified as a Defense-type player. He also appears in Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games and its sequels as a rival. He most recently appeared in Mario Party: Island Tour where it was revealed (in some regions) he is actually Bowser's Father.
New Super Mario Bros.

Species

Species Name Brief Biography First appearance
Goomba

Goombas were the first enemy to appear in Super Mario Bros., and have since then generally been the first common enemy featured in mainstream Mario games. Goombas have been depicted to be "the underlings of underlings", though they are commonly found throughout the Mushroom Kingdom. Goombas are brown mushroom-like creatures that generally work under the orders of Bowser. There have been Goombas shown to have more benevolent personalities in such games as Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, though they are less common than the actual enemies. Goombas can be found both on their own, as well as with several other Goombas and other types of enemies. Goombas have had important roles in games in the Mario Party series, appearing as hosts, as well as obstacles in mini-games. Goombas have had very few appearance changes over the years, almost always appearing as brown, teardrop-shaped creatures with two feet. However, the Goombas of Super Mario WorldGaloombas — are round in design.
Super Mario Bros.
Paragoomba

Paragoombas, first debuting in Super Mario Bros. 3, are an aerial variant of Goombas. Paragoombas share the exact same appearance as regular Goombas, except they have white, feathery wings, which give them the ability to hop and fly. Paragoombas usually hover about in random patterns, similar to some Koopa Paratroopas. They also have the ability to create multiple Micro Goombas that stick to the player and temporarily remove their ability to jump. Paragoombas have since reappeared in many games, including all games in the Paper Mario series and Super Princess Peach. They also appeared in Mario Superstar Baseball, in which they were playable for the first time.
Super Mario Bros. 3
Koopa Troopa

Koopa Troopas are common enemies from the Mario series, and sometimes an ally, which first appeared alongside with Goombas from Super Mario Bros.. They appeared as a regular turtle, acting just like one, however, in Super Mario World, Koopa Troopas began to walk on their feet, and not on all fours. They come in many different colors, ranging from Red ones to Blue ones. Koopa's have first appeared as an ally from Paper Mario, in which many of the Koopas from Koopa Village help out Mario and friends. Koopa Troopas have also made their first playable appearance in Super Mario Kart. In the Paper Mario series, Koopa Troopas were also featured as an enemy, and wore shades and a spiked collar too. Koopa Troopas will hide in their shell if stomped on, or be flipped over, in which they cannot get up for a certain amount of time. Their shells can be kicked, and can defeat enemies by just knocking them out. Koopa Troopas were modeled after Shellcreepers which first appeared in the original Mario Bros. for the arcade.
Super Mario Bros.
Paratroopa

This aerial variant of Koopa Troopa first appeared in Super Mario Bros.. Much like Paragoombas, Paratroopas share the same basic physical features as their ground-bound counterparts. Should a Paratroopa be jumped on, it will lose its ability to fly, becoming a mere Koopa Troopa. Depending on their shell color, Paratroopas have varying flying patterns. For example, green-shelled Paratroopas are not fully airborne, as they can only hop along whilst fluttering their wings; red-shelled Paratroopas are fully airborne, being able to fly in swift, continuous patterns, be it vertically or horizontally. A Paratroopa became playable for the first time in Mario Tennis 64, in which, it was a tricky character.
Super Mario Bros.
Boo

Boos are a species of ghosts that tend to haunt castles and other dark locations; they first appear in Super Mario Bros. 3. Boos have the ability to make themselves invisible to others around them, keeping them safe from most possible harm. In Super Mario Bros. 3, Boos are invulnerable to all attacks except for being touched while using a Star. If the player were to stare at a Boo, it would cover its face; if they player were to face the opposite direction, the Boo would chase after the player to attack. In Luigi's Mansion, Boos served as the main antagonists, following their leader King Boo. Boos also have several alternate varieties, from their large counterparts to their vibe-inflicted ones. In Super Mario Bros. Deluxe, Boos were show to have a natural talent for racing. In this game, several different-colored Boos appeared as opponents, each much swifter than the last. Boos have also appeared as playable characters in many spin-off games, including the Mario Party series, as well as the Mario Golf series. Some Boos have been shown to have friendly personalities as well, much like Lady Bow from Paper Mario, and the Creepy Steeple Boo from Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door.
Super Mario Bros. 3
Hammer Bro

Hammer Bros. are a variety of Koopas that wield many hammers as their weapons. First appearing in World 3 of Super Mario Bros., Hammer Bros. would always appear in pairs, throwing massive amounts of hammers at Mario or Luigi. Hammer Bros. were vulnerable to fireballs and jumps, just as most enemies were, and they could also be knocked off of the blocks that they stood upon. They reappeared in Super Mario Bros. 3, along with their many related species — Boomerang Brothers, Ice Brothers, Fire Brothers, Gold Brothers, Sledge Brothers, Blaze Brothers, and Sumo Brothers. Hammer Bros. have consistently reappeared in many games since then, picking up new forms such as the Ice Bros., generally appearing as tough foes for Mario and Luigi to defeat. In Mario Superstar Baseball, a Hammer Bro became playable for the first time, being available as an unlockable character.
Super Mario Bros.
Magikoopa

Magikoopas are a species of Koopas garbed in cloth robes; they are highly notable for their ability to cast various magical spells on their victims. First debuting in Super Mario World, Magikoopas would cast spells on Mario, inflicting damage on him with immediate contact. Magikoopas have reappeared in many different games since then, from the Mario Party series, to the Paper Mario series. Perhaps two of the most notable Magikoopas are Kamek — who is portrayed as the main antagonist of the Yoshi series — and Kammy Koopa, who plays Bowser's assistant in the Paper Mario series. Magikoopas have many different relatives, all of which can perform different magic.
Super Mario World
Lakitu

Lakitus are a variety of Koopas that ride on clouds, throwing Spiny Eggs at their prey. They first appear in World 4-1 of Super Mario Bros.. Lakitus will continue to chase their enemies as long as they can. Though they reside high in the sky, they are not invincible. Should the player reach a platform that is high enough, he or she can jump on top of the Lakitu, defeating it instantly; fireballs also can defeat Lakitus if they are shot from a high location. Lakitus appear in many games as enemies, constantly bombarding their enemies with Spiny Eggs. In Super Mario 64 and its DS counterpart, a Lakitu played a somewhat large role as the cameraman; this Lakitu was always behind the player, in order to give a clear third-person view of the game. One of Lakitu's most well-known roles the owner of the Super Mario Kart Race Track in the Mario Kart series.[14] This has caused Lakitu to play an important role in other spin-offs and crossovers (e.g. an assist trophy in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and a referee in Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games).
Super Mario Bros.
Buzzy Beetle

First appearing in World 4-2 of Super Mario Bros., Buzzy Beetles are extremely hard-shelled Koopas. They are small in size with a dark blue shell; this shell, though similar in appearance to a typical Koopa Shell, protects them from being harmed by fireballs. However, Buzzy Beetles are still vulnerable to being flipped over onto their backs — or into their shells — and being kicked around to harm other enemies; Buzzy Beetle shells will ricochet off of any hard surface and come rocketing back to the player to inflict damage if he or she does not avoid it in time. Buzzy Beetles appear in many games as enemies that Mario must fight, along with the dark red shelled Spike Top, which debuted in Super Mario World, and has a large spike on the top of its shell, because of this protection, these red shelled variants must be defeated with a Super Star or another Koopa Shell. In the Paper Mario sub-series, Buzzy Beetles appear not only as enemies, but as notable characters such as Chan, Torque, and Spiky Joe. In these games, Buzzy Beetles are just as impervious to fire as ever, and they even have high defense that protects them from damage.
Super Mario Bros.
Spiny

Spinies are small Koopas that hatch from the Spiny Eggs thrown by Lakitus. They are similar in stature to Buzzy Beetles and Spike Tops, as they are quadrupedal and have a hard shell that cover them almost entirely. Their shells are a fiery red color, with sharp white spikes poking from all available spots. Because of these spikes, they cannot be jumped on; rather, they must be defeated by being attacked with fireballs. Spinies appear in several games after Super Mario Bros., reprising their role as the live ammo thrown by Lakitus. Despite the fact that they are ground-bound, Koopa-like creatures, they do not have airborne subspecies.
Super Mario Bros.
Cheep-Cheep

Cheep-Cheeps are a species of fish that first appear in World 2-2 of Super Mario Bros. In this game, they appear in two different colors: red and green. The red Cheep-Cheeps could swim in a diagonal pattern, while the green ones were restricted to swimming in a straight line. Underwater, Cheep-Cheeps can only be defeated by attacking them with fireballs; otherwise, they must simply be avoided. Cheep-Cheeps are also shown to be able to survive above water, despite being fish. They have the ability to jump at extraordinary heights out of water; there are also some Cheep-Cheeps that live on land, (such as Chef Shimi). Cheep Cheeps have a large variety of subspecies, some of which are spiked, are extremely large, or are miniscule in size.
Super Mario Bros.
Deep-Cheep

Deep-Cheeps are green variety of Cheep-Cheep that first appear in New Super Mario Bros. They act and appear to be regular Cheep-Cheeps, except for the fact that these creatures will actively chase Mario or Luigi in underwater levels depending on the direction they swim. Deep-Cheeps will only give up pursuing Mario or Luigi if they swim behind and past them. Deep-Cheeps are also shown to be able to survive above water, as seen in Mario Party 9. Deep Cheeps have a large variety called the Mega Deep-Cheeps.
New Super Mario Bros.
Porcu-Puffer

Porcu-Puffers are giant blue-purple Cheep-Cheeps with big red lips and blue spikes all over their backs that first appear in Super Mario World. In Super Mario World, these fishes follow Mario in the water. A version of the Porcu-Puffer called the Puffer Fish appears in Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 as a similar enemy, Porcu-Puffers appear underwater. Although, they are given a new role since New Super Mario Bros. Wii, lying near the surface to pursue the plumber and his party or even leaping from the water to attack like the Spike Bass. They can only be defeated with a fireball, Super Star, or Koopa shell. They can also be frozen, but they crack out almost instantly.
Super Mario World
Shy Guy

First appearing in the American version of Super Mario Bros. 2, Shy Guys are a commonly recurring species in both the Mario and Yoshi series. In the Yoshi series, Shy Guys are always found as enemies; however, in the Mario series, they are commonly seen as benevolent characters. In Super Mario Bros. 2, Shy Guys appeared as enemies that were attacking Subcon, along with their relatives, Beezos. Other recurring types of Shy Guys include Fly Guys and Snifits. Shy Guys generally appear in spin-off games, such as those from the Mario Party, Mario Tennis, and Mario Kart series. They are generally seen in the audience, or help take part in the story of a mini-game, but have also appeared as playable characters in a few games, such as Mario Kart DS.
Super Mario Bros. 2 (Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic)
Dry Bones

First appearing in Super Mario Bros. 3, Dry Bones are the zombified skeletal remains of Koopas. In their first appearance, they were quadrupedal, crawling around much like a Koopa Troopa; they later became bipedal, just as Koopas. Perhaps their most notable feature is their ability to reanimate. After being jumped on, they will collapse into a pile of bones; after a few moments, they will arise and once again act as enemies. Originally, they were made to be impervious to fire; however, they were later shown to be vulnerable to the attacks of a fireball. Although in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, they must be hit with an ice ball before they can be defeated. Dry Bones always appear as enemies in main games, and very seldom do the speak. However, a Dry Bones was brought into the Mario Party series as a playable character. In New Super Mario Bros., Bowser falls into a pit of lava. His bones are later reanimated to make Dry Bowser, the Dry Bones form of Bowser.
Super Mario Bros. 3
Fishbone

Fishbones are the swimming skeletal remains of Cheep-Cheeps. In their first appearance, they always swim slowly in a straight line, heading to the left. In their most recent appearance, a Fishbone detects one of the heroes, it will lock on to them (as their eyes turn red) then launch themselves in the position of the character. If it misses, it will crash and break apart and is permanently defeated. In Super Mario Galaxy, they have glowing red eyes, and attack in a way that's very similar to Torpedo Teds by homing in on Mario and striking him to cause damage. Super Mario Galaxy introduces a variant of the Fishbones called the Bonefin. Kingfin is the ruler of the Bonefins, who even summons them in battle.
Super Mario World
Blooper

Bloopers — originally called "Bloobers" — are squid-like creatures that are generally found underwater, usually with the company of Cheep-Cheeps. Bloopers can move freely in any direction they wish, though they do so in a slow manner. Bloopers like to corner their prey, closing in on their victim, even ganging up on them. In Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, Bloopers have the ability to hover through the sky. Their motion in the sky is identical to those made in water, so it looks as if they are swimming through the sky. Bloopers have been shown to be able to survive out of water in the Paper Mario series as well. A Blooper first became playable in Mario Party 8, where it was an unlockable.
Super Mario Bros.
Piranha Plant

Piranha Plants are a type of flora that dwell within warp pipes. When they come out, they will bite anyone who steps on them. However, if someone is right beside their pipe, they will not come out, making the pipe safe to stand on. Piranha Plants can only be damaged by attacking them with fireballs, or other projectiles. Despite the fact that they live in pipes, they do not clog the pipes; as such, the pipes are still able to be used as a form of transportation. There are many types of Piranha Plant. Some, like the Venus Fire Trap, can emit fireballs from its mouth as an additional way to attack. There are also Ptooies, which blow on a heavy ball; should this ball be touched, the player will be damaged. Piranha Plants do not have eyes, so it is unknown how they see their prey, or if it is a heightened sense — such as smell — that allows them to locate their prey.
Super Mario Bros.
Venus Fire Trap

Venus Fire Traps are a type of Piranha Plants that can spit fireballs, sometimes three at a time. When they come out of their pipes, they will spit fireballs at anyone near them. However, if someone is right beside their pipe, they will not come out, making the pipe safe to stand on. Unfortunately, they aren't immune to fire so shooting them fireballs will defeat them, or other projectiles. A variant of the Venus Fire Trap appears in Super Mario 3D Land called the Fire Piranha Plant, they are brown with orange spots and they slightly resemble Fiery Dino Piranha's skin palette, they are also more precise with their fireball shots. Their opposite is the Venus Ice Trap from New Super Mario Bros. U.
Super Mario Bros. 3
Chain Chomp

Chain Chomps are vicious, dog-like creatures that resemble a ball and chain. They are often staked to the ground so that they can only reach so far. Chain Chomps have long, sharp teeth that they bite their prey with; they also tend to ram their head into any being that approaches them. Chain Chomps have no feet or arms, so they must hop along by their head. They have extremely vicious personalities, and tend to attack anyone or anything that approaches them. They have also appeared in the Mario Party series, usually acting as the subject of a mini-game; even in these roles, they are feared by any around them, and generally try to attack the players in some manner. One variation of the Chain Chomp is the Fire Chomp, a free-roaming orb with the ability to spit fireballs.
Super Mario Bros. 3
Amp

Amps are electrified sub-species of Chain Chomps have still had several appearances in the Mario series. When touched, they give off a powerful electric shock. They first appeared in Super Mario 64, appearing in several levels where they revolved around various objects. They later appeared in New Super Mario Bros. installments, being found in fortress and castle levels. However, in Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2, they have faces, however their eyes and mouth are both bright red. There is a large sub-species of Amps that first debuted in their latest appearance, New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe. They appeared in groups and revolved in place, but still gave off electricity.
Super Mario 64
Bullet Bill

Bullet Bills are the last type of enemy to be introduced in Super Mario Bros., appearing in World 5 of the game. Bullet Bills are a type of projectile that are shot out of blasters in order to attack the player. Once fired, Bullet Bills could only move in a perfectly horizontal line across the screen. They are impervious to fire, and can only be damaged by jumping on them. In Super Mario 64, Bullet Bills were much larger in size, and were given the ability to make turns after being shot. Bullet Bills have many varieties, including the large Banzai Bill — which act identically to a Bullet Bill — the sea-bound Torpedo Ted — which are launched out underwater to attack — the Bombshell Bill, an extremely hard and powerful version of a Bullet Bill, and the King Bill, a variant even bigger than the Banzai Bill. Bullet Bills have never been playable in a game, (except Mario Party 8) and no confirmation has been made as to whether or not they will be.
Super Mario Bros.
Banzai Bill

Banzai Bills are bigger versions of Bullet Bills first appearing in Super Mario World. They appear in New Super Mario Bros., New Super Mario Bros. Wii, New Super Mario Bros. 2 and Super Princess Peach. They move across the screen like a slower Bullet Bill. They also appeared in Mario Kart 7 and Super Smash Bros. Melee where they make small appearances, but still attack the player. In Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 they are not seen often although in Super Mario 3D Land. They are more common in special worlds.
Super Mario World
Bob-omb

First appearing in Super Mario Bros. 2, Bob-ombs are anthropomorphic bombs that commonly act as enemies. They are known for their short tempers, leading to their inevitable explosion. Bob-ombs have appeared in many games since their debut. In Super Mario 64, Bob-ombs once again appeared as enemies; here, they were seen in the first course of the game, Bob-omb Battlefield. Along with the black Bob-ombs that would attack the player, there were also Bob-omb Buddies, who are pink in color. They acted as allies that helped Mario somewhat, by letting him use their cannons to rove around the course. Among the notable Bob-omb characters that have appeared in the Mario series are Big Bob-omb, (who acted as the first boss in Super Mario 64 and its DS counterpart), Bombette, (who appeared as one of Mario's partners in Paper Mario), and Admiral Bobbery, (who appeared as one of Mario's partners in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door).
Super Mario Bros. 2 (Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic)
Thwomp

Thwomps are rock creatures that are found mostly in the Mushroom Kingdom. They are usually rectangular in shape and covered in spikes, and made their first appearance in the game Super Mario Bros. 3. They typically attempt to flatten or squash whoever passes below them using their own weight. Sometimes, they will be moving side-to-side. They are resistant to most attacks, but are susceptible to hammers, tail whips from a raccoon suit, and Mario himself when he is powered -up with a Super Star.
Super Mario Bros. 3
Fire Snake

Fire Snakes are long, snake-like Podoboos with bodies made up of fireballs. They have appeared as uncommon enemies in several Mario games, mostly in Desert-themed levels.
Super Mario Bros. 3
Whomp

Whomps are a species of enemy made of stone. They are mostly rectangular slabs of rock with a face and limbs. Their first appearance was in Super Mario 64; whenever Mario came near one, they leap up and fall on him, but, once fallen, a ground pound will defeat them. The game also introduced the Whomp King, who rules over the Whomps and Thwomps. They later appeared in New Super Mario Bros., in the World 3 Castle only; their roles were mostly the same as in Super Mario 64, but their hands were changed to match their body color. In Super Mario Galaxy 2, Whomps returned. Their roles were the same as in the previous two games, but their features were made more rectangular. Their bandages were also removed, instead having been replaced with the Ground-Pound Switch symbol. Aside from these appearances, Whomps have also appeared in several other games, mostly in the Mario Party series.
Super Mario 64
Wiggler

Wigglers are caterpillar-like creatures that appear as enemies in various Mario games. They first appeared in Super Mario World. When Mario, Luigi, or Yoshi would jump on a Wiggler, they would turn red in color and become very angry; during this state, they would run around at high speeds, damaging the player if he or she were to be touched by the Wiggler. Wigglers have appeared again in New Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Galaxy, where their role is almost the same. In Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Princess Peach, a Wiggler appeared as a boss in each game. Wigglers have also appeared as playable characters games such as Mario Power Tennis and Mario Super Sluggers.
Super Mario World
Monty Mole

Monty Moles are a common mole species found throughout the Mario series, first appearing in Super Mario World. Monty Moles will usually pop up out of the ground and either walk around or chase the player. Starting in Super Mario 64 and several RPG titles, Monty Moles would also be depicted throwing rocks at the player from a distance in their holes. Monty Moles would also get unique variants over the years, such as larger variants of them like Mega Moles and Morty Moles, as well as relatives to the Monty Mole species such as Rocky Wrench and Ragumo (the former appearing before Monty Moles existed). Monty Moles would also make a couple playable appearances starting with Mario Superstar Baseball, Mario Strikers Charged, and Mario Super Sluggers as a sidekick, before then appearing much later as a standalone playable character in Super Mario Party and Mario Kart Tour.
Super Mario World
Rocky Wrench

Rocky Wrenches are a relative to the Monty Mole species that first appeared in Super Mario Bros. 3, roughly two years prior to Monty Mole's debut. Rocky Wrenches are usually found in Airship and Tank levels and attack the player by throwing wrenches at them. Originally, Rocky Wrenches were referred to as turtles and appeared rather infrequently after their debut. However, starting in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Rocky Wrenches would be redesigned to look nearly identically to their relative, Monty Mole. Rocky Wrenches would also appear much more frequently in Mario titles starting with New Super Mario Bros. Wii, making them the second most recurring Monty Mole species member. Unlike Monty Moles, Rocky Wrenches would retain a consistent attack pattern throughout most of their appearances, even after their redesign in New Super Mario Bros. Wii.
Super Mario Bros. 3
Fuzzy

A Fuzzy is a small, black-furred parasitic creature capable of sucking away people's health with a bite. They possess two strabismus eyes and large teeth. Despite displaying some level of intelligence and the ability to speak, Fuzzies are, for the most part, wild and uncivilized beings. Fuzzies have the ability to secrete webbing-like strands from their bodies, though this ability has largely been phased out in modern times.
Super Mario World
Pokey

Pokeys are cactus enemies that are composed of three to five spherical body segments. To defeat a Pokey, typically each body section must be destroyed. Pokeys, like Shy Guys and Bob-ombs, originate from the non-Mario game Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic, which later became Super Mario Bros. 2.
Super Mario Bros. 2, (Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic)
Urchin

Urchins are spiked aquatic enemies that live mostly underwater and land. They are slow, yet tough enemies that Mario must avoid because they cannot be defeated by normal means. They can be defeated by Grab Blocks, fireballs, a Koopa Shell or a Super Star. They can be frozen by iceballs and will float briefly on the water before breaking free and getting knocked out underwater permanently. In Super Mario Galaxy and New Super Mario Bros. Wii, they introduced sub-species of Urchins, such as the Red Urchins, the Big Urchins and the Mini Urchin. Their latest appearance is in New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe.
Super Mario World
Podoboo

Podoboos, are, essentially, a living fireball. They inhabit lava pits in volcanic areas or castles, and attack by leaping upward out of the lava at the player. In Super Mario World, Podoboos are first shown to have eyes; although this trait is carried on into later installments, though are still some that depict them without this feature.
Super Mario Bros.
Penguin

Penguins are real world animals that have appeared in many Mario games. They first appeared in Mario is Missing!, but their first major appearance was in Super Mario 64, one of which was named Tuxie, a baby Penguin which must be taken to his mother. They later made several cameos in the Mario Party series and in sports games such as Mario Sports Mix, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games and Mario Strikers Charged, and also acted as NPCs in several galaxies in Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2.
Mario is Missing!
Yoshi

Yoshis are dinosaur-like animals and Yoshi's species. They accompany Mario in many adventures. They use their tongues to eat food and enemies. Yoshis come in many colors such as green, blue, red, pink, orange, and yellow. After appearing in Super Mario World, they have appeared in some spin-off games such as the Mario Baseball series, Mario Hoops 3-on-3, Mario Sports Mix and the Mario Tennis series, in which Mario Golf: Super Rush is their latest appearance, however Yoshi has since appeared in New Super Mario Bros. U.
Super Mario World
Toad

Toads are the servants to Princess Peach and Toad's species. Whenever Peach gets kidnapped, Toads are usually the ones to tell Mario. Toads come in many different colors such as blue, yellow, green, and red. After appearing in Super Mario Bros., they have made many appearances in spin-off games such as Mario Super Sluggers, Mario Sports Mix, and the Mario & Luigi series. They can also be seen in the crowd of many sports games, too. Some toads are a part of the Toad Brigade. Some include Banktoad and Mailtoad. While they often play supporting roles in the mainstream games, two Toads appear as playable characters in New Super Mario Bros. Wii where they adventure with the Mario Bros. to rescue Peach. They often appear in spin-off games where they can be seen in the crowd.
Super Mario Bros.
Beanish

Beanish people are the residents of the Beanbean Kingdom. Most of them reside in the Beanbean Castle Town. There are various different types of Beanishes. They are prominently featured in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga and Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions. They have also been mentioned in several games too and are the counterparts of Toads in the Beanbean Kingdom.
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
Luma

Lumas are the main species in Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2. They also make a cameo appearance in Mario Kart Wii. They are seen riding next to Rosalina. Lumas are also advisers to Rosalina. Lumas come in many different colors that include green, red, and blue. Lumas are also Luma and Lubba's species. Although Lumas became playable for the first time in Mario Tennis Open.
Super Mario Galaxy
Pianta

Piantas are a sentient treelike species that are native to Isle Delfino, however some also live in the Mushroom Kingdom and Rogueport. Most Piantas are laid-back and lead simple lives selling fruit, while others are part of major criminal organizations such as the Pianta Syndicate. Piantas are also extremely strong as they can throw people high into the air. They are also known for their short tempers as they are quite angry with Mario when they believe he graffitied their island. Piantas are playable in the Mario Baseball series and are spectators in other sports events.
Super Mario Sunshine
Noki

Nokis are a shelled species from Isle Delfino. They live alongside the Piantas but mostly live in Noki Bay. They are an amphibious race as they can live above or beneath the water. Nokis are a timid but highly intelligent species and are more trusting than their Pianta neighbors. Nokis are only playable in the Mario Baseball series and are seen as spectators in other sports games, similar to the Piantas.
Super Mario Sunshine
Human

Humans are real-life people that appear in the Mario series. They are the first protagonists. The first humans to appear in the Mario series are Mario and Pauline, when they first appeared in Donkey Kong. Humans appear in Mario sub-series such as the Mario Golf and Mario Tennis series. Humans have appeared in every Mario game, but their latest appearance is in Mario Golf: Super Rush.
Donkey Kong
Kong

Kongs were the first species to appear in the Mario series (with the Humans), as well as the first antagonists. They resemble gorillas and other apes. Kongs appear in the Donkey Kong series and in Mario spinoffs. Notable members include Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Dixie Kong, and Tiny Kong. The Kongs appear in many games including Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour, Mario Baseball series, and in Mario Kart Wii. Their latest appearance is in Mario Golf: Super Rush.
Donkey Kong
Kremling

Kremlings are a race of anthropomorphic crocodilians that originated from Crocodile Isle. They first appeared in Donkey Kong Country. Kremlings also made a few appearances in various sports titles in the Mario series. They can be seen in the background of the DK Jungle Court in Mario Power Tennis; they take on the role of goalies in Super Mario Strikers, while in Mario Super Sluggers they have appeared as a team players.
Donkey Kong Country

Locations

Name Description First appearance
Mushroom Kingdom

File:MushroomKingdom PM.png

The Mushroom Kingdom is the main location of many of the Mario games. It is ruled by Princess Peach but is regularly invaded by Bowser. Many other major places are within the Mushroom Kingdom's borders, such as Princess Peach's Castle. The landscape of the Kingdom includes forests, deserts, snowy areas, beaches, mountains, and plains. The Mushroom Kingdom is also inhabited by many species including Humans, Goombas, Koopas, Toads and Bob-ombs. The Mushroom Kingdom's also hosts a variety of sports events, such as kart-racing, tennis, golf and baseball.
Super Mario Bros.
Princess Peach's Castle

Princess Peach's Castle is the place where Princess Peach lives. It resides in the capital of the Mushroom Kingdom Toad Town. Its first appearance was in Super Mario 64, where Bowser invaded, kidnapped the Princess and turned all the paintings into worlds where he hid the Power Stars. The castle has even been removed from its position several times, due to Bowser using some form of power to do so. Several race tracks also go past the castle, such as Royal Raceway and Mario Circuit.
Super Mario 64
Bowser's Castle

Bowser's Castle (also known as Bowser's Keep (especially before 2006)) is the headquarters of the Koopa Troop and Bowser. When Bowser invades the Mushroom Kingdom he often takes Peach to this castle and Mario has to travel there to get her back. Bowser is known to have several other castles aside from this one. Bowser's castle was also attacked in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, when the sword Exor landed on the castle, scattering most of the Koopa Troop and destroying the bridge connecting the castle to the rest of the world. Several heroes including Mario, Peach and Bowser later rectified this.
Super Mario Bros.
Toad Town

Toad Town is the capital city of the Mushroom Kingdom. It serves as the gateway to Princess Peach's Castle. It has been taken over by Bowser several times and was mostly destroyed by an alien attack, but has still remained a bright and colourful place. Toad Town's inhabitants include Toads, Koopas, and Shy Guys (indirectly).
Paper Mario
Yoshi's Island

Yoshi's Island is the native location of the Yoshis and a part of Dinosaur Land. This island has been invaded by Bowser several times along with the rest of Dinosaur Land, but has always been saved by Mario and/or Yoshi. Yoshi's island is also the main location in the Yoshi series, where Yoshi has adventures there. The island has even had several different names, such as Yo'ster Isle and Lavalava Island.
Super Mario World
Luigi's Mansion

Luigi's Mansion is a massive Ghost House built by the Boos working for King Boo as part of a trap to capture the Mario Bros. This plot was foiled by Luigi and Professor Elvin Gadd. The mansion has also been used a racetrack and the location of several sports events. The mansion has many rooms including a kitchen, a dining room, a tea room, and a music room.
Luigi's Mansion
Isle Delfino

Isle Delfino is a large dolphin-shaped island located outside the Mushroom Kingdom. It is a popular holiday resort populated by Piantas and Nokis. Some of its attractions include a theme park, a luxury hotel and a race track. In Super Mario Sunshine, Mario, Peach and Toadsworth visit the island as part of a vacation but discover it has been mysteriously vandalized by someone who looks like Mario. Mario is then forced to clean up the Graffiti with the help of F.L.U.D.D., which gives time for Mario's imposter to kidnap Peach. This imposter is revealed to be Bowser Jr. disguised as Mario using a magic paintbrush. Mario then has to recover all the Shine Sprites which have been stolen by Bowser Jr. to light up the island again.
Super Mario Sunshine

Items

Name Description First appearance
Super Mushroom

The Super Mushroom is a small, red Mushroom with white spots. It is the most common type of Mushroom found throughout the Mushroom World. The Super Mushroom has the ability to make whatever it touches grow in size, sometimes increasing said being's strength. Mario and Luigi have commonly used Super Mushrooms throughout their many adventures in order to help them survive. In Mario platformers, the Super Mushroom generally increases the size of the Mario Bros. by a minimal amount; this change in size is just enough to allow the Bros. to break Brick Blocks. In Mario role-playing games, Super Mushrooms generally heal Mario or his partners by partially refilling their HP.
Super Mario Bros.
1-Up Mushroom

File:1upShroom.jpg

The 1-Up Mushroom is an item that is similar in appearance, but entirely different in effect to the Super Mushroom. 1-Up Mushrooms are green in color, with white spots. They are the same size as Super Mushrooms, and share the same facial features. 1-Up Mushrooms grant Mario and others to gain an extra life when they touch or eat it. 1-Up Mushrooms can be found hidden in blocks, behind items, guarded by enemies, within chests, or any number of other locations. 1-Up Mushrooms are much less common than Super Mushrooms, appearing roughly once per level, whereas Super Mushrooms appear several times in a level. In Paper Mario games, 1-Up Mushrooms don't exist; rather, there are Life Shrooms, which are kept in the inventory and automatically revive Mario or his partners when they run out of HP in battle. 1-Up Mushrooms do appear in the Mario & Luigi series with a similar function, but they don't work automatically. They have to be used on the brother that ran out of HP by the active brother.
Super Mario Bros.
Poison Mushroom

Debuting in Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, Poison Mushrooms are Mushrooms that, as their name suggests, harm whatever they touch. In platformers such as Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, Super Mario 3D Land, and Luigi's Mansion, Poison Mushrooms will shrink the player if he or she comes in direct contact with one. In Super Mario Kart, Princess Toadstool and Toad could throw these at opposing racers, shrinking them drastically in size; when an opponent shrank, they could easily be run over and thrown off-track. In the Mario Party series, Poison Mushrooms appear once again; however, here they affect how many spaces the player can move. In Mario role-playing games, Poison Shrooms harm Mario or his partners by decreasing their HP greatly.
Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels
Mini Mushroom

Debuting in Mario Party 4, they were pink and shrunk the player and decreased the dice from 1-10 to 5-10, and using this item the player could gain access to certain areas of the game boards, These areas allowed the player to play special Minigames usually for Coins or Items. In Mario Pinball Land, Mini Mushrooms were used to squeeze inside small locations to retrieve Power Stars. In New Super Mario Bros., finishing worlds 2 and 5 with Mini Mario allowed access to worlds 4 and 7. Their latest appearance was in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, in which their color scheme changes drastically from the original pink, to the new blue with white spots. Mini Mushrooms held the same effect, allowing Mario or Luigi to fit in tiny Warp Pipes to retrieve certain items.
Mario Party 4
Mega Mushroom

First appearing in Mario Party 4, Mega Mushrooms were pale green in color with white spots; they were slightly larger than most other Mushrooms, but still had similar facial features. Mega Mushrooms would grant anyone who used them the power to grow enormous in size, as well as use two Dice Blocks. If the player crushed an opponent while walking across the board, he or she would receive ten coins for doing so. Mega Mushrooms later appear in New Super Mario Bros. with a new design; they were large, yellow mushrooms with vibrant red spots. Here they grant Mario or Luigi the ability to be huge in size and invincible from all harm, (with the exception of falling into an abyss). This is the one of the two items from New Super Mario Bros., along with the Blue Shell that was not reused for New Super Mario Bros. Wii, its successor. A Goomba also touched a Mega Mushroom in the game, becoming the boss of the fourth world: Mega Goomba. In Mario Kart Wii, Mega Mushrooms acted similar to the way they did in Mario Party 4, only the player would not receive coins for running over opponents.
Mario Party 4
Fire Flower

Debuting in Super Mario Bros., Fire Flowers are a type of plant that grant whoever touches one the ability to throw fireballs. When Mario or Luigi would touch a Fire Flower, they would turn into their fire form, with the traditional white shirt and hat, and red or green overalls respectively, being able to sling fireballs at incoming enemies. Fireballs are sometimes the most effective way to eliminate enemies, as very few are immune to them; Buzzy Beetles are one of these exceptions. In Super Mario World Fire Flowers went through a design change, appearing to be more like orange tulips with happy eyes. In the Paper Mario series, Fire Flowers can be used both as weapons against enemies, and as an ingredient into several different recipes, (including the Spicy Soup). In the 2000's and early 2010's, the Fire Flower was sometimes named "Kinga" by fans.
Super Mario Bros.
Ice Flower

The Ice Flower debuted not in a normal platformer, unlike most items, but in a RPG, being Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, as a Bros. Item. It allowed Mario, Luigi, Baby Mario and Baby Luigi to shoot ice balls to the enemies, opposing to the Fire Flower. In Super Mario Galaxy, however, Mario turns into an ice sculpture of himself, being Ice Mario, with the ability to freeze water and lava when stepped on, instead of throwing ice balls. The Ice Flower also made a more prominent appearance in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, being similar in purpose to Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, by throwing ice balls again. Because of this, Mario will not turn into ice, but instead get a light blue shirt and hat, and overalls become red, to fit his Fire Mario appearance.
Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
Star

Also called "Starman", Stars are a powerful celestial object found commonly throughout the Mario series. Stars debuted in Super Mario Bros. Whenever Mario or Luigi touch a Star, they become almost entirely invincible — the only things that can still end their game is to either fall into an abyss, or to get squished. While using the Star, they can defeat any enemy instantly with one touch. However, the effect of the Star lasts for a relatively short time. The theme music of the effect eventually was used in most Mario games, though sometimes the theme would get remixed. Super Mario Land's Star theme music was the famous Can-Can music, but Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins used an entirely different melody. In Super Mario Kart and other Mario Kart games, this item was one of the rarest ones received, which of course gave the user invincibility, as well as the ability to knock other racers aside. This item was substituted with the Rainbow Star in Super Mario Galaxy and returned in Mario Kart Wii.
Super Mario Bros.
Super Leaf

The Super Leaves are special power-ups whose effect vary per game but is almost exactly the same. On their first appearance in Super Mario Bros. 3, when Super Leaves are grabbed, Mario or Luigi grow a pair of raccoon ears and a tail, this last being the crucial part of the transformation as the tail can be swung to defeat enemies, destroy brick blocks, slow the descent, and even fly for a short period of time. In this appearance, Super Leaves looked like common dried brown leaves. After years of absence, Super Leaves return with a new appearance in Super Mario 3D Land where they gained a wider appearance with a pair of eyes and a bite on their left sides. Instead of transforming into a Raccoon, this time, these leaves would grant Mario the Tanooki Suit, turning him into Tanooki Mario. Virtually, there was almost no changes, except that Mario can no longer fly. For New Super Mario Bros. 2, Super Leaves would again turn Mario into Raccoon Mario, including the ability to fly again, while retaining the appearance introduced in Super Mario 3D Land. Before Super Mario 3D Land, in the Mario Kart series, the Super Leaves were used to be the emblem of the Leaf Cup, but an actual Super Leaf would not become an item until Mario Kart 7 where it makes the kart to grow a Tanooki Tail that can be used either defensively and offensively.
Super Mario Bros. 3
Coin

First appearing in the arcade game, Mario Bros., Coins are a form of currency in the Mushroom World. In the Super Mario Bros. series of platformers, when collected, they will award the player with a total of one-hundred points per coin; also, after collecting one-hundred coins, the player would earn an extra life. In Super Mario 64, there were three different types of Coins: Yellow Coins, Blue Coins, and Red Coins. Yellow Coins played a much more vital part in completion of the game. By collecting coins, the player's HP meter will refill by one notch; also, if the player collects one-hundred coins on a stage, he or she will be awarded with an secret Power Star, which is vital to entirely completing the game. In Mario RPGs, Coins act as a form of currency to purchase items, weapons, badges, and other things that are useful along Mario's journey.
Mario Bros.
Star Coin

Star Coins are big Coins that first appeared in New Super Mario Bros. Three of them appear in every levels. In the game, they are required to go to Toad Houses, buy new backgrounds, and complete the game by collecting all of them, which is the same in New Super Mario Bros. 2. However, in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, they are used to buy hint movies at Princess Peach's Castle. Star Coins are also useful in unlocking levels in the secret star worlds of New Super Mario Bros. Wii, New Super Mario Bros. 2 and New Super Mario Bros. U. In Super Mario 3D Land, they are redesigned as Star Medals, like the Comet Medals from Super Mario Galaxy 2. They are used to unlock other courses, serving the purpose of Power Stars from past 3D platformers.
New Super Mario Bros.
Red Coin

Red Coins are a type of coin appearing mostly in 3D Mario platformers, though they have lately appeared in some Mario sidescrollers. Red Coins appear in groups of eight, and collecting them all will result in the player receiving a reward. They first appeared in Super Mario 64, where collecting all eight of them would result in a Star to appear over a Star Marker. They were worth two regular coins. In Super Mario Bros. Deluxe, they would only appear in certain missions, which could only be completed by collecting them and Yoshi Eggs. In Super Mario Sunshine, they served the exact same purpose, though they did not affect the player's amount of coins, giving the indication that they are an entirely different currency. In New Super Mario Bros., New Super Mario Bros. Wii, and Super Mario 3D Land, Red Coins would only appear if the player ran through a Red Ring. By collecting all of them, the player would receive a power-up (a 1-Up Mushroom if they already had a power-up beyond a Mushroom and every time in Super Mario 3D Land). In Super Mario 3D Land, only five Red Coins appear in a group.
Super Mario 64
Yoshi Egg

Yoshi Eggs, are items used in the Mario and Yoshi series. Each egg hatches a Yoshi. They are also items in the Mario Kart series. There are different colored eggs that hatch different colored Yoshis. For example, a light blue egg, will hatch a Light Blue Yoshi. Ever since their first appearance in Super Mario World, Yoshi eggs have made many more appearances. Their latest appearance is in New Super Mario Bros. U.
Super Mario World

Objects

Name Description First appearance
Brick Block

Perhaps one of the most common type of Blocks found throughout the Mario series is the Brick Block. First appearing in Super Mario Bros., Brick Blocks can only be broken by Super Mario or Super Luigi; they can only achieve this status after they have used a Super Mushroom. Brick Blocks are also known to secretly contain power-ups and 1-Up Mushrooms. Brick Blocks sometimes provide a bridge for the player to walk across abysses. Vines also can be found hidden within certain Brick Blocks, allowing the player access to a Coin Heaven. Certain switches can also be unveiled from a Brick Block; this can sometimes be vital to completing a level, depending on whether or not said switch activates an event that helps the player gain further access in the level.
Super Mario Bros.
? Block

Debuting in Super Mario Bros., the ? Block (or "Question Block") provides the player with many things. Super Mushrooms, Fire Flowers, and Coins can all be received by hitting a ? Block in the game. In Super Mario Bros. 3 and in Super Mario World, there is also the possibility that a Switch would pop out of the block. In Super Mario 64, ? Blocks are replaced with ! Blocks. In order for Mario to get his Wing Cap, he must activate the ? Switch hidden in the castle and flip it to activate the ! Blocks. ? Blocks also appear in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door; here, they are seen during the chapter intermissions in which the player controls Bowser, and they hold various items as well. The ? Blocks during Bowser's intermissions contain Meat, which help Bowser to grow in size and become more powerful. In Super Mario Galaxy, ? Blocks hold Star Bits within them. Item Boxes from the Mario Kart series have an appearance similar to ? Blocks, only they have a transparent color.
Super Mario Bros.
Coin Block

Debuting in Super Mario Bros., the Coin Block has appeared in almost every game in the Mario series. Coin Blocks are blocks that give the player multiple coins. Most Coin Blocks look identical to Brick or Question Blocks, so the only way to tell them apart is to see how many coins they give. Some Coin Blocks, like those featured in Super Mario 3D Land can be long and rectangular. In most games, there is a time limit for how long a Coin Block will continue to give the player coins instead of actually having a set number of coins. If the player strikes a coin block fast enough, they can get 10 coins, usually the most coins a player can get from a coin block; however, a few games make it possible to obtain more. In New Super Mario Bros., striking a Coin Block enough times (at least 11) will produce a Super Mushroom. In New Super Mario Bros. Wii if the player hits a Coin Block enough times, five Coins will fly out before the Coin Block turns into a used block.
Super Mario Bros.
Warp Pipe

Throughout the Mushroom Kingdom, Warp Pipes are used as the primary way of transportation. Debuting in Mario Bros., Warp Pipes would randomly eject various enemies for the player to defeat or avoid. In Super Mario Bros., Warp Pipes have a much more noticeable role. While they provide access to secret underground areas that often host mass amounts of Coins, they also are commonly clogged with Piranha Plants. On occasion, the player would have to use Warp Pipes as platforms to traverse from one area of a level to another. In Super Mario Bros. 3, Warp Pipes serve basically the same purpose. However, the seventh world of the game is a massive maze of Warp Pipes that the player has to maneuver through. Certain Warp Pipes would take the player further into the level, while others would send them backwards. In almost all main Mario games, and in most role-playing games, Warp Pipes serve exactly the same purpose. In Mario Party 7, there is the Warp Pipe Orb, which serves as a road block; any player that would pass over the space it had been set on would be teleported to a previous location in the board.
Mario Bros.
POW Block

Beginning from the Mario Bros. arcade game, POW Blocks have made great appearances in the Mario Series. One bump under it and every enemy on the ground will be stunned, though for Shellcreepers, and later Spinies, it's not as easy. Sidesteppers must be hit twice to be stunned. Fighter Flys can only be stunned on the ground, as mentioned before). Usually, a POW Block can be used 3 times, so players must use it wisely. In their debut, they appear in most phases. In Super Mario Bros. 2, they appear again, but are red instead. It can now be picked up, and are only used once. This also defeats any enemy on the screen. In Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, it appears too but enemies on the screen will change into Stars with feet that can be counted to the counter. It also appears in every Paper Mario game, doing damage to all enemies on the ground or ceiling. They also appear in Mario Kart Wii and Mario Kart: Arcade GP 2; in these games, when it is hit every other racer will be spun out.
Mario Bros.
Roulette Block

Roulette Blocks are types of blocks first found in Super Mario World. They are blocks that contain items that scroll in a roulette from four different items: a Super Mushroom, Fire Flower, Cape Feather and Star. However, once Mario or Luigi releases the item out of the block, it bounces around like a Star, and it still changes from power-up to power-up. Mario or Luigi can grab the power-up at the right time to obtain that power-up's effects. After Super Mario World, can contain a Super Leaf, a Blue Shell, a Penguin Suit or a 1-Up Mushroom. In New Super Mario Bros. 2, it introduce a yellow numbered Roulette Block. The numbers that appear are 5, 10, 30 and 50, with 50 appearing only once per interval, but a lot often in the coin Roulette Blocks, including the larger one with a maximum number of 100 coins, instead of 50, in the Rainbow Courses.
Super Mario World
P-Switch

The P-Switch is an object first appearing in Super Mario Bros. 3. In the game, their most prominent ability allows them to be pressed to turn coins into brick blocks, and vice versa. They can also be used to make hidden coins, question blocks, and doors appear, and also make conveyer belts stop. In Super Mario World, the switches returned. A new grey switch also appeared, which turned enemies into grey coins. Mario can also carry these switches around with him. Later, they appeared in New Super Mario Bros. and New Super Mario Bros. Wii. These switches are once again made stationary, and they only change coins into bricks and bricks to coins.
Super Mario Bros. 3
♪ Block

♪ Blocks (also called Jump Blocks) are a special type of block which allow the player to leap onto them and bounce off them. They are also known to contain items, which are revealed when hit. They first appear in Super Mario Bros. 3, where they let the player jump higher if they push the jump button right when they leaped off it. There is also a special type of pink ♪ Block which transports the player to Coin Heaven. They later appear in Super Mario World, where they serve the same purpose. ♪ Blocks then appeared in Super Mario 3D Land, where they serve the same purpose as the previous installments. However, in this game, they play a series of musical notes when jumped upon. In New Super Mario Bros. 2, they appear again the same as in Super Mario 3D Land.
Super Mario Bros. 3
Flagpole

Flagpoles (also known as "Goal Poles") have appeared in sixteen Mario platformers so far: Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, New Super Mario Bros., New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Super Mario 3D Land, New Super Mario Bros. 2 New Super Mario Bros. U, New Super Luigi U, Super Mario 3D World, Super Mario Maker, Super Mario Run, Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS, New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, Super Mario Maker 2, Super Mario Bros. 35, and Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury. Ever since their first appearance in Super Mario Bros., their purpose is to mark the end of a normal level. In the platformers predating New Super Mario Bros., it is possible to leap over the flagpole and go beyond the end of the level. Depending on the player's position on the flagpole, they will earn extra points, varying from 100 to 8000, and if they reach the top, they will earn an extra life. In New Super Mario Bros. and New Super Mario Bros. Wii, there are Red Flagpoles which mark secret exits. Originally, the flagpole had a skull on the flag, but it was replaced by the Bowser logo. In New Super Mario Bros., it is possible to smash the flagpole as Mega Mario, filling up one space on the gauge above.
Super Mario Bros.
Vine

Vines are a type of vine used as ladders in the Mario series. They originally were just vines, but, as of Super Mario Bros. 3, the tops of the vines resemble the head of a Piranha Plant. They are contained within Brick Blocks (Rotating Blocks in Super Mario World). Vines first appeared in Super Mario Bros., where, once activated, Mario could climb them and go to secret areas like Coin Heaven. In Super Mario Bros. 2, the vines were already there; nothing was needed to activate them. In Super Mario Bros. 3, vines went back to being in blocks. They were also different colors, based on the world that they were in. They went back to their normal green in Super Mario World. In New Super Mario Bros. and New Super Mario Bros. Wii, they could grow downward if the player hit a block they spawned from by ground pounding. In New Super Mario Bros. Wii, there is a vine appearing on the map in World 7 if the player locates the secret exit for the fortress. This vine would allow the player to access a level on a separate cloud, which, once beaten, allowed the player to access a Vine leading into the castle that led right to the boss door.
Super Mario Bros.
Podoboo Cog

Debuting in Super Mario Bros., the Podoboo Cog (also commonly referred to as a "Firebar") is a common reoccurring obstacle. They often appear in Castle levels. Podoboo Cogs rotate around a block in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction, damaging the player if they are touched. After appearing in Super Mario Bros. they would return in other platformers such as New Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario 3D land. Podoboo Cogs are also featured in a few of the 3D games such as Super Mario 64. They are used on Bowser Jr.'s Boomsday Machine as part of its weaponry. Podoboo Cogs also appear in the Paper Mario (series); here, they are once again obstacles for the player. However, they can easily be avoided if Mario flips into 3D. Later items like the Ball 'n' Chain and the Roto-Disc. have a similar movement and attack method of the Podoboo Cog. In Mario Kart: Double Dash!! and Mario Kart Wii, some Podoboo Cogs are shown to have eyes in the center.
Super Mario Bros.

Critical reception

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Mario Bros. (Luigi's debut), New Super Mario Bros. U was bundled with New Super Luigi U in one game. New Super Luigi U was also sold as a standalone title until early 2014.
Artwork depicting various games of the Mario series: Donkey Kong, Super Mario Bros. 3, Dr. Mario and Super Mario World.

The Mario series is the largest video game franchise in existence, and has had a lifespan of over thirty years. It is often considered to be the greatest video game series of all time, receiving many high-scoring reviews on their various games.[15] In the series, many games have been considered to be the best of their time by players.[16] However, the series has been considered to have some games of lower quality.[17] An example is the Mario Party sub-series; after the release of Mario Party 3, the series is considered to have lost its flair, as the games often contain the same mechanics.[18] Super Mario Bros. was declared to be the greatest video game of all time twice: once by GamesRadar in 2000, and another time by IGN in 2003.[19]

The Mario cartoons also were shown to have received favorable reviews.[20][21][22] Though each of the series were short-lived, they were considered to be highly popular, attracting an audience of children to each episode.[23]

Even with the success of the games and cartoons in the series, there was still a large production that attracted a lot of negative reviews. The Super Mario Bros. film is often considered to be a great failure. The film took over a $20 million gross loss in profits. Bob Hoskins, who played the role of Mario in the film, was recorded saying that the movie was a "nightmare". In the May 2006 issue of Nintendo Power, an interviewer from the magazine had said, "Yes, it happened. Let us speak no more of it." The video game Hotel Mario has often been cited as one of the worst games ever.

Cultural impact

The Mario series has been referenced many ways throughout the years. From animation to music, and from the internet to other video games, the Mario series has culturally impacted many people.

In animation, Mario characters and elements have appeared in such shows as The Simpsons, The Ren and Stimpy Show, The Fairly OddParents and Mad twice.

In films, the Mario series has been referenced in such titles as Billy Madison and Ghostbusters II.

Not many references have been made to the Mario series in music, but some songs have been dedicated to the popular series, such as the song "Birdo" as performed by Horse the Band.

The Mario series is highly popular on the internet. Many websites have dedicated themselves to the series in some way, while others poke fun at the series. On YouTube, there are thousands of videos poking fun at one of the greatest blunders of the Mario series, Hotel Mario. The popular website, Newgrounds, has many fan-made games and videos, like the popular Super Mario Bros. Z, Super Smash Bros. ST and The 1-up Pursuit, that are Mario-themed in some way.

Many comics and books have also referenced the Mario series, or are completely centered around them.

In television, the Mario series has been referenced in such shows as The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and My Name is Earl.

The Mario series has been referenced more times in video games than in any other form of publication. Many games created by Nintendo, such as Animal Crossing make very notable references to the Mario series. Even games on non-Nintendo consoles, such as Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts, have referenced the Mario series in some way.

The Mario series has also been referenced in commercials as well as other theatrical productions.

External links