Super Mario [Series]
Japanese Title: スーパーマリオ (Sūpā Mario)
Origin: Platform video game series (began as an arcade/console character in action-platformers)
Year started: 1985 (as the foundational Super Mario Bros.; character first appeared in 1981’s Donkey Kong)
Amount of characters: Dozens of recurring characters and many one-off NPCs across titles (core recurring cast ~20–30)
Developer: Nintendo (primarily Nintendo EAD / Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development and various internal teams)
Publisher: Nintendo
Platforms: Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Super Nintendo (SNES), Nintendo 64, GameCube, Wii, Wii U, Nintendo Switch, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, arcade cabinets, mobile (iOS/Android)
Intro
Super Mario is Nintendo’s flagship franchise and one of the most influential series in video game history. Centered on the adventures of plumber Mario—often alongside his brother Luigi—Super Mario popularized side-scrolling platformers with tight controls, inventive level design, and memorable power-ups such as the Super Mushroom, Fire Flower, and Starman. Since Super Mario Bros. (1985) and its legend-defining level design, the series expanded into 2D and 3D platforming, introducing landmark titles like Super Mario 64, Super Mario Galaxy, and Super Mario Odyssey that redefined camera control, movement freedom, and three-dimensional platform mechanics. Mario’s accessible gameplay and layered design appeal to casual players and speedrunners alike, fostering a massive global fanbase, extensive merchandising, cartoons, films, and cross-media collaborations. The franchise’s characters—Princess Peach, Bowser, Toad, and numerous others—have become cultural icons beyond gaming. Super Mario’s influence spans level-design pedagogy, game difficulty tuning, and the broader platformer genre; its legacy endures as Nintendo continues to innovate on movement, world-building, and playful mechanics while retaining the series’ charm and universal appeal.
All major and notable Mario titles
- Super Mario Bros. (1985)
- Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels (1986, Japan / later re-releases)
- Super Mario Bros. 2 (1988, USA version / Doki Doki Panic adaptation)
- Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988/1990)
- Super Mario World (1990)
- Super Mario 64 (1996)
- Super Mario Sunshine (2002)
- New Super Mario Bros. (2006)
- Super Mario Galaxy (2007)
- New Super Mario Bros. Wii (2009)
- Super Mario Galaxy 2 (2010)
- Super Mario 3D Land (2011)
- New Super Mario Bros. 2 (2012)
- New Super Mario Bros. U (2012) / New Super Luigi U (2013)
- Super Mario 3D World (2013) / Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury (2021)
- Super Mario Odyssey (2017)
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder (2023)
- Several spin-offs, sports/racing/crossover titles (e.g., Mario Kart series, Mario Party series, Super Smash Bros. appearances), remakes and compilations across Nintendo systems
Notable Anime Movies
- The Super Mario Bros. (2023, worldwide blockbuster)
Notable Characters
Below are major recurring characters from the Super Mario universe.
- Mario
The heroic Italian plumber and primary protagonist who rescues allies and explores diverse worlds; Mario’s gameplay foundations include jumping, power-ups, and platforming versatility. He’s Nintendo’s iconic mascot and appears across genres beyond platformers. - Luigi
Mario’s younger, taller brother who often plays second-player or starring roles; Luigi is known for higher jumps and distinct personality (timid yet brave), starring in Luigi’s Mansion spin-offs. He provides alternate playstyles and narrative depth. - Princess Peach
The recurring damsel and occasional playable hero; Peach rules the Mushroom Kingdom and uses floaty jumps and unique abilities in titles where she’s playable. She’s central to many plots and occasionally subverts the rescue trope. - Bowser
The primary antagonist, King of the Koopas, who kidnaps Peach and commands an army of minions; Bowser is a recurring boss with varied mechanical roles (final-boss battles, playable in spin-offs, and large set-piece encounters). His character design mixes menace and comic timing. - Toad
Mushroom Kingdom citizen and loyal attendant to Peach; Toads serve as NPCs, merchants, and playable helpers with fast running and supportive roles. They’re numerous and often provide tutorials or items. - Yoshi
A friendly dinosaur companion who debuted in Super Mario World; Yoshi offers riding mechanics, swallowing enemies, and unique movement options, later starring in his own series. His varied colorings have gameplay implications in some titles. - Princess Daisy
A tomboyish princess from Sarasaland who often appears in sports and party games; Daisy complements Peach with energetic personality and occasional cameos in mainline titles. She’s a fan-favorite secondary royal. - Wario
Mario’s greedy rival/antihero who stars in Wario Land and WarioWare series; Wario’s brutish strength and treasure-seeking gameplay contrast Mario’s heroics. He provides edgier, collectible-focused mechanics. - Waluigi
Wario’s lanky counterpart, primarily appearing in spin-offs and sports titles; Waluigi is mischievous and competitive, offering comic relief and alternative rivalry dynamics. - Koopalings (Larry, Morton, Wendy, Iggy, Roy, Lemmy, Ludwig)
A group of Bowser’s children or high-ranking minions varying by entry, each with themed boss fights; they present varied mechanics across levels and became staple mid-bosses in many 2D titles. - Bowser Jr.
Bowser’s son who acts as an antagonist and sometimes playable ally; he pilots vehicles, uses paint/gadgetry in games like Super Mario Sunshine, and provides repeated boss encounters. - Donkey Kong
Originally the antagonist who spawned Mario’s career; Donkey Kong evolved into his own platforming series but still crosses over in Mario titles and spin-offs. He brings heavy, strength-based mechanics. - Diddy Kong
Donkey Kong’s nimble sidekick who adds aerial agility and combo tools in DK spin-offs and crossovers. He’s often a secondary playable partner. - Rosalina
A cosmic guardian introduced in Super Mario Galaxy who commands the Comet Observatory and small Lumas; Rosalina offers ethereal lore and gravitational gameplay elements. She blends narrative mystique with supportive abilities. - Bowser’s Minions (Goombas, Koopa Troopas, Hammer Bros., Piranha Plants, etc.)
Common enemies that define platforming hazards and teach mechanics; each enemy type introduces predictable patterns and level design variations across the series. - Toadette
A female Toad variant who appears as NPC, playable character, or transformable character (Peachette); she often supports multiplayer and accessibility. - Kamek (Magikoopa)
A recurring magical enemy who casts spells to alter levels or empower Bowser; Kamek’s magic creates unique boss fight dynamics and stage hazards. - King Boo
The leader of ghosts, central antagonist in Luigi’s Mansion series and cameo in Mario spin-offs; King Boo’s spectral mechanics drive haunted-level design and puzzle encounters. - Nabbit
A thief-like character from New Super Mario Bros. U who steals items and can be a baby-safe playable character; Nabbit provides beginner-friendly options and unique challenge incentives. - Captain Toad
A treasure-hunting Toad with puzzle-platforming adventures (Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker) who cannot jump but uses movement and environment to solve levels. He expands Mario design into diorama puzzles. - Cappy
Mario’s sentient hat companion in Super Mario Odyssey that enables possession (“capture”) mechanics; Cappy revolutionized Mario’s movement and puzzle-solving by allowing control of enemies and objects. - Fawful
An eccentric antagonist from the Mario & Luigi RPG series with memorable dialogue and villainous schemes; Fawful embodies oddball writing and inventive boss mechanics. - Shy Guys
Masked, common enemies with many variants that started in Super Mario Bros. 2; Shy Guys appear in levels, minigames, and platform variations with different behaviors and costumes.
Note: The Super Mario universe spans many games, spin-offs, and cameos; full character lists number in the hundreds when including minor NPCs, variant enemies, and guest characters.
Conclusion
Super Mario’s enduring success rests on consistently inventive level design, approachable controls, and a cast of charming characters that appeal across generations. From 2D platforming foundations to expansive 3D sandbox adventures, the series continues to shape game design, popular culture, and Nintendo’s identity—remaining both a creative testbed and a beloved staple in gaming worldwide.acy.
