Gaming
Super Mario Blasts Into Own Galaxy Following Opening Weekend Success
Super Mario Galaxy blasted into theaters and immediately started collecting star bits at the box office. The latest Nintendo movie adaptation pulled in a…
Franchise Hub
Super Mario
Super Mario news and guides, Nintendo's flagship platforming franchise.
About Super Mario
Super Mario is Nintendo's flagship franchise and one of the best-selling video game series of all time, following the plumber Mario (and often his brother Luigi) across platforming adventures to rescue Princess Peach from Bowser. Since debuting in 1985, Mario has become one of the most recognizable characters in entertainment, extending well beyond games into film, theme parks, and merchandise.
Beyond mainline platformers, the Mario franchise encompasses numerous spin-off series, including Mario Kart, Mario Party, and various sports titles, making "Mario" one of the broadest brand umbrellas in all of gaming.
History
1985
Super Mario Bros. launches
The original side-scrolling platformer helps revive the home console market after the 1983 industry crash.
1996
Super Mario 64
Mario's jump to 3D platforming becomes a landmark moment in video game design.
2017–present
Odyssey & franchise expansion
Super Mario Odyssey earns major critical acclaim, while the franchise further expands into film with The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023).
Key People
Shigeru Miyamoto
Creator of Mario and longtime Nintendo producer
Takashi Tezuka
Longtime director and producer on mainline Super Mario titles
Key Super Mario Releases
| Title | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Super Mario Bros. | 1985 | Launched the franchise and helped define the platforming genre |
| Super Mario 64 | 1996 | A landmark 3D platformer |
| Super Mario Odyssey | 2017 | Earned widespread critical acclaim for its open "sandbox" level design |
| The Super Mario Bros. Movie | 2023 | A major box-office hit expanding the franchise into film |
Financials
How It Compares
| Compared To | Key Difference |
|---|---|
| Sonic the Hedgehog | Mario and Sonic became rival mascots in the 1990s console wars, with Mario emphasizing precise platforming and Sonic built around speed. |
| Legend of Zelda | Mario focuses on accessible platforming and a huge spin-off catalog (karting, sports, party games), while Zelda centers on adventure and puzzle-solving. |
Trivia & Fan Culture
Originally named Jumpman
Mario first appeared in 1981's Donkey Kong under the name Jumpman before being renamed Mario for later games.
Named after a real landlord
According to Nintendo of America lore, Mario was named after Mario Segale, a landlord of Nintendo's U.S. warehouse in the early 1980s.
A plumber by trade, rarely on the job
Despite being introduced as a plumber, Mario is more frequently depicted as an adventurer, athlete, or kart racer across the franchise's many spin-offs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mario Kart part of the main Super Mario storyline?
Mario Kart is a racing spin-off featuring Mario franchise characters rather than a continuation of the mainline platforming games' storylines.
Who voices Mario?
Charles Martinet voiced Mario in games for decades; more recent games and The Super Mario Bros. Movie introduced new voice talent, including Chris Pratt for the film.
Who created Mario?
Shigeru Miyamoto created Mario, first introducing the character in 1981's Donkey Kong.
How many Mario games are there?
Counting mainline platformers, spin-offs, sports titles, and remakes, the Mario franchise spans several hundred released games.
Latest Coverage
Latest
Gaming
Charlie Day Has Perfect Cast For Wario In Future ‘Super Mario’ Movies
The cinematic universe of Nintendo continues to grow, and casting rumors for iconic characters are already generating significant excitement. Charlie Day, the voice of…
Gaming
‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ Review – A Fun, Exciting Romp Across a Magical Galaxy
Nintendo fans have long been anticipating “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.” Ever since Nintendo revealed that the sequel to 2023’s “The Super Mario Bros.…
Gaming
‘Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ Rakes In $34 Million On Opening Day Despite Subpar Reviews
The highly anticipated sequel to a beloved video game adaptation is officially off to a rip-roaring start. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie landed in…
Gaming News
Super Mario Galaxy Adds Intergalactic Mercenary Fox McCloud
Super Mario Galaxy kicks off a new animated adventure on April first, and Nintendo decided to drop a bombshell with less than a week…
Entertainment
Super Mario Galaxy Presents a Galactic Grind with Gimmicky Controls in 2025
Nintendo has re-released Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2 on Switch, offering a new generation a chance to experience these legendary 3D platformers with…
Gaming News
Super Mario Galaxy Fans Say Switch 2 Port Feels ‘Unfinished’
Super Mario Galaxy is just like your usual Mario games, except it’s set in space. Both Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2…
Gaming News
Are the Super Mario Galaxy Games Overpriced? An Honest Look
The Super Mario Galaxy games are coming back, yay! Now a new generation can discover them, and the old generation can reexperience their magic.…
Entertainment
What Makes Super Mario Bros So Legendary? Look No Further Than Mario’s Jump
The original Super Mario Bros turned forty recently. Everyone knows about the game’s massive influence, but what, exactly, makes it so much fun to…
Gaming News
Nintendo’s Super Mario Galaxy Movie Fuels Peach-Rosalina Lore Debate
Mamma mia! Nintendo drops the Super Mario Galaxy Movie announcement, and suddenly, the entire fanbase transforms into a collective of string-theory-weaving detectives. Everyone’s scrambling…
Gaming News
Super Mario Galaxy and Galaxy 2 Buying Guide – How Much Will These Classics Cost and Where Can You Play Them?
With the release of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie in April, Nintendo is rereleasing both of the beloved Galaxy games in a compilation next month. You…
Gaming News
Happy 40th Birthday, Super Mario Bros! Why the Original Game is Still Relevant
The original Super Mario Bros was released in Japan on September 13th, 1985, forty years ago. I shouldn’t have to tell you what a…
Gaming News
Gaming
Super Mario Blasts Into Own Galaxy Following Opening Weekend Success
Super Mario Galaxy blasted into theaters and immediately started collecting star bits at the box office. The latest Nintendo movie adaptation pulled in a…
Gaming News
Super Mario Galaxy Adds Intergalactic Mercenary Fox McCloud
Super Mario Galaxy kicks off a new animated adventure on April first, and Nintendo decided to drop a bombshell with less than a week…
Gaming News
Super Mario Galaxy Fans Say Switch 2 Port Feels ‘Unfinished’
Super Mario Galaxy is just like your usual Mario games, except it’s set in space. Both Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2…
Gaming News
Are the Super Mario Galaxy Games Overpriced? An Honest Look
The Super Mario Galaxy games are coming back, yay! Now a new generation can discover them, and the old generation can reexperience their magic.…
Gaming News
Nintendo’s Super Mario Galaxy Movie Fuels Peach-Rosalina Lore Debate
Mamma mia! Nintendo drops the Super Mario Galaxy Movie announcement, and suddenly, the entire fanbase transforms into a collective of string-theory-weaving detectives. Everyone’s scrambling…
Gaming News
Super Mario Galaxy and Galaxy 2 Buying Guide – How Much Will These Classics Cost and Where Can You Play Them?
With the release of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie in April, Nintendo is rereleasing both of the beloved Galaxy games in a compilation next month. You…
Gaming News
Happy 40th Birthday, Super Mario Bros! Why the Original Game is Still Relevant
The original Super Mario Bros was released in Japan on September 13th, 1985, forty years ago. I shouldn’t have to tell you what a…
Gaming News
It’s Official – Super Mario Galaxy Will Be the Anticipated Mario Movie 2! Time to Blast Off!
September 12th’s Nintendo Direct was packed full of awesome surprises for Mario’s 40th anniversary, but perhaps the biggest and most exciting announcement was the…
Gaming News
Nintendo Confirms Donkey Kong Bananza Made by Super Mario Odyssey Team – What Does This Mean for a New Mario Game?
Nintendo has kept quiet about exactly who made Donkey Kong Bananza, one of the flagship games for the Nintendo Switch 2. Many fans have speculated that…
Gaming News
Super Mario Easter Eggs Found in Other Games
Super Mario, Nintendo’s iconic plumber, has not only defined the platforming genre but has also left an indelible mark on the broader gaming landscape.…
Gaming
Nintendo Switch Online Adds a Fun Mario Classic and 2 Cancelled Games – NSO Roundup 8/2026
August was a great month for Nintendo Switch Online’s retro collections. In addition to a Mario classic, Nintendo also gave us a pair of…
Gaming
Happy 35th Birthday, SNES! Why the Super Nintendo Still Holds Up
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System, or SNES, was released in North America on August 23rd, 1991, and it turns thirty-five years old today. Do…
Reviews
Gaming
‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ Review – A Fun, Exciting Romp Across a Magical Galaxy
Nintendo fans have long been anticipating “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.” Ever since Nintendo revealed that the sequel to 2023’s “The Super Mario Bros.…
Entertainment
Super Mario Galaxy Presents a Galactic Grind with Gimmicky Controls in 2025
Nintendo has re-released Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2 on Switch, offering a new generation a chance to experience these legendary 3D platformers with…
Entertainment
What Makes Super Mario Bros So Legendary? Look No Further Than Mario’s Jump
The original Super Mario Bros turned forty recently. Everyone knows about the game’s massive influence, but what, exactly, makes it so much fun to…
Reviews
Nintendo Switch Online Gave Us Some Handheld Fun – NSO Roundup July 2026
Nintendo Switch Online and Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack users got a taste of handheld goodness in July of 2026. Not only did…
Entertainment
Lovish: Some 8-Bit Nostaglic Fun – Weekly Indie Spotlight
Lovish is a NES-style platformer that’s full of 8-bit goodness, as well as the tricky jumps and high difficulty that 80’s platformers are known…
Entertainment
Exciting New Nintendo Direct on January 29th for Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream
A new Nintendo Direct is coming very soon. While some people may be anticipating a Direct for Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, Mario Kart…
Gaming News
Nintendo Switch 2: The 2025 Launch Roadmap and The Massive 2026 Lineup
If you had told me a few years ago that we’d finally stop squinting at 720p screens in 2025, I probably would have laughed—and…
Entertainment
Kirby Air Riders: An Awesome, Complex (but Overpriced) Racer
Kirby Air Riders is, like all good Kirby games, colorful, happy, and endlessly charming. It also contains a surprising amount of depth that you…
Guides
Guides
All Weight Classes in Mario Kart World, Explained
Every Mario Kart veteran knows: choosing your racer is never just a vibe check. In Mario Kart World, weight class is the secret item…