Super Mario: The Complete History of Gaming’s Most Iconic Franchise — 40 Years of Plumber Adventures

Let me tell you something about Super Mario. Even if you’ve never touched a video game in your life, you know who Mario is. That little guy with the red cap? He’s appeared in over 200 games, sold more than 800 million copies, and has been making people smile since before many of you were born. That’s not just a video game franchise—that’s a cultural phenomenon.

It all started with Donkey Kong in 1981. Mario was just “Jumpman” back then, a carpenter trying to rescue his girlfriend from a giant ape. The name “Mario” actually came from Nintendo of America’s landlord, Mario Segale, who apparently demanded unpaid rent once and inspired the rename. Funny how things work out, right?

Then in 1985, Super Mario Bros. dropped on the NES. And look, I know “saved the video game industry” gets thrown around a lot, but this one actually did it. The 1983 crash had everybody thinking video games were dead. One plumber later, and suddenly everyone wanted back in. Forty million copies sold. Not a typo.

The Golden Era

Now here’s where things get really good. Super Mario Bros. 2 in 1987 gave us the “Dream World”—everything was flipped and reimagined, and for the first time, you could actually play as Princess Peach. She’d been a damsel for two games straight at that point, so it was about time. Four playable characters each with different abilities made this one of the most replayable games on the NES.

Then came Super Mario Bros. 3 in 1988. Look, I know “greatest platformer ever made” is a bold claim, but I’ve yet to meet anyone who disagrees. The world map! Multiple power-ups! Airships! This game had everything. Even now, decades later, it holds up perfectly. I go back and play it every few years, and it never gets old.

Super Mario World in 1990 introduced Yoshi, and honestly? Yoshi alone made that game worth playing. Being able to eat enemies, turn them into eggs, and then throw those eggs at other enemies was pure joy. Plus, that game had some of the most creative level design I’ve ever seen. Special world and the secret star road levels? Chef’s kiss.

The 3D Revolution

When Super Mario 64 hit the N64 in 1996, nobody knew what to expect. 3D platformers were uncharted territory. How do you even control a character in three dimensions? Mario 64 figured it out, and suddenly the entire industry had a new roadmap.

I spent an embarrassing amount of time just running around Princess Peach’s castle, finding all the hidden stars. The secret world behind the waterfall? Took me years to figure that one out. This game rewarded exploration like nothing before it.

Super Mario Sunshine in 2002 gave us FLUDD, and fans were divided. Some loved the water pack, others missed the traditional mechanics. Me? I thought it was a solid game with a questionable main gimmick. Galaxy in 2007 though? That was something else entirely. Space-themed levels, dual-stick controls, and a soundtrack that still gives me chills. Galaxy 2 came out in 2010 and somehow improved on everything.

The Modern Era

Super Mario Odyssey in 2017 was the Switch’s killer app. Open-world Mario with Cappy as your companion—throwing your hat to capture enemies and use their abilities? Brilliant. That game had secret moons everywhere you looked. I thought I was done with it after 500 moons, then found out there were 880 total. Still hunting.

Then Wonder dropped in 2023 and reminded everyone that 2D Mario still has tricks up its sleeve. The world-altering effects when you grab the Wonder Flower? Complete chaos in the best way. One moment you’re running left, the next the whole level flips upside down. Absolutely wild.

The Power-Ups That Made Us

Let’s talk power-ups, because honestly? This is where the magic happens. The Super Mushroom just makes you bigger—simple, but satisfying. Fire Flower? Nothing like roasting a row of goombas. And the Star? You’re invincible and everything is chaos, which is exactly how it should be.

Tanooki Leaf gave you that fluffy tail and the ability to fly in Super Mario Bros. 3. Cape Feather in Super Mario World let you soar across entire levels. Frog Suit in SMB2 made you swim like a pro. Each game adds new ones, and there’s always that one power-up that’s completely broken in the best way.

Everyone’s Got a Favorite

You want to start an argument in any gaming community? Just ask what the best Mario game is. Super Mario Bros. 3 fans will fight Galaxy fans who’ll fight Odyssey fans who’ll fight World fans. Nobody agrees, and that’s beautiful. It means there’s something for everyone.

Personally? I’ve got a soft spot for Super Mario World. That game came out when I was a kid, and spending afternoons with my brother trying to find all the exits was peak gaming. But Odyssey gave me that same feeling for the first time in decades, so it runs close.

The characters are iconic too. Luigi’s been the “number two” for 40 years but he’s got his own games and fanbase now. Peach finally got to be a playable character consistently and she’s a blast to control. Bowser’s gone from villain to complex antihero at this point. And let’s not forget Wario and Waluigi—the weird uncles of the Mario universe who nobody asked for but everyone’s glad exist.

What’s Actually Available

So you want to play Mario. Where do you start? The Nintendo Switch is your best bet—Odyssey, Wonder, 3D World + Bowser’s Fury, and a bunch of Party games. Super Mario Bros. Ultimate is basically the encyclopedia of 2D Mario. If you want the classics, the NES and SNES are both on Switch Online, so you can play the originals legally without tracking down old cartridges.

Mobile users aren’t left out either. Super Mario Run is a solid experience on your phone, even if it’s not quite the same as console Mario. Dr. Mario World was… a thing that existed. Mario Kart Tour is free-to-play racing if that’s your jam.

The Verdict

Nine point nine out of ten. That missing 0.1? Just being honest that not every Mario game is perfect—Super Mario Sunshine has not aged gracefully, and some of the mobile stuff is questionable. But when Mario is firing on all cylinders? Nothing else comes close.

Here’s what makes it work: accessibility. My 70-year-old dad can play Mario. My five-year-old niece can play Mario. Speedrunners can shave milliseconds off completion times. Everyone finds their own fun, and nobody’s “right” answer is wrong.

Forty years in, and Nintendo keeps finding new ways to surprise us. Odyssey’s captures, Wonder’s world effects, 3D World’s tight co-op—each game somehow feels familiar while doing something we’ve never seen before. That’s not easy to pull off, and Mario does it almost every single time.

Whether you’re revisiting childhood memories or introducing someone to gaming for the first time, Mario delivers. It’s comfort food with perfect execution. And honestly? I don’t see that changing anytime soon.

Whatever your favorite Mario memory is, it’s a good one. That’s the magic of this franchise.

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