Mario franchise

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{| class="wikitable" style="max-width: 500px; width: 100%; background-color: #fff; border: 2px solid #ce0000; text-align: center;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface);"
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| colspan="2" style="padding: 10px; background-color: #ce0000; color: #fff;" |
<div style="font-size: 1.3em;">'''Mario Franchise'''</div>
<div style="font-size: 0.85em;">マリオシリーズ（Mario Series）</div>
|-
| colspan="2" style="padding: 10px; background-color: #fff;" | ![[Mario_franchise_character_lineup.png]]
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! style="background-color: #fff; color: #ce0000; width: 35%;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface); color: color-mix(in srgb, #ce0000 55%, #f5f5f7);" | Creator
| style="background-color: #fff;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface);" | [[Shigeru Miyamoto]]
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! style="background-color: #fff; color: #ce0000;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface); color: color-mix(in srgb, #ce0000 55%, #f5f5f7);" | Publisher
| style="background-color: #fff;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface);" | [[Nintendo]]
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! style="background-color: #fff; color: #ce0000;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface); color: color-mix(in srgb, #ce0000 55%, #f5f5f7);" | First game
| style="background-color: #fff;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface);" | ''[[Donkey Kong (arcade)|Donkey Kong]]'' (1981)
|-
! style="background-color: #fff; color: #ce0000;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface); color: color-mix(in srgb, #ce0000 55%, #f5f5f7);" | Flagship series
| style="background-color: #fff;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface);" | [[Super Mario series|Super Mario]]
|-
! style="background-color: #fff; color: #ce0000;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface); color: color-mix(in srgb, #ce0000 55%, #f5f5f7);" | Protagonist
| style="background-color: #fff;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface);" | [[Mario]]
|-
| colspan="2" style="background-color: #fff;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface);" |{{Collapse|text="'''[ More / Less ]'''"|color="#ce0000"|style="background-color: var(--wiki-bg);" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface);"}}
  |-
  ! style="background-color: #fff; color: #ce0000; width: 35%;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface); color: color-mix(in srgb, #ce0000 55%, #f5f5f7);" | Genres
  | style="background-color: #fff;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface);" | [[Platform game|Platform]], [[racing game|racing]], [[party game|party]], [[role-playing game|RPG]], [[puzzle game|puzzle]], [[sports game|sports]]
  |-
  ! style="background-color: #fff; color: #ce0000;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface); color: color-mix(in srgb, #ce0000 55%, #f5f5f7);" | Total games
  | style="background-color: #fff;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface);" | 300+
  |-
  ! style="background-color: #fff; color: #ce0000;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface); color: color-mix(in srgb, #ce0000 55%, #f5f5f7);" | Total sales
  | style="background-color: #fff;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface);" | ~950 million copies
  |-
  ! style="background-color: #fff; color: #ce0000;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface); color: color-mix(in srgb, #ce0000 55%, #f5f5f7);" | Best-selling game
  | style="background-color: #fff;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface);" | ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]''<br><small>(~79 million copies)</small>
  |-
  ! style="background-color: #fff; color: #ce0000;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface); color: color-mix(in srgb, #ce0000 55%, #f5f5f7);" | Key subseries
  | style="background-color: #fff;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface);" | [[Super Mario series|Super Mario]] · [[Mario Kart series|Mario Kart]]<br>[[Mario Party series|Mario Party]] · [[Paper Mario series|Paper Mario]]<br>[[Mario & Luigi series|Mario & Luigi]] · [[Dr. Mario series|Dr. Mario]]
  |-
  ! style="background-color: #fff; color: #ce0000;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface); color: color-mix(in srgb, #ce0000 55%, #f5f5f7);" | Related franchises
  | style="background-color: #fff;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface);" | [[Donkey Kong franchise|Donkey Kong]] · [[Yoshi franchise|Yoshi]] · [[Wario franchise|Wario]]
  |-
  ! style="background-color: #fff; color: #ce0000;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface); color: color-mix(in srgb, #ce0000 55%, #f5f5f7);" | Official website
  | style="background-color: #fff;" | ![[mario_with_star.png|50px]] [https://mario.nintendo.com/ mario.nintendo.com] (US)<br>![[Mario_portal_jp.webp|50px]] [https://www.nintendo.com/jp/character/mario/index.html Mario Portal] (Japan)
{{Endcollapse}}
|}

{{Mario Franchise Navbox}}

The '''Mario franchise''' (also known as the '''Super Mario franchise''') is a [[media franchise]] consisting primarily of [[video game]]s published and produced by the Japanese company [[Nintendo]]. Created by game designer [[Shigeru Miyamoto]], the franchise centers on the fictional character [[Mario]], an Italian plumber who serves as the hero of the [[Mushroom Kingdom]]. The franchise's first installment was the arcade game ''[[Donkey Kong (arcade)|Donkey Kong]]'', released on July 9, 1981. Mario went on to star in ''[[Mario Bros.]]'' (1983), the first game bearing his name, and the iconic ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' (1985), the side-scrolling platformer that established the franchise's central formula and became a cultural phenomenon.

The main series in the franchise is the ''[[Super Mario series]]'' of [[platform game]]s, which typically follows Mario and his brother [[Luigi]] as they adventure through the Mushroom Kingdom to rescue [[Princess Peach]] from the villain [[Bowser]] and his army of minions. Beyond platforming, the franchise has expanded into racing (''[[Mario Kart series]]''), party games (''[[Mario Party series]]''), role-playing games (''[[Paper Mario series]]'', ''[[Mario & Luigi series]]''), puzzle games (''[[Dr. Mario series]]''), sports games (''[[Mario Tennis series]]'', ''[[Mario Golf series]]'', ''[[Mario Strikers]]''), and numerous other genres. Several characters introduced in the franchise — including [[Luigi]], [[Yoshi]], [[Wario]], and [[Donkey Kong]] — have spawned successful franchises of their own.

With over 300 titles and combined sales exceeding 950 million copies, the Mario franchise is the [[best-selling video game franchise]] of all time.{{Note|Nintendo IR Information: Dedicated Video Game Sales Units (as of December 31, 2025). [https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/finance/hard_soft/index.html nintendo.co.jp/ir]. The core Super Mario platformer series alone has sold over 430 million copies.}} It is [[Nintendo]]'s flagship franchise and one of the [[highest-grossing media franchises]] in the world. Many of its games — particularly within the Super Mario platformer series — are widely regarded as among the [[greatest video games ever made]]. The franchise has also been adapted into television series, anime, feature films, manga, and a [[Super Nintendo World|theme park attraction]].

= Overview =

The Mario franchise encompasses a vast library of games across nearly every genre in gaming. At its core is the ''Super Mario'' platformer series, but the franchise has branched into racing, sports, party, puzzle, and role-playing games, all unified by a shared cast of characters and the colorful setting of the Mushroom Kingdom. The franchise is notable for its accessibility, inventive game design, and the consistent involvement of Nintendo's internal development teams — particularly [[Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development]], led for decades by Miyamoto. While the majority of titles are developed and published by Nintendo, others have been created by partner studios such as [[Intelligent Systems]], [[Camelot Software Planning]], [[AlphaDream]], [[Next Level Games]], and [[Ubisoft Milan]], typically under Nintendo's supervision.

= Origins =

== Donkey Kong and the birth of Mario ==

The character who would become Mario originated in the 1981 arcade game ''[[Donkey Kong (arcade)|Donkey Kong]]''. After the commercial failure of ''[[Radar Scope]]'', Nintendo president [[Hiroshi Yamauchi]] tasked [[Shigeru Miyamoto]] with designing a new arcade game to salvage the situation. Miyamoto created a game in which a small carpenter — initially called "Jumpman" — must navigate platforms, ladders, and rolling barrels to rescue a woman named [[Pauline]] from a giant ape. ''Donkey Kong'' was an early example of the [[platform game]] genre and a surprise commercial hit.

The character was renamed "Mario" in certain promotional materials for the game's overseas release. His namesake was [[Mario Segale]], the landlord of [[Nintendo of America]]'s warehouse. According to one popular account, Segale interrupted a meeting to demand overdue rent; a conflicting version from former warehouse manager [[Don James (executive)|Don James]] states that employees named the character after Segale as a joke because he was so reclusive that none of them had ever met him.{{Note|The original account appears in David Sheff, ''Game Over: How Nintendo Conquered the World'' (1993). Don James's conflicting version was given in an interview on Wired's ''Game|Life Podcast'', February 17, 2012 (starting at 51:16), and repeated at Nintendo Treehouse Live, E3 2018.}}

Mario appeared again in 1982's ''[[Donkey Kong Jr.]]'' — this time as the game's villain — and in ''[[Donkey Kong 3]]'' (1983), where the protagonist was instead a character named Stanley. ''Donkey Kong'' would eventually be spun off into its own distinct [[Donkey Kong franchise]].

== Mario Bros. ==

In 1983, ''[[Mario Bros.]]'' was released as an arcade game and became the first title to feature "Mario" in its name. It also introduced Mario's brother, [[Luigi]], as a second playable character. Unlike later Mario games, players could not defeat enemies by jumping on them — instead, they had to bump enemies from below to flip them over and then kick them off the platform. The game featured a mechanism allowing players to exit one side of the screen and reappear on the other. ''Mario Bros.'' established the cooperative multiplayer dynamic between Mario and Luigi that would persist throughout the franchise.

= Super Mario platformer series =

The ''[[Super Mario series]]'' is the franchise's flagship, consisting of the mainline platform games that define the broader franchise's identity. The series began with ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' in 1985, packaged as the launch title for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] (NES). In the game, Mario travels through the Mushroom Kingdom to rescue [[Princess Peach]] (then known as Princess Toadstool) from [[Bowser]], the king of the [[Koopa]]s. The game sold over 40 million copies on the NES and Famicom alone and was the world's best-selling video game until 2009.{{Note|Nintendo IR Information: Top Selling Title Sales Units. [https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/finance/hard_soft/index.html nintendo.co.jp/ir].}}

Sequels followed rapidly. In Japan, a direct sequel with significantly harder levels was released in 1986 for the [[Famicom Disk System]], but [[Nintendo of America]] deemed it too difficult for Western audiences and instead released a different game under the title ''[[Super Mario Bros. 2]]'' (1988) — actually a reworked version of the unrelated Famicom title ''Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic''. ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]'' (1988) and ''[[Super Mario World]]'' (1990, SNES launch title) followed and are widely considered among the greatest video games ever made. ''Super Mario World'' introduced [[Yoshi]], a rideable dinosaur companion who became so popular he spawned his own franchise.

The series made the landmark transition to 3D with ''[[Super Mario 64]]'' (1996), the launch title for the [[Nintendo 64]]. Its open-ended, explorable environments redefined 3D game design. Subsequent 3D entries include ''[[Super Mario Sunshine]]'' (2002, [[Nintendo GameCube|GameCube]]), the ''[[Super Mario Galaxy]]'' duology (2007 and 2010, [[Wii]]), ''[[Super Mario 3D Land]]'' (2011, [[Nintendo 3DS|3DS]]), ''[[Super Mario 3D World]]'' (2013, [[Wii U]]), and ''[[Super Mario Odyssey]]'' (2017, [[Nintendo Switch]]).

In parallel, the ''New Super Mario Bros.'' subseries revived classic 2D side-scrolling gameplay for modern hardware, beginning with ''[[New Super Mario Bros.]]'' (2006, [[Nintendo DS|DS]]) and continuing through titles on the Wii, 3DS, and Wii U. ''[[Super Mario Bros. Wonder]]'' (2023) further refreshed the 2D formula with new mechanics on the Nintendo Switch. The ''[[Super Mario Maker]]'' games (2015, 2019) gave players tools to create and share their own Mario levels.

= Spin-off series =

== Mario Kart ==

The ''[[Mario Kart series]]'' is a line of [[kart racing]] games and is arguably the franchise's most commercially successful spin-off. Beginning with ''[[Super Mario Kart]]'' (1992, SNES), the series has players compete in go-kart races as characters from the Mario franchise, using power-up items — such as shells, banana peels, and speed-boosting mushrooms — obtained from item boxes on the track. Each new installment has introduced innovations such as motorbikes, hang gliders, underwater driving, anti-gravity racing, and online multiplayer. The series has sold over 150 million copies worldwide.{{Note|Nintendo IR Information: Dedicated Video Game Sales Units. [https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/finance/hard_soft/index.html nintendo.co.jp/ir].}} ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]'' (2017, Switch) has sold over 79 million copies, making it the best-selling game in the entire franchise.

== Mario Party ==

The ''[[Mario Party series]]'' consists of multiplayer [[party game]]s in which four characters compete on a virtual board game interspersed with minigames. The series began with ''[[Mario Party (video game)|Mario Party]]'' (1998, N64), originally developed by [[Hudson Soft]]. Development later transferred to [[NDcube]] after Hudson was absorbed by [[Konami]]. The series includes numbered sequels, handheld entries, and titles like ''[[Super Mario Party]]'' (2018) and ''[[Super Mario Party Jamboree]]'' (2024). The series has sold over 84 million copies.

== Role-playing games ==

The first RPG in the franchise was ''[[Super Mario RPG|Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars]]'' (1996, SNES), a collaboration between Nintendo and [[Square (company)|Square]] (now [[Square Enix]]) that blended turn-based combat with platforming elements and pre-rendered 3D graphics.

The ''[[Paper Mario series]]'', developed by [[Intelligent Systems]], began with ''[[Paper Mario (video game)|Paper Mario]]'' (2000, N64). These games feature a distinctive paper-craft art style and combine RPG mechanics with platforming. The series has evolved considerably across its entries — from the traditional RPG structure of ''[[Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door]]'' (2004), to the genre-bending ''[[Super Paper Mario]]'' (2007), to the more puzzle-oriented ''[[Paper Mario: Sticker Star|Sticker Star]]'' (2012) and ''[[Paper Mario: Color Splash|Color Splash]]'' (2016), to ''[[Paper Mario: The Origami King]]'' (2020).

The ''[[Mario & Luigi series]]'', developed by [[AlphaDream]], focused on handheld RPGs with real-time action commands during turn-based battles. Beginning with ''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga]]'' (2003, GBA), the series spanned five main entries through ''[[Mario & Luigi: Brothership]]'' (2024, Switch).

== Sports games ==

The franchise has produced extensive sports game lineups. The ''[[Mario Tennis series]]'', developed primarily by [[Camelot Software Planning]], began with ''[[Mario's Tennis]]'' (1995, [[Virtual Boy]]) and the more widely known ''[[Mario Tennis (video game)|Mario Tennis]]'' (2000, N64). The ''[[Mario Golf series]]'', also by Camelot, debuted with ''[[Mario Golf (video game)|Mario Golf]]'' (1999, N64). Both series continued across subsequent Nintendo platforms. The ''[[Mario Strikers]]'' series introduced arcade-style soccer, developed by [[Next Level Games]], while the ''[[Mario Super Sluggers|Super Mario Stadium]]'' games covered baseball. A crossover series with [[Sega]]'s [[Sonic the Hedgehog]], the ''[[Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games|Mario & Sonic]]'' Olympic Games titles, ran from 2007 to 2019.

== Puzzle games ==

The ''[[Dr. Mario series]]'' began in 1990 on the NES and Game Boy. In these games, Mario takes on the role of a doctor who must eradicate viruses by matching colored capsules, in a mechanic similar to ''[[Tetris]]''. The ''[[Mario's Picross]]'' series applied Mario branding to [[nonogram]] logic puzzles. The ''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong series]]'', beginning in 2004, combined puzzle-solving with platforming and featured miniature Mario toys.

== Other spin-offs ==

The franchise's reach extends further into the ''[[Luigi's Mansion series]]'' action-adventure series (2001–), in which Luigi uses a vacuum-like device to capture ghosts; ''[[Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker]]'' (2014), an isometric puzzle game spun off from ''Super Mario 3D World''; the ''[[Super Mario Maker]]'' level-creation games; and ''[[Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle]]'' (2017) and its sequel ''[[Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope]]'' (2022), tactical RPGs developed by [[Ubisoft Milan]] as crossovers with Ubisoft's ''[[Rabbids]]'' franchise. A handful of educational games were also produced in the early 1990s by third-party developers under Nintendo license.

= Characters =

The franchise revolves around an extensive cast of recurring characters. [[Mario]], the titular protagonist, is a fictional Italian plumber who defends the [[Mushroom Kingdom]] by traversing obstacle-filled stages. His younger but taller twin brother, [[Luigi]], often accompanies him and has starred in his own games. [[Princess Peach]], the ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom and Mario's love interest, frequently serves as the damsel in distress kidnapped by the primary antagonist, [[Bowser]], the king of the [[Koopa]]s. The Mushroom Kingdom's inhabitants, the [[Toad (species)|Toads]], often provide support to Mario on his quests.

[[Yoshi]], a dinosaur-like creature introduced in ''Super Mario World'', serves as a rideable companion and spawned his own franchise. [[Wario]], Mario's greedy rival, debuted as the antagonist of ''[[Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins]]'' (1992) and went on to headline the ''[[Wario Land series]]'' and ''[[WarioWare]]'' series. [[Donkey Kong]], originally Mario's first adversary in the 1981 arcade game, became the star of his own platforming series developed by [[Rare (company)|Rare]] and later [[Retro Studios]].

Other notable characters include [[Princess Daisy]], ruler of [[Sarasaland]]; [[Waluigi]], Wario's frequent partner in spin-offs; [[Rosalina]], the cosmic guardian introduced in ''Super Mario Galaxy''; [[Toadette]], who has grown from a spin-off character into a playable protagonist; [[Bowser Jr.]], Bowser's son; the [[Koopalings]], a group of seven boss characters; and [[Pauline]], Mario's original damsel in distress who was later reimagined as a city mayor and singer.

The franchise features a distinctive roster of enemies — most serving [[Bowser]] as his minions. The most common are [[Goomba]]s (mushroom-like traitors to the Mushroom Kingdom, typically defeated with a single stomp) and [[Koopa Troopa]]s (turtle soldiers who retract into throwable shells). Other iconic enemies include [[Boo]]s (shy ghosts), [[Piranha Plant]]s (pipe-dwelling carnivorous plants), [[Bullet Bill]]s, [[Bob-omb]]s, [[Chain Chomp]]s, [[Lakitu]]s, [[Hammer Bros.|Hammer Bros]], and the skeletal [[Dry Bones]].

= Other media =

== Television ==

Several animated television series based on the franchise aired in the late 1980s and early 1990s. ''[[The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!]]'' (1989) combined live-action segments with animation. It was followed by ''[[The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3]]'' (1990) and ''[[Super Mario World (TV series)|Super Mario World]]'' (1991). Earlier, segments based on ''Donkey Kong'' and ''Donkey Kong Jr.'' appeared in ''[[Saturday Supercade]]'' (1983–1985), a Saturday morning cartoon on CBS featuring various arcade game characters.

== Film ==

The franchise's first film adaptation was an [[anime]] theatrical release, ''[[Super Mario Bros.: The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach!]]'' (1986), produced in Japan. In 1993, a live-action [[Super Mario Bros. (film)|''Super Mario Bros.'' film]] was released, starring Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo. The film diverged dramatically from the games' colorful world and underperformed at the box office.

In stark contrast, the 2023 animated film ''[[The Super Mario Bros. Movie]]'', produced by [[Illumination Entertainment|Illumination]] and Nintendo, broke box office records and grossed over $1.3 billion worldwide. A sequel, ''[[The Super Mario Galaxy Movie]]'', is scheduled for release on April 3, 2026.

== Manga, comics, and print ==

The franchise has been adapted into numerous manga series in Japan, most notably the long-running ''[[Super Mario-Kun]]'' (1991–present). Western comics include the ''[[Nintendo Comics System]]'' (1990–1991) and ''[[Super Mario Adventures]]'' (1992–1993), serialized in ''[[Nintendo Power]]''.

== Theme parks ==

''[[Super Nintendo World]]'', a themed area based on the franchise, opened at [[Universal Studios Japan]] in Osaka in 2021. Additional locations have opened or are under construction at Universal theme parks in Hollywood, Orlando, and Singapore. The areas feature physical recreations of Mushroom Kingdom environments, interactive gameplay elements, and rides including a Mario Kart attraction.

= Cultural impact and legacy =

The Mario franchise is widely credited with revitalizing the North American home video game market after the [[video game crash of 1983]]. ''Super Mario Bros.'' was the pack-in title for the NES, and the game's success was instrumental in establishing Nintendo's dominance of the industry throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s. Mario himself became one of the most recognizable fictional characters in the world — in one widely cited survey, more American children could identify Mario than [[Mickey Mouse]].

The franchise has been recognized as the best video game franchise by multiple publications, including [[IGN]], which ranked it first in 2006. Multiple individual titles — particularly ''Super Mario Bros.'', ''Super Mario Bros. 3'', ''Super Mario World'', ''Super Mario 64'', and ''Super Mario Galaxy'' — regularly appear on lists of the greatest video games ever made. ''Super Mario 64'' in particular is credited with defining 3D game design and influencing virtually every 3D action game that followed.

During the 1990s, Mario was at the center of the "[[console wars]]" between Nintendo and [[Sega]], with Mario and [[Sonic the Hedgehog]] serving as the rival mascots of the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES]] and [[Sega Genesis]] respectively. Nintendo ultimately prevailed in terms of long-term sales, and the former rivals eventually collaborated on crossover titles such as the ''Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games'' series.

The franchise has grossed an estimated $60 billion worldwide across video games, merchandise, films, and other licensing — making it one of the highest-grossing media franchises in history.

= See also =

* [[Mario]]
* [[Super Mario series]]
* [[Mario Kart series]]
* [[Nintendo]]
* [[Shigeru Miyamoto]]
* [[Donkey Kong franchise]]
* [[The Super Mario Bros. Movie]]
* [[Super Nintendo World]]

{{Notelist}}

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{| class="wikitable" style="max-width: 500px; width: 100%; background-color: #fff; border: 2px solid #ce0000; text-align: center;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface);" |- | colspan="2" style="padding: 10px; background-color: #ce0000; color: #fff;" | <div style="font-size: 1.3em;">'''Mario Franchise'''</div> <div style="font-size: 0.85em;">マリオシリーズ（Mario Series）</div> |- | colspan="2" style="padding: 10px; background-color: #fff;" | ![[Mario_franchise_character_lineup.png]] |- ! style="background-color: #fff; color: #ce0000; width: 35%;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface); color: color-mix(in srgb, #ce0000 55%, #f5f5f7);" | Creator | style="background-color: #fff;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface);" | [[Shigeru Miyamoto]] |- ! style="background-color: #fff; color: #ce0000;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface); color: color-mix(in srgb, #ce0000 55%, #f5f5f7);" | Publisher | style="background-color: #fff;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface);" | [[Nintendo]] |- ! style="background-color: #fff; color: #ce0000;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface); color: color-mix(in srgb, #ce0000 55%, #f5f5f7);" | First game | style="background-color: #fff;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface);" | ''[[Donkey Kong (arcade)|Donkey Kong]]'' (1981) |- ! style="background-color: #fff; color: #ce0000;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface); color: color-mix(in srgb, #ce0000 55%, #f5f5f7);" | Flagship series | style="background-color: #fff;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface);" | [[Super Mario series|Super Mario]] |- ! style="background-color: #fff; color: #ce0000;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface); color: color-mix(in srgb, #ce0000 55%, #f5f5f7);" | Protagonist | style="background-color: #fff;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface);" | [[Mario]] |- | colspan="2" style="background-color: #fff;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface);" |{{Collapse|text="'''[ More / Less ]'''"|color="#ce0000"|style="background-color: var(--wiki-bg);" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface);"}} |- ! style="background-color: #fff; color: #ce0000; width: 35%;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface); color: color-mix(in srgb, #ce0000 55%, #f5f5f7);" | Genres | style="background-color: #fff;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface);" | [[Platform game|Platform]], [[racing game|racing]], [[party game|party]], [[role-playing game|RPG]], [[puzzle game|puzzle]], [[sports game|sports]] |- ! style="background-color: #fff; color: #ce0000;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface); color: color-mix(in srgb, #ce0000 55%, #f5f5f7);" | Total games | style="background-color: #fff;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface);" | 300+ |- ! style="background-color: #fff; color: #ce0000;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface); color: color-mix(in srgb, #ce0000 55%, #f5f5f7);" | Total sales | style="background-color: #fff;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface);" | ~950 million copies |- ! style="background-color: #fff; color: #ce0000;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface); color: color-mix(in srgb, #ce0000 55%, #f5f5f7);" | Best-selling game | style="background-color: #fff;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface);" | ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]''<br><small>(~79 million copies)</small> |- ! style="background-color: #fff; color: #ce0000;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface); color: color-mix(in srgb, #ce0000 55%, #f5f5f7);" | Key subseries | style="background-color: #fff;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface);" | [[Super Mario series|Super Mario]] · [[Mario Kart series|Mario Kart]]<br>[[Mario Party series|Mario Party]] · [[Paper Mario series|Paper Mario]]<br>[[Mario & Luigi series|Mario & Luigi]] · [[Dr. Mario series|Dr. Mario]] |- ! style="background-color: #fff; color: #ce0000;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface); color: color-mix(in srgb, #ce0000 55%, #f5f5f7);" | Related franchises | style="background-color: #fff;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface);" | [[Donkey Kong franchise|Donkey Kong]] · [[Yoshi franchise|Yoshi]] · [[Wario franchise|Wario]] |- ! style="background-color: #fff; color: #ce0000;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface); color: color-mix(in srgb, #ce0000 55%, #f5f5f7);" | Official website | style="background-color: #fff;" | ![[mario_with_star.png|50px]] [https://mario.nintendo.com/ mario.nintendo.com] (US)<br>![[Mario_portal_jp.webp|50px]] [https://www.nintendo.com/jp/character/mario/index.html Mario Portal] (Japan) {{Endcollapse}} |} {{Mario Franchise Navbox}} The '''Mario franchise''' (also known as the '''Super Mario franchise''') is a [[media franchise]] consisting primarily of [[video game]]s published and produced by the Japanese company [[Nintendo]]. Created by game designer [[Shigeru Miyamoto]], the franchise centers on the fictional character [[Mario]], an Italian plumber who serves as the hero of the [[Mushroom Kingdom]]. The franchise's first installment was the arcade game ''[[Donkey Kong (arcade)|Donkey Kong]]'', released on July 9, 1981. Mario went on to star in ''[[Mario Bros.]]'' (1983), the first game bearing his name, and the iconic ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' (1985), the side-scrolling platformer that established the franchise's central formula and became a cultural phenomenon. The main series in the franchise is the ''[[Super Mario series]]'' of [[platform game]]s, which typically follows Mario and his brother [[Luigi]] as they adventure through the Mushroom Kingdom to rescue [[Princess Peach]] from the villain [[Bowser]] and his army of minions. Beyond platforming, the franchise has expanded into racing (''[[Mario Kart series]]''), party games (''[[Mario Party series]]''), role-playing games (''[[Paper Mario series]]'', ''[[Mario & Luigi series]]''), puzzle games (''[[Dr. Mario series]]''), sports games (''[[Mario Tennis series]]'', ''[[Mario Golf series]]'', ''[[Mario Strikers]]''), and numerous other genres. Several characters introduced in the franchise — including [[Luigi]], [[Yoshi]], [[Wario]], and [[Donkey Kong]] — have spawned successful franchises of their own. With over 300 titles and combined sales exceeding 950 million copies, the Mario franchise is the [[best-selling video game franchise]] of all time.{{Note|Nintendo IR Information: Dedicated Video Game Sales Units (as of December 31, 2025). [https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/finance/hard_soft/index.html nintendo.co.jp/ir]. The core Super Mario platformer series alone has sold over 430 million copies.}} It is [[Nintendo]]'s flagship franchise and one of the [[highest-grossing media franchises]] in the world. Many of its games — particularly within the Super Mario platformer series — are widely regarded as among the [[greatest video games ever made]]. The franchise has also been adapted into television series, anime, feature films, manga, and a [[Super Nintendo World|theme park attraction]]. = Overview = The Mario franchise encompasses a vast library of games across nearly every genre in gaming. At its core is the ''Super Mario'' platformer series, but the franchise has branched into racing, sports, party, puzzle, and role-playing games, all unified by a shared cast of characters and the colorful setting of the Mushroom Kingdom. The franchise is notable for its accessibility, inventive game design, and the consistent involvement of Nintendo's internal development teams — particularly [[Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development]], led for decades by Miyamoto. While the majority of titles are developed and published by Nintendo, others have been created by partner studios such as [[Intelligent Systems]], [[Camelot Software Planning]], [[AlphaDream]], [[Next Level Games]], and [[Ubisoft Milan]], typically under Nintendo's supervision. = Origins = == Donkey Kong and the birth of Mario == The character who would become Mario originated in the 1981 arcade game ''[[Donkey Kong (arcade)|Donkey Kong]]''. After the commercial failure of ''[[Radar Scope]]'', Nintendo president [[Hiroshi Yamauchi]] tasked [[Shigeru Miyamoto]] with designing a new arcade game to salvage the situation. Miyamoto created a game in which a small carpenter — initially called "Jumpman" — must navigate platforms, ladders, and rolling barrels to rescue a woman named [[Pauline]] from a giant ape. ''Donkey Kong'' was an early example of the [[platform game]] genre and a surprise commercial hit. The character was renamed "Mario" in certain promotional materials for the game's overseas release. His namesake was [[Mario Segale]], the landlord of [[Nintendo of America]]'s warehouse. According to one popular account, Segale interrupted a meeting to demand overdue rent; a conflicting version from former warehouse manager [[Don James (executive)|Don James]] states that employees named the character after Segale as a joke because he was so reclusive that none of them had ever met him.{{Note|The original account appears in David Sheff, ''Game Over: How Nintendo Conquered the World'' (1993). Don James's conflicting version was given in an interview on Wired's ''Game|Life Podcast'', February 17, 2012 (starting at 51:16), and repeated at Nintendo Treehouse Live, E3 2018.}} Mario appeared again in 1982's ''[[Donkey Kong Jr.]]'' — this time as the game's villain — and in ''[[Donkey Kong 3]]'' (1983), where the protagonist was instead a character named Stanley. ''Donkey Kong'' would eventually be spun off into its own distinct [[Donkey Kong franchise]]. == Mario Bros. == In 1983, ''[[Mario Bros.]]'' was released as an arcade game and became the first title to feature "Mario" in its name. It also introduced Mario's brother, [[Luigi]], as a second playable character. Unlike later Mario games, players could not defeat enemies by jumping on them — instead, they had to bump enemies from below to flip them over and then kick them off the platform. The game featured a mechanism allowing players to exit one side of the screen and reappear on the other. ''Mario Bros.'' established the cooperative multiplayer dynamic between Mario and Luigi that would persist throughout the franchise. = Super Mario platformer series = The ''[[Super Mario series]]'' is the franchise's flagship, consisting of the mainline platform games that define the broader franchise's identity. The series began with ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' in 1985, packaged as the launch title for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] (NES). In the game, Mario travels through the Mushroom Kingdom to rescue [[Princess Peach]] (then known as Princess Toadstool) from [[Bowser]], the king of the [[Koopa]]s. The game sold over 40 million copies on the NES and Famicom alone and was the world's best-selling video game until 2009.{{Note|Nintendo IR Information: Top Selling Title Sales Units. [https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/finance/hard_soft/index.html nintendo.co.jp/ir].}} Sequels followed rapidly. In Japan, a direct sequel with significantly harder levels was released in 1986 for the [[Famicom Disk System]], but [[Nintendo of America]] deemed it too difficult for Western audiences and instead released a different game under the title ''[[Super Mario Bros. 2]]'' (1988) — actually a reworked version of the unrelated Famicom title ''Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic''. ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]'' (1988) and ''[[Super Mario World]]'' (1990, SNES launch title) followed and are widely considered among the greatest video games ever made. ''Super Mario World'' introduced [[Yoshi]], a rideable dinosaur companion who became so popular he spawned his own franchise. The series made the landmark transition to 3D with ''[[Super Mario 64]]'' (1996), the launch title for the [[Nintendo 64]]. Its open-ended, explorable environments redefined 3D game design. Subsequent 3D entries include ''[[Super Mario Sunshine]]'' (2002, [[Nintendo GameCube|GameCube]]), the ''[[Super Mario Galaxy]]'' duology (2007 and 2010, [[Wii]]), ''[[Super Mario 3D Land]]'' (2011, [[Nintendo 3DS|3DS]]), ''[[Super Mario 3D World]]'' (2013, [[Wii U]]), and ''[[Super Mario Odyssey]]'' (2017, [[Nintendo Switch]]). In parallel, the ''New Super Mario Bros.'' subseries revived classic 2D side-scrolling gameplay for modern hardware, beginning with ''[[New Super Mario Bros.]]'' (2006, [[Nintendo DS|DS]]) and continuing through titles on the Wii, 3DS, and Wii U. ''[[Super Mario Bros. Wonder]]'' (2023) further refreshed the 2D formula with new mechanics on the Nintendo Switch. The ''[[Super Mario Maker]]'' games (2015, 2019) gave players tools to create and share their own Mario levels. = Spin-off series = == Mario Kart == The ''[[Mario Kart series]]'' is a line of [[kart racing]] games and is arguably the franchise's most commercially successful spin-off. Beginning with ''[[Super Mario Kart]]'' (1992, SNES), the series has players compete in go-kart races as characters from the Mario franchise, using power-up items — such as shells, banana peels, and speed-boosting mushrooms — obtained from item boxes on the track. Each new installment has introduced innovations such as motorbikes, hang gliders, underwater driving, anti-gravity racing, and online multiplayer. The series has sold over 150 million copies worldwide.{{Note|Nintendo IR Information: Dedicated Video Game Sales Units. [https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/finance/hard_soft/index.html nintendo.co.jp/ir].}} ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]'' (2017, Switch) has sold over 79 million copies, making it the best-selling game in the entire franchise. == Mario Party == The ''[[Mario Party series]]'' consists of multiplayer [[party game]]s in which four characters compete on a virtual board game interspersed with minigames. The series began with ''[[Mario Party (video game)|Mario Party]]'' (1998, N64), originally developed by [[Hudson Soft]]. Development later transferred to [[NDcube]] after Hudson was absorbed by [[Konami]]. The series includes numbered sequels, handheld entries, and titles like ''[[Super Mario Party]]'' (2018) and ''[[Super Mario Party Jamboree]]'' (2024). The series has sold over 84 million copies. == Role-playing games == The first RPG in the franchise was ''[[Super Mario RPG|Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars]]'' (1996, SNES), a collaboration between Nintendo and [[Square (company)|Square]] (now [[Square Enix]]) that blended turn-based combat with platforming elements and pre-rendered 3D graphics. The ''[[Paper Mario series]]'', developed by [[Intelligent Systems]], began with ''[[Paper Mario (video game)|Paper Mario]]'' (2000, N64). These games feature a distinctive paper-craft art style and combine RPG mechanics with platforming. The series has evolved considerably across its entries — from the traditional RPG structure of ''[[Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door]]'' (2004), to the genre-bending ''[[Super Paper Mario]]'' (2007), to the more puzzle-oriented ''[[Paper Mario: Sticker Star|Sticker Star]]'' (2012) and ''[[Paper Mario: Color Splash|Color Splash]]'' (2016), to ''[[Paper Mario: The Origami King]]'' (2020). The ''[[Mario & Luigi series]]'', developed by [[AlphaDream]], focused on handheld RPGs with real-time action commands during turn-based battles. Beginning with ''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga]]'' (2003, GBA), the series spanned five main entries through ''[[Mario & Luigi: Brothership]]'' (2024, Switch). == Sports games == The franchise has produced extensive sports game lineups. The ''[[Mario Tennis series]]'', developed primarily by [[Camelot Software Planning]], began with ''[[Mario's Tennis]]'' (1995, [[Virtual Boy]]) and the more widely known ''[[Mario Tennis (video game)|Mario Tennis]]'' (2000, N64). The ''[[Mario Golf series]]'', also by Camelot, debuted with ''[[Mario Golf (video game)|Mario Golf]]'' (1999, N64). Both series continued across subsequent Nintendo platforms. The ''[[Mario Strikers]]'' series introduced arcade-style soccer, developed by [[Next Level Games]], while the ''[[Mario Super Sluggers|Super Mario Stadium]]'' games covered baseball. A crossover series with [[Sega]]'s [[Sonic the Hedgehog]], the ''[[Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games|Mario & Sonic]]'' Olympic Games titles, ran from 2007 to 2019. == Puzzle games == The ''[[Dr. Mario series]]'' began in 1990 on the NES and Game Boy. In these games, Mario takes on the role of a doctor who must eradicate viruses by matching colored capsules, in a mechanic similar to ''[[Tetris]]''. The ''[[Mario's Picross]]'' series applied Mario branding to [[nonogram]] logic puzzles. The ''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong series]]'', beginning in 2004, combined puzzle-solving with platforming and featured miniature Mario toys. == Other spin-offs == The franchise's reach extends further into the ''[[Luigi's Mansion series]]'' action-adventure series (2001–), in which Luigi uses a vacuum-like device to capture ghosts; ''[[Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker]]'' (2014), an isometric puzzle game spun off from ''Super Mario 3D World''; the ''[[Super Mario Maker]]'' level-creation games; and ''[[Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle]]'' (2017) and its sequel ''[[Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope]]'' (2022), tactical RPGs developed by [[Ubisoft Milan]] as crossovers with Ubisoft's ''[[Rabbids]]'' franchise. A handful of educational games were also produced in the early 1990s by third-party developers under Nintendo license. = Characters = The franchise revolves around an extensive cast of recurring characters. [[Mario]], the titular protagonist, is a fictional Italian plumber who defends the [[Mushroom Kingdom]] by traversing obstacle-filled stages. His younger but taller twin brother, [[Luigi]], often accompanies him and has starred in his own games. [[Princess Peach]], the ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom and Mario's love interest, frequently serves as the damsel in distress kidnapped by the primary antagonist, [[Bowser]], the king of the [[Koopa]]s. The Mushroom Kingdom's inhabitants, the [[Toad (species)|Toads]], often provide support to Mario on his quests. [[Yoshi]], a dinosaur-like creature introduced in ''Super Mario World'', serves as a rideable companion and spawned his own franchise. [[Wario]], Mario's greedy rival, debuted as the antagonist of ''[[Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins]]'' (1992) and went on to headline the ''[[Wario Land series]]'' and ''[[WarioWare]]'' series. [[Donkey Kong]], originally Mario's first adversary in the 1981 arcade game, became the star of his own platforming series developed by [[Rare (company)|Rare]] and later [[Retro Studios]]. Other notable characters include [[Princess Daisy]], ruler of [[Sarasaland]]; [[Waluigi]], Wario's frequent partner in spin-offs; [[Rosalina]], the cosmic guardian introduced in ''Super Mario Galaxy''; [[Toadette]], who has grown from a spin-off character into a playable protagonist; [[Bowser Jr.]], Bowser's son; the [[Koopalings]], a group of seven boss characters; and [[Pauline]], Mario's original damsel in distress who was later reimagined as a city mayor and singer. The franchise features a distinctive roster of enemies — most serving [[Bowser]] as his minions. The most common are [[Goomba]]s (mushroom-like traitors to the Mushroom Kingdom, typically defeated with a single stomp) and [[Koopa Troopa]]s (turtle soldiers who retract into throwable shells). Other iconic enemies include [[Boo]]s (shy ghosts), [[Piranha Plant]]s (pipe-dwelling carnivorous plants), [[Bullet Bill]]s, [[Bob-omb]]s, [[Chain Chomp]]s, [[Lakitu]]s, [[Hammer Bros.|Hammer Bros]], and the skeletal [[Dry Bones]]. = Other media = == Television == Several animated television series based on the franchise aired in the late 1980s and early 1990s. ''[[The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!]]'' (1989) combined live-action segments with animation. It was followed by ''[[The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3]]'' (1990) and ''[[Super Mario World (TV series)|Super Mario World]]'' (1991). Earlier, segments based on ''Donkey Kong'' and ''Donkey Kong Jr.'' appeared in ''[[Saturday Supercade]]'' (1983–1985), a Saturday morning cartoon on CBS featuring various arcade game characters. == Film == The franchise's first film adaptation was an [[anime]] theatrical release, ''[[Super Mario Bros.: The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach!]]'' (1986), produced in Japan. In 1993, a live-action [[Super Mario Bros. (film)|''Super Mario Bros.'' film]] was released, starring Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo. The film diverged dramatically from the games' colorful world and underperformed at the box office. In stark contrast, the 2023 animated film ''[[The Super Mario Bros. Movie]]'', produced by [[Illumination Entertainment|Illumination]] and Nintendo, broke box office records and grossed over $1.3 billion worldwide. A sequel, ''[[The Super Mario Galaxy Movie]]'', is scheduled for release on April 3, 2026. == Manga, comics, and print == The franchise has been adapted into numerous manga series in Japan, most notably the long-running ''[[Super Mario-Kun]]'' (1991–present). Western comics include the ''[[Nintendo Comics System]]'' (1990–1991) and ''[[Super Mario Adventures]]'' (1992–1993), serialized in ''[[Nintendo Power]]''. == Theme parks == ''[[Super Nintendo World]]'', a themed area based on the franchise, opened at [[Universal Studios Japan]] in Osaka in 2021. Additional locations have opened or are under construction at Universal theme parks in Hollywood, Orlando, and Singapore. The areas feature physical recreations of Mushroom Kingdom environments, interactive gameplay elements, and rides including a Mario Kart attraction. = Cultural impact and legacy = The Mario franchise is widely credited with revitalizing the North American home video game market after the [[video game crash of 1983]]. ''Super Mario Bros.'' was the pack-in title for the NES, and the game's success was instrumental in establishing Nintendo's dominance of the industry throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s. Mario himself became one of the most recognizable fictional characters in the world — in one widely cited survey, more American children could identify Mario than [[Mickey Mouse]]. The franchise has been recognized as the best video game franchise by multiple publications, including [[IGN]], which ranked it first in 2006. Multiple individual titles — particularly ''Super Mario Bros.'', ''Super Mario Bros. 3'', ''Super Mario World'', ''Super Mario 64'', and ''Super Mario Galaxy'' — regularly appear on lists of the greatest video games ever made. ''Super Mario 64'' in particular is credited with defining 3D game design and influencing virtually every 3D action game that followed. During the 1990s, Mario was at the center of the "[[console wars]]" between Nintendo and [[Sega]], with Mario and [[Sonic the Hedgehog]] serving as the rival mascots of the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES]] and [[Sega Genesis]] respectively. Nintendo ultimately prevailed in terms of long-term sales, and the former rivals eventually collaborated on crossover titles such as the ''Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games'' series. The franchise has grossed an estimated $60 billion worldwide across video games, merchandise, films, and other licensing — making it one of the highest-grossing media franchises in history. = See also = * [[Mario]] * [[Super Mario series]] * [[Mario Kart series]] * [[Nintendo]] * [[Shigeru Miyamoto]] * [[Donkey Kong franchise]] * [[The Super Mario Bros. Movie]] * [[Super Nintendo World]] {{Notelist}}