50 Fun Facts About Super Mario

What is the name of the princess Mario rescues in most mainline Super Mario games?

Princess Peach (originally called Princess Toadstool in Western releases) is the ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom and Mario's primary damsel-in-distress across the franchise.

What power-up makes Mario grow bigger in the original Super Mario Bros.?

The Super Mushroom (a red mushroom with white spots) transforms small Mario into Super Mario, doubling his size and allowing him to break bricks.

What is the name of Mario's dinosaur companion who first appeared in Super Mario World?

Yoshi is a green dinosaur who debuted in Super Mario World (1990) for the SNES. Mario can ride Yoshi, who can eat enemies with his long tongue.

What color is Luigi's hat and shirt?

Luigi wears a green hat (with an L emblem) and green shirt, distinguishing him from Mario's iconic red outfit. He also wears dark blue overalls.

What is the name of the main villain in the Super Mario series?

Bowser (also known as King Koopa) is the primary antagonist of the Super Mario franchise. He is a giant turtle-like creature who repeatedly kidnaps Princess Peach.

Which small brown enemies are the first you encounter in World 1-1 of Super Mario Bros.?

Goombas are the iconic mushroom-shaped enemies that are the very first obstacle Mario faces in World 1-1 of the original Super Mario Bros.

Which company created Super Mario?

Nintendo, the Japanese video game company, created Super Mario. The character was designed by Shigeru Miyamoto and first appeared in Donkey Kong (1981).

What does Mario collect 100 of to earn an extra life?

Collecting 100 coins grants Mario an extra life (1-Up) in most Mario games. Rings are from the Sonic franchise.

What profession is Mario officially described as?

Mario is officially a plumber, which explains the many pipes he travels through in the Mushroom Kingdom. He was originally a carpenter in Donkey Kong before being reimagined.

In Super Mario Bros., what happens when Mario touches a Super Star?

The Super Star (also called Starman) grants Mario temporary invincibility, allowing him to defeat enemies on contact. The effect is accompanied by a fast, iconic jingle.

What is the name of Bowser's floating airship fortress in Super Mario Bros. 3?

The Airships are iconic flying vessels in Super Mario Bros. 3, appearing at the end of each world. They are crewed by the Koopalings and feature auto-scrolling levels with cannons and wrenches.

Which actor voiced Mario in The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)?

Chris Pratt voiced Mario in Illumination's The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023). The casting was initially controversial but the film became a massive box office hit, grossing over $1.3 billion worldwide.

How many Power Stars does Mario need to face Bowser in the final battle of Super Mario 64?

Mario needs 70 Power Stars to open the final door leading to Bowser in the Dark World, the last Bowser level in Super Mario 64. The game contains 120 stars total.

What is the name of the ghost enemy in Super Mario that stops moving when Mario looks at it?

Boo (also known as Boo Diddly or Teresa in Japan) freezes and covers its face when Mario looks directly at it, but chases Mario when his back is turned. They debuted in Super Mario Bros. 3.

In which game did Mario first appear?

Mario first appeared as "Jumpman" in the 1981 arcade game Donkey Kong, where he had to rescue his girlfriend Pauline from the giant ape. He wasn't named Mario until later.

What is the name of the mushroom-headed character who tells Mario "Thank you Mario! But our princess is in another castle!"?

Toad delivers this famous line at the end of each castle level in the original Super Mario Bros. It has become one of the most quoted lines in gaming history.

What is the name of Mario's hat-shaped companion in Super Mario Odyssey?

Cappy is a sentient hat from the Cap Kingdom who becomes Mario's companion in Super Mario Odyssey (2017). Mario can throw Cappy to capture and control enemies and objects.

Which power-up gives Mario a raccoon tail and ears in Super Mario Bros. 3?

The Super Leaf transforms Mario into Raccoon Mario, giving him a raccoon tail and ears. He can then fly after building up speed and float gently downward. The Tanooki Suit is a separate item that adds a statue transformation.

What is the name of the kingdom where Princess Peach rules?

The Mushroom Kingdom is the primary setting of the Super Mario series, ruled by Princess Peach. Its inhabitants are the Toads, mushroom-like creatures.

Who composed the iconic main theme music for Super Mario Bros.?

Koji Kondo composed the legendary Super Mario Bros. theme ("Ground Theme") in 1985. It is one of the most recognizable pieces of video game music ever created and Kondo composed it at age 24.

In Mario Kart, what item can only the player in last place (or near last) typically receive?

The Blue Shell (Spiny Shell) targets the player in 1st place and is heavily weighted toward players in last or near-last place. It has been a controversial but iconic Mario Kart item since Mario Kart 64.

What was Mario's original name when he first appeared in the 1981 arcade game Donkey Kong?

Mario was originally called "Jumpman" in the 1981 arcade game Donkey Kong. He was later named Mario after Mario Segale, the landlord of Nintendo of America's warehouse.

Which game introduced the Cape Feather power-up that lets Mario fly by running and jumping?

The Cape Feather was introduced in Super Mario World (1990) for the SNES. It transforms Mario into Cape Mario, who can fly indefinitely after building up running speed and taking off.

Who designed Super Mario and is often called the father of modern video games?

Shigeru Miyamoto created Mario, Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda, and many other Nintendo franchises. He is widely considered the most influential video game designer in history.

In Super Mario Galaxy, what celestial object serves as the hub world?

The Comet Observatory is the hub world in Super Mario Galaxy, piloted by Rosalina and the Lumas. Mario returns here between galaxies to access new missions as he collects Power Stars.

What is the highest-selling Mario game of all time?

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for the Nintendo Switch is the best-selling Mario game ever, with over 64 million copies sold. It surpassed the original Super Mario Bros. which sold approximately 40 million copies on the NES.

Who is the long-time voice actor of Mario who performed the role from 1995 until 2023?

Charles Martinet voiced Mario in video games from 1995 (Mario's Game Gallery) through 2023. He created the iconic "It's-a me, Mario!" voice. In 2023, Kevin Afghani took over the role and Martinet was given the honorary title of "Mario Ambassador."

In Super Mario Bros. 3, how many worlds are there?

Super Mario Bros. 3 has 8 worlds, each with a distinct theme: Grass Land, Desert Land, Water Land, Giant Land, Sky Land, Ice Land, Pipe Land, and Dark Land (Bowser's domain).

What ability does the Tanooki Suit give Mario that the regular Raccoon form doesn't?

The Tanooki Suit in Super Mario Bros. 3 gives Mario all the abilities of Raccoon Mario (flying, tail whip) plus the ability to transform into an invulnerable statue by pressing down + B, referencing the Japanese tanuki folklore.

Which race circuit has appeared in every mainline Mario Kart game?

Mario Circuit has appeared in every mainline Mario Kart game since the original Super Mario Kart (1992). Rainbow Road has also appeared in every game, but Mario Circuit is the signature track that always appears as an early, beginner-friendly course.

What is the real-world location that inspired New Donk City in Super Mario Odyssey?

New Donk City in the Metro Kingdom is directly inspired by New York City, with its skyscrapers, yellow taxi cabs, and city streets. The name also references Donkey Kong, as the city's mayor is Pauline from the original Donkey Kong arcade game.

In Super Smash Bros., what is Mario's Final Smash attack called (as of Ultimate)?

Mario Finale is Mario's Final Smash in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, SSB4, and Ultimate. He launches a massive, expanding blast of flames across the stage that pushes opponents off the edges.

What is the name of Wario's partner who first appeared in Mario Tennis (2000)?

Waluigi first appeared in Mario Tennis for the Nintendo 64 in 2000 as Wario's doubles partner. He was designed by Fumihide Aoki and has never starred in his own game, becoming a meme in the gaming community.

Which Super Mario game was the first to feature a fully 3D open world?

Super Mario 64 (1996) was the first Mario game with a fully 3D open world. It was a launch title for the Nintendo 64 and revolutionized 3D platforming, setting the template for 3D game design.

In the Super Mario speedrunning community, what does "BLJ" stand for?

BLJ stands for Backwards Long Jump, a famous speedrunning exploit in Super Mario 64. By repeatedly long-jumping backwards into certain slopes or stairs, Mario can build up infinite speed and clip through doors and walls.

What is the name of the water pack device Mario uses in Super Mario Sunshine?

FLUDD (Flash Liquidizer Ultra Dousing Device) is a water-spraying backpack that serves as Mario's primary tool in Super Mario Sunshine (2002). It was invented by Professor E. Gadd and has multiple nozzle attachments.

Which of Bowser's children is NOT one of the seven Koopalings?

Bowser Jr. is Bowser's son but is NOT one of the seven Koopalings. The Koopalings are Larry, Morton, Wendy, Iggy, Roy, Lemmy, and Ludwig. Nintendo clarified in 2012 that the Koopalings are not Bowser's biological children; Bowser Jr. is his only son.

What color Yoshi can Mario ride in Super Mario World that spits fire regardless of what shell it eats?

Red Yoshi spits three fireballs when it eats any colored Koopa shell in Super Mario World. Each Yoshi color has a unique ability: Green has no special power, Red spits fire, Blue grows wings, and Yellow causes ground pounds.

What is the name of the character who serves as the co-star Luma in Super Mario Galaxy?

Baby Luma (also called the Young Master Luma) is a small star-shaped creature that accompanies Mario throughout Super Mario Galaxy. It gives Mario the ability to Star Spin and travels under Mario's cap.

Which Mario game featured the Elephant power-up for the first time?

The Elephant Fruit transforms Mario into Elephant Mario in Super Mario Bros. Wonder (2023) for Nintendo Switch. As Elephant Mario, he can spray water from his trunk and break blocks with his massive body.

What was the real name of the person Mario was named after?

Mario was named after Mario Segale, the landlord of Nintendo of America's warehouse in Tukwila, Washington. When Segale interrupted a meeting to demand overdue rent, Nintendo's staff decided to name the character after him.

In the Super Mario 64 speedrunning category "0 Star," approximately how fast can the game be completed?

The Super Mario 64 0-Star speedrun (also called 0/1 Star) can be completed in under 7 minutes using the Backwards Long Jump (BLJ) glitch to bypass star doors. The world record has been pushed below 6 minutes and 30 seconds.

Which Koopaling is named after the classical music composer Ludwig van Beethoven?

Ludwig von Koopa is named after Ludwig van Beethoven. Most Koopalings are named after musicians: Iggy (Iggy Pop), Roy (Roy Orbison), Morton (Morton Downey Jr.), Lemmy (Lemmy Kilmister), Wendy (Wendy O. Williams), and Larry (Larry King — though this one is less certain).

What does F.L.U.D.D. stand for in Super Mario Sunshine?

F.L.U.D.D. stands for Flash Liquidizer Ultra Dousing Device. It was created by Professor Elvin Gadd (E. Gadd) and serves as Mario's primary tool throughout Super Mario Sunshine on the GameCube.

Which actor voiced Bowser in The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)?

Jack Black voiced Bowser in The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023). His performance was widely praised, particularly his musical number "Peaches," which became a viral hit and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song.

In Super Mario Bros. Wonder, what are the unique stage-altering collectibles called?

Wonder Seeds are the main collectibles in Super Mario Bros. Wonder (2023). Touching a Wonder Flower in each stage triggers a "Wonder Effect" that dramatically alters the level, and completing it awards a Wonder Seed.

What is the name of the villain in Super Mario Sunshine who frames Mario by painting graffiti on Isle Delfino?

Bowser Jr. disguises himself as Shadow Mario using a magic paintbrush (created by Professor E. Gadd) to vandalize Isle Delfino and frame Mario. This is Bowser Jr.'s debut game appearance, where he believes Peach is his mother.

How many kingdoms are there to explore in Super Mario Odyssey?

Super Mario Odyssey features 17 kingdoms in total, including main story kingdoms like the Cap Kingdom, Cascade Kingdom, Sand Kingdom, and Metro Kingdom, plus post-game kingdoms like the Dark Side and Darker Side of the Moon.

What was the internal development codename for the original Super Mario Bros. at Nintendo?

The original Super Mario Bros. was internally developed under the codename "Adventure Mario" at Nintendo. Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka designed it as an ambitious side-scrolling game that would push the Famicom hardware to its limits.

In Super Mario 64, what is the name of the first course Mario enters through a painting?

Bob-omb Battlefield is the first course in Super Mario 64, accessed through a painting on the first floor of Princess Peach's castle. Its first star mission is "King Bob-omb on the Summit."