History of Mario games
Four decades of jumping — the key games, inventions and fan projects in one timeline.
Mario first appeared in 1981 as a nameless carpenter in the arcade hit Donkey Kong. Four years later, Super Mario Bros. turned him into the face of video games and set the rules for side-scrolling platformers that designers still follow today. Here are the milestones — official releases in red, notable fan projects in green.
1981Arcade
Donkey Kong
A carpenter called Jumpman climbs girders to rescue Pauline from a giant ape. Designed by Shigeru Miyamoto, he is soon renamed Mario.
1983Arcade
Mario Bros.
Mario becomes a plumber and gets a brother, Luigi. Pipes, turtle-like enemies and the POW block make their first appearance.
1985NES / Famicom
Super Mario Bros.
Released in Japan on 13 September 1985. Smooth scrolling, 32 levels, power-ups and secrets define the side-scrolling platformer — and one of the best-selling games ever.
1986Famicom Disk System
Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels
Released in Japan as Super Mario Bros. 2: a much harder sequel with poison mushrooms and wind. The West would only see it years later.
1988NES
Super Mario Bros. 2
The Western sequel, adapted from Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic. Plucking vegetables, four playable characters and Shy Guys join the series.
1988NES / Famicom
Super Mario Bros. 3
World maps, the Tanooki Suit, flying with the Super Leaf and the Koopalings. Released in Japan in 1988 and in North America in 1990.
1989Game Boy
Super Mario Land
Mario's first handheld adventure, set in Sarasaland, introduces Princess Daisy.
1990SNES / Super Famicom
Super Mario World
A launch title for the Super Famicom: Yoshi debuts, the Cape Feather lets Mario fly, and a huge interconnected map hides secret exits.
1992SNES / Game Boy
Super Mario Kart & Super Mario Land 2
Mario takes to the racetrack, and Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins introduces his greedy rival, Wario.
1996Nintendo 64
Super Mario 64
Mario goes 3D. Free movement in open levels, an analog camera and Peach's Castle as a hub reshape 3D game design.
2002GameCube
Super Mario Sunshine
On Isle Delfino, Mario cleans up graffiti with the F.L.U.D.D. water pack. Bowser Jr. makes his debut.
2006Nintendo DS
New Super Mario Bros.
A return to 2D side-scrolling with 3D graphics, giant Mega Mushrooms and tiny Mini Mushrooms.
2007Wii
Super Mario Galaxy
Gravity-bending planets in outer space and the debut of Rosalina. Widely ranked among the greatest games of all time.
2008Java (fan game)
Infinite Mario Bros
Markus “Notch” Persson releases a fan game that generates endless random levels. It later becomes the basis of the Mario AI Competition.
2009Wii
New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Up to four players run through levels at the same time — chaotic, cooperative and competitive.
2010Wii
Super Mario Galaxy 2
A sequel packed with new planets and the return of Yoshi.
2013Wii U
Super Mario 3D World
The Cat Suit lets Mario climb walls, in a multiplayer 3D adventure later expanded on Switch with Bowser's Fury.
2015Wii U
Super Mario Maker
Released for the 30th anniversary: players build and share their own levels in the styles of four classic games.
2017Nintendo Switch
Super Mario Odyssey
Mario's hat, Cappy, lets him capture enemies and objects across kingdoms around the world, from New Donk City to the Moon.
2023Cinema / Nintendo Switch
The Super Mario Bros. Movie & Super Mario Bros. Wonder
The animated film becomes one of the highest-grossing animated movies ever, and Wonder reinvents 2D Mario with Wonder Flowers and talking flowers. Kevin Afghani succeeds Charles Martinet as the voice of Mario.
2026Web browser (fan site)
Mario.Game launches
This fan site opens with an original 8-level platformer and six open-source fan versions of the classic.
Keep exploring
Read why World 1-1 is the perfect first level, celebrate 41 years of Super Mario Bros., meet the characters, or simply play a game.