Mario is the mascot of Nintendo and the most recognizable video game character in the world. Created by Shigeru Miyamoto, he first appeared in Donkey Kong (1981) and became the star of Super Mario Bros. (1985), which saved the video game industry after the 1983 crash. He is an Italian plumber from the Mushroom Kingdom who rescues Princess Peach from the villain Bowser. The franchise has sold over 800 million units, making it the best-selling video game franchise of all time. The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) grossed 1.36 billion dollars.

Why Is Mario a Plumber?

Mario was originally a carpenter in Donkey Kong (1981). He became a plumber in Mario Bros. (1983) because the game was set in sewers. Miyamoto chose a plumber because the character needed to fit through pipes. His appearance — mustache, cap, overalls — was designed to be recognizable within the pixel limitations of early arcade hardware.

What Are Mario's Powers?

Mario gains power through items: Super Mushrooms (make him grow), Fire Flowers (shoot fireballs), Super Stars (temporary invincibility), and various other power-ups depending on the game. His primary abilities are jumping (the core mechanic of all Mario games) and stomping on enemies. He has no inherent superpowers — he is an ordinary person enhanced by magical items.

How Many Mario Games Are There?

The Mario franchise includes over 200 games across platformers, RPGs, racing (Mario Kart), party games (Mario Party), sports games (Mario Tennis, Golf, Strikers), and puzzle games (Dr. Mario). The core Super Mario platformer series includes over 20 mainline titles. Total franchise sales exceed 800 million units.

Can You Talk to Mario?

Mario is available as an AI companion on HoloDream. It's-a me, Mario!