The History of Mario
Four decades of gaming excellence
From humble beginnings as Jumpman in 1981 to becoming the world's most recognizable video game character, Mario has defined platforming games for generations. Explore the complete timeline of Mario's adventures across Nintendo's legendary consoles.
The Birth of a Legend (1980s)
Donkey Kong
Mario first appears as "Jumpman" in Donkey Kong arcade game, created by Shigeru Miyamoto.
Mario Bros.
Mario and Luigi team up in the arcade game Mario Bros., establishing the brothers as a duo.
Super Mario Bros.
The revolutionary platformer that defined a genre and saved the video game industry. Princess Toadstool, Bowser, and the Mushroom Kingdom are introduced.
Play GameSuper Mario Bros. 2 (Japan)
The challenging sequel released in Japan, later known as "The Lost Levels" in the West.
Super Mario Bros. 2 & 3
SMB2 introduces new playable characters (Luigi, Peach, Toad). SMB3 expands the world with new power-ups like the Super Leaf and Tanooki Suit.
Play GameSuper Mario Land
Mario's first handheld adventure on Game Boy, rescuing Princess Daisy from the alien Tatanga.
The Golden Age (1990s)
Super Mario World
SNES launch title introducing Yoshi, the friendly dinosaur who becomes Mario's trusted companion.
Play GameSuper Mario Kart & Super Mario Land 2
Mario Kart revolutionizes racing games. SML2 introduces Wario as Mario's greedy rival.
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
A prequel featuring Baby Mario and Yoshi, with a unique crayon-art visual style.
Play GameSuper Mario 64 & Super Mario RPG
Mario 64 revolutionizes 3D gaming. Mario RPG combines platforming with role-playing elements.
Play GameMario Party & Mario Golf
Mario expands into party games and sports, bringing multiplayer fun to Nintendo 64.
The Handheld Era (2000s)
Paper Mario
A unique RPG with paper-thin visuals and turn-based combat with action commands.
Play GameSuper Mario Advance Series
Classic Mario games remade for Game Boy Advance, bringing SNES favorites to handheld.
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
Bros team up in an action RPG adventure in the Beanbean Kingdom.
Play GameSuper Mario 64 DS
Enhanced remake with Yoshi, Luigi, and Wario as playable characters.
New Super Mario Bros.
A return to 2D platforming with 3D graphics, reviving classic gameplay.
Play GameReady to Play?
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The Complete History of Mario Games
From his humble beginnings as "Jumpman" in Donkey Kong (1981) to becoming the most recognizable video game character in the world, Mario has shaped the gaming industry for over four decades. Created by legendary designer Shigeru Miyamoto, Mario has appeared in over 200 video games.
The Super Mario series alone has sold over 800 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling video game franchise of all time. Games like Super Mario Bros. (1985), Super Mario World (1990), and Super Mario 64 (1996) are consistently ranked among the greatest video games ever made.
At EmulatorMario, we celebrate this rich history by providing free access to classic Mario games from NES, SNES, Nintendo 64, Game Boy, and more. Experience the evolution of gaming through the adventures of the world's most famous plumber.