1.4 Return of open-ended exploration (2017–present)ĭevelopment and history Release timeline 1985ĢD origins (1985–1995) Original Super Mario Bros.1.3 2D revival and progression-focused 3D games (2006–2016).1.2 Introduction of 3D and open worlds (1996–2005).
More than 380 million copies of Super Mario games have been sold worldwide, making it the fourth-bestselling video game series, behind the larger Mario franchise, the puzzle series Tetris, and first-person shooter series Call of Duty. The Super Mario series is part of the greater Mario franchise, which includes other video game genres and media such as film, television, printed media, and merchandise. These include a multitude of power-ups and items that give Mario special powers such as fireball-throwing and size-changing. The first game in the series, Super Mario Bros., released for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in 1985, established the series' core gameplay concepts and elements. The games have simple plots, typically with Mario rescuing the kidnapped Princess Peach from the primary antagonist, Bowser. As a platform game, the player runs and jumps across platforms and atop enemies in themed levels. He is often joined by his brother, Luigi, and occasionally by other members of the Mario cast. The Super Mario games are typically set in the fictional Mushroom Kingdom with Mario as the player character.
There are twenty-one similar games in the series and one cross-series game, Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, which may or may not be included as part of the series (see Super Mario World games). At least one Super Mario game has been released for every major Nintendo video game console. series or simply the Mario series, it is the central series of the greater Mario franchise. Alternatively called the Super Mario Bros. Super Mario is a platform game series created by Nintendo based on and starring the fictional plumber Mario.