Summary
- Mario is a gaming icon with countless versions, proving simplicity can create lasting impact.
- Peach, Shy Guy, and Toad are standout characters that have evolved beyond their original roles.
- Yoshi is an adorable and beloved companion, bringing joy with his sweetness and cuteness.
The man in red has been gracing the gaming world for over four decades, and the world of Mario has continued to expand with an ever-growing cast of supporting and main characters that seem to know no bounds. Villains turned heroes, sidekicks becoming leads, Nintendo has demonstrated that while Mario remains one of their primary focuses, they are more than happy to explore wider stories through completely different characters.
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With hundreds of playable characters, a long list of iconic enemies and worlds, it is hard to pick a favorite among the crowd, as the whole universe is just brimming with amazing people and creatures just waiting to be discovered. But throughout the years, there have been a few standouts that have stood the test of time and shown that they are more than just a simple background piece and have garnered significant appreciation from players of all generations.
8 Princess Peach
A Damsel In Distress No More
Super Mario Bros.
- Released
- November 17, 1985
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo R&D4
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Entertainment System
Peach started out as a pretty basic character whose entire reason for existing was to be rescued by Mario. Since then, she has been captured and saved countless times, driven around 1000s of race courses, and even had a few standalone games of her own, building up her story as more than just a defenseless princess. She might look elegant, but isn't afraid to get her hands dirty, putting up quite a fight in Smash Bros and showing that she can even save the kingdom when needed.
In her most recent solo game, Princess Peach: Showtime!, players must effectively act out various plays in a long list of settings that each bring a unique ability and costume for Peach to use to take out Grape and her minions. It's a fun title that shows plenty of different sides of Peach and further reinforces that love for the character that spawned all those years ago.
7 Shy Guy
More Cute Than Scary
Super Mario Bros. 2
- Released
- September 1, 1988
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo EAD
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Entertainment System, SNES
Starting out in a game that didn't even have Mario in the name, Shy Guys have been around about as long as any character in the universe. They began as just another obstacle to overcome, but quickly became a staple in the games to follow, with a loyal fan base growing along with it. Their charm comes from their simplicity and lovable design, a blank expression that elicits far more smiles than feelings of fear.
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It's just pure joy whenever the player gets to interact with the character as more than just an enemy to stomp, and any time there is an opportunity to play as a Shy Guy or have them be bigger part of the game, players jump on it straight away and show their consistent love for the small but mighty hooded figure. While other characters might take a bigger portion of the spotlight, there is no doubt that the Shy Guys are one of the most widely adored characters in Mario history.
6 Toad
Putting The Mushroom In Mushroom Kingdom
- First appeared: Super Mario Bros 1985
The squishy-headed icon that has shown his face over 100 times, Toad is one of the franchise's most widely known and appreciated characters, and for more than just his appearance. His place in the story is normally as a kind of guide or a helper to the player, assisting them through their adventures or providing information that can be valuable in progression and understanding what to do next.
But he has grown to become so much more than that, having his own title that focuses more on clever puzzles and movement than platforming, and whenever he shows up as a racer or a playable character elsewhere, he is hotly contested for his charm and cute yet courageous personality. A right-hand man at times and a leader at others, Toad in all his forms continues to delight fans of the series and has cemented himself as a mainstay in future games to come.
5 Mario
Not All Heroes Wear Capes
Donkey Kong
- Released
- July 31, 1981
- ESRB
- e
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo R&D1, Ikegami Tsushinki
- Genre(s)
- Arcade
- Platform(s)
- Arcade, Atari 2600, Nintendo Entertainment System, Commodore 64, Nintendo Game Boy Advance
Mario is practically the poster child for video gaming as a whole. No other character has had as big an impact or lasted as long, and the amount of different versions and iterations on a seemingly simplistic formula seems to know no bounds. One minute he's jumping across a sunny landscape, and next he's blasting off into space to go planet-hopping. The little plumber has done it all and is still ready for more adventure.
Many games and entire series have been born thanks to the success of the franchise, and it all rides on the titular character himself and his basic yet memorable personality and design. It is hard not to love Mario or at least appreciate the impact that he has had on gaming, and despite not being super-flashy, cute, or intricate, he proves that people can still love a character for who they are no matter how big or small.
4 Bowser
He Just Keeps Coming Back
- First appeared: Super Mario Bros (1985)
Bowser is quite possibly the greatest video game villain of all time, not for his difficulty or complexity, but for his consistent presence throughout half a century of exceptional titles that continue to redefine what a boss should be. The number of times Mario has taken him down, and he just keeps coming back, is not only comedic but a testament to the character's will to take over the kingdom and get back at his arch-nemesis.
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When players are done fighting the giant turtle and his family of meanies, getting to play as the bulky and powerful beast is an absolute treat, whether as a heavy kart racer or a tanky bruiser in Smash Bros. His story is just as iconic as his design, and whenever he shows up again as the main villain of the game, players are in for a wild ride that, despite being repeated several times throughout the history of the franchise, is always fun and always a joy to experience.
3 Wario
The Perfect Counterpart
Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins
- Released
- November 2, 1992
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo R&D1
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Game Boy
A character who started as a villain but has quickly become a fan favorite, Wario is a greedy, brawny foil to Mario, who has quickly carved out his own identity that has made him one of the franchise’s most distinctive and beloved characters. Unlike Mario’s clean-cut heroism, Wario thrives on chaos, disgust, and brute force, often portrayed as a treasure hunter, schemer, or unwilling savior in his own bizarre adventures.
His exaggerated personality and irreverent humor give him a larger-than-life presence that sets him apart from the main cast, and players now expect to see him in the majority of the multiplayer titles, so they can take on the role of the devilish yet hilarious character. Wario's design is as much about aesthetics as it is about gameplay. With a heavier frame, he has a much easier time charging through anything in his way, swapping calculated platforming for a more brawny approach that fans simply adore.
2 Yoshi
The Adorable Companion That Never Ceases To Excite
Super Mario World
- Released
- August 23, 1991
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo EAD
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
- Platform(s)
- SNES, Nintendo Game Boy Advance
Yoshi is cuteness embodied and pushed to the max. A apple-eating dinosaur that simply loves to be Mario's pet, players have been hopping and floating around on his back for generations, and have had the opportunity to play solely with him on more than a few occasions. His lack of speech being replaced by a repetition of his name, along with some adorable other sound effects, makes him a favorite for those looking for an extra level of sweetness.
The family of dinos comes in all colors imaginable, but the main green Yoshi is the one fans love the most, carrying a sense of endearment and delight that is rarely seen elsewhere in the games. It's always pure happiness when he's encountered in a game level, followed quickly by sadness when players have to say goodbye, but in all the time he is on-screen, the smiles never go away for the warm and cutesy pet.
1 Luigi
It's Called Super Mario Bros For A Reason
Mario Bros.
- Released
- July 20, 1983
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo
- Genre(s)
- Arcade, Platformer
- Platform(s)
- Arcade, Atari 2600, Commodore 64, Nintendo Game Boy Advance, Nintendo Entertainment System, Nintendo 3DS, Switch
Without Luigi, there would be no Mario Bros, and without Luigi, who knows where the franchise would have been taken? Beginning as a secondary character for an extra player to play as, but quickly becoming a mainstay in later games, Luigi has shown the world that he is more than a supportive brother and has taken on threats of all shapes and sizes, all to save Mario and the rest of the kingdom.
His existence in the world of Mario is just as important as any other, and while Mario might be the main man that sits on the front of the covers, Luigi resonates far more with players for his more clumsy and comedic nature and lovable attitude that constantly gets up even when he gets knocked down. A classic and iconic character that continues to help and go on his own adventures after all these years, Luigi truly is the glue that helps keep the games and stories together, and is so much more than just a shadow to his brother.
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