Mario

Mario is a fictional character and the flagship mascot of Nintendo, created by Shigeru Miyamoto. He first appeared in the arcade game Donkey Kong (1981) as Jumpman, a carpenter; later renamed Mario. He is depicted as a human plumber living in the Mushroom Kingdom, though his profession and setting have varied by game. He is one of the most recognizable characters in video games and pop culture.

In the core Super Mario series, starting with Super Mario Bros. (1985) for the Nintendo Entertainment System, Mario travels through kingdoms to rescue Princess Peach from Bowser. The series has expanded into numerous sequels and spin-offs, including with 3D platformers like Super Mario 64, open-world exploration in Super Mario Odyssey, and motion-controlled experiences in Super Mario Galaxy. Across games, he uses power-ups such as the Super Mushroom, Super Fire Flower, and Star, and is often accompanied by his brother Luigi.

Mario also appears in racing, party, sports, and role-playing titles such as Mario Kart, Mario Party, Mario Sports, Paper Mario, and Mario & Luigi. The character has appeared in multiple media adaptations, including animated television and film, notably the 1993 live-action film and the 2023 animated film The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

In games, he has been primarily voiced by Charles Martinet since the 1990s. Mario is widely regarded as Nintendo's primary character, contributing to the company's success and the broader evolution of platform games.