Last reviewed on 2026-05-02
Mario
The Legendary PlumberThe red-hatted, mustachioed plumber who has saved the Mushroom Kingdom more times than can be counted — and who somehow also excels at tennis, golf, kart racing, and Olympic sports. Mario's genius is in his simplicity: he's defined entirely by optimistic action rather than dialogue or backstory. His run, jump, and stomp mechanic launched an industry; his cheerful "Wahoo!" has become gaming's most recognizable sound. The most famous fictional character on Earth.
Luigi
Mario's Brother / Underdog HeroMario's taller, greener, perpetually overlooked younger brother whose terror of ghosts makes him the unlikely hero of Luigi's Mansion and fan favorite of millions. Luigi's appeal is his relatability — he's scared, unsure, overshadowed, and shows up anyway. His Death Stare in Mario Kart 8, his galaxy of internet memes, and Nintendo's eventual embrace of his cult status have made him gaming's most beloved second banana. "L is for Luigi, and also for loser."
Bowser
King of the KoopasThe fire-breathing, spike-shelled King of the Koopas whose obsession with kidnapping Princess Peach and defeating Mario has defined video game villainy for 40 years. Bowser's evolution from pure obstacle to complex character — revealed to have genuine feelings for Peach, genuine fatherly love for Bowser Jr., and genuine dignity beneath his bombast — makes him gaming's most sympathetic recurring villain. The 2023 film's Jack Black Bowser is a cultural watershed moment.
Princess Peach
Mushroom Kingdom RulerThe golden-haired ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom whose historical role as "kidnap victim" dramatically undersells her actual capabilities — Super Princess Peach, her Smash Bros. power set, and her 2024 Showtime game reveal a character with genuine combat ability and emotional range. Peach's passive rescue role has been reexamined by Nintendo in recent years, and her popularity in spin-offs consistently outperforms any other Mario character.
Yoshi
Mario's Dinosaur CompanionThe green, egg-laying dinosaur companion whose tongue, flutter jump, and infinite varieties of color have made him a franchise mascot in his own right. Yoshi's Island is one of Nintendo's greatest games; Yoshi's Woolly World is one of its most charming. His complete inability to betray Mario even when used as a sacrifice platform (to reach higher jumps) is the internet's enduring dark joke about the friendship. He's simply too kind for this world.
Toad
Mushroom Kingdom RetainerThe mushroom-headed, perennially helpful Mushroom Kingdom resident whose "Thank you Mario! But our princess is in another castle!" is gaming's original trolling moment. Toad's surprisingly high speed stat in spin-offs, his starring role in Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, and his cheerful voice make him a fan favorite despite limited characterization. The Toad species as a whole forms the Mushroom Kingdom's entire civilian population — they are everywhere and somehow always need rescuing.
Wario
Mario's Greedy RivalMario's garlic-obsessed, grotesquely greedy rival whose entire personality is the antithesis of Mario's heroism. Wario's own game series (Wario Land, WarioWare) transformed him from villain to anti-hero — a treasure hunter who saves the day accidentally while pursuing profit. His WarioWare micro-games are some of Nintendo's most creative design work. His rivalry with Mario stems from childhood — allegedly Mario once refused to let Wario play with his toys. This has not been forgiven.
Waluigi
Luigi's Lanky RivalThe purple, inexplicably lanky rival to Luigi — created purely for doubles tennis pairing and somehow beloved by millions who consider his Smash Bros. absence a generational injustice. Waluigi has no mainline game appearances, minimal story presence, and exists solely in spin-offs, yet his meme status and fan advocacy have made him one of Nintendo's most discussed characters. His "WAAH" battlecry and self-pitying energy make him the internet's patron saint of the overlooked.
Rosalina
Cosmic Guardian / Luma MotherThe serene, silver-haired guardian of the cosmos who tends the Comet Observatory with her Luma children and commands the universe's most powerful observatory. Rosalina's storybook backstory — a girl who traveled the universe searching for her mother and found family in the stars instead — is Mario's most emotionally resonant piece of writing. Her Smash Bros. appearance, her spin-off popularity, and her quiet dignity have made her the franchise's most beloved recent addition.
Bowser Jr.
Bowser's Son / Mini BossBowser's beloved son — the paint-brush-wielding, Clown Car-driving mini Koopa King who believes Peach is his mother and would do anything for his dad. Bowser Jr.'s design (the bandana with a mouth painted on it, mimicking Bowser's actual maw) is brilliant, and his genuine filial love for Bowser makes every confrontation with him slightly guilt-inducing. His Koopalings adoption in recent games gives him a bigger family dynamic that the mainline series doesn't fully explore.
About Super Mario
Super Mario debuted with Donkey Kong (1981) and became a franchise with Super Mario Bros. (1985) for the NES. Created by Shigeru Miyamoto, the series has sold over 800 million games across more than 200 titles, making it the best-selling video game franchise in history.
The franchise spans platformers, RPGs, kart racers, sports games, and party games. The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) became one of the highest-grossing animated films of all time. Super Mario is gaming's most recognizable and beloved franchise, with Mario himself widely cited as the most famous fictional character in the world.
Mario passes one of the strongest silhouette tests of any character ever designed — analysed in character design 101. Across decades of mainline games and spin-offs, the franchise is also a useful case study for sequels and spin-offs explained.