Mario Day: Celebrating the Iconic Plumber

Mario Day: History | Games | Fun Facts | Movies | Celebrate |

March 10 is Mario Day! Why? Because when you write it as “Mar10,” it looks like “Mario.” Clever, right? Nintendo fans worldwide celebrate this day in honor of the mustached hero who has been jumping, racing, and smashing blocks for over four decades. Let’s take a deep dive into the history, games, and movies that make Mario a legend.

A Brief History of Mario Day

Nintendo officially recognized March 10 as Mario Day in 2016. Fans, however, had been celebrating long before that. The Italian plumber made his first appearance in Donkey Kong (1981) as “Jumpman.” In 1985, Super Mario Bros. launched on the NES, cementing him as a gaming icon. Since then, Mario has starred in over 200 games, spanning multiple genres.

Fun Facts About Mario and Friends

• Mario was originally a carpenter, not a plumber.
• Luigi, Mario’s taller brother, was introduced in Mario Bros. (1983).
• Bowser, Mario’s nemesis, first appeared in Super Mario Bros. (1985).
• Yoshi, the lovable dinosaur, debuted in Super Mario World (1990).
• Princess Peach was originally named Princess Toadstool in the U.S.

The Many Games of Mario

Mario isn’t just about platforming. He’s been in racing, sports, RPGs, and even puzzle games. Here are some of his biggest hits:

• Super Mario Bros. (1985) – The game that started it all. Classic side-scrolling fun.
• Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988) – Introduced the legendary Tanooki suit.
• Super Mario 64 (1996) – The first 3D Mario game. Revolutionary!
• Super Mario Sunshine (2002) – Mario with a water jetpack? Yes, please.
• Super Mario Galaxy (2007) – Space adventure with mind-blowing gravity mechanics.
• Super Mario Odyssey (2017) – Mario throws his hat and takes over enemies. Brilliant gameplay!

Mario isn’t just about platforming, though. He has conquered other genres:

• Mario Kart (1992–present) – The ultimate party racing series.
• Mario Party (1998–present) – Board games with chaos and friendship-ruining moments.
• Super Smash Bros. (1999–present) – Mario fights other gaming icons.
• Paper Mario (2000–present) – A unique RPG series with a paper-like art style.

The Mario Movies: Hits and Misses

Mario isn’t just a gaming icon—he’s a movie star too.

• Super Mario Bros. (1993) – A bizarre, live-action adaptation starring Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo. Fans are still trying to figure it out.
• The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) – An animated blockbuster by Illumination. The movie tells the story of two Brooklyn plumbers who are brothers and best friends: Mario, the brave one with the “let’s-a go” attitude, and the perpetually anxious Luigi, who would prefer to go nowhere. We open with the Super Mario Brothers reckoning with their struggling plumbing business, and wind up in a whirlwind adventure through Mushroom Kingdom. Through their journey, we meet a cast of familiar, lovable characters, ultimately uniting together to defeat the power-hungry villain, Bowser. The Super Mario Bros. Movie takes what millions of gamers worldwide have loved for thirty-five years and levels it up to a new and breathtaking cinematic experience. Chris Pratt voices Mario, and Jack Black steals the show as Bowser.

How to Celebrate Mario Day

Want to celebrate Mario Day in style? Here are some ideas:

• Play a classic Mario game. Try Super Mario Bros., Super Mario 64, or Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
• Watch The Super Mario Bros. Movie and relive the nostalgia.
• Dress up as your favorite Mario character. Bonus points if you say, “It’s-a me, Mario!”
• Bake Mario-themed treats. Star cookies or mushroom cupcakes, anyone?

Mario has been entertaining gamers for nearly 40 years. Whether you’re racing in Mario Kart, battling in Smash Bros., or jumping through Super Mario Odyssey, there’s a Mario game for everyone.