Super Mario News, Tips, Tricks & Ideas

GameStop has revealed an exclusive retro gaming-themed bonus for fans who wish to pre-order the upcoming Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door through its storefront: a free slip case based on the GameCube version. The upcoming release of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door on Nintendo Switch is one of Nintendo's most highly anticipated releases. It is a long-awaited remake of one of the series' most beloved games, bringing the game from the GameCube to the Switch, adding a number of quality-of-life tweaks and remastered graphics.

Super Mario Bros. and LEGO have revealed eight brand-new collaboration sets based on the popular Nintendo property, which will all be available to purchase on August 1. Nintendo has collaborated with LEGO on a number of its properties, including the Super Mario Bros. franchise. Ever since their introduction in 2020, Nintendo and LEGO have partnered on a number of occasions to bring the franchise to life in LEGO form. This includes a number of playsets and figures based on popular Super Mario levels and characters.

A gamer scored an amazing deal on eight Nintendo 64 cartridges via their local Facebook Marketplace and shared pictures and details of the games they purchased for $40. The N64 fan said that of the games they got, onlyPokemon Snap, Pokemon Stadium, and Super Smash Bros. were duplicate cartridges, which left them with five new titles for their collection.

The frame rate for the upcoming Nintendo Switch remake of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is 30 FPS. This modern rendition of Intelligent Systems' beloved 2004 RPG is set to be released on May 23.

A Mario Kart 8 Deluxe study has found the best combination of playable character and customizable vehicle build, with the most optimal option being Peach with a Teddy Buggy. The Mario Kart franchise has had a history of character tiers, where certain playable characters end up outclassing others in the game. These tiers are usually based on the most optimal character to hit the top speed, accelerate, and handle on the track. Heavyweight characters have traditionally been the most common choice for expert Mario Kart players, as seen with characters like Bowser in Super Mario Kart or Funky Kong and the Flame Runner in Mario Kart Wii.

Universal Studios Japan announced that the opening of Super Nintendo World's upcoming Donkey Kong Country-themed expansion has been delayed. Nintendo officially opened the theme park in 2021, recreating the experience of the Super Mario Bros. video games in real-life. A few years later, Universal Studios announced a new Donkey Kong Country-themed expansion, with it being the second Nintendo IP to be represented at the park.

A life-long Nintendo gamer made a nostalgic discovery, as they found a 1997 Super Mario RPG official player's guide in their closet. With the success of the Super Mario RPG remake potentially spurring more retro RPG game remakes from Nintendo, the find offered both a pleasant surprise and an unexpected bit of usefulness.

A dedicated Super Mario Maker player has completed a level that was initially declared «impossible» by the community, completing the goal of beating every single level uploaded to the game before the Wii U's services shut down. Nintendo previously announced the Wii U and 3DS online services will shut down on April 8, 2024.

Super Mario fans have been enjoying a resurgence in RPGs at the moment, with the remake of Super Mario RPG that launched last year and the upcoming release of a Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door remaster that's coming next month. It's pretty clear that Nintendo has been diving into Mario's RPG offerings to see what fans still like, and a recent survey has suggested that it may not be done just yet.

Nintendo is already making plans for developing more role-playing games, as suggested by one recently surfaced survey. Specifically, Nintendo currently appears to be brainstorming ideas for new RPGs based on the Super Mario franchise.

Recently-released data indicates that Princess Peach: Showtime sales are outpacing the PS5 exclusive Rise of the Ronin in Japan. Princess Peach: Showtime released on March 22, an extremely busy day for the gaming industry. While it's rare for major new game releases to land on the same day, Princess Peach: Showtime shared its launch date with PS5 exclusive Rise of the Ronin and Capcom's open world action-RPG Dragon's Dogma 2.

A Super Mario Bros. fan has 3D printed an impressive custom Piranha Plant and Warp Pipe Switch dock. Since the Switch was released, multiple third parties have made their own docks for the console, but this one could be the most unique.

Nintendo's Super Mario Run has launched a new crossover event to celebrate the release of Princess Peach: Showtime on Nintendo Switch. Super Mario Run is a title that occasionally gets overlooked despite being a part of the mainline Super Mario games.

The developers behind Super Mario Bros. Wonder recently shared some unused Wonder Effect designs at this year’s Game Developers Conference. The latest mainline Mario platformer launched on the Nintendo Switch in October to rave reviews and record-breaking sales figures, with many praising Super Mario Bros. Wonder for its colorful graphics and imaginative additions to the classic 2D Mario formula.

could have had far more silly and bizarre elements, according to the game's creators. The title already saw the introduction of new power-ups that could transform the player into an elephant — something that Mario's creator, Shigeru Miyamoto reportedly wasn't a fan of in the early design stages, saying it didn't look like a Mario character -, provide them with a drill to burrow into the ground or up into the ceiling, or a bubble-spewing flower to capture enemies.

New Mario and Princess Peach Spirits will be added to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on March 22. A number of Spirits based on characters from various franchises have made their way to the popular fighting game in recent months.

Nintendo's Super Mario Run has received a new update eight years after it first launched. Super Mario Run is the main series Super Mario game that often gets overlooked whenever fans are talking about the franchise. There are some who don't even consider it a proper Super Mario game because it has only ever been released for Android and iOS mobile devices, as opposed to a dedicated Nintendo console.

The title of "hardest Mario level ever made" will be a topic of debate for far better platformer players than me, but one very strong contender looks like the final roadblock for the Super Mario Maker fans who are rushing to beat every single level before the servers go down.

Unseen concept art for The Super Mario Bros. Movie has recently come to light, revealing that several notable characters from the video games were originally supposed to appear in the movie, but for some reason never did. 

Gamers all around the world are celebrating Mario Day, and one creative fan of the Super Mario community commemorates the occasion by sharing some cross-stitched artwork of their own featuring some of the most iconic characters, enemies, and power-ups from the franchise. Countless fans have contributed some amazing Super Mario-themed works of art to express their enjoyment of the series this Mario Day, and Nintendo has also made a number of reveals to get fans excited about the future of the franchise as well.

Nintendo has kicked off its March 10 Mario Day celebrations with confirmed release dates for Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door and Luigi's Mansion 2 HD, which launch May 23 and June 27, respectively. Both titles are on the list of upcoming Nintendo Switch exclusives, with many fans celebrating the now official release days for these beloved games.

As the Mario Day celebrations continue, Nintendo has teased that new Lego Super Mario Kart sets will drop in 2025.

Nintendo is adding a trio of Mario spinoff games to its Nintendo Switch Online subscription service to celebrate Mario Day, adding two sports games and a puzzle game. 2024's celebration of the iconic Nintendo mascot brought plenty of news about the future of the franchise, with multiple major announcements during the livestream. Nintendo would reveal the production of a second Super Mario Bros. Movie, alongside confirming the release dates for the Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door and Luigi's Mansion 2 remakes. Now, multiple Mario games are set to come to the Switch.

A new film set in The Super Mario Bros. Movie universe has been announced. Described as “a new animated film based on the world of Super Mario Bros.,” it is unclear if it will be a direct sequel or a spin-off of the highly successful 2023 movie starring Chris Pratt and Jack Black. However, we do know it will be released on April 3, 2026, and that Illumination is once again the studio behind the animation. The end credits of the 2023 film teased Yoshi, so that could be the direction it is going.

Nintendo and LEGO are teaming up on a new brick set based on the Mario Kart franchise. The set was teased as part of LEGO's recent stream commemorating Mario Day.

The annual celebration of everyone's favorite mustachio'd plumber, Super Mario, is right around the corner, and Nintendo is set to celebrate Mario Day with special deals, events, and even a massive tournament. Many official events are endorsed by Nintendo, although it is always recommended to check with a friendly local game store, as many will hold smaller-scale local events to recognize the day on or around March 10, 2024.

Nintendo has just released a playable demo of Princess Peach: Showtime on Nintendo eShop and at select retailers. The highly-anticipated title is among the slate of upcoming Nintendo releases for 2024, and interested players can now hop into the new imaginative world sooner than expected.

Nintendo has announced that it is offering a 14-day free trial deal for Nintendo Switch Online in celebration of a special date this March. A free subscription, no matter how short, is a good way to enjoy the best the console has to offer while the world waits for more details about the Nintendo Switch 2.

Fans could be getting a new LEGO Super Mario announcement during the annual Mario Day celebration later this month. Every year on March 10, Nintendo holds special events and discounts in honor of the iconic Super Mario Bros. franchise, and this year’s festivities could include release dates for previously announced Switch titles like Paper Mario: The Thousand Year-Door and Luigi's Mansion 2 HD.

It's been teased that announcements related to Mario series games Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door and Luigi's Mansion 2 HD could happen this coming Sunday, March 10 as part of the annual Mario Day celebrations. Mario Day takes place every year on March 10, with Nintendo typically celebrating the occasion with Mario game discounts and special events.

February hasn’t been the kindest to Nintendo Switch gamers. The reasons for this are plentiful. First, there have been rumors galore about the Switch successor and when it would come out, culminating in the system not coming out until 2025 due to gaming and hardware concerns. Then, the first Nintendo Direct of 2024 turned out to be nothing more than a Partner Showcase, which didn’t show a single exclusive title for the Switch. The recent Pokemon Presents added to those woes by revealing one game for 2025. Then, there’s the “Mario problem” that fans have been talking about.

Legendary music composer Koji Kondo, best known for creating the classic Super Mario Bros. theme, recently shared a fun little story about how another icon, former Beatle Paul McCartney, acknowledged him and his most popular work. His timeless Super Mario Bros. song is so famous that it earned Kondo a major industry award in what is said to be the gaming equivalent of the Oscars.

Nintendo of America has filed a lawsuit seeking the shutdown of the Switch emulator Yuzu, and damages for its copyright infringement. The Nintendo Switch was released in 2017 and has cemented itself as one of the biggest consoles in gaming history. With its huge popularity, Switch came into the crosshairs of emulators, which Nintendo has since cracked down on in various ways.

A Minecraft fan has created an incredible replica of Super Mario Kart's Bowser's Castle course. Many unique Minecraft creations in Survival and Creative modes have been shared over the years, and this player uses the building blocks to replicate Mario Kart tracks, including Bowser's Castle.

The latest trailer for Princess Peach: Showtime is out, and with it comes four new transformations that its titular heroine will be able to utilize. While Princess Peach usually plays a supporting role in Mario’s adventures, Nintendo announced that the monarch of the Mushroom Kingdom would be stepping into the spotlight in her own video game. Princess Peach: Showtime tasks Peach with saving the Sparkle Theater from the Wicked Grape and the Sour Bunch, using a variety of special costumed transformations and assistance from the theater’s guardian, Stella.

The new remake is a perfect example of what a remake should be by not only updating the graphics but also adding all-new levels, quality-of-life features, and so much more to the experience. The original game, of the same name, was released in 2004 for the Game Boy Advance as a spin-off from both the series of games and the 1994 game,. Blending the two together, it introduced fun puzzle mechanics and transformed many familiar enemies into wind-up toy versions of themselves.

The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences (AIAS) has announced that legendary Nintendo composer Koji Kondo will be inducted into the 27th Annual D.I.C.E Awards Hall of Fame on February 15. Kondo rose to icon status with his music production for The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario Bros. franchises and will receive a major honor for his beloved work.

The latest Princess Peach: Showtime trailer gives players a closer look at the new forms the titular monarch will utilize, including two previously unseen transformations. Nintendo announced this Peach-centric spin-off back in June, roughly 18 years after she first took the spotlight in the Nintendo DS title Super Princess Peach. This time around, Peach is tasked with exploring a theater stage version of the Mushroom Kingdom to stop the Wicked Grape and the Sour Bunch from ruining the Sparkle Theater’s stage productions with the help of the theater’s guardian Stella.

Mario, Luigi, Wario, and Waluigi — Nintendo's premier platforming franchise characters who all share a similar fashion sense and naming convention. While Luigi joined Mario on his first exploits before striking out on his own ghost-hunting ventures, Wario was one of Mario's first rivals right alongside Bowser, and Waluigi showed up when Wario needed a tennis partner. For someone who first picked up the series on the Nintendo Switch, the familial relations between these similar-looking characters may be unclear, but the answers are quite straightforward.

is already the most mind-bending and chaotic example of any game, yet it could be even more so with one tech-enhanced feature. The game brings Mario and his friends to the Flower Kingdom, where they witness Bowser take control of the magical Wonder Flower and transform not just Prince Florian's castle, but the entire kingdom, into a weirdly dark and sinister land. Naturally, Mario's crew eagerly jumps in to help defeat Bowser. Along the way, they get to see just how weird things can get with the Wonder Flower's mystical magic, which is somewhat more of a psychedelic, drug-induced episode than any traditional ideas of witchcraft.

With all the magical Wonder Effects that can take place in , things can get pretty wild just on their own, but with the addition of all the myths and rumors circulating the internet, it can be hard to know what is genuinely part of the game. There are many fun features and abilities that the new power-ups can provide, and the mystical distortions of the Wonder Flower can turn everything upside-down. This makes even some of the most outrageous myths online sound fairly plausible for a game where pretty much anything can happen.

There are plenty of cool secrets to find in , ranging from simple Easter eggs to difficult but rewarding challenges. Searching for secrets like these can be a fun diversion from the main game, especially if grinding to reach ’s maximum level, but in many cases they also offer extra objectives for people to aim for. Of course, some secret rewards can have a greater impact on gameplay than others, but finding them all can still provide many fun experiences regardless.

The remake of is not a very long game by today's standards, but things don't actually end when many might think they do after the final battle. One of the biggest alterations between the original title from 1996 and the new 2023 remake of is the addition of new post-game content. This gives Mario and his friends an additional challenge of rematches against seven of the bosses in the game, but, of course, now they are much more powerful in preparation for their second chance at victory.

There are many secrets throughout . Some of them, like hidden treasures and secret bosses, actually serve a purpose. Others, however, are included just for fun. has a delightfully silly tone. It never takes itself too seriously, it constantly makes fun of itself, and it includes countless subtle nods to otherNintendo and Square Enix-produced games.

Minigames are some of the most enjoyable parts of . Sure, the main campaign is fun enough; the delightful enemy designs, fast-paced combat, and evocative music keep it perfectly interesting. But sometimes, players need a break, especially when it's time to decompress after beating one of 's hardest bosses. That's where the minigames come in. Each one is original, accessible, and enjoyable, but some definitely stand out from the pack.

There is a level cap in , even if many players will never reach it. As they progress through the story and face off against a variety of monsters in battle, all characters in the party gain experience points. They level up at the same rate, but since they start at different levels, it's nearly impossible to level everyone evenly. The only sure way to do so is by bringing them all up to the maximum.

Grate Guy's Casino has returned in , but unfortunately, it is just as tedious to access as it was in the original game. However, some changes to the casino in this revamped version of the game should make players happy once they find it.

has some tough bosses. Despite being a relatively easy game overall, it can sometimes surprise players with formidable foes who come out of nowhere. Somewhere between their cutesy character designs and gimmicky mechanics, it's easy to underestimate them, only to be left mouth agape when the entire party is defeated. As a rule, the party should always be prepared with recovery items, the finest equipment available, the best playable characters in , and consistent attack timing to defeat these difficult bosses.

The Flower Kingdom adventures of have entertained fans of classic side-scrolling platforming action, but some veteran Mario aficionados were concerned that Prince Florian might have held a secret that would be bad news for the high-jumping plumber. Florian is a diminutive creature with a body similar to a Wiggler, the caterpillar-like entities introduced in. Wigglers are shown with flowers growing from their heads, which makes Florian’s design a good fit for the royalty of the Flower Kingdom. However, the Flower Kingdom appeared much earlier in an obscure chapter of Mario’s history, and that connection could have set Prince Florian up as a potential rival.

The remake of the is a good balance in keeping the foundation of everything that made the game special and unique, while still making some big changes to improve the mechanics, gameplay, and graphics. The original was released in March 1996 for the SNES and now has been recreated for the Nintendo Switch for everyone to be able to revisit — or be introduced to — Mario's first questing adventure. Although the story has remained faithful to the original, several tweaks and added features have improved the quality-of-life experience of the game for the Switch.

Once players approach the end of , they will encounter the familiar final boss, Smithy. Smithy was the final boss in the original, so there's no surprise here and his fight is about as straightforward as it was in the original game. There will be two phases to this final boss fight, with the latter being slightly more difficult.

Jinx is an optional boss in . He is not hostile and simply wants to test Mario’s prowess in an honest fight. Beating him three times will reward a powerful accessory dubbed the Jinx Belt that is great for physical fighters like Mario and Bowser or sold for extra coins.

The brings back many beloved features from the original game, including the elusive secret boss, Culex. Like the original, Culex is not a required boss to beat; instead, it can be tracked down and unlocked optionally. However, tread carefully as Culex puts up a tougher fight than one might anticipate.

and its remake have a secret, true final boss that some players will never even encounter. This is a classic RPG tradition — many games in the genre, including several other RPGs, have hidden bosses separate from the ones that appear during the course of the main story. Some games have multiple secret bosses that can be unlocked throughout the campaign, while others can only be fought after watching the credits roll. only has one, but he more than makes up for it by being incredibly difficult.

Wave 6 of the Booster Course Pass for adds eight more tracks to the game by bringing back and remastering favorite maps from past titles. This is the last of the Waves included in the Booster Course Pass and possibly will be the last DLC added to at all considering the rumors of Nintendo's next console being in development. All tracks added with this Wave come from past games, including one from the original that started it all on the SNES.

doesn't have any announced DLC at this point, but with the multiplayer aspect and variety of playable characters, it is fun to think about what other familiar friends from the universe would be great to have included in this 2D platformer. In the game, all characters play identically to each other with the exceptions of Yoshi and Nabbit. They are used to create more of an easy mode for the game, being invincible to damage but also not benefiting from power-ups.

One thing players know to expect in is plenty of hidden treasures to uncover, including secret levels like the one in Petal Isles. As is tradition, features afinal hidden world that showcases uniquely difficult levels associated with each mainline story world.

Japanese fashion retailer Uniqlo has confirmed that it will be reprinting its Metal Gear line of t-shirts.

doesn't just bring in new power-ups that make Mario and friends become elephants, but also has a new gameplay mechanic called badges that plays a major role in the game. Badges are equippable items that can be found scattered around or are obtained through completing certain achievements. Once equipped, these badges will alter a game mechanic until the badge is replaced with something else or removed. If playing in multiplayer, one badge will affect every character simultaneously.

The gaming industry was once famously ridiculed as “just a passing fad” by Michael Moon, an official representative of the board game maker Milton Bradley in 1977. However, that history is proof that is far from the case, with the videogame industry now worth a staggering $200 billion in 2022. Video games have become the ultimate form of entertainment not just for kids, but for adults too, enabling them to fulfill all their fantasies in the virtual world which would be impossible otherwise. Be it Spider-Man and save New York City against the Sinister Six? No problem. Want to be part of the Italian Mob and take on rival gangs in 1930s Chicago? Of course. Video games allow you to be just about anything imaginable. It is due to this that the virtual world of gaming has been highly successful so far, with video games raking in millions of dollars. However, some of them stand above the rest.

Since its launch in March 2017, the Nintendo Switch has gone from strength to strength, even surpassing the sales of Nintendo's previous best-selling console in the US, the Wii. This becomes even more impressive due to the fact that it is massively underpowered compared to its two main rivals in the gaming console industry - PlayStation and Xbox. While it doesn't get exactly the same AAA titles as its rivals, it does have its own exclusives which are extremely popular, especially among young gamers. Nintendo recently held its Direct event where it showcased several games that are due to launch soon, despite the Switch now nearing the end of its life-cycle and the Switch 2 reportedly in development.

Nintendo has announced it's ending online functionality for the 3DS and Wii U next year, leaving fans of the systems to mourn the end of an era. 

is giving Peach her rightful place in the spotlight in the franchise with an upcoming game that will allow her to take on several roles with the help of a magical companion named Stella. The latest spinoff follows Peach as she travels to watch a show at the Sparkle Theater, where dastardly plans prevail, and Peach must save the show and the day. There is no Mario or Luigi in sight this time, and Peach is able to show off her own capabilities as a hero of the Mushroom Kingdom.

The massive Super Mario 64 Question Mark Block is a 2,064-piece tribute to the red plumber's inaugural three-dimensional adventure, and is currently available for its lowest price ever at Amazon and Target. Normally $199.99, you can pick up the monolithic query stone for just $159.99.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder has given us even more evidence that Toad isn't wearing a mushroom hat and that his head is actually just shaped like that.

Given the sheer length of time Mario has been around, it’s not surprising that people are able to beat the original Super Mario Bros. in record time. Speedrunning is a huge part of the gaming community, and the iconic Nintendo game is close to having the perfect run.

One speedrunner has set a new Super Mario Bros. world record for the first time in over a year, and runners are now only 22 frames away from literal perfection.

Nintendo has shared a video of Charles Martinet saying goodbye to his role as Mario, as well as revealing that he calls Shigeru Miyamoto "papa".

With the likes of Mortal Kombat 1, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Alan Wake 2, and many others still in the pipeline, 2023 has plenty more major releases for players to look forward to. Super Mario Bros. Wonder is, of course, high on that list as well, and following its recent gameplay blowout via a dedicated Direct presentation, the excitement surrounding the 2D sidescrolling platformer is seemingly mounting.

We're thrilled to announce the return of GamesBeat Next, hosted in San Francisco this October, where we will explore the theme of «Playing the Edge.» Apply to speak here and learn more about sponsorship opportunities here. At the event, we will also announce 25 top game startups as the 2024 Game Changers. Apply or nominate today!

Check out this hefty chunk of gameplay from the first section of Mario Wonder.

We may have heard Mario and Luigi’s new voices in Super Mario Bros. Wonder, but Nintendo will not be confirming who is voicing them until the game’s release, according to Nintendo president Doug Bowser.

We won't find out who the new voice of Mario is until the credits of Super Mario Bros. Wonder roll. 

Busy sort of morning for me, so let's get right into the good stuff. Things worth mentioning specifically: Activision is celebrating 25 years of Spyro today with some discounts, and I'm sitting here wondering how it's been a quarter of a century since I first dragon-horn-butted and/or immolated my first sheep. Lastly, I've also spotted a decent Rebellion sale for PC gamers, and Tears of the Kingdom is back to its lowest pricepoint, too. Throw some rupees at that, for sure.

A constant struggle in the video game industry is the ability and desire to evolve a franchise beyond what it has been in the past and into new and exciting territory. While not every franchise necessarily needs grand scale changes, most are susceptible to repetition and getting bogged down by repeating the same gameplay. Certain recent sports titles have that issue. In the case of the Mario games, it can be said that things are going on behind the scenes to ensure the games don’t grow stale, something that series creator Shigeru Miyamoto will be most pleased about.

If the last six months or so of gaming have taught us anything, it’s that the “rivalry” between the three main gaming publishers is still going strong. That might be sad to say or hear, but it’s the truth. Sony sued Microsoft for anti-trust reasons basically, and during those proceedings, neither of them wanted to admit that Nintendo was a “true rival” for them due to the Switch’s price point, of all things. These three have been going at it for a long time, yet Phil Spencer found time to go and play Super Mario Bros Wonder at the recent Nintendo Live event.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder’s talkative flowers can be silenced, but you won’t be able to entirely escape their hints and comments, Nintendo has confirmed. 

Super Mario Bros. Wonder includes chatty flowers which share jokes and useful hints as you pass by — though Nintendo has now confirmed you can put them on mute if you'd prefer.

Last week, Nintendo revealed a host of new gameplay and details on Super Mario Bros. Wonder in a dedicated Direct presentation. The publisher has also followed that up with an extensive new gameplay showing for the upcoming 2D sidescrolling platformer.

Super Mario fans think that one of the mustachioed plumber's most famous catchphrases, "mamma mia", has been replaced with "wowie zowie" in Super Mario Bros. Wonder.