Super Mario Bros. 1985

About

A side scrolling 2D platformer and first entry in the Super Mario franchise, Super Mario Bros. follows Italian plumber Mario as he treks across many levels of platforming challenges featuring hostile enemies to rescue Princess Peach from the evil king Bowser.

Story

One day the kingdom of the peaceful mushroom people was invaded by the Koopa, a tribe of turtles famous for their black magic. The quiet, peace-loving Mushroom People were turned into mere stones, bricks and even field horsehair plants, and the Mushroom Kingdom fell into ruin. The only one who can undo the magic spell on the Mushroom People and return them to their normal selves is the Princess Toadstool, the daughter of the Mushroom King. Unfortunately, she is presently in the hands of Bowser, the King of the Koopa. Mario hears about the Mushroom People’s plight and sets out on a quest to free the Mushroom Princess from the evil Koopa and restore the fallen kingdom of the Mushroom People. You are Mario! It’s up to you to save the Mushroom People from the black magic of the Koopa!

What is happening now

The original Super Mario Bros. launched in 1985 on the NES and has since become one of gaming's most enduring franchises, now available across numerous Nintendo platforms from Game Boy to Switch. The platformer recently marked its 40th anniversary, prompting retrospective interest in how the game came together and the creative decisions that shaped it. Recent coverage has highlighted some surprising historical details about the game's design. Series creator Shigeru Miyamoto revealed that the iconic dash mechanic - a foundational element of Mario's movement - originated from a coding bug rather than intentional design, and he emphasized that the game's creation was only possible through collaborative teamwork. Meanwhile, speedrunning communities continue to push the game's limits, with players reportedly approaching a perfect playthrough, though the original Super Mario Bros. has recently dropped a position on the all-time best-selling games list after four decades at the top.