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September 12, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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How It Works • Games & Tech

Super Mario

Super Mario is a platform game series developed and published by Nintendo and starring Mario, the company’s mascot.

Updated September 12, 20261 min readCited sources

Super Mario is Nintendo's flagship platform game series starring Mario, widely available in Canada and a major part of Canadian gaming culture. Created by Shigeru Miyamoto, it began with Super Mario Bros. in 1985 and is set in the Mushroom Kingdom.

What it is

Super Mario is Nintendo’s long-running platform game series and one of the best-known franchises in video game history. It began with Super Mario Bros. for the NES in 1985 and became the foundation of the larger Mario brand.

Gameplay

Super Mario games typically task the player with traversing themed levels, defeating enemies, and collecting power-ups. The core design emphasizes jumping across platforms and moving through stages in the Mushroom Kingdom.

Characters and setting

Mario is the central protagonist, often joined by Luigi and other recurring characters such as Princess Peach and Bowser. The fictional Mushroom Kingdom is the series’ most common setting.

In short

  • At least one Super Mario game has been released for every major Nintendo console.
  • The series uses side-scrolling and 3D platforming with running, jumping, and power-ups.
  • Mario is often accompanied by Luigi and other recurring characters.
  • The series centers on rescuing Princess Peach from Bowser.
Canadian angle

Super Mario is widely available in Canada through Nintendo platforms and has been a major part of Canadian gaming culture for decades.

Quick questions

What is Super Mario?
Super Mario is a Nintendo platform game series starring Mario and centered on running, jumping, and rescuing Princess Peach from Bowser.
Who created Super Mario?
The series was created by Japanese game designer Shigeru Miyamoto.
When did Super Mario begin?
The series began with Super Mario Bros., released for the NES in 1985.

Sources

  1. Nintendo — https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/super-mario-encyclopedia-the-official-guide-to-the-first-30-years-125067/
    Supports: Official guide covering seventeen Super Mario games and more than 30 years of franchise history.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Mario
    Supports: Series description, creator, first release, gameplay, setting, and platform availability.
  3. MarioWiki — https://www.mariowiki.com/Super_Mario_Bros._Encyclopedia
    Supports: Alternative title and scope of the encyclopedia volume covering the first 30 years of the series.