Super Mario Bros

Platformer Adventure Action Kids

⭐ 4.9 (8901 votes)

Super Mario Bros (1985) is arguably the most important video game ever made. It defined the platformer genre and saved the video game industry. Playing the original NES version in your browser is a history lesson in game design. You control Mario (or Luigi) through the Mushroom Kingdom to save Princess Toadstool from the Koopa King, Bowser.

🍄 The Mechanics that Define a Genre

Every modern platformer owes a debt to these mechanics:

Momentum-Based Jumping: Holding the "B" button (Sprint) makes you run faster but makes you slide when stopping. The height of your jump is determined by how long you hold the "A" button. This analog feel was revolutionary.
Power-Ups:
- Super Mushroom: Makes Mario grow. Allows you to take one hit without dying.
- Fire Flower: Grants the ability to shoot fireballs, essential for clearing enemies from a distance.
- Starman: Grants temporary invincibility.

🗺️ Level Design and Secrets

Super Mario Bros is famous for its non-linear secrets.

Warp Zones

Knowledgeable players can skip huge chunks of the game.
World 1-2: Run on the ceiling past the exit pipe to find the Warp Zone to Worlds 2, 3, and 4.
World 4-2: Contains a beanstalk leading to Worlds 6, 7, and 8. Speedrunners use these to beat the game in under 5 minutes.

1-Up Tricks

The infinite lives trick on the stairs of World 3-1 is a legendary glitch-turned-feature. Mastering the timing to bounce on the turtle shell repeatedly is a rite of passage for gamers.

🐢 Enemy Roster

You face iconic foes:

Goombas: The basic mushroom enemies. One stomp defeats them.
Koopa Troopas: Turtles. Stomping them leaves a shell that can be kicked to kill other enemies.
Hammer Bros: The most dangerous non-boss enemy. They throw hammers in random arcs and jump unpredictably.

🎓 Why Play the Original in 2025?

While modern Mario games are easier and more forgiving, the original 8-bit classic offers a raw, challenging experience. There are no save states (traditionally) and no hand-holding. Beating World 8-4 is a genuine achievement of gaming skill.