Arguably the face of video games as a medium, nearly allMariotitles have become instant classics almost as soon as they have been released. As a result,manyMariotitleshave been ported to a multitude of varied home consoles and handheld systems.
From many titles' arcade origins, multipleMariogames have even been brought to non-Nintendo platforms by producers such as Atari. Beyond this, some classicMariogames are even playable within titles such asAnimal CrossingandDonkey Kong 64.
A Classic Mario Sports Title With A Home Console & Handheld Dual Release
Mario Golf
Tee off with Mario and friends as they put a new spin on golf! Choose from 14 different characters, each with their own power and swing styles. You can even taunt opponents to break their concentration!Mario Golf is packed with features, including 10 different modes (such as Tournament, Speed Golf and even Mini-Golf), and six different courses to play through by earning experience points to progress. With easy-to-learn gameplay and a four-player competitive mode, anyone can get into the swing of Mario Golf!
With a dual release by Camelot Software,Mario Golfsaw theMario-themed sports titlebeing brought to the Nintendo 64 and the Game Boy Color.
Since its initial 1999 release,Mario Golfhas been playable through Nintendo’s own digital storefronts on multiple generations of home and handheld consoles. Most recently, both the Game Boy Color and Nintendo 64 versions ofMario Golfhave been made available on the Nintendo Switch hybrid console through Nintendo’s own Nintendo Switch Online classic game catalog.
9Wrecking Crew
An Arcade Classic From Mario’s Pre-Mushroom Kingdom Days
Designed by Yoshio Sakamoto - well known for hisdirectorial work onMetroid- in a twist compared to his now-typical moveset, Mario cannot jump inWrecking Crewand instead has to work through various stages destroying objects with his oversized hammer.
WhileWrecking Crewinitially saw release in the arcades, it was quickly ported to the NES and has since been brought to multiple Nintendo home and handheld consoles through Nintendo’s digital storefronts. Most recently,Wrecking Crew’s NES port has been made available for the Nintendo Switch through its NSO subscription service.
8Dr. Mario
Not Only A Classic Mario Spin-Off But A Quintessential Puzzle Title
Produced by Gunpei Yokoi, creator of the Game & Watch and Game Boy, thisMario-themed falling-block puzzle series has seenlasting success across platformswith its most recent title releasing on mobile devices in 2019.
Initially launching on the NES and Game Boy in 1990,Dr. Mariohas since gone on to be ported through Nintendo’s digital storefronts and dedicated collections. TheClassic NES Serieson the Game Boy Advance broughtDr. Marioto the sixth console generation, and it is now available not only on Wii, WiiU, and 3DS but also on Nintendo Switch through Nintendo’s own Nintendo Switch Online program.
First finding footing asa launch titlefor the SNES in 1990,Super Mario Worldwas then re-released on the console as part of the compilationSuper Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World.
Since then, it has gone on to be brought to Nintendo’s Game Boy Advance handheld through its inclusion in theMario Advanceseries of ports. Nintendo’s digital storefront has consistently presentedSuper Mario World, and it was then made available on Nintendo’s plug-and-play console, the SNES Mini. Its most recent port has been to the Nintendo Switch through Nintendo’s own NSO library.
Introducing manyMarioseries staples; such as the Tanooki suit, a world map, and the Koopalings;Super Mario Bros. 3has been regularly brought to multiple Nintendo consoles.
Initially launched on the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1988, it was then ported to the SNES through the remaster compilationSuper Mario All-Stars. In the age of digital storefronts, Nintendo has madeSuper Mario Bros. 3available on all available Nintendo consoles; from the Wii and WiiU to the 3DS family of systems.
While not the original design forSuper Mario Bros’sequel, the North American and European version ofSuper Mario Bros. 2has since become astaple of theMarioseries' history.
TheDoki Doki Panicaesthetic alteration was initially brought to the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1988 and was subsequently ported to the SNES. This remastered version was the core of the version that was ported to the Game Boy Advance, and the original title has since been brought to Nintendo’s digital storefronts. Being preloaded on Nintendo’s NES Classic plug-and-play system,Super Mario Bros. 2is now also available through Nintendo’s Nintendo Switch Online virtual library of titles.
Perhaps due toSuper Mario Bros.' unrivaled legacy, Nintendo brought Mario’squintessential platforming caperto arcades, handhelds, and a variety of Nintendo home consoles. Beyond these, a playable version ofSuper Mario Bros.has also been hidden within the originalAnimal Crossingas an item for players to spruce up their living space with.
Releasing alongside the NES in North America in 1985, the title was also included in the SNESSuper Mario All-Starsremaster collection.Super Mario Bros.has also been brought to handheld consoles such as the Game Boy and 3DS family of systems alongside its inclusion in Nintendo’s NES Classic plug-and-play system.
Mario Takes The Enemy Role In This Much-Ported Arcade Sequel
Donkey Kong Jr.
Avoid enemies while going up and down the cranes, take the keys, and rescue Donkey Kong!“DONKEY KONG JR.” is an action game released by Nintendo in 1982.Donkey Kong has been captured and caged in his latest encounter with Mario. Donkey Kong Jr. is on his way to set him free!Skillfully utilize jumps and the cranes to avoid enemies, get to the top, and steal the cage’s key from Mario.
As a direct sequel to the title with Mario’s first appearance -Donkey Kong-Donkey Kong Jr.includes Mario in an antagonistic role.
Originally playable in arcades in 1982,Donkey Kong Juniorwas quickly ported to multiple Atari systems, before it found a place in the NES' home console library. It has also gone on to be hidden in theoriginalAnimal Crossingand is playable through scanning related Game Boy Advance E-Reader cards. Beyond these more obscure instances,Donkey Kong Juniorhas also been available through its original arcade and NES versions on the Nintendo Switch hybrid system.
Mario And Luigi Star In Their Own Title Before They Became ‘Super’
Mario Bros.
The origin of The Mario series! Will you work together or…or against each other…?!Mario Bros. is an action game released by Nintendo in 1983.It’s the first game that used “Mario” in the title.Control Mario or Luigi to punch the enemies coming out of pipes from below to turn them over and then defeat them. In the two-player mode, both players can choose to work together or work against each other and enjoy the game in a myriad of ways.The “Arcade Archives” series has faithfully reproduced many classic Arcade masterpieces.Players can change various game settings such as game difficulty, and also reproduce the atmosphere of arcade display settings at that time. Players can also compete against each other from all over the world with their high scores.
Originally a simple spin-off from Mario’s first appearance inDonkey Kong,Mario Bros.was initially released as an arcade title.
Since its 1983 debut, it has since gone on to be ported to multiple Nintendo home and handheld consoles - be it through a direct port, or its inclusion as a bonus title. However, in its earliest years,Mario Bros.was ported to multiple other systems; from Atari’s home consoles to the ZX Spectrum. Its original arcade version can be played through itsArcade Archivesrelease on the Nintendo Switch, or through the NES version available in the Nintendo Switch Online digital library.
Initially an economical repurpose of failedRadar Scopearcade cabinets,Donkey Kongis one of Nintendo’s earliest video games and theorigin of theMarioseries’aesthetic and gameplay tenets.
Originally coming to arcades in 1981, it was quickly ported to multiple Atari systems and personal BeyondDonkey Kong 64’s ‘Frantic Factory’ level, and throughAnimal Crossing’s playable NES' it can be played on a host of Nintendo platforms.
