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The ''Mario'' franchise is a
video game series This is a list of video game franchises, organized alphabetically. All entries include multiple video games, not counting ports or altered re-releases. 0–9 *''1080° Snowboarding'' *''1942'' *''3D Ultra Minigolf'' *'' 3-D Ultra Pinball'' *''7 ...
by Nintendo. While Nintendo is usually the
developer Developer may refer to: Computers * Software developer, a person or organization who develop programs/applications * Video game developer, a person or business involved in video game development, the process of designing and creating games * Web d ...
and publisher of games in the franchise, various series are developed by third-party companies, such as Hudson Soft and
Intelligent Systems is a Japanese video game developer best known for developing games with Nintendo and the ''Fire Emblem'', ''Paper Mario'', ''WarioWare'', and '' Wars'' video game series. Originally, the company was headquartered at the Nintendo Kyoto Researc ...
. Games in the ''Mario'' franchise primarily revolve around the protagonist
Mario is a character created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. He is the title character of the ''Mario'' franchise and the mascot of Japanese video game company Nintendo. Mario has appeared in over 200 video games since his cre ...
and often involve the trope of
Bowser , or King Koopa, is a fictional character, the primary antagonist in Nintendo's ''Mario'' franchise, and the arch-nemesis of Mario. In Japan, the character bears the title of . Bowser is the leader of the turtle-like Koopa race. Despite the ...
as the antagonist kidnapping
Princess Peach is a fictional character in Nintendo's ''Mario'' franchise, created by Shigeru Miyamoto and introduced in the 1985 original '' Super Mario Bros.'' installment. She is the princess regnant and ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom, where she resides ...
, with Mario then rescuing her. Many characters have goals or plot arcs that vary from series to series; for example, the ''
Luigi's Mansion is a 2001 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo. The game was a launch title for the GameCube and was the first game in the ''Mario'' franchise to be released for the console; it was released in Japan on September 14, 20 ...
'' games focus on
Luigi is a fictional character featured in video games and related media released by Nintendo. Created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto, Luigi is portrayed as the younger fraternal twin brother and sidekick of Mario, Nintendo's masc ...
ridding a haunted building of ghosts, while
Wario is a fictional character in Nintendo's ''Mario'' series, designed as an arch-rival to Mario. He first appeared in the 1992 Game Boy game '' Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins'' as the main antagonist and final boss. His name is a portmanteau ...
stars in games that center around his greed and desire for money and treasure. Character roots begin with ''
Donkey Kong is a video game franchise created by Shigeru Miyamoto and owned by Nintendo. It follows the adventures of a gorilla named Donkey Kong (character), Donkey Kong and his clan of other Ape, apes and monkeys. The franchise primarily consists of plat ...
'' where
Mario is a character created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. He is the title character of the ''Mario'' franchise and the mascot of Japanese video game company Nintendo. Mario has appeared in over 200 video games since his cre ...
,
Donkey Kong is a video game franchise created by Shigeru Miyamoto and owned by Nintendo. It follows the adventures of a gorilla named Donkey Kong (character), Donkey Kong and his clan of other Ape, apes and monkeys. The franchise primarily consists of plat ...
, and Pauline originate. Designed by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto; they were built off the base of characters from
Popeye Popeye the Sailor Man is a fictional cartoon character created by Elzie Crisler Segar.licensing rights for the characters, Miyamoto made later changes to their appearances and personalities, such as making them more lighthearted in tone. Due to the critical and commercial success of ''Donkey Kong'' when it was released in July 1981, Mario reappeared in ''
Mario Bros. is a 1983 arcade game developed and published for arcades by Nintendo. It was designed by Shigeru Miyamoto and Gunpei Yokoi, Nintendo's chief engineer. Italian twin brother plumbers Mario and Luigi exterminate creatures emerging from the ...
'' and ''
Super Mario Bros. is a platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). The successor to the 1983 arcade game '' Mario Bros.'' and the first game in the ''Super Mario'' series, it was first released in 1985 for ...
'' in 1983 and 1985, respectively. ''Mario Bros.'' introduced Mario's
fraternal twin Twins are two offspring produced by the same pregnancy.MedicineNet > Definition of TwinLast Editorial Review: 19 June 2000 Twins can be either ''monozygotic'' ('identical'), meaning that they develop from one zygote, which splits and forms two e ...
Luigi, and ''Super Mario Bros.'' introduced
Toad Toad is a common name for certain frogs, especially of the family Bufonidae, that are characterized by dry, leathery skin, short legs, and large bumps covering the parotoid glands. A distinction between frogs and toads is not made in scient ...
alongside numerous enemies, with Bowser and Princess Peach replacing Donkey Kong and Pauline. Throughout each series of games, numerous characters have been introduced, and have since become recurring. Some have starred in their own games while others tend to appear in supporting roles. Other main and supporting antagonists appear as a hindrance to the main character. The games all typically share common enemies.


Primary protagonists


Mario

(voiced by
Charles Martinet Charles Martinet (, ; born September 17, 1955) is an American actor and voice actor, known for his portrayal of both Mario and Luigi in the ''Super Mario'' video game series since 1992. He is also the voice of other characters in the series suc ...
) is the mascot of the ''
Mario is a character created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. He is the title character of the ''Mario'' franchise and the mascot of Japanese video game company Nintendo. Mario has appeared in over 200 video games since his cre ...
'' franchise and Nintendo as a whole. He originally appeared in 1981's ''
Donkey Kong is a video game franchise created by Shigeru Miyamoto and owned by Nintendo. It follows the adventures of a gorilla named Donkey Kong (character), Donkey Kong and his clan of other Ape, apes and monkeys. The franchise primarily consists of plat ...
'' as "Jumpman", designed by Shigeru Miyamoto. While Mario was initially a carpenter, he later took the role of a
plumber A plumber is a tradesperson who specializes in installing and maintaining systems used for potable (drinking) water, and for sewage and drainage in plumbing systems.
. Since 1992, Mario has been voiced by Charles Martinet. In most of his appearances, Mario rescues a damsel in distress (typically
Princess Peach is a fictional character in Nintendo's ''Mario'' franchise, created by Shigeru Miyamoto and introduced in the 1985 original '' Super Mario Bros.'' installment. She is the princess regnant and ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom, where she resides ...
) from an antagonist (typically
Bowser , or King Koopa, is a fictional character, the primary antagonist in Nintendo's ''Mario'' franchise, and the arch-nemesis of Mario. In Japan, the character bears the title of . Bowser is the leader of the turtle-like Koopa race. Despite the ...
). Mario's younger brother is
Luigi is a fictional character featured in video games and related media released by Nintendo. Created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto, Luigi is portrayed as the younger fraternal twin brother and sidekick of Mario, Nintendo's masc ...
, and his greedy rival is
Wario is a fictional character in Nintendo's ''Mario'' series, designed as an arch-rival to Mario. He first appeared in the 1992 Game Boy game '' Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins'' as the main antagonist and final boss. His name is a portmanteau ...
.
Yoshi Yoshi is a fictional dinosaur who appears in video games published by Nintendo. Yoshi debuted in ''Super Mario World'' (1990) on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System as Mario and Luigi's sidekick. Yoshi is the title character of the ''Yoshi' ...
serves as Mario's steed in several games, including ''
Super Mario World ''Super Mario World,'' known in Japan as is a platform video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). It was released in Japan in 1990, North America in 1991 and Europe and Australia in 19 ...
''. Since his introduction, Mario has used several different abilities, most notably his jump, which can be used in both defense and offense, such as by jumping onto an enemy's head as an attack. Mario also makesuse of
power-ups In video games, a power-up is an object that adds temporary benefits or extra abilities to the player character as a Game mechanics, game mechanic. This is in contrast to an Item (game), item, which may or may not have a permanent benefit that ca ...
throughout his appearances, such as the Super Mushroom (which allows him to grow larger and survive an additional hit), the Super Star (which grants him temporary invincibility), and the
Fire Flower (also known as and ) is a platform game series created by Nintendo starring their mascot, Mario. It is the central series of the greater Mario (franchise), ''Mario'' franchise. At least one ''Super Mario'' game has been released for every m ...
(which allows him to throw fireballs). Several power-ups also grant Mario the ability to fly, such as the Super Leaf from '' Super Mario Bros. 3''. According to '' Guiness World Records'', Mario is the second most recognizable video game character, only behind Pac-Man. Mario has seen numerous cultural appearances, such as during the closing ceremony of the 2016 Summer Olympics, where
Japanese prime minister The prime minister of Japan ( Japanese: 内閣総理大臣, Hepburn: ''Naikaku Sōri-Daijin'') is the head of government of Japan. The prime minister chairs the Cabinet of Japan and has the ability to select and dismiss its Ministers of Stat ...
Shinzō Abe Shinzo Abe ( ; ja, 安倍 晋三, Hepburn: , ; 21 September 1954 – 8 July 2022) was a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan and President of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) from 2006 to 2007 and again from 2012 to 20 ...
appeared dressed as the character.


Luigi

(voiced by
Charles Martinet Charles Martinet (, ; born September 17, 1955) is an American actor and voice actor, known for his portrayal of both Mario and Luigi in the ''Super Mario'' video game series since 1992. He is also the voice of other characters in the series suc ...
) is the younger brother of
Mario is a character created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. He is the title character of the ''Mario'' franchise and the mascot of Japanese video game company Nintendo. Mario has appeared in over 200 video games since his cre ...
, who Luigi feels a sense of
envy Envy is an emotion which occurs when a person lacks another's quality, skill, achievement, or possession and either desires it or wishes that the other lacked it. Aristotle defined envy as pain at the sight of another's good fortune, stirred b ...
and reverence towards. In the 1983 game ''
Mario Bros. is a 1983 arcade game developed and published for arcades by Nintendo. It was designed by Shigeru Miyamoto and Gunpei Yokoi, Nintendo's chief engineer. Italian twin brother plumbers Mario and Luigi exterminate creatures emerging from the ...
'', Luigi was introduced as the second player character, with many similarities to Mario. While he was initially identical to Mario, he began developing differences in '' Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels'' (1986), which gave him a higher and further jump at the expense of responsiveness and precision. In the North American version of '' Super Mario Bros. 2'' (1988), Luigi was given a taller and thinner appearance than Mario, which played a key role in shaping his modern appearance. Luigi's first starring role was in 1993's '' Mario Is Missing!'', though he played only minor roles in subsequent games until 2001 with ''
Luigi's Mansion is a 2001 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo. The game was a launch title for the GameCube and was the first game in the ''Mario'' franchise to be released for the console; it was released in Japan on September 14, 20 ...
'', where he plays the role of a frightened, unsure, and goofy protagonist attempting to save his brother. The
Year of Luigi The Year of Luigi was the 30th-anniversary celebration of the fictional character Luigi. He was created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto for the 1983 arcade game '' Mario Bros.'' and has appeared frequently as a minor or suppor ...
was celebrated in 2013, which saw many ''Luigi'' games released to commemorate the character's 30th anniversary.


Princess Peach

(voiced by Samantha Kelly), is the
princess Princess is a regal rank and the feminine equivalent of prince (from Latin '' princeps'', meaning principal citizen). Most often, the term has been used for the consort of a prince, or for the daughter of a king or prince. Princess as a subs ...
of the ''
Mario is a character created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. He is the title character of the ''Mario'' franchise and the mascot of Japanese video game company Nintendo. Mario has appeared in over 200 video games since his cre ...
'' franchise's
Mushroom Kingdom The is a fictional principality in Nintendo's ''Mario'' series. It is the setting of most main-series ''Mario'' games with an inconsistent presentation. There is no established canon regarding the topography of the ''Mario'' universe, and many ...
. In the main series games, she typically plays the role of a damsel in distress who needs to be rescued by
Mario is a character created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. He is the title character of the ''Mario'' franchise and the mascot of Japanese video game company Nintendo. Mario has appeared in over 200 video games since his cre ...
. When playable, she typically has the ability to float in the air, and is physically taller than Mario. Her first playable appearance in a main series ''Mario'' game was 1988's '' Super Mario Bros. 2'', while her second was 2013's ''
Super Mario 3D World is a platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii U in 2013. It is the sixth original 3D platform game in the ''Super Mario'' series and the sequel to '' Super Mario 3D Land'' (2011) for the Nintendo 3DS. Players control Ma ...
''. Peach played a starring role in ''
Super Princess Peach ''Super Princess Peach'' is a Platform game, platform video game developed by Tose (company), Tose and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld game console. It was released in Japan in October 2005 and worldwide the following year. ''S ...
'' (2005), where she aims to rescue Mario,
Luigi is a fictional character featured in video games and related media released by Nintendo. Created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto, Luigi is portrayed as the younger fraternal twin brother and sidekick of Mario, Nintendo's masc ...
, and
Toad Toad is a common name for certain frogs, especially of the family Bufonidae, that are characterized by dry, leathery skin, short legs, and large bumps covering the parotoid glands. A distinction between frogs and toads is not made in scient ...
, aided by a parasol named Perry and several abilities based on her emotions–or "vibes". She makes frequent appearances in spin-off ''Mario'' games, such as the '' Mario Kart'' series and the ''Mario'' sports games. In the 2017 game ''
Super Mario Odyssey is a 2017 platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. An entry in the ''Super Mario'' series, it follows Mario and his new ally Cappy—a sentient hat that allows Mario to control other characters and objects ...
'', after being captured by and forced to marry Bowser, and subsequently rescued by Mario, she rejects both of them and instead takes a trip around the world.


Princess Daisy

(voiced by Deanna Mustard) is the
princess Princess is a regal rank and the feminine equivalent of prince (from Latin '' princeps'', meaning principal citizen). Most often, the term has been used for the consort of a prince, or for the daughter of a king or prince. Princess as a subs ...
of Sarasaland, the setting of '' Super Mario Land'' (1989). Since then, she has primarily appeared as a
playable character A player character (also known as a playable character or PC) is a fictional character in a video game or tabletop role-playing game whose actions are controlled by a player rather than the rules of the game. The characters that are not contr ...
in spin-off ''
Mario is a character created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. He is the title character of the ''Mario'' franchise and the mascot of Japanese video game company Nintendo. Mario has appeared in over 200 video games since his cre ...
'' games, especially ''Mario'' sports games. ''
Super Mario Run is a 2016 platform video game developed and published by Nintendo for iOS and later Android (operating system), Android. It is Nintendo's first mobile game that is part of one of the company's long-running and major franchises. In ''Super Mari ...
'' (2016) marks Daisy's playable debut in a main series game, where she is able to perform a
double jump Double jump may refer to: * Double jump (cheerleading), performing the same jump twice in a row in cheerleading * Double jump (figure skating), two revolutions in a figure skating jump * A bid that skips two levels in contract bridge Contract ...
. She acts more
tomboyish A tomboy is a term for a girl or a young woman with masculine qualities. It can include wearing androgynous or unfeminine clothing and actively engage in physical sports or other activities and behaviors usually associated with boys or men. W ...
than
Princess Peach is a fictional character in Nintendo's ''Mario'' franchise, created by Shigeru Miyamoto and introduced in the 1985 original '' Super Mario Bros.'' installment. She is the princess regnant and ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom, where she resides ...
, exemplified by her appearances in the ''Mario'' sports games. Some consider her and
Luigi is a fictional character featured in video games and related media released by Nintendo. Created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto, Luigi is portrayed as the younger fraternal twin brother and sidekick of Mario, Nintendo's masc ...
to be a couple, despite Daisy typically being rescued by
Mario is a character created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. He is the title character of the ''Mario'' franchise and the mascot of Japanese video game company Nintendo. Mario has appeared in over 200 video games since his cre ...
.


Rosalina

(voiced by Laura Faye Smith) is a
princess Princess is a regal rank and the feminine equivalent of prince (from Latin '' princeps'', meaning principal citizen). Most often, the term has been used for the consort of a prince, or for the daughter of a king or prince. Princess as a subs ...
character introduced in 2007's ''
Super Mario Galaxy is a 2007 platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii. It is the third 3D game in the ''Super Mario'' series. As Mario, the player embarks on a quest to rescue Princess Peach, save the universe from Bowser, and collect 1 ...
''. As a child who fled into space after grieving her mother's death, she becomes the adoptive mother of the
Lumas Lumas is a village and a former municipality in Berat County, central Albania. At the 2015 local government reform it became a subdivision of the municipality Kuçovë Kuçovë ( sq-definite, Kuçova) is a municipality in south-central Albania. ...
— mysterious and friendly star-like creatures that inhabit space in the ''
Mario is a character created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. He is the title character of the ''Mario'' franchise and the mascot of Japanese video game company Nintendo. Mario has appeared in over 200 video games since his cre ...
'' franchise. She resides in the Cosmet Observatory, a starship used to traverse the ''Mario'' universe. In later appearances, she typically takes the role of a supporting character, and primarily appears in spin-off titles such as the ''Mario'' sports games, '' Mario Kart'' series, and '' Super Smash Bros.'' series. In ''
Super Mario 3D World is a platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii U in 2013. It is the sixth original 3D platform game in the ''Super Mario'' series and the sequel to '' Super Mario 3D Land'' (2011) for the Nintendo 3DS. Players control Ma ...
'' (2013), she is a
playable character A player character (also known as a playable character or PC) is a fictional character in a video game or tabletop role-playing game whose actions are controlled by a player rather than the rules of the game. The characters that are not contr ...
, and is unlocked through gameplay.


Toad

(voiced by Samantha Kelly) is an anthropomorphic
mushroom A mushroom or toadstool is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground, on soil, or on its food source. ''Toadstool'' generally denotes one poisonous to humans. The standard for the name "mushroom" is ...
-like character. The character first appeared in ''
Super Mario Bros. is a platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). The successor to the 1983 arcade game '' Mario Bros.'' and the first game in the ''Super Mario'' series, it was first released in 1985 for ...
'' (1985), though his first starring role was in ''
Wario's Woods ''Wario's Woods'' is a puzzle video game developed by TEC and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was released in Japan and North America in 1994 and Europe in 1995. A spin-off of the ''Mario'' series, players control T ...
'' (1994), in which the player is able to control Toad to solve puzzles. Toad made his playable debut in a main series ''
Mario is a character created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. He is the title character of the ''Mario'' franchise and the mascot of Japanese video game company Nintendo. Mario has appeared in over 200 video games since his cre ...
'' game in 1988 with '' Super Mario Bros. 2'', and frequently acts as a
non-playable character A non-player character (NPC), or non-playable character, is any character in a game that is not controlled by a player. The term originated in traditional tabletop role-playing games where it applies to characters controlled by the gamemaster ...
in ''Mario'' role-playing games. The character is also a member of the eponymous Toad
species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
, which includes characters such as
Captain Toad Toad, known in Japan as is a fictional character who primarily appears in Nintendo's ''Mario'' franchise. A humanoid with a mushroom-like head, Toad was created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto, and is portrayed as a citizen of ...
, Toadette, and Toadsworth.
Keegan-Michael Key Keegan-Michael Key (born March 22, 1971) is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, and producer. He co-created and co-starred alongside Jordan Peele in Comedy Central's sketch series ''Key & Peele'' (2012–2015) and co-starred in USA Netw ...
voices Toad in ''
The Super Mario Bros. Movie ''The Super Mario Bros. Movie'' is an upcoming computer-animated fantasy adventure comedy film based on the Nintendo video game franchise ''Mario''. The film is produced by Illumination with financing from Universal Pictures and Nintendo, ...
'' (2023).


Toadette

(voiced by Samantha Kelly) is a pink Toad girl character who first appeared in the 2003 video game '' Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'' as a playable driver. Toadette is depicted with two long round pigtails braids and a dress to distinguish herself from Toad. Since ''
Super Mario Odyssey is a 2017 platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. An entry in the ''Super Mario'' series, it follows Mario and his new ally Cappy—a sentient hat that allows Mario to control other characters and objects ...
'', Toadette is a member of the Toad Brigade and has the role of an archivist. Depending on the game, she is either a supporting character or a protagonist, playable in most of the ''Mario'' spin-off games. In ''
New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is a 2D side-scrolling platform video game developed and published in 2012 by Nintendo as a launch game for the Wii U. It is the fourth entry in the ''New Super Mario Bros.'' series, and is the first mainline ''Mario'' game to be released in ...
'', gameplay allows Toadette to transform into Peachette, a form that highly resembles Princess Peach, with her power-up called the Super Crown. As Peachette, she can use Peach's floating jump to hover, and can perform a double jump.


Captain Toad

(voiced by Samantha Kelly) is an explorer, and the leader of the Toad Brigade who first appears in ''
Super Mario Galaxy is a 2007 platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii. It is the third 3D game in the ''Super Mario'' series. As Mario, the player embarks on a quest to rescue Princess Peach, save the universe from Bowser, and collect 1 ...
.'' He makes several appearances within the ''
Mario is a character created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. He is the title character of the ''Mario'' franchise and the mascot of Japanese video game company Nintendo. Mario has appeared in over 200 video games since his cre ...
'' series, like in ''
Super Mario Galaxy 2 is a 2010 platform game, platform video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii. It was first announced at E3 2009 and is the sequel to 2007's ''Super Mario Galaxy''. It was released worldwide in 2010. Much like the first game, t ...
'' or ''
Super Mario Odyssey is a 2017 platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. An entry in the ''Super Mario'' series, it follows Mario and his new ally Cappy—a sentient hat that allows Mario to control other characters and objects ...
'', and as a "treasure tracker". He makes several cameos within '' Super Smash Bros.'' and made his '' Mario Kart'' debut in ''
Mario Kart Tour is a 2019 kart racing mobile game, the fourteenth in the franchise in the ''Mario Kart'' series, developed by Nintendo EPD and published by Nintendo for iOS and Android devices. The game was announced in January 2018 and was released on Sept ...
'' as a playable racer. He is the main protagonist in the subset of levels in ''
Super Mario 3D World is a platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii U in 2013. It is the sixth original 3D platform game in the ''Super Mario'' series and the sequel to '' Super Mario 3D Land'' (2011) for the Nintendo 3DS. Players control Ma ...
'' called ''Captain Toad's Adventures'', and in the game '' Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker''.


Yoshi

(, once Romanized as Yossy; voiced by
Kazumi Totaka is a Japanese video game composer and sound director who is best known for his various compositions in many Nintendo games. He occasionally does voice acting as well, including Yoshi from the ''Mario'' series. He also directed the development ...
) is a green anthropomorphic dinosaur character. He is depicted with a long tongue that can be used to eat enemies, and can turn the enemies he eats into
egg An egg is an organic vessel grown by an animal to carry a possibly fertilized egg cell (a zygote) and to incubate from it an embryo within the egg until the embryo has become an animal fetus that can survive on its own, at which point the a ...
s that can be thrown. Yoshi is a rideable character for the heroes or a playable character in most of the ''Mario'' spin-offs, including his own series.


Birdo

Birdo, also known as Birdette, and known in Japan as , (voiced by Kazumi Totaka) is depicted as a pink, anthropomorphic creature who wears a red bow on her head, and has a round mouth that can fire eggs as projectiles. Birdo first appeared in '' Super Mario Bros. 2'' as a recurring
boss Boss may refer to: Occupations * Supervisor, often referred to as boss * Air boss, more formally, air officer, the person in charge of aircraft operations on an aircraft carrier * Crime boss, the head of a criminal organization * Fire boss, ...
character. Since then, she has been a recurring playable character in various franchise
spin-offs Spin-off may refer to: *Spin-off (media), a media work derived from an existing work *Corporate spin-off, a type of corporate action that forms a new company or entity * Government spin-off, civilian goods which are the result of military or gov ...
. Birdo has been referred to as a "man who thinks of himself as female" in earlier depictions, such as in the Japanese manual for the early prototype game '' Doki Doki Panic'', and was considered female in later games. It is heavily speculated that Birdo is
transgender A transgender (often abbreviated as trans) person is someone whose gender identity or gender expression does not correspond with their sex assigned at birth. Many transgender people experience dysphoria, which they seek to alleviate through ...
; she was considered to be one of the first ever transgender video game characters.


Pauline

(voiced by
Kate Higgins Catherine Davis Higgins is an American voice actress, singer and jazz pianist. Career Music career Higgins earned a degree in music from Auburn University in 1991. She is a trained pianist who studied with the jazz artist Bob Richardson. She rel ...
) debuted in ''
Donkey Kong is a video game franchise created by Shigeru Miyamoto and owned by Nintendo. It follows the adventures of a gorilla named Donkey Kong (character), Donkey Kong and his clan of other Ape, apes and monkeys. The franchise primarily consists of plat ...
'' (1981), and is further featured in ''
Donkey Kong is a video game franchise created by Shigeru Miyamoto and owned by Nintendo. It follows the adventures of a gorilla named Donkey Kong (character), Donkey Kong and his clan of other Ape, apes and monkeys. The franchise primarily consists of plat ...
'' (1994) for Game Boy, and the ''Mario vs. Donkey Kong'' series. She was created by Shigeru Miyamoto, is the earliest example of a female with a speaking role in a video game, and is cited as a famous example of a damsel in distress in fiction. She is the mayor of New Donk City in ''
Super Mario Odyssey is a 2017 platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. An entry in the ''Super Mario'' series, it follows Mario and his new ally Cappy—a sentient hat that allows Mario to control other characters and objects ...
''.


Kong family


Donkey Kong

(voiced by
Takashi Nagasako is a Japanese voice actor who is currently affiliated with Arts Vision. He has voiced in a number of video games with roles such as Ganondorf in ''The Legend of Zelda'', Big the Cat in the ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' series, Cervantes de Leon and ...
) is a male
gorilla Gorillas are herbivorous, predominantly ground-dwelling great apes that inhabit the tropical forests of equatorial Africa. The genus ''Gorilla'' is divided into two species: the eastern gorilla and the western gorilla, and either four or fi ...
that stars in the ''
Donkey Kong is a video game franchise created by Shigeru Miyamoto and owned by Nintendo. It follows the adventures of a gorilla named Donkey Kong (character), Donkey Kong and his clan of other Ape, apes and monkeys. The franchise primarily consists of plat ...
'' franchise. He the leader of the Kong Family, a group of various primates.


Diddy Kong

(Diddy) (voiced by
Katsumi Suzuki is a Japanese voice actor. He is best known as the voice of Kagome's grandfather in ''Inuyasha'' after Ginzo Matsuo's death, and as the voice of Diddy Kong in many of Nintendo's video games since 2004 starting with '' Mario Power Tennis''. He ...
) is an anthropomorphic monkey character who is Donkey Kong's nephew, sidekick, and best friend, appearing in the ''Donkey Kong'' and ''Mario'' franchises. He is the main protagonist of ''
Diddy Kong Racing ''Diddy Kong Racing'' is a 1997 racing video game developed and published by Rare for the Nintendo 64. The game is set on Timber's Island and revolves around Diddy Kong and his friends' attempt to defeat the intergalactic antagonist, a wizar ...
'' and its DS remake. He is depicted as a cheerful and kind character. Created by Rare, the name Diddy is a British term meaning "little".


Cranky Kong

is an older Kong. His first appearance was in 1981's ''Donkey Kong'', where, as the game's antagonist, he kidnapped Pauline, though he was stopped by
Mario is a character created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. He is the title character of the ''Mario'' franchise and the mascot of Japanese video game company Nintendo. Mario has appeared in over 200 video games since his cre ...
.


Other supporting characters


Poochy

is portrayed as
Yoshi Yoshi is a fictional dinosaur who appears in video games published by Nintendo. Yoshi debuted in ''Super Mario World'' (1990) on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System as Mario and Luigi's sidekick. Yoshi is the title character of the ''Yoshi' ...
's helper dog. He debuted in '' Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island'' and continued through the ''Yoshi'' series such as in '' Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World''. In the games, he can do things that Yoshi cannot, such as sniff out hidden items, cross over dangerous terrain, and jump over walls to give Yoshi a boost out of his wall jumps.


Professor E. Gadd

(voiced by Kazumi Totaka), more commonly known as Professor E. Gadd, is a scientist and inventor. He primarily appears in the ''
Luigi's Mansion is a 2001 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo. The game was a launch title for the GameCube and was the first game in the ''Mario'' franchise to be released for the console; it was released in Japan on September 14, 20 ...
'' series, in which he invented several objects, such as
Luigi is a fictional character featured in video games and related media released by Nintendo. Created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto, Luigi is portrayed as the younger fraternal twin brother and sidekick of Mario, Nintendo's masc ...
's Poltergust 3000 and Gooigi from ''
Luigi's Mansion 3 is a 2019 action-adventure video game developed by Next Level Games and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. It is the third main installment in the ''Luigi's Mansion'' series following '' Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon''. The game sees ...
''. He is referenced in ''
Super Mario Sunshine is a 2002 platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the GameCube. It is the second 3D game in the ''Super Mario'' series, following '' Super Mario 64'' (1996). The game was directed by Yoshiaki Koizumi and Kenta Usui, produced b ...
'' as the inventor of
Mario is a character created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. He is the title character of the ''Mario'' franchise and the mascot of Japanese video game company Nintendo. Mario has appeared in over 200 video games since his cre ...
's F.L.U.D.D., a device that allows him to spray water. The character has also made cameo appearances in series such as ''
Mario Party is a party video game series featuring characters from the ''Mario'' franchise in which up to four local players or computer-controlled characters (called " CPUs") compete in a board game interspersed with minigames. The games are currentl ...
'' and ''
Mario & Luigi ''Mario & Luigi'' is a series of role-playing video games developed by AlphaDream and published by Nintendo for the latter's various video game handheld consoles. The series is a spin-off from Nintendo's trademark ''Super Mario'' series, and stars ...
''.


Toadsworth

(voiced by Scott Burns) is an elderly Toad character who is Princess Peach's steward. He is depicted showing concern for the princess' safety and acts as a prime caretaker for the Toads. He debuted in ''
Super Mario Sunshine is a 2002 platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the GameCube. It is the second 3D game in the ''Super Mario'' series, following '' Super Mario 64'' (1996). The game was directed by Yoshiaki Koizumi and Kenta Usui, produced b ...
'' for GameCube, in which he goes on vacation with Mario, Peach and the other Toads. In '' Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time'', he is revealed to have cared for the princess since she was a baby.


Lumas

The Lumas are depicted as friendly star-like creatures. They first appear in ''
Super Mario Galaxy is a 2007 platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii. It is the third 3D game in the ''Super Mario'' series. As Mario, the player embarks on a quest to rescue Princess Peach, save the universe from Bowser, and collect 1 ...
'', where they have the ability to transform into various game objects, explorable planetoids, and entire levels. Lumas come in a variety of colors, though are most commonly yellow. One particular Luma, also referred to as Baby Luma, or Young Master Luma, is a major character in the ''Super Mario Galaxy'' games, granting Mario or Luigi the power to Star Spin.


Antagonists


Bowser

or King Koopa (voiced by Kenneth W. James) is the king of the turtle-like Koopa race, a selfish troublemaker who wants to take over the
Mushroom Kingdom The is a fictional principality in Nintendo's ''Mario'' series. It is the setting of most main-series ''Mario'' games with an inconsistent presentation. There is no established canon regarding the topography of the ''Mario'' universe, and many ...
. He is depicted as
Mario is a character created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. He is the title character of the ''Mario'' franchise and the mascot of Japanese video game company Nintendo. Mario has appeared in over 200 video games since his cre ...
's nemesis, and is the final boss of most ''Mario'' games. He is playable in all ''
Mario is a character created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. He is the title character of the ''Mario'' franchise and the mascot of Japanese video game company Nintendo. Mario has appeared in over 200 video games since his cre ...
'' spin-off games. is a recurring antagonist in the ''Mario'' series. Debuting as a form of Bowser after losing his flesh in '' New Super Mario Bros.'', the character has appeared as his own being starting with ''
Mario Kart Wii is a kart racing game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii. It is the sixth installment in the ''Mario Kart'' series, and was released in April 2008. Like its previous installments, ''Mario Kart Wii'' incorporates playable characters ...
'', often serving as the final antagonist in the main games. Dry Bowser appears in '' Mario Party: Island Tour'', and is a playable character in several of the ''Mario'' spin-off games.


Bowser Jr.

in Japan; voiced by Caety Sagoian), or sometimes simply Jr. or Junior, is the son of Bowser, who first appeared in the 2002 game ''
Super Mario Sunshine is a 2002 platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the GameCube. It is the second 3D game in the ''Super Mario'' series, following '' Super Mario 64'' (1996). The game was directed by Yoshiaki Koizumi and Kenta Usui, produced b ...
''. He is often depicted as the secondary antagonist throughout the ''
Mario is a character created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. He is the title character of the ''Mario'' franchise and the mascot of Japanese video game company Nintendo. Mario has appeared in over 200 video games since his cre ...
'' series. In the games, Bowser Jr. looks up to his dad, and shares his ambition to defeat Mario, and take over the
Mushroom Kingdom The is a fictional principality in Nintendo's ''Mario'' series. It is the setting of most main-series ''Mario'' games with an inconsistent presentation. There is no established canon regarding the topography of the ''Mario'' universe, and many ...
. Bowser Jr. is playable in most of the spin-off ''Mario'' games, and in '' Super Smash Bros.'' He is the main protagonist of '' Bowser Jr.'s Journey'' (2018) included in the remake of '' Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story''.


Wario

(; voiced by Charles Martinet) is an
obese Obesity is a medical condition, sometimes considered a disease, in which excess body fat has accumulated to such an extent that it may negatively affect health. People are classified as obese when their body mass index (BMI)—a person's we ...
yet muscular, hot-tempered, and greedy man. He is depicted as Mario's yellow-and-purple clad arch-rival. He initially debuted as an antagonist, but over the years has become an
anti-hero An antihero (sometimes spelled as anti-hero) or antiheroine is a main character in a story who may lack conventional heroic qualities and attributes, such as idealism, courage, and morality. Although antiheroes may sometimes perform action ...
, even being playable in a few titles. Wario is the protagonist of the ''
Wario is a fictional character in Nintendo's ''Mario'' series, designed as an arch-rival to Mario. He first appeared in the 1992 Game Boy game '' Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins'' as the main antagonist and final boss. His name is a portmanteau ...
'' series and is playable in most of the ''Mario'' spin-off games where he is shown to be Waluigi's partner. His name is portmanteau of "warui", the Japanese word for "bad", and "Mario". Wario's favorite food is garlic, often used in gameplay to restore health when he gets defeated.


Waluigi

(; voiced by Charles Martinet) is a tall, thin, and mischievous man who was introduced in ''
Mario Tennis ''Mario Tennis'' is a 2000 sports video game developed by Camelot Software Planning and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. Following ''Mario's Tennis'', it is the second game in the ''Mario Tennis'' series. The game is known for being ...
'' as Wario's partner. He is Luigi's black-and-purple clad arch-rival. Waluigi is often an antagonist who teams up with Wario to accomplish their schemes. He is playable in most of the ''Mario'' spin-off games, and makes several cameos within the '' Super Smash Bros.'' series. Like with Wario, his name is a portmanteau of "warui" and "Luigi".


Koopalings

The are seven siblings who first appeared as boss characters in the 1988 game '' Super Mario Bros. 3''. Their individual names are Ludwig, Lemmy, Roy, Iggy, Wendy, Morton, and Larry. They were originally depicted as the children of the series antagonist Bowser, and later referred to as his minions. They have since appeared in subsequent '' Super Mario'' games, spin-off ''Mario'' games, and the '' Super Smash Bros.'' series.


Kamek

(; voiced by Atsushi Masaki) is a member of the fictional Magikoopa species who is Bowser's childhood caretaker, and then one of his high-ranking minions. Kamek is the main antagonist of the ''Yoshi'' series. In his various game appearances, his magic includes self-duplication, teleportation, shooting magical blasts, and changing the size of other creatures. He is often distinguished from other Magikoopas by the broom he rides on. In Japan, his species is also named Kamek, but outside Japan they are called Magikoopas. This will sometimes lead to a literal translation, as in ''
Super Princess Peach ''Super Princess Peach'' is a Platform game, platform video game developed by Tose (company), Tose and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld game console. It was released in Japan in October 2005 and worldwide the following year. ''S ...
'' where a boss is described as "A Kamek made huge by magic". Some Japanese sources such as the guide for ''Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi's Island'' call him "Fang" to distinguish him from regular Magikoopas.


King Boo

(voiced by Toru Asakawa) is the king of the Boos, and is the main antagonist of the ''
Luigi's Mansion is a 2001 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo. The game was a launch title for the GameCube and was the first game in the ''Mario'' franchise to be released for the console; it was released in Japan on September 14, 20 ...
'' series. He plays minor roles, occasionally playable, in various other ''
Mario is a character created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. He is the title character of the ''Mario'' franchise and the mascot of Japanese video game company Nintendo. Mario has appeared in over 200 video games since his cre ...
'' games, including the '' Mario Kart'' and ''
Mario Party is a party video game series featuring characters from the ''Mario'' franchise in which up to four local players or computer-controlled characters (called " CPUs") compete in a board game interspersed with minigames. The games are currentl ...
'' series. King Boo's first major debuted role was as the final boss of ''
Luigi's Mansion is a 2001 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo. The game was a launch title for the GameCube and was the first game in the ''Mario'' franchise to be released for the console; it was released in Japan on September 14, 20 ...
'', where he disguised himself as Bowser. He is depicted as much larger than the average Boos that appear in games after ''Luigi's Mansion''. He dons a crown with a large ruby, and has glowing, sunken eyes in the ''Luigi's Mansion'' franchise. A similar character named Big Boo is an enemy in ''
Super Mario World ''Super Mario World,'' known in Japan as is a platform video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). It was released in Japan in 1990, North America in 1991 and Europe and Australia in 19 ...
,'' and a boss in '' Super Mario 64 DS''. Additionally, a different character also named King Boo, known as Boss Boo in Japan, appears as a boss in ''
Super Mario Sunshine is a 2002 platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the GameCube. It is the second 3D game in the ''Super Mario'' series, following '' Super Mario 64'' (1996). The game was directed by Yoshiaki Koizumi and Kenta Usui, produced b ...
''.


Petey Piranha

, known as in Japan, (voiced by
Toru Minegishi is a Japanese video game composer known for his work on Nintendo games, most notably in ''The Legend of Zelda'' and ''Splatoon'' series. He was raised in a musical family and developed an interest in video games and their music from an early ...
) is a large, powerful Piranha Plant character. Whereas normal Piranha Plants are usually depicted growing from pipes, Petey's leaves and roots are foot-like and arm-like appendages, allowing the character to use objects such as tennis rackets and golf clubs when playable in the various ''Mario'' sports games. He has also been shown to be able to use his leaves to fly around in the air. He first appeared as the primary boss of Bianco Hills in the game ''
Super Mario Sunshine is a 2002 platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the GameCube. It is the second 3D game in the ''Super Mario'' series, following '' Super Mario 64'' (1996). The game was directed by Yoshiaki Koizumi and Kenta Usui, produced b ...
''. Similar Piranha Plant boss characters later appear in ''
Super Mario Galaxy is a 2007 platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii. It is the third 3D game in the ''Super Mario'' series. As Mario, the player embarks on a quest to rescue Princess Peach, save the universe from Bowser, and collect 1 ...
'' and its sequel.


Fawful

(voiced by Nami Funashima), known in Japan as Gerakobits, is a recurring antagonist in the ''
Mario & Luigi ''Mario & Luigi'' is a series of role-playing video games developed by AlphaDream and published by Nintendo for the latter's various video game handheld consoles. The series is a spin-off from Nintendo's trademark ''Super Mario'' series, and stars ...
'' series. The character is considered to be " insane," and speaks in a " schizophasic" manner. He served as the secondary antagonist of ''Superstar Saga'', and the main antagonist of ''Bowser's Inside Story''.


Enemy characters

* Angry Sun - A sentient
sun The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is a nearly perfect ball of hot plasma, heated to incandescence by nuclear fusion reactions in its core. The Sun radiates this energy mainly as light, ultraviolet, and infrared radi ...
that swoops down at the player character. A moon variant of this enemy appears in '' Super Mario Maker 2'', which defeats all enemies when touched. * Blooper - A sentry-like squid that chases after the player, debuting in ''
Super Mario Bros. is a platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). The successor to the 1983 arcade game '' Mario Bros.'' and the first game in the ''Super Mario'' series, it was first released in 1985 for ...
'' Blooper Nannies thrust smaller versions of themselves toward the player. * - A bomb enemy introduced in '' Super Mario Bros. 2'' with a wind-up key and a fuse, which explodes after a set amount of time or when thrown. King Bob-omb, previously Big Bob-omb, was introduced in '' Super Mario 64'', as a boss character there and in ''
Mario Party 9 is a party video game developed by NDcube and published by Nintendo for the Wii. The ninth main installment in the ''Mario Party ''series, it was announced at E3 2011 and released in Europe, North America, and Australia in March 2012, followed by ...
'', '' Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam'', and '' Mario Party: Star Rush''. * Boo - A spherical ghost enemy introduced in '' Super Mario Bros. 3'', which sneaks up on the player from behind while they are facing away from it. Inspired by a rage that
Takashi Tezuka is a Japanese video game designer, director, and video game producer, producer. He is a senior officer of Nintendo EPD and executive at Nintendo. Career Upon graduating the Design Department of Osaka University of Arts, he joined Nintendo in A ...
's wife went into after he came home from work late. * Bullet Bill - A bullet with angry eyes and clenched fists that is shot out of a cannon called a "Bill Blaster". They have a larger counterpart with a
shark Sharks are a group of elasmobranch fish characterized by a cartilaginous skeleton, five to seven gill slits on the sides of the head, and pectoral fins that are not fused to the head. Modern sharks are classified within the clade Selachi ...
-like face, known as Banzai Bills. * Chain Chomp - A metallic ball-and-chain creature that lunges at the player when he approaches it. Inspired by a childhood experience of Shigeru Miyamoto's with a violent dog. * Cheep Cheep - A red, circular fish that made their first appearance in ''
Super Mario Bros. is a platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). The successor to the 1983 arcade game '' Mario Bros.'' and the first game in the ''Super Mario'' series, it was first released in 1985 for ...
'' They are found primarily in the water, but some can jump in an arc, or fly within a limited range. There are many different species of Cheep Cheeps, and they come in different colors, such as green, yellow, and purple. Giant varieties of Cheep Cheep who leap out of the water or pursue and attempt to swallow the player have been known as Boss Bass, Big Bass, and Big Bertha. Some big Cheep Cheeps have spikes on their backs and are known as Porcupuffers. Skeletal variants of Cheep Cheep known as Fish Bones charge at the player when they get close and break apart if they collide with a wall. * Dry Bones - A walking Koopa Troopa skeleton that reassembles itself after being hit. It can only be defeated by a Super Star, a Cape Feather, Super Leaf, or an Ice Flower. * Fuzzy - A spiked creature which hangs in the air, and sometimes moves on trail. It makes its debut in ''
Super Mario World ''Super Mario World,'' known in Japan as is a platform video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). It was released in Japan in 1990, North America in 1991 and Europe and Australia in 19 ...
''. *
Goomba Goombas , known in Japan as , are a fictional mushroom-like species from Nintendo's ''Mario'' franchise. They first appeared in the NES video game ''Super Mario Bros.'' as the first enemy players encounter. They have appeared outside video ga ...
- A sentient
mushroom A mushroom or toadstool is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground, on soil, or on its food source. ''Toadstool'' generally denotes one poisonous to humans. The standard for the name "mushroom" is ...
creature, which is the first enemy that the player typically encounters in the games' first levels. Implemented late in the development of '' Super Mario Bros'' as a basic, easy-to-defeat enemy. Variants of the Goomba may have wings, known as the Paragoomba, and similar creatures include the Galoomba, which flips over and can be thrown when stomped on, and the Goombrat, which turns at edges. *
Hammer Bro The Hammer Bro (plural: ''Hammer Bros.'' or ) is a recurring enemy in the ''Mario'' video game series. Created by Japanese video game designer Kazuaki Morita, it is a Koopa that walks upright and attacks by throwing hammer projectiles at the p ...
- A type of helmet-wearing Koopa who throws hammers at the player. It has several variations that throw other projectiles, such as the Boomerang Bro and the Fire Bro, and a bigger variant known as a Sledge Bro which can stun the player. *
Koopa Troopa Koopa Troopas, known in Japan as , are fictional footsoldiers of the turtle-like Koopa race from the Mario (franchise), ''Mario'' media franchise. They are commonly referred to generically as Koopas, a race that includes Bowser, Bowser, King of ...
- A foot soldier of Bowser. It retracts in its shell when stomped on, after which it can be used to attack other foes. Variants of the Koopa may have wings, where it is known as the Paratroopa or the Koopa Paratroopa. There are many other varieties of the Koopa Troopa such as red, yellow, and blue. Several other subspecies appear throughout the ''Mario'' games. ** Buzzy Beetle - A black or blue beetle-like creature with a hard, fireproof shell that renders it immune to fire attacks. It can crawl on ceilings and drop down when the player gets too close. ** Chargin' Chuck - A Koopa wearing football gear that mostly charges at the player, but can also use items such as baseballs and shovels. ** Mechakoopa - A robot with a wind-up key that becomes disabled and can be thrown after being stomped on. A variant introduced in ''
Super Mario Galaxy is a 2007 platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii. It is the third 3D game in the ''Super Mario'' series. As Mario, the player embarks on a quest to rescue Princess Peach, save the universe from Bowser, and collect 1 ...
'' is capable of breathing fire. ** Spike Top - A red wall-crawling beetle-like creature which combines the Buzzy Beetle's immunity to fire and the Spiny's immunity to being jumped on, although it can be spin-jumped on. ** Spiny - A red
beetle Beetles are insects that form the order Coleoptera (), in the superorder Endopterygota. Their front pair of wings are hardened into wing-cases, elytra, distinguishing them from most other insects. The Coleoptera, with about 400,000 describ ...
-like creature that damages the player if touched from above. They are often thrown by Lakitus in unlimited supplies, but can also be found individually. *
Lakitu Lakitu ( or ), known in Japan as is a fictional flying Koopa in the ''Mario'' franchise. Created by Shigeru Miyamoto, he first appeared in the Nintendo Entertainment System video game ''Super Mario Bros.'', where he dropped enemies called ...
- A cloud-riding Koopa with aviator goggles that drops an endless supply of Spinies. It also appears in ''Mario'' spin-off games with various roles including ''
Mario Tennis ''Mario Tennis'' is a 2000 sports video game developed by Camelot Software Planning and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. Following ''Mario's Tennis'', it is the second game in the ''Mario Tennis'' series. The game is known for being ...
'' and '' Mario Kart''. * Magikoopa - A wizard Koopa capable of casting magic spells, turning blocks into foes, power-ups, or coins. Magikoopas first appeared in ''
Super Mario World ''Super Mario World,'' known in Japan as is a platform video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). It was released in Japan in 1990, North America in 1991 and Europe and Australia in 19 ...
''. Kamek and Kammy Koopa are recurring individuals of this species, appearing in the ''
Yoshi Yoshi is a fictional dinosaur who appears in video games published by Nintendo. Yoshi debuted in ''Super Mario World'' (1990) on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System as Mario and Luigi's sidekick. Yoshi is the title character of the ''Yoshi' ...
'' and ''
Paper Mario ''Paper Mario'' is a video game series and part of the ''Mario'' franchise, developed by Intelligent Systems and produced by Nintendo. It combines elements from the role-playing, action-adventure, and puzzle genres. Players control a paper ...
'' series, respectively. * Monty Mole - A
mole Mole (or Molé) may refer to: Animals * Mole (animal) or "true mole", mammals in the family Talpidae, found in Eurasia and North America * Golden moles, southern African mammals in the family Chrysochloridae, similar to but unrelated to Talpida ...
-like enemy that burrows underground, and springs out of the ground when the player gets close. A similar enemy known as the Rocky Wrench pops out of
airship An airship or dirigible balloon is a type of aerostat or lighter-than-air aircraft that can navigate through the air under its own power. Aerostats gain their lift from a lifting gas that is less dense than the surrounding air. In early ...
manhole A manhole (utility hole, maintenance hole, or sewer hole) is an opening to a confined space such as a shaft, utility vault, or large vessel. Manholes are often used as an access point for an underground public utility, allowing inspection, m ...
s and throws
wrench A wrench or spanner is a tool used to provide grip and mechanical advantage in applying torque to turn objects—usually rotary fasteners, such as nuts and bolts—or keep them from turning. In the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zeala ...
es at the player. * Piranha Plant - A leafy, stalk-topped carnivorous plant with sharp teeth that typically lives within pipes. Known as Pakkun Flower in Japan, it has made numerous appearances outside of the ''Mario'' franchise, including as a playable character in ''
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'' is a 2018 crossover fighting video game developed by Bandai Namco Studios and Sora Ltd. and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. It is the fifth installment in the '' Super Smash Bros.'' series, succeed ...
'' via
downloadable content Downloadable content (DLC) is additional content created for an already released video game, distributed through the Internet by the game's publisher. It can either be added for no extra cost or it can be a form of video game monetization, enabli ...
. * Podoboo - A fireball that jumps out of lava and can bounce off walls. It is also referred to as a Lava Bubble (a name shared with other lava based enemies). A Blue Podoboo homes in on the player and jumps out of blue lava and is found in ''
Super Princess Peach ''Super Princess Peach'' is a Platform game, platform video game developed by Tose (company), Tose and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld game console. It was released in Japan in October 2005 and worldwide the following year. ''S ...
'', and a variant of the Lava Bubble that chases after the player and spits fireballs appears mainly in the ''
Paper Mario ''Paper Mario'' is a video game series and part of the ''Mario'' franchise, developed by Intelligent Systems and produced by Nintendo. It combines elements from the role-playing, action-adventure, and puzzle genres. Players control a paper ...
'' games. * Pokey - A spiked
cactus A cactus (, or less commonly, cactus) is a member of the plant family Cactaceae, a family comprising about 127 genera with some 1750 known species of the order Caryophyllales. The word ''cactus'' derives, through Latin, from the Ancient Gree ...
with detachable green or yellow body segments, which first appeared in the international '' Super Mario Bros. 2''. * Shy Guy - A timid masked creature wearing a robe, which comes in many different colors and variations. Introduced in the international '' Super Mario Bros. 2'', but more commonly portrayed as an enemy to Yoshi since ''
Yoshi's Island ''Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island'' is a 1995 platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). The player controls Yoshi, a friendly dinosaur, on a quest to reunite baby Mario with his ...
''. Some variants include the Snifit, a Shy Guy with a cannon on its mask which it uses to fire bullets, and the Fly Guy, a Shy Guy with a propeller on its head that can fly. Voiced by Nintendo of America localization manager Nate Bihldorff. * Spike - A green Koopa creature that attacks with spiked balls, which it throws out of its mouth. First appeared in '' Super Mario Bros. 3''. * Thwomp - A large stone block with an angry face that is mainly encountered in castles. It attempts to crush the player, usually from above. There is a smaller variation of the Thwomp called a Thwimp. * Whomp - An anthropomorphic stone slab that slams its face on the ground when the player gets near. It can only be defeated by ground pounding its back. Inspired by the Japanese mythical wall monster, the nurikabe. * Wiggler - A caterpillar enemy introduced in ''
Super Mario World ''Super Mario World,'' known in Japan as is a platform video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). It was released in Japan in 1990, North America in 1991 and Europe and Australia in 19 ...
'', which changes color and charges at the player when stomped on. It is a playable character in ''
Mario Kart 7 ''Mario Kart 7'' is a Kart racing game, kart racing video game developed by Nintendo EAD in cooperation with Retro Studios and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS in 2011. As with the previous games in the Mario Kart, ''Mario Kart'' ser ...
''. Some Wigglers, known as Flutters, have butterfly wings.


See also

* Bowsette — a fan-made character based upon Bowser and Peachette


Notes


References


External links


List of characters
at the Super Mario Wiki, a ''Mario''-centric
wiki A wiki ( ) is an online hypertext publication collaboratively edited and managed by its own audience, using a web browser. A typical wiki contains multiple pages for the subjects or scope of the project, and could be either open to the pub ...
{{Portal bar, 1990s, Video games
Mario is a character created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. He is the title character of the ''Mario'' franchise and the mascot of Japanese video game company Nintendo. Mario has appeared in over 200 video games since his cre ...
Mario (franchise) characters