The magic of Mario: Why this gaming icon continues to captivate generations
A piece of history
When we talk about icons in the gaming world, Mario is undoubtedly one of the first to come to mind. But did you know that Mario wasn't actually called 'Mario'? He made his debut in 1981 as "Jumpman" in the arcade game Donkey Kong, in which he battled a giant monkey to save his loved one. The power of the game was in its simplicity: jumping and climbing to avoid obstacles and get higher. This "jumping" turned out to be so addictive that Jumpman quickly became popular.
Not much later, Jumpman was given his iconic name "Mario", named after the owner of the warehouse where Nintendo had its American office at the time. Super Mario Bros. followed in 1985. for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), which completely changed the gaming world. The game was colorful, full of challenging levels and surprises, and became a hit with everyone. Mario became the hero who always saves the princess and laid the foundation for a world full of adventure.
Since then, Mario has starred in countless games, from Super Mario 64 – in which he made the leap to 3D – to Mario Kart, which we regularly compete for as a family (and try to avoid those blue shields!). Mario remains relevant as each new game stays true to the core of what made the original so fun, while also offering something new and fresh. Even after decades, Mario remains a timeless icon.
My first experience with Mario
My first introduction to Mario was with The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! when I was about ten years old. Later I sometimes went to the Black Market in Beverwijk with my parents, where I bought a Super Nintendo – obviously not the official one, but a fake one with dozens of pre-installed games. Still, I had a blast playing Duck Hunt and Super Mario Bros. to play.
A few years later, while working in an office at a printing company, I bought a Nintendo 3DS. With a special card, the well-known R4 card, I could play downloaded games. Every now and then I sat in the office playing Mario Kart with my colleague who was six years older. Those were the days!
The Mario virus didn't really hit until I met my husband. We have owned a Wii together, a Wii U, and during our trip to Japan in 2017 we looked for a Nintendo Switch Mario Odyssey Edition, which had just been released. We finally found one for a good price, and we still use it.
Experiences within our family
For my husband, Mario is even more special; he really grew up with everything from Nintendo and has owned just about every game console. Mario and Zelda are favorites.
Our eldest son, Anakin, has also grown up with it. When he was one and a half, he could already say "Maio". Now he's almost six, and when he moved to another room in 2021, he wanted Mario wallpaper. His room now features Mario surfing a Japanese wave! On the Switch he is better than me at certain games and he is very proud when he has collected another moon in Mario Odyssey. Mario Wonder and the latest Zelda (Echoes of Wisdom) are also among his favorites. It looks like the Mario virus is being passed on to the next generation.
Our youngest son, Obi, is now one and a half, but does not yet say "Maio." Maybe he'll skip Mario, although his love for "bananas" makes him seem more of a Donkey Kong type! Anyway, I'm sure that on our next visit to Japan we will have to go to Universal Studios in Osaka again, because I would like to see Nintendoland myself! I'm already starting to save for all the nice merchandise. And I haven't even mentioned the amount of Super Mario Lego we have at home.
What is it that keeps Mario timeless and compelling?
Mario continues to fascinate because of its accessibility to young and old. Almost everyone knows him, and his simple gameplay – running, jumping, avoiding obstacles – remains fun and accessible every time. Whether you're an experienced gamer or a beginner, the controls are so intuitive that anyone can join in. That timeless simplicity ensures that players of all ages will have fun with Mario.
Nintendo always manages to introduce something new without giving up the familiar elements. From 2D platforms to 3D worlds and from multiplayer Mario Kart races to open-world concepts like in Super Mario Odyssey, the games continue to feel fresh, but always recognizable as “Mario.”
For us, Mario is not just a game, but something that connects generations and brings our family together. The magic of Mario lives on – and we are very happy about that!