Nintendo is preparing for a large-scale celebration for the 40th anniversary of Super Mario Bros., one of the most influential franchises in video game history. The milestone, which will be celebrated in September 2025, consolidates the journey of the character created by Shigeru Miyamoto, who evolved from an 8-bit hero to a global cultural icon, recognized by multiple generations around the world.
To mark the date, the Japanese company announced a series of ambitious projects that reinforce its expansion strategy beyond consoles. Entre the main news is the confirmation of the sequel to the box office hit “Super Mario Bros.
The impact of the franchise is reflected in its impressive numbers, with global sales that have already surpassed the 900 million unit mark. The celebration of four decades of existence not only highlights the continued commercial success, but also the profound cultural legacy of Mario, Luigi, Princesa Peach and the entire Reino Cogumelo universe, which remains relevant and innovative.
The origin of the classic that revolutionized video games
Originally released on September 13, 1985 for the Famicom in the Japão, Super Mario Bros. set a new standard for platform games. The title introduced mechanics that would become fundamental to the genre, such as continuous side scrolling, which provided a sensation of exploration and adventure unprecedented at the time.
The level design, conceived by Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka, was remarkably intuitive, encouraging curiosity with secret passages, pipes that led to bonus areas, and blocks that hid valuable items. The introduction of power-ups, such as Super Cogumelo and Flor from Fogo, added a strategic layer that transformed the way games were designed and played, influencing countless titles for decades to come.
Continuous innovation with each console generation
After the resounding success of the first game, Nintendo spared no effort to innovate with each new release. In 1988, Super Mario Bros. 3 drastically expanded on the original concept, introducing a world map that allowed players to choose their paths and iconic power-ups, such as the Super Folha, which transformed Mario into Raccoon Mario.
The transition to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in the 1990s brought Super Mario World, which introduced the world to the dinosaur Yoshi. The character quickly became one of the most beloved in the franchise, adding new gameplay mechanics and an even more interconnected world full of secrets.
The biggest evolutionary leap, however, occurred in 1996 with Super Mario 64 to Nintendo 64. The freedom of exploration in the vast worlds within the castle of Princesa Peach represented a true technical and creative revolution.
From 2D to 3D: the ability to reinvent yourself
Even after consolidating its dominance in the 3D universe, the series demonstrated its versatility by successfully returning to the 2D format with the New Super Mario Bros. line, which captivated both veteran players and a new generation of fans with its classic and polished gameplay.
In the three-dimensional field, creativity reached new heights with titles such as Super Mario Galaxy to Wii, which explored concepts of gravity on spherical planets, offering a level design that challenged players’ spatial perception.
More recently, Super Mario Odyssey to Nintendo Switch celebrated the freedom of exploration, giving players vast realms to discover with the help of Cappy, the living hat of
In 2023, the franchise proved that it is still capable of reinventing itself with Super Mario Bros. Wonder. The game subverted the traditional 2D formula with the introduction of Flores Fenomenais, items that drastically alter levels in unpredictable and surreal ways, ensuring that the experience of playing Mario remains fresh and surprising.
The box office phenomenon and the expansion into cinema
Nintendo’s strategy of taking its intellectual properties to other media reached its peak in 2023 with the release of “Super Mario Bros. O Filme”. Desenvolvido in partnership with the animation studio Illumination, the feature film became an overwhelming global success, grossing more than 1.36 billion dollars at the box office and breaking multiple records for video game adaptations. The film was praised for its fidelity to the source material, with vibrant visuals and numerous references that pleased longtime fans while introducing the universe to an entirely new audience.
The success was so significant that Nintendo and Illumination did not hesitate to officially confirm the production of a sequel, with a release date already scheduled for April 2026. of its characters for the coming decades.
From virtual to real: immersion in theme parks
Immersion in Reino Cogumelo stopped being a dream and became a tangible reality with the inauguration of the Super Nintendo World themed areas, an ambitious project in collaboration with the Universal Studios parks. The first location opened at Japão, followed by one at Califórnia, bringing to life iconic locations like Castelo at Peach and Fortaleza at Bowser with a stunning level of detail that transports visitors directly into the gaming universe. In Nessas areas, visitors can participate in cutting-edge interactive attractions, such as the augmented reality race “Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge”, and use special bracelets, the Power-Up The expansion continues at full steam, with the next grand opening scheduled for Orlando, Flórida, which will receive a new area dedicated to Donkey Kong in 2025, further expanding the physical world of Nintendo.
A global pop culture icon
After four decades of history, Mario has completely transcended the world of video games to become a globally recognized pop culture ambassador. Sua image prints an infinite range of products, from toys and clothing to decoration items, and its influence is seen in collaborations with major brands and even in events on a global scale, such as its memorable participation in the closing ceremony of the Olimpíadas of Rio of Janeiro in 2016.
