1. Mario Himself is a very loveable character.

Mario has always been the star of the show. With his recurrences in every game, while being the main character. Mario has so many amazing traits that make him so loveable to kids and adults. To start he is not only caring to his friends, but his brother Luigi as well. He never lets them down. He also doesn’t engage in any mischief like stealing or bad language. Lastly, he is willing to take on many challenges for his loved ones. 

Fun Fact:

• Mario doesn't have a last name

2. Mario Characters are a staple when it comes to Mario.

When you think of Mario, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Probably the famous plumber with a red suit and a mustache, or any of the characters for that matter. Not to mention all of the Mario characters are great role models. For example, Mario is always there for his friends, Rosalina is a strong warrior, Luigi always faces his fears, and Bowser is even there for his kids, and helps when he’s needed. The nostalgia of the characters also brings new and old faces to the games. There is always consistency in character designs in order to recognize them. The art and designs of the characters inspire artists and plenty of costumes. The character designs were all made to describe their character, for example, red is passion, energy, and strength. While pink is femininity, respect, and gratitude. 

Fun Facts:

• Yoshi's full name is “T Yoshisaur Munchakoopas” (TheScarboroughNews.co.uk, “Poll reveals the most-loved Super Mario character of all time…and it isn’t Mario”). 

• “Mario” originated from the game “Donkey Kong”.

3. The community aspect of Mario brings people together.

Mario has brought many families and friends together. The community of Mario is one of the things that makes Mario so special. While there’s playing together, and sharing special moments, there are also many other aspects of the community. There are “Super Mario Boards” and many other fan forums. So many speed runners contribute to the Mario community. They practice Mario games for so many hours and make it a part of their lifestyle. Speedrunners aren’t the only hard-working Mario players. There are also Super Smash Bros. and other Mario game championships. Another part of the community is the millions of fans in general. Whether you’re fighting a Super Smash Bros. championship, or just playing with your friends, you’re a part of the Mario community.

Fun Fact:

• Japan won the 2019 Super Smash Bros championship.

4. The classic art style/ design is always memorable.

The art style throughout Mario changes a lot. Throughout the years Mario's characters have lived many lives and designs. For example, Bowser used to be gray, and Peach was a lot more box-like. Though Mario himself stays consistent throughout all of his games despite the copyright laws at the time. When Mario released the 3D games, it unleashed a whole other world of development. Mario had more moves, more experience, and a different shape. The Mario 3D games have to be the best Mario games in a lot of people's opinions. Mario's voice actor (Charles Martinet) also holds a very special place in Mario's design. 

Fun Facts: 

• Bowser's “Koopa” design wasn’t made until Super Mario Bros 3 (The History of Mario’s Art Style”, Lil T Show).

• Super Mario World was the first game where Mario had the same design in and outside the game.

5. Mario’s beautiful soundtrack is outstanding in every game.

Each soundtrack in Mario games is widely known by people. Even kids know the Super Mario Bros. theme. Not to mention some people play Mario for the soundtrack. Most of the songs have a simple structure in order to make it memorable, while also creating a familiar and comforting feeling. Each song contains a Thematic structure: Antecedent (question phase), to Consequent (answer phase). This structure makes the music satisfying because it’s expected like a conversation. “Because this is such tradition, our Western ear actually comes to expect these patterns and we feel satisfied and comforted knowing that what we anticipate is indeed what we receive.” (Christopher Siu, 6:10). The music also includes melodic shape, which is when melodies reflect the action on the screen (Christopher Siu “What Makes Mario Music So HAPPY and NOSTALGIC”) 

Fun Facts:

• The Super Mario Bros. theme (composed by Koji Kondo) went through a lot of revisions before the final, which ended up being much faster than he anticipated (Redbull.com “7 things you didn’t know about Nintendo’s tunes).

• The original Mario theme is inspired by a song called “Sister Marian” by T-Square, a 1980s Japanese fusion band. ( American Song Writer “Behind the Classic Mario Bros. Video Game Theme”).

6. Mario lore is always in-depth and memorable.

Lore is what makes some of the Mario games so cinematic and amazing (especially the 3D games). To get right into the lore, “Super Paper Mario” is a great start.  Peach and Bowser are kidnapped and forced to have a wedding by someone named Count. Bleck. His goal is to release a chaotic heart, and unite “The Void”. Mario is set in the town of “Flip Side”, where he meets a pixel named Tippy, and an old man named “Merlon”. Mario's job is to collect pure hearts in order to stop “The Void”, and save all of the universe. This game is filled with lore-rabbit holes. Not to mention the soundtrack is absolutely beautiful. Next on the list for amazing lore is “Super Mario Galaxy”. This game is set in space. Peach is captured by Bowser yet again, but this time she is taken across the galaxy. Mario awakes on a ship, where he meets Rosalina, a princess to her baby Lumas (Star creatures). She vows to help Mario find his loved one if Mario can save her ship. This game goes in-depth on the backstory of Rosalina and is overall an amazing game to play. Another game with amazing lore is “Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time”. Peach decides to use a time machine, but Mario and Luigi get worried when she never returns. It’s discovered that aliens called “Shroobs” are now holding Peach hostage. This game is such a fun twist on the original lore. Lastly, a fan favorite is the classic lore. Peach (Mario's loved one), is captured by a Koopa king named Bowser, his job is to save her while avoiding obstacles along the way. Even though this lore is simple, it is the classic Mario lore that will always be remembered. 

Fun Facts:

• Mario's enemy was going to be an ox (Super Mario: 10 exciting facts you probably didn’t know about the video game legend”, India TV tech desk).

• Mario was named after a real-life real estate developer in Washington (10 obscure Mario facts you might not know”, Rebecca Spear).

7. Mario's theories get crazier and crazier each time.

Mario theories are a core part of the game for every big Mario fan. A big theory that developed over time is that Roasalina is the daughter of Luigi and Peach. There was even a genetics chart to prove evidence. Another is that in Super Mario Bros. 3 (When Wario is first introduced) the theory is that Mario is played by Wario, in a play he’s putting on. (24 Super Mario Fan Theories (“That Are Too Good To Be True”, TG Staff). A spin on that theory is that Mario is putting on several plays that he is practicing over and over again. The last interesting theory is that Yoshi is a Pokemon variation. 

Fun Facts: 

• Mario has held 12 Jobs:

-Plumber

- Carpenter

- Doctor

- Racer

-Soccer Player

-Baseball Player

And so on.

• Mario was a villain in Donkey Kong Jr.

8. A variety of gameplay is accessible to all types of gamers.

Mario isn’t just a classic side scroller. Mario has so many different types of gameplay to choose from. There are options of gameplay for all ages. To start, there is the traditional platformer like “Super Mario Bros.” and “Super Mario World”. Then there’s the 3D games, which take the design of Mario to a whole other level. Fans were mind-blown when “Super Mario 64” came to the screen. Soon “Super Mario Galaxy” came out, and that gave kids an amazing, lore-filled 3D game to enjoy. There are battle royal-type Mario games like “Super Smash Bros.” for kids and teenagers to enjoy. Racing is a popular style of game with Mario, and it’s loved by all. There are even a few RPG-style games like “Super Paper Mario”. 

Fun Fact:

• Mario has several Guinness world records.

9. Mario has done some amazing collaborations.

Mario has had the opportunity to have some amazing collaborations. Considering the game is so popular, everyone wants a collaboration with Mario. Here are just a few collaborations that seem so special. A classic ongoing series is Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games. These games bring together Sonic and Mario characters to participate in Olympic events. An oldie is “Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix”. This game is the classic Dance Dance but with a Mario twist. There’s also “Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle”. This game combines the cute and mischievous Rabbids, with the iconic Mario characters in a lore-filled game. Lastly, there’s the famous “Super Smash Bros.”. This game is the fight of your dreams. Battle Mario, Kirby, or any of the best Nintendo characters in a battle to win.

Fun fact:

• Mario's voice actor showed up uninvited to his audition.

10. The quality of Mario never fails.

Mario may have always been a popular game, but the quality is also amazing. The publisher takes a lot of pride in his games, and it shows in every single one. From Mario's design to his special moves, the quality always comes through. Not to mention each game is fun, while they all stay true to each character's personality and purpose. For example, Mario is the warrior, and Luigi is the scared one who overcomes his fears. Though there are new things added, it will always be about fun coin collecting and Bowser battles.

Fun Fact: 

• There’s a theory that Bowser Jr. is actually Bowser from a past life in the game “Mario and Luigi Partners in Time”.

Overall, there are so many reasons players love Mario. The lore, design, theories, and more. The reasons for loving Mario are endless. Though some people think Mario is overrated and not a good game, with the right game and even a little research I'm sure they would change their mind.

You may also be interested in:

• Best Mario Games of All Time
• New Mario Games To Play
• Why Super Mario Is Popular: 10 Reasons Players Love It