New Super Mario Bros. (series)

New Super Mario Bros.
Logo of New Super Mario Bros.
First installment	New Super Mario Bros. (2006)
Latest installment	New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe (2019)
Number of installments	11 (4 main, 2 spin-offs, 2 ports, 1 compilation, 1 promotional, 1 tech demo)
Parent series	Super Mario
Franchise	Super Mario
Key staff	Shigeru Miyamoto (2006–2013) Toshihiko Nakago (2006–2013) Takashi Tezuka (2006–2019) Hiroyuki Kimura (2006–2019) Shigeyuki Asuke (2006–2019) Koji Kondo (2006–2019)

New Super Mario Bros. is a sub-series of 2.5D side-scrolling platformers in the Super Mario series. The main entries were developed by Nintendo EAD, though Nintendo SPD co-developed New Super Mario Bros. 2. First conceived as a continuation of the Super Mario Advance series of remakes, it ultimately became its own series of original games. The first installment, New Super Mario Bros., was released on the Nintendo DS in 2006, followed by a console adaptation, New Super Mario Bros. Wii, which was released on the Wii in 2009. Both games received direct sequels and indirect follow-ups (of which New Super Mario Bros. Wii is an indirect follow-ups up to New Super Mario Bros.): New Super Mario Bros. 2 on the Nintendo 3DS (as a direct sequel to New Super Mario Bros. and an indirect follow-up to New Super Mario Bros. Wii), and New Super Mario Bros. U on the Wii U (as a direct sequel to New Super Mario Bros. Wii and an indirect follow-up to New Super Mario Bros. 2), respectively, both released in 2012. Together, the four games make up the main entries. In addition to re-releases of the previous games, the series also has a few spin-offs with unique takes on its gameplay.

The New Super Mario Bros. series has sold over 95 million copies worldwide, with New Super Mario Bros. and New Super Mario Bros. Wii being the 27th and 28th best-selling video games of all-time, respectively. Critics have nearly universally praised the games, but fan reception is more mixed, particularly for the later installments. The latter may have contributed to its dormancy after New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe's released in 2019, alongside Super Mario Bros. Wonder acting as a reboot for 2D platformers in the Super Mario series.

Background

Braid is among the 2D platformers that emerged in New Super Mario Bros.'s wake.

Following the release of Super Mario Bros. on the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1985, 2D platformers quickly became one of the most prevalent genres of video games, both within and outside of the Super Mario series. By the mid-1990s, the series had received six more highly successful games in this style. However, new consoles like the Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn allowing for 3D environments and a plethora of lower-quality, often licensed 2D platformers, left the future of the style uncertain. Its fate was largely determined in 1996 with the release of the Nintendo 64, one of its launch titles being Super Mario 64. The game not only brought the Super Mario series into the third dimension but also shifted its focus and that of platformers in general.

For almost 14 years, there had not been a traditional 2D platformer in the Super Mario series since Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins in 1992. However, there was Super Mario Bros. Deluxe, a remake of Super Mario Bros. released for the Game Boy Color in 1999, and the Super Mario Advance series, remakes of Super Mario Bros. 2, Super Mario World, Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island and Super Mario Bros. 3, released on the Game Boy Advance between 2001 and 2004. These 2D platformers on handhelds were treated as side games compared to their 3D counterparts on consoles. Originally, this was also true for the Nintendo DS, which was slated to receive a fifth Super Mario Advance game. But, the system had already demonstrated that handhelds were now capable of 3D experiences with Super Mario 64 DS, a remake of Super Mario 64, released in 2004. Combined with the 3D platforming market now being oversaturated with lower-quality games, 2D platformers no longer seemed as obsolete.

New Super Mario Bros. was released in 2006, becoming one of the most popular games on the Nintendo DS and in general. Soon after, 2D platformers began making a comeback on consoles, too, partially due to digital storefronts allowing for more cheap and/or indie games. This was further accelerated by the release of New Super Mario Bros Wii in 2009, which not only established New Super Mario Bros. as a series and brought it to consoles, but also showed that 2D and 3D platformers could coexist. In 2012, the New Super Mario Bros. series received its final two main installments, New Super Mario Bros. 2 and New Super Mario Bros. U. By this point, the revival of 2D platformers the series had helped spark was so prevalent that a counterbacklash emerged: 2D platformers were now overrepresented compared to 3D ones, though both styles have persisted in and outside of the Super Mario series.

Gameplay and premise

Most installments of the New Super Mario Bros. series star Mario, often accompanied by Luigi and Toads, on quests to save Princess Peach from Bowser. Players must guide them through six to eight worlds of recurring themes, such as grasslands, snowscapes, and volcanic areas. Each has at least one tower and a castle, both of which culminate in a boss. The series is most reminiscent of the classic 2D Super Mario titles, with elements such as power-ups, secret exits, and world maps. However, it also expands upon it with movement options from the 3D games (such as Wall Jumps and Triple Jumps) and many new features, such as a Midair Spin move and Warp Cannons, which sometimes lead to secret worlds. Also added are Star Coins, resulting in larger and less linear levels to accommodate three of them being hidden in each. They can be used to unlock Toad Houses, levels, and even worlds.

The series also expands on multiplayer: the original New Super Mario Bros. features single-player and co-op minigames. New Super Mario Bros. Wii, New Super Mario Bros. U and New Super Luigi U (along with the latter two's compilation and the port of that compilation) allow up to four players simultaneously in the main campaign, while in New Super Mario Bros. 2, two players can do the same through Download Play. Despite the character options, all of them besides Nabbit and Toadette play identically.

Games

Main entries

Title
Cover, original release, and system	Synopsis
New Super Mario Bros.
May 15, 2006 Nintendo DS	New Super Mario Bros. was the first Super Mario game since Super Mario Land 2 - 6 Golden Coins to feature the classic 2D playstyle, combining it with elements from the 3D games, substantially building upon it. The title features a solo story mode with Mario or Luigi, where Bowser Jr. kidnaps Princess Peach while they are walking near her castle, which is struck by lightning. It also has a two-player wireless game called Mario vs. Luigi and a minigame mode for up to four players. New Super Mario Bros. is most reminiscent of the classic Super Mario games, but also has elements from the 3D titles, such as Wall Jumps and Triple Jumps from Super Mario 64, and Bowser Jr.'s first appearance in a 2D game; he is the boss fight in all towers. It also introduced many enemies and obstacles to the franchise, some of which have never appeared again. Most notably, many of the castle bosses are original characters. There are three new power-ups in the game: Mega Mushroom, Mini Mushroom, and Blue Shell, the former being a focal point in advertising.
New Super Mario Bros. Wii
November 12, 2009 Wii	New Super Mario Bros. Wii is an indirect follow-up to New Super Mario Bros.. New Super Mario Bros. Wii adapts that game's format to a home console experience. This installment was the first in the entire Super Mario series to allow for four players to simultaneously control their characters, a feature Shigeru Miyamoto had wanted for years. In the story, Bowser and his minions kidnap Peach by using cake as a disguise, so Mario, Luigi, Yellow Toad and Blue Toad set off to rescue her, the latter two making their debut appearance. The game marks the return of the Koopalings from Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, who appear as 3D models for the first time at the end of all towers and castles. Rideable Yoshis also return from Super Mario World, now limited to designated stages. The Penguin Suit and the Propeller Mushroom are new power-ups in this game; the latter being one of many features to take advantage of the Wii's motion controls.
New Super Mario Bros. 2
July 28, 2012 Nintendo 3DS	New Super Mario Bros. 2 is a direct sequel to New Super Mario Bros. and an indirect follow-up to New Super Mario Bros. Wii. The game's main focus is coins, with the primary goal being to collect one million of them. For this purpose, levels feature a large number of coins and several forms of generating them, including the new power-up, the Gold Flower. It turns Mario gold and Luigi silver, allowing them to throw fireballs of that color that defeat most enemies and turn any Brick Blocks hit into coins. Despite this, the plot still involves Princess Peach being kidnapped, this time while the brothers are out flying in their Racoon forms. New Super Mario Bros. 2 borrows most of its graphics, music, and assets from New Super Mario Bros. Wii, while also featuring some elements from classic games, such as Raccoon Mario from Super Mario Bros. 3 and Reznors from Super Mario World. A side mode, Coin Rush, where players must race through three random courses while collecting as many coins as possible, is the first instance of downloadable content in a Super Mario game.
New Super Mario Bros. U
November 18, 2012 Wii U	New Super Mario Bros. U was released as a launch title for the Wii U. It was the first Super Mario game in high-definition, a direct sequel to New Super Mario Bros. Wii (the games share the same engine as well) and an indirect follow-up to New Super Mario Bros. 2. In this game, Bowser takes over Peach's Castle and launches Mario, Luigi, and the Toads across the Mushroom Kingdom, forcing them to make their way back while battling Bowser Jr. and the Koopalings once again. It plays very similarly to New Super Mario Bros. Wii, including its four-player mode. However, a player with a Wii U GamePad can create platforms in what Nintendo refers to as "Boost Mode". A single-player Challenge Mode is also featured. Several elements of the game pay homage to Super Mario World such as its continuous world map, Baby Yoshis, and returning enemies such as Sumo Bros and Bony Beetle. The new power-up of the game is the Super Acorn, which transforms the player into Flying Squirrel Mario . It also has a near invincible variant, the P-Acorn, a reference to the P-Wing from Super Mario Bros. 3.

Spin-offs

Title
Cover, original release, and system	Synopsis
New Super Mario Bros. Wii Coin World
April 2011 Arcade	New Super Mario Bros. Wii Coin World is a Japan-only arcade game developed and published by Capcom, running on the Taito Type X system with maintenance by Sega. It adapts the four-player multiplayer of New Super Mario Bros. Wii into a medallion game, a popular type of arcade game in Japan where players try to hit the jackpot and win coin medals. The game features a variety of "events" based on the Wii game; winning them or playing the slot machine gives players opportunities to collect keys. Once five of either keys are collected, the player enters an event with Bowser to win a jackpot.
New Super Luigi U
June 19, 2013 Wii U	New Super Luigi U is an additional content pack for New Super Mario Bros. U that was also released as a standalone game to celebrate The Year of Luigi, available at retail until the end of 2013. It features the same worlds, but all-new level layouts, each with a 100-second time limit. Luigi supplants Mario as the lead character, with Nabbit becoming the fourth playable character, taking Mario's place.

Reissues and compilations

Title
Cover, original release, and system	Synopsis
New Super Mario Bros. U + New Super Luigi U
November 1, 2013 Wii U	New Super Mario Bros. U + New Super Luigi U is a compilation of both New Super Mario Bros. U and New Super Luigi U on the same disc, initially released exclusively with the Mario & Luigi Deluxe Wii U set (known as the Premium Pack in Europe). New Super Mario Bros. U + New Super Luigi U features changes to the originals, including a new title screen and over 200 videos included as bonus content. This compilation was released separately as a Nintendo Selects title in 2016.
New Super Mario Bros. 2: Gold Edition
July 1, 2014 Nintendo 3DS	New Super Mario Bros. 2: Gold Edition (known as New Super Mario Bros. 2 Special Edition in Europe) is a rerelease of New Super Mario Bros. 2. The main differences are that all 10 downloadable course packs are pre-installed, and players now proceed to the next stage after losing a Coin Rush level rather than losing the run altogether. In Japan, it was available from July 1 to August 31, 2014, as a free download for Nintendo 3DS LL owners as part of the "Nintendo 3DS LL Monthly Recommended Software Campaign". In Europe, the game was bundled with a white and red or blue and black special-edition Nintendo 2DS on July 4, 2014, while in North America, it was included with a red, special-edition Nintendo 3DS XL with artwork of Mario during the 2014 holiday season.
New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
January 11, 2019 Nintendo Switch	New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is a port of New Super Mario Bros. U + New Super Luigi U, enhanced with new features. Most notably, Yellow Toad and Blue Toad are combined into one character slot genercally named Toad, with the other slot going to Toadette who makes her debut in a mainline Super Mario game. She has a unique form known as Peachette, which she obtains using a new power-up called the Super Crown, granting her abilities similar but not identical to those of the Flying Squirrel form. Nabbit is also now also playable outside of New Super Luigi U, however Boost Mode and its corresponding challenges were removed. This port is described as part of the main series for the Super Mario Bros. 35th Anniversary and in the Mario history section of Nintendo's website.

Promotional

Title
Image and system	Synopsis
1-Up Hunt!
December 30, 2006 Adobe Flash	1-Up Hunt!, fully titled New Super Mario Bros. 1-Up Hunt!, was an online advergame developed in Adobe Flash and published by Nintendo to promote New Super Mario Bros.. Little is known about the game, other than it was playable on the Nintendo Arcade section of nintendo.com from December 30, 2006 until the website was taken down in late 2007.

Tech demos

Title
Image and system	Synopsis
New Super Mario Bros. Mii
Wii U	New Super Mario Bros. Mii is a tech demo shown at E3 2011 for the Wii U. Based upon New Super Mario Bros. Wii, it features new levels and the option to use Miis. This demo was meant to showcase the Wii U's "Off-TV Play" feature, which lets players continue playing a game on the Wii U GamePad without a television screen. Players could play for up to 10 minutes before the game automatically reset. While New Super Mario Bros. Mii was only created to demonstrate the Wii U controller, New Super Mario Bros. U is based upon it.

Characters

Protagonists

Character(s)
Image	Brief Biography	First Appearance	First playable appearance in the New Super Mario Bros. series
Mario
	Mario is the main protagonist in his titular series of games. He reprises his role from the classic Super Mario games as the savior of Princess Peach, though he is absent in New Super Luigi U. His design in New Super Mario Bros. is directly based on that of Super Mario 64 DS, only experiencing a slight increase in vibrancy across the four entries. However, he received a minor redesign in Super Mario Run: even brighter colors, a more expressive face, and textured clothing. The first two adjustments were later reflected in artwork for New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe.	Donkey Kong	New Super Mario Bros.
Luigi
	Luigi is the younger brother of Mario, who accompanies him in most of the New Super Mario Bros. series. In the handheld games, he is playable in single-player through a button combination on the select screen, though the player must beat Bowser first in New Super Mario Bros 2. In the console games, he is exclusive to multiplayer. However, in New Super Luigi U, he is the main protagonist.	Mario Bros.	New Super Mario Bros.
Yellow Toad and Blue Toad
	Yellow Toad and Blue Toad appear in New Super Mario Bros. Wii and New Super Mario Bros. U as main protagonists along with Mario and Luigi. In New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, they share a character slot under the name "Toad", and Blue Toad is replaced with Toadette in cutscenes.	New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Nabbit
	Nabbit debuted in New Super Mario Bros. U, where he steals items from Toad Houses. He appears as one of the four main playable characters in New Super Luigi U, replacing Mario from the original game; unlike the other player characters, Nabbit is invincible to enemies and cannot use power-ups (except for Super Stars), which instead become 1-Up Mushrooms at the end of the level. In New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, he can be played in the New Super Mario Bros. U levels for the first time (though he is not playable in Challenge Mode).	New Super Mario Bros. U	New Super Luigi U
Toadette
	Toadette appears exclusively in New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, replacing Blue Toad in cutscenes. She has a unique Princess Peach–like form known as Peachette that she transforms into after obtaining a Super Crown, granting her the ability to float, double jump, and bounce away from hazards. Additionally, she has Penguin Mario's swimming controls and causes 3-Up Moons to appear instead of 1-Up Mushrooms when she hits blocks containing them.	Mario Kart: Double Dash!!	New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe

Supporting characters

Character
Image	Brief Biography	First Appearance
Bowser
	Baby Bowser is one of the three recurring main antagonists in the Yoshi's Island series. He has appeared in all three Yoshi's Island games to date: Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Yoshi's Island DS, and Yoshi's New Island. He also appeared in Yoshi Touch & Go, as well as Yoshi's Story, Yoshi's Woolly World, Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World, and Yoshi's Crafted World. Baby Bowser is a spoiled infant who generally wants his way. In Yoshi's Island DS, Baby Bowser was an ally (temporarily) for the first time. He had the ability to breathe fireballs that could defeat enemies and melt ice. In Yoshi's New Island, Baby Bowser chose Egg Island to be his resort, but his plans were foiled by the Yoshi clan.	New Super Mario Bros.
Koopalings
	Kamek is the main antagonist in the Yoshi's Island series. He has appeared in all three Yoshi's Island games to date: Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Yoshi's Island DS, and Yoshi's New Island. Like Baby Bowser, he also appeared in Yoshi Touch & Go; unlike Baby Bowser, however, Kamek has appeared in Yoshi's Woolly World, Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World, and Yoshi's Crafted World as well but does not appear in Yoshi's Story. He is a blue-cloaked Magikoopa who is notable for stealing the babies of the Mushroom Kingdom. Kamek commonly uses his magic to enhance certain enemies into bosses for the Yoshis to fight. When that fails, he tries again—but alas, the Yoshis always prevail over Kamek, foiling his evil plots. However, Kamek has appeared in other Super Mario games, (such as Mario Party DS and Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time), as a minor enemy or boss, his largest antagonist role is in the Yoshi's Island series.	New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Bowser Jr.
	Bowser has appeared in two main Yoshi games: Yoshi's Island DS and Yoshi's New Island. He also appears in Yoshi Topsy-Turvy. During the events of Yoshi's Island DS, Bowser serves as the main antagonist. He travels back in time to find the seven star children, in hopes of receiving their power; if Bowser were to receive their power, he could conquer the universe. He kidnapped as many children as he possibly could, (including his infant self), in order to get the seven star children. However, the star children eventually foil Bowser's plan, forcing him to return to his original time. He also appears in Yoshi's New Island as the final boss—Bowser, however, can only be fought after the player has completed all of the main levels but does not use the Flutter Wings power-up.	New Super Mario Bros.

Main antagonists

Character
Image	Brief Biography	First Appearance
Bowser
	Baby Bowser is one of the three recurring main antagonists in the Yoshi's Island series. He has appeared in all three Yoshi's Island games to date: Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Yoshi's Island DS, and Yoshi's New Island. He also appeared in Yoshi Touch & Go, as well as Yoshi's Story, Yoshi's Woolly World, Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World, and Yoshi's Crafted World. Baby Bowser is a spoiled infant who generally wants his way. In Yoshi's Island DS, Baby Bowser was an ally (temporarily) for the first time. He had the ability to breathe fireballs that could defeat enemies and melt ice. In Yoshi's New Island, Baby Bowser chose Egg Island to be his resort, but his plans were foiled by the Yoshi clan.	New Super Mario Bros.
Koopalings
	Kamek is the main antagonist in the Yoshi's Island series. He has appeared in all three Yoshi's Island games to date: Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Yoshi's Island DS, and Yoshi's New Island. Like Baby Bowser, he also appeared in Yoshi Touch & Go; unlike Baby Bowser, however, Kamek has appeared in Yoshi's Woolly World, Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World, and Yoshi's Crafted World as well but does not appear in Yoshi's Story. He is a blue-cloaked Magikoopa who is notable for stealing the babies of the Mushroom Kingdom. Kamek commonly uses his magic to enhance certain enemies into bosses for the Yoshis to fight. When that fails, he tries again—but alas, the Yoshis always prevail over Kamek, foiling his evil plots. However, Kamek has appeared in other Super Mario games, (such as Mario Party DS and Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time), as a minor enemy or boss, his largest antagonist role is in the Yoshi's Island series.	New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Bowser Jr.
	Bowser has appeared in two main Yoshi games: Yoshi's Island DS and Yoshi's New Island. He also appears in Yoshi Topsy-Turvy. During the events of Yoshi's Island DS, Bowser serves as the main antagonist. He travels back in time to find the seven star children, in hopes of receiving their power; if Bowser were to receive their power, he could conquer the universe. He kidnapped as many children as he possibly could, (including his infant self), in order to get the seven star children. However, the star children eventually foil Bowser's plan, forcing him to return to his original time. He also appears in Yoshi's New Island as the final boss—Bowser, however, can only be fought after the player has completed all of the main levels but does not use the Flutter Wings power-up.	New Super Mario Bros.

Supporting antagonists

Character
Image	Brief Biography	First Appearance
Bowser
	Baby Bowser is one of the three recurring main antagonists in the Yoshi's Island series. He has appeared in all three Yoshi's Island games to date: Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Yoshi's Island DS, and Yoshi's New Island. He also appeared in Yoshi Touch & Go, as well as Yoshi's Story, Yoshi's Woolly World, Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World, and Yoshi's Crafted World. Baby Bowser is a spoiled infant who generally wants his way. In Yoshi's Island DS, Baby Bowser was an ally (temporarily) for the first time. He had the ability to breathe fireballs that could defeat enemies and melt ice. In Yoshi's New Island, Baby Bowser chose Egg Island to be his resort, but his plans were foiled by the Yoshi clan.	New Super Mario Bros.
Koopalings
	Kamek is the main antagonist in the Yoshi's Island series. He has appeared in all three Yoshi's Island games to date: Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Yoshi's Island DS, and Yoshi's New Island. Like Baby Bowser, he also appeared in Yoshi Touch & Go; unlike Baby Bowser, however, Kamek has appeared in Yoshi's Woolly World, Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World, and Yoshi's Crafted World as well but does not appear in Yoshi's Story. He is a blue-cloaked Magikoopa who is notable for stealing the babies of the Mushroom Kingdom. Kamek commonly uses his magic to enhance certain enemies into bosses for the Yoshis to fight. When that fails, he tries again—but alas, the Yoshis always prevail over Kamek, foiling his evil plots. However, Kamek has appeared in other Super Mario games, (such as Mario Party DS and Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time), as a minor enemy or boss, his largest antagonist role is in the Yoshi's Island series.	New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Bowser Jr.
	Bowser has appeared in two main Yoshi games: Yoshi's Island DS and Yoshi's New Island. He also appears in Yoshi Topsy-Turvy. During the events of Yoshi's Island DS, Bowser serves as the main antagonist. He travels back in time to find the seven star children, in hopes of receiving their power; if Bowser were to receive their power, he could conquer the universe. He kidnapped as many children as he possibly could, (including his infant self), in order to get the seven star children. However, the star children eventually foil Bowser's plan, forcing him to return to his original time. He also appears in Yoshi's New Island as the final boss—Bowser, however, can only be fought after the player has completed all of the main levels but does not use the Flutter Wings power-up.	New Super Mario Bros.

References

Category:Game series *