Lava is a common hazard in the Mario series, especially inside castles. Depending on the game, contact with lava either results in Mario losing some health (as seen in Super Mario 64, Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2, and Paper Mario) or losing an extra life (as seen from Super Mario 3D Land, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door in Bowser's intermission after getting the Garnet Star, Super Mario Sunshine in Corona Mountain, and most 2D Mario platformer games, such as Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario World). Using a Super Star or equivalent power-up does not protect the player from lava. The effect lava has on Bowser varies as well, ranging from not affecting him to defeating him.
History
Super Mario series
Super Mario Bros.
Lava makes its debut in Super Mario Bros., where it appears in the castle level of each world. If Mario or Luigi falls into the lava, they will instantly lose a life. At the end of the level, Mario or Luigi must destroy the bridge that either Bowser or an impostor is standing on, causing him to fall into the lava.
Due to the graphical limitations of the NES at the time, the "lava" is simply a palette swap of water and is only a background object (proven by characters falling through the lava and not losing a life the moment they touch it). In the All-Stars remake, lava has a boiling animation and Mario falls behind it.
Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels
Lava reappears in Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, where it has the same appearance and purpose as it did in Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario Bros. 3
In Super Mario Bros. 3, lava occasionally appears in the Fortress levels in some worlds, usually appearing at the bottom of the level but sometimes appearing on the ceilings. Mario and Luigi always lose a life if they touch lava; however, in the Super Mario Advance 4 port, they will strangely be unaffected when touching lava on the ceiling.
Super Mario World
In Super Mario World, lava appears in the fortress and castle level. Once again, Mario or Luigi will instantly lose a life if they fall into the lava. In certain caves, there is a brighter color of lava which frequently has skull rafts on it; these rafts are the only way to complete these levels. If Yoshi, a power-up, or an enemy falls into the lava, it slowly sinks into the lava and eventually disappears; if Mario is riding Yoshi at the time, he will lose a life (although a glitch allows Yoshi to stand on slanted lava slopes). There is also a grey lava found in Chocolate Fortress and Chocolate Island 4 which functions the same as normal lava and may simply reflect color palette restrictions in the game.
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
In Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, lava appears in Pipe Vault, Barrel Volcano, and Bowser's Keep. Contact with lava causes Mario to warp back to the entrance of a room. In the two platforming challenges in Bowser's Keep, which Mario gets ten chances to complete, falling into lava will remove one of his chances along with several coins, and warp him back.
Super Mario 64
In Super Mario 64, lava covers much of Lethal Lava Land and Bowser in the Fire Sea. This lava releases Podoboos and Fire Snake-like clumps of fire. Unlike the 2D Mario games, when Mario touches lava, he jumps into the air and loses three out of eight health points. In his Capless Form, Mario loses an additional health point. Both lava stages feature enemies referred to as Bullies that try to knock Mario into lava, although Mario can jump on them to knock them into lava for coins.
Super Mario Sunshine
In Super Mario Sunshine, lava is found only in Corona Mountain. It covers the entire bottom of the stage, and serves as a major stage hazard in that level. If Mario touches the lava, he instantly loses a life.
Another substance known as Fire Goop serves a similar function throughout Pianta Village. This 'lava', which was painted by Shadow Mario with his Magic Paintbrush, will causes Mario to leap in the air while losing health similarly to Super Mario 64.
New Super Mario Bros.
In New Super Mario Bros., lava appears in most Castle levels and a few levels in World 8. Some of these levels feature rising lava as a major hazard. As with the other 2D platformer Mario games, when Mario falls on the lava, he instantly loses a life. Mega Mario is also vulnerable to lava if he somehow manages to fall into it.
Super Mario Galaxy
In Super Mario Galaxy, lava is found mainly in each Bowser and Bowser Jr. level, where it usually comprises most of the landscape. In fact, Bowser Jr.'s third level in Super Mario Galaxy is actually called Bowser Jr.'s Lava Reactor, and features considerably more lava than the other Bowser or Bowser Jr. levels. Another notable location for lava is Freezeflame Galaxy, especially in the hot portions and when the two themes, hot and cold, mix. Finally, Melty Molten Galaxy has a significant amount of lava. Other galaxies, while not entirely composed of only lava, do rely heavily on the presence of lava as a major obstacle in some areas. As in Super Mario 64, when Mario touches the lava, he catches fire, jumps into the air, and runs uncontrollably, losing 1 wedge of health. However, the Ice Flower allows Ice Mario to skate across lava safely.
New Super Mario Bros. Wii
In New Super Mario Bros. Wii lava returns in most castle levels, in most World 8 levels and in Bowser's Castle. As in most 2D Mario platformers, Mario, Luigi, Yellow Toad and Blue Toad lose a life if they touch the lava.
Super Mario Galaxy 2
Lava serves the same function in Super Mario Galaxy 2 as it does in its predecessor, damaging Mario and sending him flying high in the air. Lava, again, is a common element in the Bowser and Bowser Jr. levels, and features prominently in Shiverburn Galaxy in a similar fashion to Freezeflame Galaxy from Super Mario Galaxy.
Super Mario 3D Land
In Super Mario 3D Land, lava appears in Castle levels, some levels of World 8 and a few of the levels in the Special Worlds. As in Super Mario Sunshine and the 2D Mario platformers, lava makes Mario or Luigi lose a life on contact.
New Super Mario Bros. 2
Lava appears once again in castle levels, especially in Bowser's Castle. In the final battle, Bowser gains the ability to summon rising lava. Once again Mario (or Luigi) will instantly lose a life if he touches lava.
New Super Mario Bros. U
Lava also appears in New Super Mario Bros. U, especially in castles like Iggy's Volcanic Castle. Although Peach's Castle, after Bowser's renovation, does include lava, lava is not involved in the final battle with Bowser.
Super Mario 3D World
Lava appears in Super Mario 3D World as a major hazard in some stages. As in Super Mario 3D Land, contact with lava makes Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Blue Toad, and Rosalina lose one life. Some stages have a type of blue lava that acts identically to normal lava.
Super Mario Maker
Lava appears in Super Mario Maker. Unlike most hazards, lava is restricted to the bottom of castle themed levels; it's not possible to place separate lava pits individually, either in the castle theme or in other level themes.
Mario Kart series
In the Mario Kart series, lava appears in many race courses, most frequently Bowser's Castle. Falling into lava delays the racers, as they must wait for a Lakitu to pull them out to continue the race. Lava in the later games can also spout lava pillars that serve as obstacles for driving and gliding racers.
Yoshi's Island series
Much like in the Super Mario series, lava is an instant death in the Yoshi's Island series as well. Coming into contact with lava will cause a Yoshi to instantly lose a life, regardless of whether or not the Yoshi is invincible.
This also applies to the game Yoshi's Story, where a Yoshi will be lost upon touching lava, and it is also one of the few hazards that the Super Happy Yoshi form is useless against.
Paper Mario series
Lava is rarely seen in the Paper Mario series. In Paper Mario there are only two areas to feature lava; the first is inside the volcano Mt. Lavalava, and the second is inside Bowser's Castle. If Mario falls into the lava, he loses five hit points, and on most occasions, he needs to have Parakarry or Lakilester carry him over it.
Lava appears again in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. In this game, it is found only during the two Bowser events; the first around Bowser's Castle, and the second in a stage reminiscent of Super Mario Bros.. Mario himself never encounters any lava.
In Super Paper Mario, there is no lava, save the lava around Bowser's Castle in the introduction screen. The tattle for the Lava Bubble, however, says that the player must avoid them while the player is jumping over lava, implying the pits it jumps out of are filled with lava.
In Paper Mario Sticker Star, lava appears in W5-5, Rugged Road, and in W5-6, Rumble Volcano. In the first area of W5-5, Mario cannot go over the rising lava, so he must use a freezing type Sticker to cross. In the other areas, Mario uses rock pieces floating on the lava to cross. In W5-6, Mario must avoid the lava. If Mario falls in the lava, he loses 3 Heart Points.
In Paper Mario: Color Splash, lava appears in Kiwano Temple, Redpepper Volcano, and Redpepper Crater. Super Mario Bros. 3-style lava appears in the Green Energy Plant. In Kiwano Temple, it appears near the end of the level, and it gives Mario an instant Game Over if he touches it. In Redpepper Volcano and Redpepper Crater, it appears throughout the level, and does 30 HP of damage to Mario. Draggadon must be used to ride across the lava in some areas.
Mario Party series
In the Mario Party series, lava appears as a hazard to be avoided primarily in mini-games. Most Bowser-related game boards, additionally, involve lava in some way.
Mario Party 2
The minigame Hexagon Heat from Mario Party 2 involves moving over to the colored spot Toad indicates using the flags he holds. The platforms will slowly fall into lava as a different one is called. Another minigame in both the original and the sequel, Handcar Havoc, involves steering a handcar, and leaning so it does not tip over the edge of the tracks and into lava, however it is impossible to fall off the edge in the Mario Party 2 version, which is in the sky and has no lava as a result. Lava Tile Isle involves pushing players off the sinking tiles and into lava.
Mario Party 4
The minigame Chain Chomp Fever in Mario Party 4 involves staying out of the way of the Chain Chomp, while also avoiding falling into the lava. The mini-game The Final Battle! involved getting to and fighting Bowser by solving puzzles and, once again, avoiding falling into lava.
Mario Party 5
The Revolving Fire minigame has lava surrounding the arena, trapping the players, and the lone player has to eliminate the other three by rotating the fire or by ground pounding to trigger a lava wave.
Mario Party 6
The Mario Party 6 minigame Burnstile involves leaping over a turnstile while also trying to stay on their team's area, which is surrounded by lava.
Mario Party 7
Despite not having lava as a hazard, the minigames Treasure Dome and Tunnel of Lava! from Mario Party 7 is filled with it. The minigame Magmagical Journey! contains much lava that acts as an obstacle.
Mario Party 8
The minigame Lava or Leave 'Em from Mario Party 8 once again involves dodging Podoboos while staying away from lava. Lava also appears in the mini-game Lava Lobbers. In the minigame Pumper Cars, one section of the course involves the characters racing across a bridge with lava below it, as Podoboos are seen jumping out of the pit.
Mario Party 9
In Mario Party 9, lava appears in Magma Mine, as one of the most dangerous obstacles in the board, taking half of the captain's Mini Stars when he or she touches it. In Magma Mayhem, the players must knock their adversaries out of a tilting platform, making them sink into the magma. It also appears in the minigames Tumble Temple, Bowser Pop and Double Pounder, as an aesthetic element. In the Boss Battle Spike Strike, the players and Spike are inside a volcano, on a rock surrounded by lava. In the second half, the lava rises, giving less time to the players think. In Chain Chomp Romp, the volcanoes in the background are in eruption, and lava is seen running down them.
Mario Party 10
In Mario Party 10, lava plays a key role in the board Chaos Castle, where lava surrounds the whole area. Many of the enemies and gimmicks are lava-related.
Mario Party Advance
In Mario Party Advance, the mini-game Stompbot XL involves trying to avoid the lava heading towards the player, while avoiding obstacles like walls, rocks, and small patches of lava. Also, the mini-game Go-go Pogo has the player using a pogo to get to the end while avoiding the lava below and other obstacles.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong series
Lava appears in two of the Mario vs. Donkey Kong games. It first appears in the original game, appearing in Fire Mountain and Fire Mountain Plus. It acts like in the Super Mario Bros. games: If Mario touches it, he will burn and lose a life. There are also lava geysers in some levels that can lift platforms and help Mario get higher up. There is also rising lava in a few levels.
Lava later appears in Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis, only appearing on the fifth floor, Lava Dome. If a mini toy falls into lava, much like before, it will burn up. Lava geysers also reappear in this game as well.
Donkey Kong series
Lava's first appearance in a Donkey Kong game is in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, where it was an obstacle found primarily in the area Crocodile Cauldron, a large volcanically-active area. In Donkey Kong Country 2's semi-sequel Donkey Kong Land 2, lava is slightly less common due to Crocodile Cauldron being fused together with the large and swampy Krem Quay to create Krem Cauldron.
In Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! lava makes a small appearance in the hidden world, Krematoa. Here, a small pond of lava can be seen and oddly enough, swam through after Krematoa's ancient volcano is re-activated. This same pond of lava can be seen in Donkey Kong Land III, the Game Boy pseudo sequel of Donkey Kong Country 3.
Lava also appears later on in the Donkey Kong series in games such as Donkey Kong 64 and Donkey Kong Country Returns, again as an uncommon yet dangerous obstacle. The Kongs lose all of their health when they fall into it. In Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, lava only appears in the levels Spinning Spines, Meltdown Mayhem and Volcano Dome.