List of fonts
Template:More images This is a list of typefaces used in games and related media within the Super Mario franchise.
Major usage
Classic Super Mario typeface
The first Super Mario font is an uneven sans serif typeface designed by Nintendo in 1988. It is used for the logos and, later, interfaces of Super Mario games from Super Mario Bros. 3 to Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Though mostly the same, a second version of the font was designed following the release of Super Mario 64, which would take over as the primary version from then on. It lacked a fully defined character set, which lead to many different interpretations. This remained the case for the font even after the overhaul, likely inciting the shift over to the modern Super Mario font.
Used in tandem with other fonts throughout the 2000's, it was fully replaced with the modern font with the release of Super Mario 3D Land, being last seen on the logo for Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games, albeit an early logo for Paper Mario: Sticker Star used a design partially based on this typeface before being changed to the modern Super Mario typeface for the final release.
Modern Super Mario typeface
The modern Super Mario typeface is an uneven sans serif typeface designed by Nintendo in the early 2010's. Experimented with by Nintendo in the lead up to the release of the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, early versions appeared in games such as Mario Sports Mix, featuring a character set closer to the classic font. The font in its current form was officially introduced with the release of Super Mario 3D Land in 2011 and has since become the single Super Mario typeface, used for logos, menus, HUDs, and other text across the Super Mario franchise.
Logo for Super Nintendo World
English/international logo for The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Lettering seen in the May 2023 game update trailer for the Game Boy Advance - Nintendo Switch Online application[1]
Picture of Mario in which his name, using this typeface, is also shown
Donkey Kong's name
Luigi's name
Cat Mario's name
Toad's name
Picture of Bowser in which his name, using this typeface, is also shown
Peach's name
Modern Super Mario Bros. typeface
The modern Super Mario Bros. typeface is first seen in New Super Mario Bros., based on the logo for Super Mario Bros. Deluxe, which is in turn based on the logo for the Super Mario All-Stars version of Super Mario Bros.. It is geometrical with vertical stems with circular joints for shapes such as "A" and "M" and horizontal strokes that end before meeting left-hand vertical stems. Super Mario Bros. Wonder introduces a lowercase set of characters for this typeface.
Other than every New Super Mario Bros. game logo as well as Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition and Super Mario Run, it is also seen in Mario Super Sluggers and Super Mario Bros. Wonder for display text, as well as in The Super Mario Bros. Movie for the Super Mario Bros. Plumbing logo.
The preliminary logo for New Super Mario Bros. used a design drawn from Super Mario Bros. Deluxe
Classic HUD typeface
This design was used from Super Mario 64 until Mario Sports Mix, appearing throughout games on the Nintendo 64, GameCube, and Wii. Some of its distinct features are the pointed, obelisk-shaped "A", the flat, wide "E", and the overall stocky, top-larger-than-bottom measures, giving it a more whimsical appearance if compared to earlier Super Mario typefaces, which were designed in the opposite way.
This typeface was primarily used for in-game text outside of dialogue (i.e HUDs and menus). Given the lack of standardization on the first Super Mario typeface, this one was also often used for placeholder logos, at times when new characters for the first font could not be drawn. It was also used for the logo of Super Mario Sunshine.
Yoshi Topsy-Turvy Japanese logo
Preliminary logo for Super Mario Galaxy
Paper Mario typeface
A design similar to the classic HUD design above, used for in-game display text in Paper Mario games up to Paper Mario: Sticker Star.
Super Mario Maker typeface
The Super Mario Maker font is a geometric sans serif typeface designed by Nintendo in 2015 and 2019, with the lowercase typeface designed on the latter date. It is used for the interface in Super Mario Maker and Super Mario Maker 2, with the lowercase typeface used in the latter game.
AdLib BT/Alor
AdLib BT/Alor is an uneven sans serif typeface from Alan Carr. It is used for the interface in the following games:
Anito
Anito (アニト Anito) is a rounded sans serif typeface from Type Labo. It is used for the interface in Super Mario Maker.
Arial
Arial is a sans serif typeface from Monotype. It was used for the HUD of the E3 preview of New Super Mario Bros. Wii.
Berlin Sans
Berlin Sans is a sans-serif typeface from The Font Bureau. It is used in its heavier variants for the KONG Letters in Donkey Kong Country games starting with Donkey Kong Country Returns.
So Gei
DFP So Gei (DFP綜藝体) by DynaFont is used in WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase for text in Dribble & Spitz's stage. Its Latin portion is similar to Boss by SoftMaker, with a modified "G", which features a left spur in the game. A norm for Japanese fonts, the descender height in the lowercase “g j p q” is reduced as well.
Carat
Carat UB (カラットUB Karatto UB) is a font from Fontworks used for text in the WarioWatch stage of WarioWare Gold, as well as in Wario's and Dribble & Spitz's levels and in the Play-o-Pedia in WarioWare: Get It Together!.
Chiaro
Chiaro (キアロ Kiaro) is a sans serif typeface from Fontworks. It is used for controller setting texts in Luigi's Mansion.
Chiaro is also minorly seen in Super Mario Odyssey, where it is featured in the Tostarena sticker.
DF Gothic
DF Gothic (DFゴシック体 DF Goshikku-tai) is a typeface from Fontworks most prominently used in Super Smash Bros. games. It is also has minor usage in Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the Bullet Bill Speed Trials logo, which uses its Ultra Heavy (DFP超極太ゴシック体) font.
DF UD Gothic
DF UD Gothic (DF UDゴシック体 DF UD Goshikku-tai) is a Universal Design sans serif typeface from Dynacomware. It is used for the interface in Super Mario Maker 2 for the Japanese language.
DFP Gyō Kaisho
DFP Gyō Kaisho (DFP行楷書 DFP Gyō Kaisho) is a script typeface by DynaFont. Designed to replicate the brush strokes of Japanese calligraphy, it is used for text from the Temple of Form in WarioWare: Smooth Moves in Japanese and languages using the Latin script.
DIN Next Pro
DIN Next Pro is a sans serif typeface from Monotype. It is used for the interface in Super Mario Bros. Wonder.
Dom Casual
Dom Casual is a typeface from American Type Founders. It is used both in The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! and the Donkey Kong Country television series (in its bold variant) for general text, including title cards and credits information.
ElGrande
ElGrande is a typeface from The Font Bureau. It is used in the bottom part of the Mario & Luigi: Dream Team logo.
Futura
Futura is a sans-serif typeface from Bauersche Gießerei. It is used for interface text in Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle. In Mario Tennis Aces it is used for some interface text and for light displays on stadium courts.
It is present on the boxart logos for Mario is Missing! (Extra Bold) and Mario's Time Machine (Extra Bold and Extra Bold Condensed), and on the logo for Mario Slam Basketball.
GigaG
GigaG (ギガG GigaG) is a sans serif typeface from Visual Design Laboratory (視覚デザイン研究所 Shikaku Dezain Kenkyūjo). It is used for the interface in Mario Golf: Super Rush for the Japanese language.
Gill Sans
Gill Sans is a sans-serif typeface from Monotype. It is used for the KONG Letters in the original trilogy of Donkey Kong Country games.
Gill Kayo, a heavy relative of Gill Sans, is used extensively in Donkey Kong Country for interface text (including the "Nintendo presents" splash screen) as well as in-universe scenery text. In Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, it is used once again for scenery signs and also for the Cranky's Video Game Heroes screen.
Cranky's Cabin sign
Funky's Flights sign
Handel Gothic
Handel Gothic is a sans serif typeface originally from FotoStar. Handel Gothic with a straight leg on "R", a straight lower leg on "k", and a double-v "w", modified with a short line on the top left of the "1", is used for the interface in Luigi's Mansion 3 for Western languages.
Handel Gothic also is used in the logo for Mario Power Tennis and for the "Mario Tennis" logo displayed on courts in Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash.
Highway Gothic
Highway Gothic is a sans serif typeface developed by the United States Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). It is used for text in The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
Humming
Humming (ハミング Hamingu) is a rounded sans serif typeface from Fontworks. It is used for the interface in Mario & Luigi: Dream Team.
ITC Bookman
ITC Bookman is used in The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 for episode title cards, in its Bold variant.
ITC Kabel
ITC Kabel is a sans-serif typeface used in Game & Wario in its Ultra variant for display as well as body text. In WarioWare: Gold, it is used once again for microgame commands, like in Game & Wario's Gamer.
ITC Kabel is also used prominently in Super Smash Bros., being present also on the game's logo. It is also present on the logos for Mario Kart 64 for the "64" (Medium) and Mario vs. Donkey Kong games for the "VS." portion (Bold).
Kurokane
Kurokane (くろかね Kurokane) is a sans serif typeface from Fontworks. It is used for the sticker text in Mario Party Superstars for the Japanese language. It is also widely used in WarioWare games starting from WarioWare Gold, as well as in Rhythm Heaven Megamix.
Kyo Geki
Kyo Geki (京劇体 Kyō Geki) is an uneven sans serif typeface from DynaComware. It is used for the interface in Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon for kana and kanji and in the Japanese and American versions of Mario Party 8.
Lithos
Lithos, in its Black variant, is employed for certain display text in Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!, Donkey Kong Land III and Wario Land 3 and for general interface text in Donkey Kong 64. Mario's Game Gallery also features Lithos Black for the game's title on the main menu, and Super Mario 64 uses it for the "COURSE" text on course icons.
More recently, it has been used for the logo of the Mario & Sonic games (once again in the form of Lithos Black), and has appeared in Super Mario Odyssey as part of the Mount Volbono sticker.
Logona
Logona (ロゴナ Rogona) is a sans serif typeface from Visual Design Laboratory. Its Latin characters are similar to Eurostile. It is used for the interface in Mario Golf: Super Rush for the Japanese language.
Mario Party Textbox
Mario Party Textbox is used for the interface in the English version of Mario Party.
Mario Party Textbox FR/DE
Mario Party Textbox FR/DE is used for the interface in the French and German versions of Mario Party.
Mario Party 2/3 Textbox
Mario Party 2/3 Textbox is, as the name implies, used for the interface in Western versions of Mario Party 2 and 3.
Mario Party 4-7 Textbox
Mario Party 4-7 Textbox is, as the name implies, used for the interface in Western versions of Mario Party 4, 5, 6, and 7, as well as Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix and the European version of Mario Party 8.
Mario Party Hudson
Mario Party Hudson is used for large text in all Hudson Soft-developed Mario Party installments.
Mystery
Mystery (ミステリ) is an uneven serif typeface from Fontworks. It is based on Matisse (マティス), a serif typeface also from Fontworks. It is used for the location name HUD in Luigi's Mansion.
Neo Sans
Neo Sans is a sans serif typeface from Monotype. It is used for the interface in Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 for Western languages.
Neuland
Neuland is a typeface from Klingspor. It is used in Donkey Kong Country Returns and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze for display text, such as menu titles and level titles on the map and loading screens, as well as menu text in Returns.
New Rodin
New Rodin (ニューロダン Nyū Rodan) is a sans serif typeface from Fontworks. Its Latin characters are similar to Eurostile. It is used for the interface in the following games:
- Mario & Luigi: Dream Team
- Mario Kart 8
- Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
- Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions
- Mario Tennis Aces
- Super Mario Party
- Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey
- Mario Kart Tour
- Mario Golf: Super Rush (Western languages)
- Mario Party Superstars
Pop Fury
Pop Fury (Popフューリ Pop Fyūri) is a Point of Purchase typeface from Fontworks. It is used for the controller setting label and the letters labeling the controller buttons in Luigi's Mansion.
Pop Happiness
Pop Happiness (Popハッピネス Pop Happinesu) is a Point of Purchase typeface from Fontworks. It is used for the interface in the following games:
- Luigi's Mansion
- Super Mario Sunshine (Western languages)
- Mario Power Tennis
- Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat
- Super Mario Galaxy (Western languages)
- Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Western languages)
- WarioWare Gold
Additionally, in Mario Tennis for the Nintendo 64, it is used on the court selection screen when listing ball speed/bounce.
Pop Joy
Pop Joy (Popジョイ Pop Joi) is a rounded Point of Purchase typeface from Fontworks. It is used for the interface in the Paper Mario games for Western languages since Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, as well as Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour. Pop Joy is also used in WarioWare Gold as the text for Penny's stage.
Pop Joy in Paper Mario: Sticker Star
Pop Joy in Paper Mario: Color Splash
Pop Joy in Paper Mario: The Origami King
POP Mix
POP Mix (POPミックス POP Mikkusu) is a Point of Purchase typeface from DynaComware. It is used for the interface in Luigi's Mansion 3 for the Japanese language.
Raglan
Raglan UB (ラグランUB Raguran UB) is a typeface from Fontworks, an Ultra Bold derivative of Rodin. It is used for interface text in Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker. In WarioWare Gold, it is used for text in the Dancing Team and Wario Deluxe's stages. In WarioWare: Get it Together!, it is used for text in Orbulon's stage, the Showdown stage and for the title screen logos of Puck 'er Up and Frenemy Frenzy.
RocknRoll
RocknRoll (ロックンロール Rokkunrōru) is a Point of Purchase typeface from Fontworks. It is based on Rodin. It is used for the interface in Mario Party 10 for Western languages.
Rodin Maria
Rodin Maria (ロダンマリア Rodan Maria) is a sans serif typeface from Fontworks. It is Rodin with Maria kana. It is used for the interface in the following games:
- Super Mario Sunshine (Japanese language)
- Super Mario Galaxy (Japanese language)
- Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Japanese language)
- Mario Party 10 (Japanese language)
Rodin NTLG
Rodin NTLG (ロダンNTLG Rodan NTLG) is a sans serif typeface from Fontworks. It is Rodin with New Type Labo Gothic kana. The kana stroke ends are horizontal or vertical. Rodin NTLG is the system font on Nintendo GameCube, Wii, Nintendo DSi, Nintendo 3DS and Wii U. It is used for the interface in the following games:
- Mario & Sonic games from Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games to the Nintendo 3DS version of Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games for Western languages and the Wii U version of Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games for the Japanese language
- Mario Kart Wii
- Mario Kart 7
- Super Mario Maker
- Super Mario Odyssey
- Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury
Rodin Wanpaku
Rodin Wanpaku (ロダンわんぱく Rodan Wanpaku) is a sans serif typeface from Fontworks. It is Rodin with New Wanpaku Gothic kana. It is used for the interface in the following games:
Rowdy
Rowdy (ロウディ Roudi) is a sans serif typeface from Fontworks. It is based on Rodin. It is used for the interface in the following games:
In Wario Land: Shake It!, Rowdy is used for the "G" on Coin Bags and also for the "ON" and "OFF" on Certainty Switches in the Japanese version only. In WarioWare Gold, it is used for text in the Potluck Gang stage. It is also used for the "Puzzle & Dragons" portion of the Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition logo, and the "Arcade Edition" portion of the logo for Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 - Arcade Edition.
Seurat
Seurat (スーラ Sūra) is a rounded sans serif typeface from Fontworks. It is used for the interface in the following games:
- New Super Mario Bros. Wii
- Super Mario 3D Land
- New Super Mario Bros. 2
- New Super Mario Bros. U
- Paper Mario games since Paper Mario: Sticker Star (Japanese language)
- New Super Luigi U
- Super Mario 3D World
- Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam
- Mario Party: Star Rush
- Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions
- Mario Party: The Top 100
- Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey
- New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
Seurat Capie
Seurat Capie (スーラキャピー Sūra Kyapī) is a rounded sans serif typeface from Fontworks. It is Seurat with Capie kana. It is used for the interface in the following games:
- Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Japanese language)
- Super Paper Mario (Japanese language)
Slump
Slump (スランプ Suranpu) is a rounded sans serif typeface from Fontworks. It is based on Seurat. It is used for subtitles in Super Mario Sunshine, as well as display text in Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat. In WarioWare: Smooth Moves and WarioWare: Gold, it is used for text in Ashley's and Orbulon's levels respectively.
So Gei
So Gei (綜藝体 Sō Gei) is a sans serif typeface from DynaComware. It is used for the interface in the following games:
- Super Mario Maker (Japanese language)
- Super Mario Maker 2 (Japanese language)
- Luigi's Mansion 3 (Japanese language)
- Mario Party 8
TheSans
TheSans is a sans serif typeface from LucasFonts, designed by Lucas de Groot. A version of this typeface, TheSans Rio 2016, is used for the interface in the Wii U version of Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games for Western languages.
UD Kakugo
UD Kakugo (UD角ゴ UD Kaku go) is a Universal Design sans serif typeface from Fontworks. Its Latin characters are classified as humanist. It is used for the interface in Super Mario Maker 2 for Western languages. It is also used for the sticker text in Mario Party Superstars for Western languages.
UD Marugo
UD Marugo (UD丸ゴ UD Maru go) is a Universal Design rounded sans serif typeface from Fontworks. It is used for the interface in Super Mario Party for Western languages.
UD Shin Go
UD Shin Go (UD新ゴ UD Shin go) is a Universal Design sans serif typeface from Morisawa. Its Latin characters and numerals come from ClearTone SG, a humanist sans serif typeface also from Morisawa, with slight modifications, particularly in the letter "J". In UD Shin Go, "J" sits on the baseline; while in ClearTone SG, "J" descends below the baseline. UD Shin Go modified with a single story "g" from Latin small letter script g is the system font on Nintendo Switch. The unmodified UD Shin Go with a double story "g" is used for the interface in Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.
VAG Rounded
VAG Rounded is a widely used rounded sans-serif typeface. It is seen in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, where it is used for general text.
Yuruka
Yuruka (ユールカ Yūruka) is a Point of Purchase typeface from Fontworks. It is used for the interface in Yoshi's Crafted World.
Logos
Typeface | Foundry | Usage | |
---|---|---|---|
Ad Lib | ATF | WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Party Game$! | |
Antique Olive | Fonderie Olive, Linotype | Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash (Antique Olive Compact) | |
Blackplotan | 7NTypes | The Super Mario Bros. Movie | |
Cancun | Corel | Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door | |
Compacta | Letraset | Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest | |
Eclat | Image Club | DK: King of Swing (European logo) | |
FF CrashBangWallop | FontFont | Mario Hoops 3-on-3 | |
Gill Sans | Monotype | Super Mario Run (Gill Sans MT Pro Display Extra Bold) | |
Impact | Stephenson Blake | Mario Tennis: Power Tour | |
ITC American Typewriter | ITC | Mario's Picross | |
Dr. Mario: Miracle Cure (ITC American Typewriter Pro Bold) | |||
OnStage Serial | SoftMaker | Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (OnStage Serial Black) | |
Pop Happiness (Popハッピネス) | Fontworks | Donkey Kong Country (Game Boy Color) (Japanese) | |
Luigi's Mansion series | |||
Puffin Display Soft | Bold Monday | Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Puffin Display Soft Black) | |
Rockwell | Monotype | Mario Superstar Baseball (Rockwell Std Extra Bold) | |
Showcard Gothic | The Font Bureau, Inc. | Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars | |
DK: King of Swing (North American logo) | |||
Times New Roman | Monotype | Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time |
Minor usage
Typeface | Foundry | Usage | |
---|---|---|---|
Brush Script | ATF | Forgotten Isle sticker. (Super Mario Odyssey) | |
Impact | Stephenson Blake | Cranky's Video Game Heroes. (Donkey Kong Country 2 (Game Boy Advance)) | |
Khamden Script | Solidtype | Bowser and Peach's wedding poster. (modified; Super Mario Odyssey) | |
Snell Roundhand | Linotype | Bubblaine sticker. (Super Mario Odyssey) | |
Stencil | Ludlow Typograph, ATF | Steam Gardens sticker. (modified; Super Mario Odyssey) | |
VAG Rounded | — | Honeylune Ridge sticker. (Super Mario Odyssey) |
References
- ^ Nintendo of America (May 19, 2023). Game Boy Advance – May 2023 Game Updates – Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack. YouTube. Retrieved May 19, 2023.