You think you know Mario. Red hat, bushy mustache, jumps on turtles, saves the girl. It’s the gaming formula that’s been running since the early eighties. But honestly, if you look at all the characters in Super Mario today, the roster has become this weird, sprawling family tree that mixes eldritch star-mothers with sentient dinosaurs and a "bad" version of Luigi who is mostly just a fashion icon for chaos.
Most people just see the surface. They see a platformer. What they miss is that Nintendo has spent forty years building a cast that is surprisingly deep, if you know where to look in the old manuals and the weird spin-offs.
The Core Crew: More Than Just "Player One"
Basically, the "Main Four" aren’t as simple as they used to be. Mario isn’t just a plumber anymore—Nintendo actually officially revoked his plumbing license for a bit before "re-hiring" him around the time the 2023 movie came out. He’s a jack-of-all-trades who has been a doctor, a golf pro, and a demolition worker.
Then you’ve got Luigi. Poor, anxious Luigi. He’s technically Mario’s younger twin, not just a younger brother. While Mario is the "paragon" of bravery, Luigi has actual character growth. If you play Luigi’s Mansion, you see a guy who is genuinely terrified of everything but does it anyway. That’s arguably more "heroic" than Mario, who doesn't seem to have a fear response.
Princess Peach and the "Damsel" Myth
There’s a huge misconception that Peach is just a trophy to be won. Honestly, that’s 1985 thinking. In Super Princess Peach and Super Mario Bros. Wonder, she’s a powerhouse. She can float, she can use "Vibe" powers, and in the RPGs, she’s often the best healer in the party.
Did you know her original name in Japan was always Princess Peach, but the West called her Princess Toadstool until Super Mario 64? Now, we just use both, but "Peach" is the dominant brand. She’s the ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom, but she’s also a high-level athlete who apparently finds time to organize karting tournaments every other weekend.
📖 Related: Legion Remix What to Buy First With Bronze: The Smart Spender's Checklist
The Weird Guys: Yoshi, Toad, and the "Others"
If we’re talking about all the characters in Super Mario, we have to address the "helper" class.
- Toad: He isn't just one guy. "Toad" is a species, but there is one specific Toad who is Peach's personal attendant. He’s been around since the "Our Princess is in another castle" days.
- Yoshi: His full name is actually T. Yoshisaur Munchakoopas. I’m not even kidding. That’s in the 1993 Nintendo Character Guide. He’s a dinosaur, he’s a steed, and he has an appetite that defies the laws of physics.
- Rosalina: She’s the "new" core member, introduced in Super Mario Galaxy. She lives on a comet, adopts star-creatures called Lumas, and is basically the closest thing the Mario universe has to a goddess. She’s way taller than the rest of the cast and carries a much heavier, more melancholic vibe than the others.
The Villains: Why Bowser Isn't Always the Bad Guy
Bowser is the King of the Koopas. He breathes fire, kidnaps princesses, and has a shell covered in spikes. But if you’ve played Super Mario RPG or Paper Mario, you know he’s actually kinda... a dork? He’s a single dad raising Bowser Jr., and he’s frequently forced to team up with Mario to save the world from even worse villains, like Smithy or Count Bleck.
The Rivalry: Wario and Waluigi
Wario was originally created as the "Anti-Mario." He’s greedy, loves garlic, and is incredibly strong. He isn't actually Mario’s brother; they were childhood rivals.
Waluigi is the real enigma. He was created specifically so Wario would have a doubles partner in Mario Tennis on the Nintendo 64. He has no "origin story" game. He just exists to be tall, lanky, and bitter about his lack of a starring role. Fans love him because he represents the ultimate underdog—someone who is just "there" and making the most of it.
The "Wonder" Era and Recent Additions
With the release of Super Mario Bros. Wonder, the cast expanded again. We got Prince Florian (the caterpillar-like ruler of the Flower Kingdom) and the Poplins. The game also leaned heavily into making characters like Daisy "mainstream."
Daisy is the Princess of Sarasaland. For decades, she was relegated to sports games and Mario Kart. But lately, Nintendo has realized that people love her "tomboy" energy compared to Peach’s more refined style. She’s loud, she’s energetic, and she’s finally a permanent fixture in the 2D platforming lineup.
Lesser-Known Facts About the Roster
It's easy to forget that the Mario universe is built on the bones of a Popeye game that never happened. Mario was Jumpman, Pauline was Olive Oyl, and Donkey Kong was Bluto. When the license fell through, Miyamoto just made his own versions.
Also, look at the "enemies." Many of them have backstories that are surprisingly dark. The original Super Mario Bros. manual states that the Koopas used black magic to turn the Mushroom People into the bricks and stones Mario breaks. So, technically, every time you smash a block, you might be "de-living" a Toad. Kinda dark for a kids' game, right?
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you want to really experience the depth of all the characters in Super Mario, don't just stick to the platformers. The personality of the cast is hidden in the sub-genres.
- Play the RPGs: Super Mario RPG (the remake) and the Paper Mario series give the characters actual dialogue and motivations.
- Check the Manuals: If you can find scans of the NES and SNES manuals, the lore is way weirder than what you see on screen.
- Watch the Evolution: Notice how characters like Birdo have transitioned from "boss enemy" in Super Mario Bros. 2 to a beloved staple in the racing and party games.
The Mario cast isn't just a group of mascots; it’s a living, breathing ensemble that has survived multiple hardware generations by being flexible. Whether they are doctors, racers, or world-saving heroes, they remain the gold standard for character design in gaming.
To get the full picture, start tracking the "cameo" appearances in games like Super Smash Bros. or Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, where the roster hits its absolute peak in terms of variety and style. Explore the "Gallery" modes in these games—they often contain the most accurate, up-to-date bios for the entire Mushroom Kingdom family.