The core four. If you grew up playing the NES or basically any console since 1985, you know the vibe. Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Peach are more than just a roster of characters; they are a mechanical blueprint for how platformers actually work. It’s kinda weird when you think about it. Most franchises swap out their leads every few years to keep things "fresh," but Nintendo just keeps refining these four.
Why? Because they represent a perfect balance of physics.
When Super Mario Bros. 2 hit the US in 1988 (yeah, the reskinned Doki Doki Panic version), it accidentally set a standard that still exists in Super Mario Bros. Wonder today. It gave us the four-pillar gameplay loop. You have the balanced one, the high-jumper with no traction, the fast heavy-lifter, and the floater. This isn't just about "who is your favorite." It's about how you want to interact with the level design.
The Evolution of the Core Four
Most people think Mario is the star. Obviously, he is. But the dynamic between Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Peach has shifted from "hero and hostages" to a genuine ensemble cast. In the early days, Peach was the goalpost. Toad was the guy telling you the goalpost was in another castle. Now? They’re the ones doing the heavy lifting in Super Mario 3D World.
Mario is the baseline. If you can't beat a level with Mario, the level is broken. He has the standard 1:1 movement ratio that Shigeru Miyamoto obsessed over during the development of the original Super Mario Bros. (1985).
Luigi is where things get messy.
He’s taller, sure. But he’s "scuttle-legged." Since Lost Levels, Luigi has historically had higher jump height but lower friction. It’s a trade-off. You get the vertical advantage, but you’re probably going to slide off a cliff if you aren't careful with your inputs. It's a high-risk, high-reward playstyle that appeals to speedrunners and people who like a little chaos.
Peach and the "Float" Mechanic
Princess Peach is arguably the most powerful character in the lineup for one specific reason: her parasol (or just her dress, depending on the game). Her ability to hover mid-air for a few seconds completely breaks the traditional gravity of a Mario level.
Think about the technical debt this creates for level designers.
If Peach can float, a gap that is "impossible" for Toad suddenly becomes trivial. Nintendo has to design levels that are challenging for Mario but don't become boring for Peach. It’s a tightrope walk. In Super Princess Peach on the DS, we saw her move into a solo lead role, but she really shines when she’s part of the group. She is the "easy mode" that isn't actually easy—she just allows for more precision in a genre that is usually about momentum.
Honestly, Peach’s inclusion as a playable character was a massive win for game accessibility before that was even a buzzword.
Toad: The Speed Factor
Toad is the one everyone underestimates.
He’s short. He has a stubby jump. But he is fast. In Super Mario Bros. 2, Toad could pick up items and move faster than anyone else. This makes him the "tank" or the "runner." When you’re playing 4-player co-op, the Toad player is usually the one accidentally bumping everyone else into pits because they’re moving at a different rhythm.
There’s a common misconception that Toad is just a generic species. While there are thousands of Toads, "The" Toad—the one with the blue vest usually—is a specific character with a distinct personality. He’s brave but high-pitched and frantic. He represents the "everyman" in a world of super-powered plumbers and royalty.
Why the Quad-Dynamic Works
- Mario: The Standard.
- Luigi: The Specialist.
- Peach: The Grace.
- Toad: The Velocity.
The Cultural Impact of the Group
The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) really solidified this group for a new generation. It moved Peach away from the "damsel" trope once and for all, making her the mentor. Luigi became the one needing the rescue, which flipped the script but kept the emotional core.
The chemistry works because they are archetypes.
You see this in Mario Kart and Mario Party too. The stats usually follow the same logic. Mario is middle-weight. Luigi is slightly different middle-weight. Peach is light-medium. Toad is light. It’s consistent. This consistency is why Nintendo is worth billions. You don’t have to relearn the "rules" of the world every time a new game comes out. You just pick your person and go.
Addressing the "Blue Toad" and "Yellow Toad" Confusion
In New Super Mario Bros. Wii, we saw a weird shift. Instead of Peach being playable, we got two Toads. This was a technical limitation and a "thematic" choice—they wanted all players to have similar hitboxes and abilities for that specific chaotic co-op style. Fans hated it.
People wanted the core four.
💡 You might also like: Blue-Eyes Chaos MAX Dragon: Why This 4000 ATK Juggernaut Still Scares People
They wanted the variety of Peach’s float and Luigi’s slide. Nintendo eventually listened. By the time Super Mario 3D World arrived, the asymmetrical gameplay was back. It proved that players don't just want "fairness" in their characters; they want identity. They want to argue over who gets to be Peach.
How to Choose Your Character Based on Skill Level
If you’re sitting down to play a modern Mario game with friends, don't just pick based on looks.
- Pick Mario if you are the "point man." You’re leading the pack and need reliable controls.
- Pick Luigi if you’re a veteran who wants to find secrets. That extra jump height lets you reach blocks that Mario can't touch.
- Pick Peach if you struggle with platforming or if you’re the designated "safe" player who stays alive to let others respawn.
- Pick Toad if you’re a speedrunner or just want to annoy your friends by being 10 steps ahead of the screen.
Final Practical Takeaway
The genius of Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Peach isn't just in their character designs. It’s in their physics. Next time you play, try switching characters midway through. Notice how your brain has to recalibrate the timing of your button presses. That "re-learning" is the secret sauce of Nintendo’s longevity.
Stop sticking to just Mario. The game changes entirely when you’re sliding around as Luigi or hovering over hazards as Peach. Experiment with the different jump arcs to find hidden paths that are literally built into the geometry of the levels to reward specific character traits. Every Mario level is actually four different levels depending on who you’re controlling.
Go back and play Super Mario Bros. 2 or Super Mario 3D World with this in mind. You’ll see the level design in a completely different light. Focus on how the gaps between platforms are exactly the width of a Peach hover or just slightly too wide for a Toad jump, forcing you to use his speed for a running start. That’s where the real game design lives.