He saves her. She gives him a little peck on the cheek. He turns bright red, steam basically shoots out of his ears, and the credits roll.
We’ve seen it a hundred times, right? For over forty years, the mario x peach kiss has been the ultimate "payout" for traversing eight worlds of fire-breathing turtles and bottomless pits. But if you actually sit down and look at the history of these two, it’s way weirder than just a standard fairy tale romance.
Honestly, the "relationship" between Mario and Princess Peach is one of the most debated topics in gaming. Is it a lifelong romance? A strictly professional rescue-and-reward system? Or is Peach just being polite to the guy who keeps her kingdom from becoming a Koopa-themed wasteland?
The Evolution of the "Thank You" Kiss
Back in the 80s, things were simple. You beat Bowser, you found the Princess, and you got a message on a black screen. It wasn't until the 16-bit era that Nintendo started getting "steamy"—well, by NES standards.
In Super Mario World (1990), we got one of the first explicit kiss scenes. After the final battle, Peach kisses Mario, and the heart-shaped smoke cloud pops up. It was cute. It was definitive. Or so we thought.
Then came the remakes. If you look at Super Mario All-Stars, the "kiss" became a more detailed animation where Peach stands on her tiptoes. It’s a recurring theme: Peach is almost always taller than Mario, which adds this funny, slightly awkward dynamic to every romantic gesture. She has to bend down; he has to look up.
But here’s the kicker: in almost 40 years of mainline games, Mario has basically never kissed her back. It’s always a one-way street. She initiates, he reacts. In Super Mario 64, she bakes him a cake and gives him a peck on the nose. In Super Mario Maker 2, she kisses his cheek and he gets all shy, scratching his head. He’s the eternal "hopeful," and she’s the one holding all the cards.
💡 You might also like: Stalker Survival: How to Handle the Vampire Survivors Green Reaper Without Losing Your Mind
That Messy Ending in Super Mario Odyssey
If you want to talk about the mario x peach kiss, you have to talk about the moon. Specifically, the ending of Super Mario Odyssey. This is the moment that broke the internet back in 2017 and still has people arguing in Reddit threads today.
After the final boss fight, Mario decides he’s done waiting. He pulls out a bundle of flowers and essentially proposes. Then Bowser—who has just been beaten into the lunar dust—wakes up and does the exact same thing.
They both shove flowers in her face. They’re arguing over her like she’s a trophy. And Peach? She just says, "Enough!"
She turns them both down. She boards her ship, leaves them both stranded on the moon for a second, and decides to go on a world tour by herself. It was a massive shift for her character. For the first time, the "reward" at the end of the game wasn't a kiss; it was a rejection of the whole "saving the princess" trope.
A lot of fans were actually mad. They felt like Mario "earned" that kiss after traveling across the literal galaxy. But looking back, it makes sense. If two guys are treating you like a prize in a competition, the coolest move is to walk away.
Is it Official? The 2025 "Good Friends" Controversy
Just recently, things got even more complicated. In July 2025, a post on the Nintendo Today app described the pair as "good friends who help each other out."
📖 Related: Blue Protocol Star Resonance Shield Knight Skill Tree: What Most People Get Wrong
The internet went nuclear.
"Friendzoned after 40 years?" was the general vibe of the comments. People pointed to Super Mario Galaxy, where Rosalina calls Peach Mario’s "special one." They pointed to Mario Party 5, where their team name is "The Cutest Couple."
But Nintendo has a very specific reason for keeping things vague. If Mario and Peach officially get married and live happily ever after, the tension disappears. The "will they, won't they" is what keeps the stakes high every time Bowser shows up with a flying airship.
The Movie Changed the Vibe
The 2023 Super Mario Bros. Movie took a different approach. There was no kiss. Not even a cheek peck.
Instead, the movie focused on their partnership. Peach was a powerhouse who didn't need saving, and Mario was the scrappy underdog earning her respect. There was definitely flirting—Donkey Kong even calls Mario out for it on Rainbow Road—but it felt more like the start of a real relationship rather than a ritualistic "save the girl, get the girl" moment.
Some fans felt the romance was forced, while others loved that Peach finally had a personality beyond "pink and kidnapped." It’s a more modern take on the mario x peach kiss—less about a transaction and more about two people who actually like each other.
👉 See also: Daily Jumble in Color: Why This Retro Puzzle Still Hits Different
A Timeline of Notable "Moments"
- 1990 (Super Mario World): The first big animated kiss on the cheek.
- 1996 (Super Mario 64): The "nose peck" and the promise of a cake.
- 2017 (Super Mario Odyssey): The double rejection that launched a thousand memes.
- 2023 (The Movie): Mutual respect replaces the "damsel" kiss.
- 2025 (Nintendo App): The "Good Friends" status update that shook the fanbase.
What’s the Truth?
Honestly, the mario x peach kiss is whatever the player wants it to be. Nintendo is never going to give us a definitive "yes, they are a domestic couple" because it limits their storytelling.
In Japan, the language used to describe them is often a bit more romantic than the English localizations. While the US version might say "good friends," the Japanese text often implies a "deep bond" that goes beyond just hanging out.
Peach isn't a prize, and Mario isn't just a bodyguard. They’ve been through enough together—from racing go-karts to fighting cosmic deities—that a simple label probably doesn't fit anymore.
If you want to see the "romance" in action, your best bet isn't the mainline games—it’s the spin-offs. Check out the Mario & Luigi RPG series or Paper Mario. Those games have way more dialogue and actually show the two of them going on dates or sharing quiet moments.
What to do next
If you're looking for more than just a 16-bit peck on the cheek, go back and play the Super Mario RPG remake. It captures that classic chemistry better than almost any other title. Or, if you're more into the modern "power couple" vibe, re-watch the training montage in the 2023 movie. It’s pretty clear that even without a kiss, these two are the definitive duo of gaming.