Summary
TheMariofranchise is home to a huge cast of characters, including over 10 main characters and 30+ enemies. The series has come a long way from its original arcade games, and now the majority ofMariocharacters are household names. With its history spanning four decades, theMariouniverse has become increasingly developed and creative.
Most newMariocharacters debut as NPCs, and grow into fan favorites through theirappearances in spin-off gameslikeMario KartorMario Tennis. Not all characters end up as popular, and some gamers may even be left wondering where they even got their start. Of all the people Mario has met over the years, why have these guys stuck around, and what makes them such good friends? There are a few ways to figure out which ones are the best, and gamers are sure to agree that there’s a clear order to Mario’s best friends.
To someMariofans, Birdo might be a relatively new face. But, Birdo is actually a very old character, first appearing inSuper Mario Bros. 2in 1988. Unfortunately, aside from being a helper inWario’s Woodsin 1994, she hasn’t been featured in any otherMariomain series games. That doesn’t mean that she hasn’t played a massive role in the spin-offs, her first one beingMario Tennisin 2000. In total, Birdo has appeared in roughly 24 spin-offMariogames, not always as a playable character.
Birdo’s friendship with Mario is complicated since she’s played the villain role more than once. However, in other games, she’s often introduced as a counterpart to Yoshi, and it can be interpreted that Birdo is more of a lackey than an evil mastermind. Besides, on the racetrack or the tennis court, many foes have become friends. Birdo is also generally believed to be video gaming’s first-ever transgender character, solidifying heras a true iconof theMariouniverse.
Princess Daisy is another longstanding character in theMarioworld, first appearing in 1989’sSuper Mario Landas the ruler of Sarasaland. However, Daisy’s career really took off in the 2000s inMario Tennis.From that moment on, Daisy has become a staple ofMariospin-off games. She’s appeared in almost everyMario Party, has been a playable character ineveryMario and Sonic at the Olympic Games, and allMario Kartinstallments sinceDouble Dash.
Since her inception, Princess Daisy has been an ally of Mario. She was key in providing a new kingdom for Mario to traverse and was even saved by him inSuper Mario Land. Since then, she’s become unrivaled in her sports prowess and spin-off appearances. To celebrate her consistent and reliable appearances, Daisy is featured as a playable character inSuper Mario Bros. Wonder– her second-ever time being a PC in a mainMarioseries game.
It’s safe to assume that most gamers will recognize Pauline fromSuper Mario Odyssey, where she appears as the mayor of New Donk City. However, she’s actually one of the first-ever characters from theMariofranchise – first debuting in the 1981 arcade gameDonkey Kong.Super Mario Odysseywas the first game Pauline was featured in outside theDonkey Kongseries. Since her 2019 renaissance, Pauline can now be found as a playable character inMario Tennis Aces(DLC),Mario Golf: Super Rush, andMario Strikers: Battle League.
Pauline is often cited as the original video game damsel in distress and was even the first ever woman in a video game to have a speaking role. This makes her growth into a jazz singer and mayor of a major metropolitan city even more impressive. At every turn, Pauline has been breaking down barriers and defying expectations – and she’s managed to stay great friends with Mario in the process.
Toads have appeared inMariogames since 1985, and are the denizens of the Mushroom Kingdom. Prominent Toad characters like Toad, Toadette, Captain Toad, and Toadsworth have helped Mario through his various quests, and they’ve quickly become astaple of the franchise– appearing in over 20Mariotitles and even gaining spin-off games likeCaptain Toad: Treasure Tracker.
It’s safe to say Mario wouldn’t be where he is now with the help of the various Toads. They’re pillars of his adventures and loyal subjects of Princess Peach. They’re absolutely fundamental in the world, and players are more likely to notice when there isn’t a Toad present than when there is one. These eccentric citizens are true friends, and undeniably key to theMariofranchise.
Rosalina is one of the newer faces in theMariofranchise, first showing up inSuper Mario Galaxyin 2007. She quickly became a fan favorite thanks to her mysterious and caring nature. Her only main series appearance as a PC isSuper Mario 3D World,and she is mostly known for her immediate presence inMariospin-off games. Rosalina is in a total of 6Mario Kartgames, 6Mariosports games, 3Mario Partygames, and as a fighter inSuper Smash Bros 3DS/Wii UandUltimate.
Rosalina has been an unbelievably good and reliable friend to Mario, and her strong sense of kindness makes her incredibly likable. Nintendo knew they struck gold with her well-developed story, and she began appearing in spin-offs a year after her initial launch. Rosalina is often cited as a key reason forSuper Mario Galaxy’scritical success and is well-known for being one of the best-written characters ever featured in theMariofranchise.
Yoshi is perhapsMario’smost beloved character. This adorable but fierce dinosaur has been a trusty sidekick to Mario since 1990 when he debuted inSuper Mario World. He has become a major part of the franchise, even gaining8 individualYoshititles. No otherMariocharacter has quite been given the same love and treatment, and he’s featured in everyMario KartandMario Partygame – as well as most otherMariospin-offs.
Yoshi might easily be categorized as Mario’s greatest friend. He’s been a reliable and dedicated steed and is by no means helpless. Yoshi has his unique mechanics and can be incredibly useful in aMariogame – and has done his fair share to get Mario out of some tricky scenarios.
2Princess Peach
Love Interest & More
Princess Peach is easily the most recognizable woman in gaming history andhas appeared in moreMariogames than any other female character. She’s featured in well over 100 games since her creation forSuper Mario Bros.in 1985 and is the only femaleMariocharacter to have her own game. She has made an appearance in almost every singleMariospin-off game and is essentially the third protagonist in the franchise, along with Mario and Luigi.
Princess Peach is an icon of gaming. Although she’s Mario’s love interest, Peach has gone on to become a staple of the franchise and the face of women in games. The truth is, there is no Mario without Princess Peach. She has been a fundamental part of almost all critically acclaimedMariogames, and the Mushroom Kingdom has been the backdrop for some of Mario’s most beloved adventures. Without Peach,Mariojust wouldn’t be the same.
Luigi has often been cited as a better character than Mario himself. After decades of skirting the edges of the spotlight, in the last few years, Luigi has truly taken center stage in theMariofanbase. Aside from being a principal character in many mainMarioseries titles – often as a sign of increased difficulty – Luigi is also the star of his own games. His most notable series isLuigi’s Mansion,where he hunts ghostsin various locations, as well asNew Super Luigi UandDr. Luigi.
Luigi is easily Mario’s greatest friend. Mario got his start as one-half of the Mario Bros. and Luigi is just as responsible for the franchise’s success. Thanks to his more complex characteristics, and his recent recognition as the too-often forgotten brother, Luigi is undeniably the biggest face of theMariofranchise besides Mario himself.
