The Best Nintendo NES Game Ever: Super Mario Bros 3

Raccoon Suits, Koopalings, and Warp Whistles: Why Everyone Loves Super Mario Bros 3

Super Mario Bros 3

When Nintendo created the Super Mario franchise, they needed something great to follow up the success of Super Mario Bros and Super Mario Bros 2. While the second game was a vast departure from the original, the creators needed to bring it back to the first game, while still including some elements from 2... all the while making it fresh and innovative. They succeeded tremendously, with Super Mario Bros. 3 being one of the biggest grossing video games of all time. This installment introduced the Koopalings, seven new Koopa bosses (and the children of Bowser) who each ruled their own world and airship battlezone. The game also introduced many unique new power ups and gameplay abilities, like the Racccon suit and ability to slide down hills.

Super Mario Bros 3 Photo Gallery

Video game pics of Mario, the Koopas, and the entire gang

Own the Original Super Mario Bros NES Game

Collectible new editions or used versions available

Yes, it's quite a bit of money now to own an original copy of this game. Gone are the days when you'd see this game lying in a bin at a yard sale for $3. This game is a classic, and the original cartridges are becoming collector's items. 

Super Mario Bros. 3
Nintendo
  • Brand new or used cartridges available
  • 1 or 2 player game
  • The best game in the series, all other subsequent Mario games have been based off of this single game!

Super Mario 3 Toad Secret White Houses

Find out where those secret power ups remain hidden!

Until now, you had no idea where those secret white toad houses were hidden, did you? Yeah, that's what we thought. Well, after decades of not knowing, your inner child can finally relax. So what's in those houses, anyway? A P wing, which can let you fly without having to run long distances, or a ship anchor, so you can dock the airship without it moving all over the world map. 

The Eight Worlds of Super Mario Bros 3

Run, stomp, fly, swim, and fireball your way from Grass Land to Dark Land

Levels of Super Mario 3

World 1: Grass Land This world was the easiest of the entire game, but also one of the most fun. The game starts with Mario being able to enter World 1-1, and view the entire map and what was to come. This was a first for Super Mario games in the series. Midway through the course is a castle, where you will have your first run-in with the mini-boss Boom-Boom. At the end, you will fight your way through the first airship, battling Larry Koopa at the end.

World 2: Desert Land An area of extreme heat, palm trees, sand, and giant pyramids, Mario will jump, run, and stomp his way through an army of fire enemies, the flying angry sun, and finally to Morton Koopa Jr. on the airship.

World 3: Water Land This is where you can find the debut of the awesome Frog Suit, which will help you navigate the troubled waters much faster. Ruled by Wendy O. Koopa, this world is also home to many squid, Cheep Cheeps, and the giant fish known as Big Bertha.

World 4: Giant Land A very unique land in the game, Giant Land contains giant Koopas, Piranha Plants, and Hammer Bros that Mario needs to either defeat or sneak by. The area contains two fortresses on the island, with Iggy Koopa at the final battle on the airship.

World 5: Sky Land Sky Land is where you'll find the first appearance of Roy Koopa. This Koopaling can be found on the second half of the world. Divided into two parts, one part is on the ground, the second part being in the sky. If you do not defeat Roy on the first try, his airship can move about the world (both sections) as he pleases.

World 6: Ice Land With a total of three fortresses and slippery surfaces that make for a big challenge, Ice Land is no easy task. One of the more difficult parts of this world are the frozen plants which can thaw out and inflict damage. At the end of the world, you'll fight Lemmy Koopa, who is surprisingly easy considering how far along in the game this is.

World 7: Pipe Land With a maze of pipes for Mario to navigate through, this world contains 9 levels, 2 fortresses, and a difficult battle with the final Koopaling, Ludwig Von Koopa.

World 8: Dark Land This is the most challenging part of the game, with fire pits, Bullet Bills from every angle, cannonball shots, fast moving tanks, and pestering Rocky Wrenches. In the final battle, you will face off with Bowser in a small room. To defeat him, you'll need to allow him to jump in the air, and jump away just before he comes crashing down on top of you. The final stomp will send Bowser into the hole below.

 

Super Mario Bros 3

is the best selling standalone Nintendo NES game of all time, selling 18 million units. 

Super Mario 3 FAQ

Villains, release date, Koopalings, power ups, and other frequent questions

When Was Super Mario 3 Released?

It was released in 1990. From this one game alone, Nintendo generated over $500 million in revenue.

Who are the Main Villians of Super Mario Bros 3?

Unlike the first installment of the game which featured Bowser as the main antagonist, and Super Mario 2 which featured King Wart, the third in the series featured Bowser plus his 7 Koopalings. His children are fought in seven different levels, in order from youngest to oldest.

What are the names of the Koopalings?

The names of the Koopalings, from youngest to oldest, were Larry Koopa, Morton Koopa Jr., Wendy O. Koopa, Iggy Koopa, Roy Koopa, Lemmy Koopa, and Ludwig Von Koopa. In the cartoon animated series, the names were different because they made the cartoon in advance of the game coming out, unaware of what the names were to be.

What power-ups are available in this game?

To power up, you can use the tried and true Super Mushroom, Fire Flower, and Invinicible Mario, but there are some new additions. Debuting in this game are the Raccoon Mario suits, P-Wing suits, Hammer Suit, Frog Suit, Tanooki Suit, and the one-level-wonder Kuribo's Shoe.

The Main Characters of Super Mario Bros 3

Beyond Mario: Toad, Bowser, and more

  • Luigi

  • Princess Peach

  • Toad

  • Bowser

  • Koopalings

    <p>There are seven of them, one at the end of each world. Let's see, there's Larry, Morton Koopa Jr, Wendy, Iggy, Roy, Lemmy, and Ludwig von Koopa. These are all spoofs of pop culture icons.</p>

Vintage Super Mario Bros 3 Cartridges

Scoop up this retro gaming classic on Ebay!

Learn More About Super Mario Bros 3

Wikis, reviews, and how to play the game online

Don't Have Time to Play? Then Watch This Guy...

A world walk through of Super Mario 3

Nintendo NES Console

If you want to play it like a true gamer, use this...

This game is also available for download through the Wii Console, but why not go old school and get a Nintendo NES console? It's a whole different experience, and the games are super cheap on Ebay. If you've never played this system, you'll get a kick out of the tiny controllers, and maybe just a little irritated at having to blow dust out of the game cartridges. For those that have owned or played this, imagine the nostalgia it will bring. Big hair, mullets, spandex, yuppies, bright colors, MTV... it will all come back to you with the flick of the power button. 

Nintendo NES System - Video Game Console
Unknown
  • Includes the NES console
  • Great way to relive your favorite old school games!
  • Hundreds of cool games available for dirt cheap on Ebay auctions
  • Brand new and used consoles available

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For the Mario Obsessed:

Exclusive, cool Mario fan merchandise

You can never have too much Mario stuff. It's 80's, it's retro, and it kind of reminds me of sipping an Ecto Cooler HI-C juicebox with a fistful of O'Boise's chips by Keebler. 

Super Mario Chess
USAOPOLY, Inc
$36.85

There's chess, and there's Mario Chess. Which would you rather play? 

Super Mario Plush - 5" Ghost Boo Soft Stuffed Plush Toy Japanese Import
Japan VideoGames
$19.55

Let's just skip right past Mario and get to the cool plush characters. This guy was a welcome addition to the game, though you couldn't kill them without an invincibility star.

Super Mario Brothers : Bowser Plush - 10"
Super Mario Brothers
$17.95

I always wanted to play the bad guy in most games. Reliving that with a Bowser plush toy will have to suffice for now.

Nintendo Wall Graphics - New Super Mario Bros
ThinkGeek
$74.95

Call me immature, but I wouldn't mind putting these in my current bedroom, let alone a kid's bedroom. 

Super Mario Time to Team Up 50-by-60-Inch Microraschel Throw Blanket
Nintendo
$15.98

Maybe I'll buy two of these, sew them together, and have them on my king sized bed. What woman wouldn't be utterly attracted to that?

Plush Super Mario Bros Toys

How can you resist having a stuffed Boo, Koopa, or Bowser?

Other Cool Nintendo NES Games on Auction

Lots, cheap games, and classics

Share Here: Tricks, Tips, and Favorite Things About Super Mario 3

Tell us why you love this classic game!

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