Super Mario Bros Game

Super Mario Bros is the side-scrolling platformer that practically defined the modern video game landscape. You guide Mario through the Mushroom Kingdom to rescue Princess Toadstool from Bowser, navigating eight distinct worlds filled with Goombas, Koopa Troopas, and bottomless pits. The game relies entirely on its perfect momentum-based physics, where how long you hold a button directly translates to the height and distance of your jump.

Every level is a masterclass in risk versus reward. You start out small and vulnerable, but grabbing a Super Mushroom lets you take an extra hit, and finding a Fire Flower turns you into a formidable projectile thrower. Playing a session today feels just as tight and demanding as it did in the 1980s, testing your ability to time jumps and manage your sprinting speed across increasingly hazardous terrain.

Controls

Because momentum is everything, getting comfortable with the sprint button is essential.

• Left / Right Arrows: Move Mario left or right.
• Down Arrow: Crouch (when Super Mario) or enter green pipes.
• Z or Spacebar: Jump. Hold the button down longer to jump higher.
• X or Shift: Hold to sprint. When you have the Fire Flower, press this to throw a bouncing fireball.

Tips

• Momentum Alters Jumps: The faster you are running, the further you can jump. You will need a full running start to clear the wider gaps in later worlds.
• Skip Ahead with Warp Zones: You do not have to play every level. In World 1-2, instead of taking the final pipe to exit, ride the moving platforms up and run along the ceiling to find pipes that transport you straight to Worlds 2, 3, or 4.
• Use Shells as Weapons: Jumping on a Koopa Troopa leaves its shell behind. You can kick this shell to knock out a whole row of oncoming enemies and earn extra lives, but be careful—it will bounce off solid objects and can hit you on the rebound.

There is a reason this game remains the gold standard for 2D platforming, rewarding both cautious exploration and daring speedruns.