Unlicensed developers andfans have created unofficial media relating to theMario franchise. Such media have included video games,ROM hacks, and animations.
Due in-part to the franchise's popularity, some of these unlicensed works have received critical attention. In September 2016, Nintendo issued over 500DMCA takedown requests for various fan games hosted atGame Jolt based on their intellectual properties. All of these games have been taken down.[1]
Several unofficial, andunlicensed,Mario games andgame mods have been released for various video game consoles.
Kaizo Mario World, also known asAsshole Mario, is a series of three ROM hacks of the 1990Super Nintendo Entertainment System video gameSuper Mario World, notable for deliberately breaking normal rules of "accepted" level design and featuring extreme difficulty.[2][3] It became the namesake forKaizo, a genre of Mario games modified for intense difficulty.[4]
Super Dram World is series of twoSuper Mario World ROM hacks created by American ROM hackerPangaeaPanga and named after speedrunner Dram55, designed for high difficulty.[3]
Super Panga World is a ROM hack ofSuper Mario World created by Linkdeadx2 and dedicated to PangaeaPanga.[5]
Dian Shi Ma Li (Chinese:電視瑪琍;pinyin:Diànshì Mǎlì), translated to English asBig TV Mary Bar and also known asMario Lottery,TV Mario,Li Ma Shin Dian on newer releases is an unlicensed video game for theFamily Computer made byBit Corporation and released by Fiver Firm (五合企業有限公司) and Fortran, under their first name "Namco Corporation".[6][7] It is based on the Taiwanese slot machine gameXiǎo Mǎ Lì,[8] where features a character resemblingMario with an F on his cap, who has become known as "Fortran" based on hidden text discovered in the ROM. The game is aroulette wheel/slot machine – different buttons control the betting, and each button produces a musical note. Landing on the coin produces a message inChinglish: "PUSH START TO RICH". It became aninternet meme when users created fad videos onYouTube.[9][10]
New Super Mario Land is a port ofSuper Mario Land to the Super NES, made by an unknown developer.[12] It features graphics and music reminiscent ofNew Super Mario Bros. According to its developer, it was made from the ground up, using an assembler and tools for graphics and music. It was originally created as a gift for the developer's "Nintendo-loving friends."[13] The game was very well received due to featuringDS-quality graphics on a 16-bit system.
Somari is a port ofSega's flagshipvideo gameSonic the Hedgehog, produced for the Nintendo Entertainment System and sold primarily inAsia,Russia, and other regions wherepirate Famicom cartridges were distributed, in 1994. The game features a character named "Somari" –Mario wearingTails's shoes.
Mario 3: Around the World andMario 4: A Space Odyssey are bootleg Mario games developed for theSega Genesis. They were produced inRussia by a developer named "VMV" around 2011 and distributed by a publisher named Kudos. Games produced by VMV are known for having graphic imagery featured on their game over screens, and often their continue screens as well.[14][15]
Newer Super Mario Bros. is a series of modifications developed by the Newer Team.
Newer Super Mario Bros. Wii, a modification ofNew Super Mario Bros. Wii, overhauls most of the original game, featuring a custom 2D map system as well as new levels and themes. An updated version titledNewer Super Mario Bros. Wii Deluxe is in progress.
Newer Super Mario Bros. DS, a modification ofNew Super Mario Bros., was released in 2018.
Smash Remix is a ROM hack of the 1999Nintendo 64 fighting gameSuper Smash Bros. It retains the gameplay style of the original release while adding new gameplay modes, stages, and characters; these include characters from laterSuper Smash Bros. games such asGanondorf,[35]Bowser,[36] andSonic the Hedgehog,[37] and new characters such asConker the Squirrel[38] and the Mad Piano fromSuper Mario 64.[39]
CTGP Revolution is a modification forMario Kart Wii by Chadsoft, incorporating the addition of fan-made custom race tracks.[40] Similar modifications forMario Kart DS andMario Kart 7 have also been made, titledCTGP Nitro andCTGP-7, respectively. The "Revolution" and "Nitro" titles references the respective development codenames of the Wii and Nintendo DS.
Super Mario Eclipse is a modification ofSuper Mario Sunshine made with the goal of polishing and restoring cut content from the original game. An additional 120 Shine Sprites are added on to the original game (making a total of 240 Shines), which are placed in brand new locations. Two new playable characters are unlocked throughout the game.[41][42]
Mario in the Multiverse is a collaboratively developed crossover ROM hack ofSuper Mario 64. Each of the game's stages was designed by a different modder and based on a different franchise, such asSpongeBob SquarePants,Doom, andKatana Zero, with Mario able to acquire new abilities based on each franchise to progress.[43][44]
There exist several unofficiallevel editors created to allow users with no programming skills to easily make their ownlevels or ROM hacks.
Super Mario Bros. X is a fangame blending elements fromSuper Mario Bros.,Bros. 2,Bros. 3 andWorld, and other video game franchises such asThe Legend of Zelda series and includes both alevel editor, as well simultaneous split-screenmultiplayer. Super Mario Bros. X had received its fan-made sequel titled Super Mario Bros. X2 which had its first open beta distributed on December 2, 2015; Super Mario Bros. X2 still receives updates to this day.[45][46][47]
Toad's Tool 64 is a level editor forSuper Mario 64 developed by Qubed Studios.[53]
Mario Builder 64 is aSuper Mario 64 level editor developed by Arthurtilly and Rovertronic, which allows users to share their created levels and is capable of running on actual Nintendo 64 hardware.[54][55][56]
UnofficialMario games playable on computers have consisted mostly ofbrowser-based games. Such games either can beparodies orfangames that feature the franchise's characters or settings reimagined within the style of other media, or vice-versa.
Syobon Action, a Mario parody known for its difficulty and troll levels.
Ennuigi is abrowser game designed by Josh Millard that centers onLuigi's inability to come to terms with the lack of narrative inSuper Mario Bros.[57][58][59]
Tuper Tario Tros. is asidescrollingplatformer mashup ofSuper Mario Bros. andTetris. As the visible screen automatically scrolls to the right, the player moves to the right while avoiding obstacles. The player can switch between moving theplayer-character Mario and dropping tetrominos that Mario can use as platforms. The game has traditionalMario enemies. TheFlash game is freely available viaNewgrounds.[64] Chris Donlan ofEdge wrote that the game showed signs of hasty development. Its gameplay was occasionally inelegant as a result.[65] Jenni Lada ofTechnologyTell particularly appreciated how she could build a staircase to the flagpole at the end of thelevel.[65]
Super Mario War is fan-made battle-basedMario platformer. The game has been ported to a number of platforms, including an unofficial port to theNintendo Wii.[66]
Mario Royale, a 2019 browser game in which dozens of players simultaneously attempt to outrun each other in battle royale-style gameplay.[67][68] After receiving a takedown notice, its creatorInfernoPlus edited the game to use non-Nintendo assets asDMCA Royale.[69] Later on, after a second takedown, there have been several instances of the game being rehosted by different people, as there currently are two available versions of the game:MRoyale andMario Royale Legacy (formerly known as Mario Royale Deluxe), which are independent of each other.
Mari0 is a fan game that combines elements ofPortal andSuper Mario Bros.
No Mario's Sky is an indie game that crosses over between the gameplay ofNo Man's Sky andSuper Mario Bros. Due to aDigital Millennium Copyright Act notice filed by Nintendo, the game was re-released asDMCA's Sky with all in-game references toSuper Mario Bros. removed.
Trumptendo is a website created by artist Jeff Hong, featuring hacked versions of various Nintendo Entertainment System games (includingSuper Mario Bros.) that replace characters withDonald Trump and other United States political figures.
Super Mario Flash is anunofficial 2-dimensionalAdobe Flash-based game based onSuper Mario Bros. of Super Mario All-Stars that was developed byPouetpu and was originally released in 2007. In this single-player platform game, one can play as either Mario or Luigi, and in the game one must embark on a journey to save Princess Peach from Bowser. The game also has a built-inlevel editor.[81][82] Gameranx praisedSuper Mario Flash as #4 in its "Top Five Retro Arcade Games Freely Available" article, stating that "the creator of this game has put a lot of effort into making this game as close to the original as possible."[83] MegaLab, an Italian review website, however, gave a more negative response toSuper Mario Flash, criticizing the game's controls and visual quality.[84] In 2011, Pouetpu released a sequel calledSuper Mario Flash 2, which is based onSuper Mario World.[81]
Super Mario Bros. S is a collaborative game designed to look like classic Mario games, but with the design of a modern Mario game. It is developed by superpi2.[85] It contains multiple playable characters, new power-ups, and themes inspired by other Mario games.[86]
The Super 1–1 Challenge is a 2020 fan-made remake of the first level of Super Mario Bros. recreated as a first person shooter.[92][93]
Super Mario and the Rainbow Stars is afan game developed by Starshi, an adventure platformer based onMario & Luigi andPaper Mario series. The game features a 3D overworld and 2D pixel art levels, with original gimmicks, bosses, and cutscenes. A demo was first released in 2024, and the March 2025 update added new features like a multiplayer mode and the badges that customize new moves, abilities, and colour palettes.[94][95]
Modern Modern Chef is a 2024 fan-made remake of theGame & Watch gameChef, based on its "Modern" incarnation fromGame & Watch Gallery 2. The remake features high definition hand-drawn graphics, a more difficult alternate gameplay mode, and unlockable content.[96]
SpaghettiKart is an unofficial PC port ofMario Kart 64 developed by the team behindShip of Harkinian, which adds multiple quality of life features and mod support.[97]
Super Mario Bros. Z (2006–2012; 2016–present) – Aspriteanimatedweb series created by Mark Haynes that originally usedAdobe Flash. It is acrossover between theMario andSonic the Hedgehog franchises known for dynamic, fast-paced movement and story elements inspired by Japanese animated television seriesDragon Ball Z.[99][100] Eight episodes would be completed and released onNewgrounds between 2006 and 2012, before its cancellation was announced. Areboot of the series was launched in 2016 on Haynes' YouTube channel. The first episode of the rebooted series would be removed after Nintendo filed aDMCA notice and took down the series'Patreon account; the episode would be re-uploaded in 2020.[101][102] The series is referenced in the Sega official comic miniseriesSonic the Hedgehog: Scrapnik Island, in which Mecha Sonic says "I'll crush you!" which is also said by the same character within the series.[103]
Mario: Game Over (2007) – A short-film created by comedy troupePOYKPAC. The video depicts Mario's life after breaking up with Princess Peach. The video was nominated for "Best Comedy Video" in the2008 YouTube Awards, but lost toPotter Puppet Pals.[104]
Mario Kart (2008) – French viral video by pranksterRémi Gaillard, which depicts him driving ago-cart through public streets inFrance while dressed as Mario. He later did a similar prank in 2011.[105]
Mario Kart: The Movie (2009) – A fan-made trailer created by DrCoolSex that was loosely based on theMario Kart series.[106][107]
Real Life Mario Kart (2011) – A viral video by filmmakerFreddie Wong.[108]
SMG4 (2011–2025) – Amachinima web series created by Australian YouTuber and animator Luke Lerdwichagul, the co-founder ofGlitch Productions. Named after the initials for Lerdwichagul's YouTube channel and username, SuperMarioGlitchy4, the series consists mainly of pop-culture parodies.[109] Lerdwichagul's channel was created in 2009, while he was 9 years old. He would begin uploading content in 2011, primarily creating comedic videos using recorded game footage fromSuper Mario 64 edited inWindows Movie Maker.[110] The series originally focused on characters from theMario franchise, as well as other Nintendo-owned IPs, before gradually introducing original characters. The series ended on December 27, 2025. The series was produced byGlitch Productions from 2017-2025.
Mario Warfare (2012–2015) – Created by Micah Moore, the project parodies bothSuper Mario andCall of Duty 4: Modern Warfare as Mario must rescue Princess Peach from the dictator Bowser in the midst of a hostile revolution.[111]
Racist Mario (2014) – A flash-animated short on YouTube that was created by Flashgitz. The video depicts Mario violently eliminating his opponents inMario Kart.[112][113][114] There are also characters from non-Nintendo video games such asGod of War'sKratos,LittleBigPlanet'sSackboy, and characters from theSonic the Hedgehog franchise.
The Mama Luigi Project (2017) – A project where over 227 animatorsreanimated the internet-infamousSuper Mario World episode "Mama Luigi", where over 255 split scenes were recreated in unique animation styles. The video was dedicated to the memories of both Canadian actorTony Rosato, who voiced Luigi, and Canadian actorHarvey Atkin, who voiced King Koopa, both having died before the project's completion.[115]
Wario (2021) – Created bySNL, "Wario", detailing the premise of Wario (played byElon Musk) being held in trial for the death of Mario in a racing accident, had been ridiculed and received backlash for its poor quality alongside the fact that Elon Musk had made an appearance in the show.[116][117]
After the release ofMario Kart 8 in 2014, a short clip featuring "Luigi's Death Stare" went viral; the original clip featured Luigi passing other drivers with an uncharacteristically angry facial pose set to the music ofChamillionaire's 2006 hit songRidin'.[122][123][124] The meme was referenced by Nintendo itself during theirE3 2014 presentation.[125] It was also referenced by Huey inPaper Mario: Color Splash.
Several Mario characters have become prominent memes, such asWaluigi, who has garnered an online fanbase as a meme to the point of outcry to be added to the fighting game seriesSuper Smash Bros. as well as backlash for his lack of inclusion in the series.[126]
The discontinuation of many of those products was never officially explained by Nintendo,[132][133] althoughNintendo of America presidentDoug Bowser explained that the decision was made to keep them unique to the anniversary celebration itself.[134][135] In the lack of an official explanation, many fans ironically interpreted that it was because the characterMario was to die on that day,[132][133] or the day after.[136] Instances of the meme began months before the date.[137] It evolved over time, originally warning fans that Mario's "death" was near and counting down the remaining days until March 31. On the day of the discontinuation itself, the character's "death" was mourned by many fans and gamers,[138] who declared the date as "Mario Death Day".[139]
Additionally, "Mario" was trending on Twitter,[139] receiving 150,000 tweets related to the meme within 24 hours.[131] Select video game news websites satirically presented Mario's "death" as fact, includingVentureBeat andiMore.[140][141] Notable participation included American TV networkG4 andYouTube personality Nathaniel Bandy, which led to a wave of memorials from various users who grew up with the franchise.[131] However, with the release ofMario Golf: Super Rush on June 25, 2021, those rumors ultimately proved to be false and Mario continued to appear in games since then.
