| Princess Peach | |
|---|---|
| Mario character | |
 Promotional art (2019) | |
| First game | Super Mario Bros. (1985) |
| Created by | Shigeru Miyamoto |
| Designed by |
|
| Voiced by | Language-neutral
|
Princess Peach[a] is a character inNintendo'sMario franchise. She was created byShigeru Miyamoto and introduced in the 1985 originalSuper Mario Bros. game asPrincess Toadstool. She is theprincess regnant and head of state of the Mushroom Kingdom, where she resides in her castle along withToads. Since her debut, she has appeared in the majority ofMario video games as the main female character and the romantic interest ofMario.
As the lead female character in theSuper Mario series, Peach's role is typically thedamsel in distress who is kidnapped by the main series antagonist,Bowser. In most of the games, her role is to be a captive until she is eventually rescued by Mario. In several multiplayer games of the series, she is aplayable character, such asSuper Mario 3D World andSuper Mario Bros. Wonder. Outside the series, she has appeared as theprotagonist and player character of several video games, includingPrincess Toadstool's Castle Run,Super Princess Peach, andPrincess Peach: Showtime! She makes regular appearances as a playable character inMario spin-offs and other video game series, includingMario Sports games,Mario Kart,Mario Party,Paper Mario, and the fighting game seriesSuper Smash Bros.
Peach is one of the best-known female protagonists in video game history, having appeared in more video game titles than any other female character. She has also appeared in official merchandise, comics, and animated series. InThe Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) andThe Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026), she is voiced byAnya Taylor-Joy. Peach has received a mixed reception, with much commentary being critical of her longstanding repetitive role as a princess waiting to be rescued. She has been described by critics as one of the most iconic and influential female video game characters.
Princess Peach was preceded asMario's romantic interest by a character namedPauline (originally named Lady) that appeared as thedamsel in distress in Mario's first video game,Donkey Kong, in 1981. Mario's creator,Shigeru Miyamoto, wanted to use the charactersPopeye,Bluto, andOlive Oyl from thePopeye cartoon as the main characters but failed to obtain the license, so he transformed them into Jumpman (Mario),Donkey Kong, and Pauline.[16]Donkey Kong established Pauline's role as the female character who is rescued by Mario and appears as the damsel in distress in subsequent games. With the arrival of theNintendo Entertainment System andSuper Mario Bros., Pauline was replaced by Princess Peach.[17] Miyamoto later said thatDonkey Kong had been designed for arcades, which were frequented by male gamers, so Nintendo did not consider making a character that would be playable by girls.[18] Several characteristics of Princess Peach were introduced in the 1996 role-playing gameSuper Mario RPG, including her use of a parasol as a weapon and a sleep spell ability that inspired her Final Smash in theSuper Smash Bros. series.[19]
Following the debut ofWaluigi inMario Tennis, an evil version of Peach named "Walupeach" was pitched by Shugo Takahashi, co-founder ofCamelot Software Planning, but the concept was rejected by Miyamoto before seeing the design, saying that it would be "just like Doronjo" from theYatterman anime series.[20] The design was pitched again by Waluigi's creator, Fumihide Aoki, for the 2004 video gameMario Power Tennis, but was rejected by Nintendo.[21]
Reflecting on Peach's role within the franchise, Miyamoto said that although Nintendo had intentionally kept her as a damsel in distress who is saved by Mario in the games, they had wanted to develop her into a more powerful princess inThe Super Mario Bros. Movie.[22] He said that Peach was one of the characters in the film that evolved the most, as her role was changed from a princess that needs to be protected to one who fights for her kingdom.[23] After the release of the film in 2023, Peach's appearance was updated on the box art forPrincess Peach: Showtime! to make her appear more angry and determined like her movie counterpart.[24]
Peach's initial appearance was drawn by Miyamoto, who later askedYōichi Kotabe to redraw Peach with his instructions. He had asked Kotabe to draw her eyes to be "a little cat-like" and wanted her to look "stubborn, but a little cute".[25] A strategy guide titledHow to Win at Super Mario Bros., which was published around the time of the firstSuper Mario Bros. game in 1985, depicted the princess as a human on its cover, but also with an alternative design featuring a mushroom head.[26] Other merchandise designs created around the time of the first game depicted Peach with straight, long blonde hair wearing a red skirt, illustrating that her design was not finalized until later games.[27]
When discussing Peach's design forSuper Princess Peach, released in 2005, Miyamoto said that it was important for Peach to be "Peach-like", meaning that she evokes the "free optimism of a Princess." He explained that she was designed to convey an image of strength, rather than being protected by Mario, due to many Nintendo developers being used to a matriarchal figure at home.[28]
Miyamoto said that Peach's name came from associating princesses with girls, and when thinking about girls, he would think of pink.[29] In Japan, Peach's name has always been Princess Peach (ピーチ姫,Pīchi-Hime; Princess Peach) since her debut in the originalSuper Mario Bros. in 1985. However, she was localized as "Princess Toadstool" in the English-language manual.[30] The English version ofYoshi's Safari, released in 1993, contained the first usage of the name "Peach" in the Western world,[31] though she was called Princess Toadstool inWario Land: Super Mario Land 3, released in 1994.[32] InSuper Mario 64, released in 1996, she uses both names in a letter addressed to Mario, signing it "Peach". From the 1996 gameMario Kart 64 onward, the name Peach is used in Western versions.[33]
Several voice actors have provided the English voice for Princess Peach. From the 2007Wii gameMario Strikers Charged to the 2024Nintendo Switch gameMario & Luigi: Brothership, Peach was voiced by Samantha Kelly.[34][5] She has also previously been voiced byJen Taylor.[35] Beginning in 2025'sMario Kart World, she is currently voiced by Courtney Lin.[36] Her other voice actors include Jeannie Elias inThe Super Mario Bros. Super Show!,Tracey Moore inThe Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 andSuper Mario World, and Leslie Swan, a localization manager for Nintendo.[37]
Peach is the princess of theMushroom Kingdom and ruler of her subjects, known asToads, a species of mushroom-like people.[38] Although she has appeared in a variety of outfits, Peach typically wears her pink princess dress with puffy sleeves combined with long white gloves.[39] Her royal abode is a large castle with white walls and a red roof, adorned with a stained-glass portrait of the princess.[40] Peach is the daughter of the Mushroom King (also named King Toadstool), a character that appears in theSuper Mario Bros. comics and is mentioned in the manual for the firstSuper Mario Bros. video game but has never appeared in the video games.[41] She is presented as one of the few humans in the kingdom, despite the Toads being the predominant race. Throughout the mainline series, the Mushroom Kingdom is under persistent attack fromBowser and his minions, and Peach's role is to be his kidnapping victim.[42] Her age has never been officially confirmed, but it varies between mid-teens and early twenties.[43]
Despite being the lead female character of theMario franchise, Princess Peach has rarely been theprotagonist ofMario video games.[44] Since the firstSuper Mario Bros. video game, she has repeatedly been the damsel in distress of the main series, typically appearing at the end of the game to reward Mario after successfully rescuing her. She is aplayable character in various spin-off games and has wielded several weapons, including a frying pan and a parasol.[45] She also demonstrates magical powers, such as the ability to heal inSuper Mario RPG.[46] In the firstSuper Mario Bros. game, her white magic is the only way to undo the chaos caused by Bowser to the Mushroom Kingdom. Peach's relationship with Mario is a central element of the series, yet it remains ambiguous. Although Nintendo describes them as friends, suggestions of a romantic relationship between Peach and Mario recur throughout the series.[47]
Peach made her debut as Princess Toadstool in the 1985platform gameSuper Mario Bros. on theNintendo Entertainment System (NES). The story involves King Bowser Koopa kidnapping her and hiding her in one of eight dungeons, necessitating Mario andLuigi to find and rescue her.[48] After navigating his way through eight worlds and defeating King Koopa over a pit of lava, Mario receives a "Thank you, Mario!" from the princess as a hero's reward.[49] A sequel to the game was released in Japan in 1986 asSuper Mario Bros. 2 and was eventually released in North America as part ofSuper Mario All-Stars in 1993, titledSuper Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels. Like its predecessor, the game involves Mario or Luigi attempting to rescue the princess from Bowser.[50] In 1988, the princess was upgraded to a playable character on the NES with the release of a second sequel titledSuper Mario Bros. 2. As one of four playable characters in the game, she had the unique ability to float over obstacles.[33] The game was made from a preexisting Japanese game namedYume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic to repurpose it for a Western audience; thus, Princess Toadstool was used in place of Lina, one of the characters in the Japanese version.[51] In the NES gameSuper Mario Bros. 3 (1988), Mario embarks on a quest to rescue seven kings from Bowser'sKoopalings but eventually discovers that Peach has been kidnapped by Bowser.[52] After Mario's quest to rescue the princess is complete, she rewards him with a joke and a dismissive "Bye bye".[33]
Princess Toadstool returned as the kidnapped princess on theSuper Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) inSuper Mario World (1990), which places Mario in a location called Dinosaur Land. Mario embarks on a quest that involves navigating through 9 locations to save Dinosaur Land from the Koopalings before rescuing the princess from Bowser.[53] The princess is again the victim of Bowser in the 3D platform gameSuper Mario 64 (1996), released on theNintendo 64.[54] The game begins with Mario receiving a letter from "Princess Toadstool, Peach", asking him to come to her castle as she has baked a cake for him.[55] Peach's Castle acts as a hub world and contains paintings that Mario can use to enter various worlds to complete challenges in order to win stars. At the end of the game, he must finally face Bowser and save the princess.[56] After Bowser is defeated, the princess emerges from the stained-glass window that adorns the castle, having been held captive within its walls.[57] In theGameCube titleSuper Mario Sunshine (2002), Mario, Peach, and some Toads take a holiday to Isle Delfino. Upon arrival, they find the tropical paradise is being polluted with paint by Shadow Mario, a mysteriousdoppelgänger of Mario.[58] Shadow Mario is secretly Bowser's son,Bowser Jr., in disguise, and, after framing Mario for polluting the island, he kidnaps Peach. Bowser Jr. initially accuses the princess of being his mother, but after Mario defeats Bowser and rescues Peach, Bowser confirms that Peach is not Bowser Jr.'s mother.[33]
New Super Mario Bros. (2006) returned the series to 2D platforming on theNintendo DS. The game centers on Princess Peach being kidnapped by Bowser Jr. and Mario traveling through eight worlds to save her.[59] Peach initiates the events of the 2007Wii gameSuper Mario Galaxy by asking Mario to come to her castle because there is something she would like to give him.[60] The plot involves Bowser kidnapping Peach and transporting her castle into outer space. Mario's quest requires him to complete levels and collect 60 power stars before he can travel to the center of the universe to rescue the princess.[61]New Super Mario Bros. Wii (2009) was the first 2D side-scrolling platform game in the series to introduce multiplayer, with up to four players choosing to play as Mario, Luigi, or two Toad variations.[62] Miyamoto said that Peach was not included as a playable character because her skirt would require special programming.[63] The game opens with the princess being kidnapped by Bowser and his minions, necessitating Mario and Luigi to rescue her.[64] In 2010, Nintendo released a sequel toSuper Mario Galaxy with a 3D platformer on the Wii titledSuper Mario Galaxy 2. Like its predecessor, the game centers on Princess Peach being abducted by Bowser, requiring Mario to travel through various worlds to save her.[65]
TheNintendo 3DS gameSuper Mario 3D Land (2011) begins with Bowser kidnapping Princess Peach at the outset. The player controls Mario as he navigates through eight worlds to rescue her, with each ending in a boss fight with one of Bowser's henchmen.[66] InNew Super Mario Bros. 2 (2012), the Mushroom Kingdom is again under attack from Bowser and his Koopalings, who kidnap Peach.[67] The game involves Mario and Luigi traveling through platform levels, collecting coins, and fighting bosses to save the princess.[68] In Mario's 2012Wii U debut,New Super Mario Bros. U, the action takes place in Dinosaur Land.[69] The plot involves Bowser and his Koopalings taking Princess Peach hostage and Mario and friends making their way to the center of Mushroom Kingdom to save her.[70] The game offers multiplayer for up to four players, featuring Mario, Luigi, and two Toads as playable characters.[71] The game's director, Masataka Takemoto, explained that Princess Peach was not included as a playable character because he wanted all of the characters to have the same moves as Mario, and Peach was not well suited for that.[72]
Although not initially planned to appear in the 2013Wii U video gameSuper Mario 3D World, Peach was suggested by producerYoshiaki Koizumi. The game was the first in the mainline series sinceSuper Mario Bros. 2 to feature her as a playable character. Koizumi thought she could offer a more competitive choice in multiplayer.[73] He also hoped that players would be able to play alongside their girlfriends or wives.[74] Peach has the ability to use her gown to float while jumping, allowing her to avoid gaps and other obstacles.[75] She can use power-ups that provide various effects and boosts, such as the cat suit, which gives her the ability to crawl and climb walls like a cat.[76] When Peach gets the Fire Flower power-up, she transforms into Fire Peach, where her dress changes from pink to the colors of Fire Flowers.[77] In the mobile gameSuper Mario Run (2016), Peach is one of several playable characters and is unlocked following the completion of the World Tour mode. The story of the World Tour mode involves Peach being kidnapped by Bowser. After she is unlocked, Peach can use her floaty jump ability during gameplay.[78]
Peach begins theNintendo Switch gameSuper Mario Odyssey (2017) being abducted by Bowser, who wants to marry her. She is confined to Bowser's flying boat, while Mario must travel the world to rescue her. At the end of the game, Bowser and Mario compete for Peach's affections, but she rejects them both, opting to travel the world on her own.[79] In addition to her wedding dress, Peach wears a variety of outfits on her travels.[80]Super Mario Maker 2 (2019) includes a story mode that tasks Mario with reconstructing Princess Peach's castle. By working through 100 courses, he can collect coins to pay for the construction of parts of the castle. When the castle is complete, Princess Peach allocates jobs via the Taskmaster, which unlocks wearableMii outfits, including a Princess Peach Dress, Princess Peach Wig, and after completing all the tasks, a Princess Peach Tennis outfit.[81] InSuper Mario Bros. Wonder (2023), Princess Peach is one of several playable characters alongside Mario, Luigi, and others. The game centers on their visit to the Flower Kingdom, which is disrupted when Bowser steals the Wonder Flower and transforms into a flying castle.[82]
Princess Toadstool's Castle Run, a game based onSuper Mario Bros. 2, which was released in 1990 on the Nelsonic Game Watch, was the first game to feature Princess Toadstool as the sole playable character.[83][84] In 1993, she appeared inMario is Missing!, an educational game developed byThe Software Toolworks.[85]
Peach is a playable character in mostMario spin-offs, includingMario Sports games, where she is a recurring character. She is one of four playable characters that appear at the beginning ofMario Golf (1999).[86] She is one of several playable characters appearing inMario Tennis in 2000.[87] InMario Golf: Advance Tour (2004), Peach is one of the Mushroom Kingdom inhabitants against whom the player competes in story mode.[88] InMario Superstar Baseball (2005), she has a star move, which gives her the ability to obscure the ball with hearts.[89] Peach is one of seven core characters that are playable in every game in theMario Strikers series.[90] In the soccer gameSuper Mario Strikers (2005), she is one of the team captains or strikers.[91] Peach is one of severalMario characters that can be selected to play for a team of three on the basketball court inMario Hoops 3-on-3 (2006).[92] InMario Strikers Charged (2007), Peach is one of 12 team captains that can be selected for play.[93] InMario Strikers: Battle League (2022), Peach is one of the ten playable characters, each of whom can perform a unique move called a Hyper Strike. Peach's special move involves kicking the ball into a heart-shaped arch and temporarily stunning other characters.[94] Alongside Mario and Sonic, Peach is one of 14 additional playable characters that appear inMario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (2007).[95] In the baseball gameMario Super Sluggers (2008), Peach is one of the main characters that can be chosen for the player's team once before disappearing, unlike secondary characters who can be selected multiple times.[96] As well as being a playable character inMario Golf: World Tour (2014), Peach also has a course named "Peach's Playground".[97] She performs a special move inMario Tennis Aces (2018), which involves spinning and leaping and finishing with a heart.[98]
She is a returning character in the kart racing game seriesMario Kart and appears as one of eight playable characters in the first video game,Super Mario Kart (1992).[99] A variation named Cat Peach was introduced as one of three playable characters in the firstDLC pack forMario Kart 8 in 2014.[100] The game also debuted a variation named Pink Gold Peach.[101]Mario Kart 8 Deluxe features a playable Peach, as well as Cat Peach, a baby version of Peach, and Pink Gold Peach.[102]Mario Kart Tour increased the number of playable options and includes Cherub Baby Peach, Kimono Peach, Pink Gold Peach, Vacation Peach, and Wintertime Peach as alternate costumes.[103]
In 1996, the princess appeared inSuper Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars. She is one of the party members and the final character to join the team. In gameplay, she can use defensive and healing moves or attack with a weapon, such as a frying pan or parasol.[104] The game begins with the princess being kidnapped by Bowser, resulting in Mario setting off to rescue her.[105] Although she was named Princess Toadstool in the original game, she was renamed Princess Peach in the 2023 remake released on the Nintendo Switch.[106]
She has been a staple character of theMario Party series since the firstMario Party, which was released for theNintendo 64 in 1998. In the first game, she is one of six playable Nintendo characters that can be selected in a party of one to four players. One of the game's 2D board maps is named "Peach's Birthday Cake".[107]
Peach appears in thePaper Mario series starting from thePaper Mario video game (2000). In the first game, she is kidnapped by Bowser after inviting Mario and Luigi to her castle for a party, requiring Mario to retrieve seven Star Spirits in order to rescue her. Players can play as Peach in sections of the game as she repeatedly attempts to escape the castle.[108] InPaper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (2004), Peach invites Mario to the town of Rogueport for a treasure hunt, but she is kidnapped and held in a fortress by the X-Nauts, leaving Mario to collect seven Crystal Stars while trying to find her. Players control Mario, but at the end of each of the eight chapters, the gameplay switches to Peach as she wanders around the fortress while attempting to escape.[109] Peach is again kidnapped inSuper Paper Mario (2007), in which Mario must set off to recover eight Pure Hearts in order to find her.[110] During gameplay, Peach teams up with Mario as a playable character, where she can perform a floaty jump.[111] InPaper Mario: Sticker Star (2012), she and the Toads are enjoying a sticker festival in the Mushroom Kingdom until Bowser arrives to cause chaos, resulting in Mario collecting stickers to save the kingdom.[112] In the 2016 follow-up gamePaper Mario: Color Splash, Mario, Peach, and Toad are invited to Prism Island, which is being drained of color. When Peach is kidnapped, Mario and a paint bucket companion named Huey must save the island and Peach.[113] InPaper Mario: The Origami King (2020), Peach and the Toads are folded into origami versions by King Olly, so Mario and friends must fight to restore them.[114]
In the role-playing video game seriesMario & Luigi, Peach is a recurring character. InMario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (2003), Bowser recruits Mario and Luigi to help him restore Peach's voice after it was sucked up into a device by a mystery guest and replaced with speech that converts to explosives.[115] In the second entry,Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time (2005), the brothers must save Peach and the Mushroom Kingdom from being conquered by the evil Shroobs by traveling between the past and the present.[116]Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story (2009) continues Mario and Luigi's efforts to save Peach after the villainFawful tricks Bowser into eating a type of mushroom that causes him to inhale the Mushroom Kingdom, forcing the brothers to save Peach after being trapped inside Bowser's body.[117] InMario & Luigi: Dream Team (2013), Mario and Luigi must work with a character named Prince Dreambert to save Peach after she is sucked through a portal into the dreamworld while staying on Pi'illo Island.[118]Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam (2015) follows Mario and Luigi on a quest to save Peach after both she and her paper version are kidnapped by Bowser.[119] She is also set to appear in the upcomingMario & Luigi: Brothership (2024).[120]
Peach is the protagonist and playable character ofSuper Princess Peach (2005), a platform game with mechanics similar toSuper Mario games.[121] Set on Vibe Island, the game begins with Bowser using the Vibe Scepter to capture Mario and Luigi, resulting in Princess Peach embarking on a quest to rescue them with the help of her talking umbrella, Perry. During the game, she must navigate levels, release captured Toads, and finally face Bowser. In gameplay, she can stomp on enemies and attack them using Perry in various ways. Peach's health is measured with a heart meter. She also has a Vibe meter, which governs her four emotions: joy, gloom, rage, and calm. Each emotion power provides a unique ability; joy powers her to float in a cyclone, gloom creates floods of tears, rage engulfs her in flames, and calm restores her health.[122]
Peach appears in two turn-based crossover games between theMario andUbisoft'sRabbids franchises. InMario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, the player begins with three characters, one of which isRabbid Peach, a Rabbid version of Peach, who has the ability to heal allies and perform a stylish dash, which can kill multiple enemies. After being unlocked at the end of World 2, Peach is also a playable character and carries a short-range shotgun called a boomshot and tosses grenades at enemies. She also has the ability to perform a healing jump to heal allies.[123] Peach and her Rabbid counterpart return along with other Nintendo characters inMario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope.[124]
In 2019, a variant named Dr. Peach was introduced as one of ten playable characters in the mobile puzzle gameDr. Mario World. Her special skill cleared a row of objects when her skill meter was full.[125] Another variant named Dr. Fire Peach was later added in 2020.[126]
Peach stars in theNintendo Switch gamePrincess Peach: Showtime!, which was released March 22, 2024. With a focus on a theatrical theme, it centers around Peach saving Sparkle Theatre from the antagonist Grape and her minions, the Sour Bunch. With the help of Stella, the theater's guardian, she can change into various outfits with specific abilities. Her transformations include Swordfighter Peach, Patissier Peach, Kung Fu Peach, Detective Peach, Figure Skater Peach, Mermaid Peach, and Mighty Peach.[127] The game is the first to feature Peach as the protagonist since the release ofSuper Princess Peach.[128]
Peach is a playable character in the fighting game seriesSuper Smash Bros. and has appeared in every game since being introduced inSuper Smash Bros. Melee.[129] Upon her debut inMelee, her moveset included the ability to float in the air and throw turnips at opponents.[130]Super Smash Bros. Brawl introduced her final smash, Peach Blossom, which causes opponents to fall asleep and take damage.[131] InSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate, her fighting moves include using Toad as a shield, jumping upwards and using her parasol to float down, and her final smash, Peach Blossom.[132] Peach is one of several playableMario characters that appear alongside characters from theDragon Quest series inItadaki Street DS, aMonopoly-style board game published bySquare Enix.[133] In May 2016, a Super Mario Mash-Up Pack released as downloadable content for theWii U edition ofMinecraft featured Peach as one of 12 skins used as playable Nintendo characters. Peach's Castle was also recreated as a location in the game.[134] Peach has also made cameo appearances in non-Mario games. She is depicted in a painting inHyrule Castle inThe Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.[135] InThe Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, a character named Christine sends her picture to a letter writer named Mr. Write, but it is a portrait of Princess Peach.[136] She features as a playable guest character alongside Mario and Luigi in the GameCube versions of theElectronic Arts gamesNBA Street V3 andSSX on Tour.[137][138]
In 1986, a Japaneseanime film was produced titledSuper Mario Bros.: The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach!. Written by Hideo Takayashiki and directed by Masami Hata, it was based on the events of the firstSuper Mario Bros. video game. The story involves Princess Peach escaping from the video game world into Mario's world before being captured and pulled back to the Mushroom Kingdom by King Koopa. Mario and Luigi are lured into the Mushroom Kingdom by a dog in order to save her.[139]
In September 1989, Peach appeared in a children's TV show,The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!, as an 8-bit sprite.[140] She is voiced by Jeannie Elias inThe Super Mario Bros. Super Show! andTracey Moore in the two follow-up seriesThe Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 andSuper Mario World.[141]
Throughout 1992, Peach (named Princess Toadstool) appeared in a comic titledSuper Mario Adventures, which was serialized inNintendo Power. The plot involves Bowser proposing marriage to her and threatening to turn her subjects to stone if she refuses. After Mario is turned to stone, she and her troops pursue Bowser down a pipe, but she is eventually captured by Bowser. Rather than remaining idle, she demonstrates resourcefulness in various ways, including tricking her way out of her cell, escaping from a window using a yellow cape, and popping out of a pizza box holding a bomb in an effort to save Mario.[142]
Princess Peach is also prominently featured withinUniversal Studios Japan andUniversal Studios Hollywood's immersiveSuper Nintendo World areas. Acostume character meet-and-greet with her is located in her pavilion. The interactive "Power-Up Bands" feature a design based on her dress.[143]
_(cropped).jpg)
Peach is voiced byAnya Taylor-Joy inThe Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) andThe Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026).[10][144] Her casting, alongside the rest of the principal cast, was announced via aNintendo Direct in September 2021.[145] In the film, Peach is Mario's guide and romantic interest, having been raised by the Toads from infancy in the Mushroom Kingdom.[146] DirectorAaron Horvath said that Luigi became the victim Mario must save to substitute Peach's traditional role in video games as thedamsel in distress so she can remain a strong monarch and protector of the Toads.[147] Taylor-Joy said that she was concerned before taking the role but that her portrayal of Peach as a strong, capable leader was "the way she was supposed to be."[148] A song from the film, which was titled "Peaches" and written and performed by Bowser voice actorJack Black, was released in April 2023.[149]
Peach has been merchandised across a range of official products, including plush toys and action figures.[150][151] Anamiibo of Peach wearing a pink gown was released for theSuper Smash Bros. series in November 2014.[152] In 2015, another version was released as part of a set ofSuper Mario amiibo.[153] In 2017, a set of themed amiibo was released forSuper Mario Odyssey, including an amiibo of Peach wearing a wedding outfit.[154] A limited edition double pack featuring Cat Peach alongside Cat Mario was released forSuper Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury in February 2021.[155] In December 2014, a rare legless Peach amiibo resulting from a factory defect achieved aGuinness World Record for being the most expensive amiibo figure.[156] Peach's color scheme and crown motif have been used to market themed controllers, including a pinkWii Remote Plus controller in 2014 and a pastel pinkJoy-Con for the Switch in 2024.[157][158] She has also been featured in other licensedMario products, including as an interactive figure in theLego Super Mario range and as aHot Wheels collectible.[159][160]
Sam Loveridge ofDigital Spy described Peach as one of the most iconic female game characters of all time, naming her an icon that transcends gaming and commenting that she "acts as one of Nintendo's main mascots on a worldwide scale."[161]SyFy also described Peach as one of the "greatest video game heroines of all time" for being a tough female character that "embraces the power of being a high femme."[162] Alyse Knorr, writer forKotaku, noted that Peach is one of many examples of thedamsel in distress trope that recurs throughout history, commenting that she is such a damsel cliché that she mainly existed as a plot device rather than as an individual character and that her role was to provide Mario with a reason to exist.[163] Feminist organizationSister Namibia was critical of the fact that Peach always needed to be rescued, reasoning that "it propagates that women are helpless and in constant need of saving" and "[she] serves quite literally as a trophy for the completion of Mario's quest. She is ultimately just another object or reward for Mario to use."[164] Mike Fahey ofKotaku created a "victimization record" for Princess Peach that detailed her many kidnappings within the series, commenting, "There are few women with more kidnappings under their belt than her royal mushroom highness".[165] In an article about the impact of princesses on girls, Peggy Orenstein ofThe New York Times said that she loved Peach but noted that "her peachiness did nothing to upset the apple cart of expectation". She considered Peach to be an idealpostfeminist solution by "the melding of old and new standards."[166]
Josh Straub ofGame Informer cited the repeated failure to find the princess in the firstSuper Mario Bros. game as one of the most memorable moments in gaming history, stating that reaching the end of a world and being told by a Toad, "But our princess is in another castle!" was a "method of torture" that forced the player to face another round of platforming.[167] Peter Tieryas, writer ofKotaku, considered Peach to be the best character inSuper Mario Bros. 2 and emphasized that her floating ability was the first of Nintendo's solutions for fine-tuning jumping in platform games.[168] Matt Kamen ofWired appreciated the plot ofSuper Mario Sunshine for having "a bit more impetus to a game than 'rescue Peach (again)'" and felt that this offered more depth and personality to the characters.[169]Video Games Chronicle's Chris Scullion said that Peach's starring role inSuper Princess Peach should have been a turning point for the character but ended up as "an average platformer with a questionable central mechanic" by focusing on her "getting emotional".[170] In his review ofSuper Princess Peach, Mark Bozon ofIGN thought that Peach's emotion powers and use of coins to shop were "borderline insulting" and seemed like "a girls game made by guys."[171] Mike Sholars ofKotaku felt that the introduction ofRosalina inSuper Mario Galaxy impacted theSuper Mario series so that it no longer needed to rely on the concept of saving the princess and enabled Peach to be more than a plot device.[172]
Bryan Vore ofGame Informer praisedSuper Mario 3D World for being the first game in 25 years of the mainline series sinceSuper Mario Bros. 2 to include Peach as a playable character, saying that it demonstrated Nintendo's willingness to change the formula.[173] Chris Suellentrop, writer forThe New York Times, opined thatSuper Mario Run was not a family-friendly game due to its "stale, retrograde gender stereotypes" and said that Nintendo had failed to updateSuper Mario for a contemporary audience by beginning the game with Princess Peach being a hostage.[174] Sam Loveridge ofGamesRadar+ felt that inSuper Mario Odyssey, Nintendo "was playing him from the start" by beginning the game with Peach being abducted by Bowser and ending it with a scene in which she rejects the romantic advances of both Bowser and Mario. He commented that Peach "shrugs off all those years of being the damsel in distress to forge her own path in the world as a single woman" and that in doing so, Nintendo was clearly recognizing its female fanbase.[79] Rebekah Valentine ofIGN said thatPrincess Peach: Showtime! was the opportunity to see Peach "defined only by herself" rather than by Mario.[175] Following the game's release, Tom Regan ofThe Guardian found the game to be disappointing and considered it to be "patronising" to its "capable heroine" and a wasted opportunity to celebrate the princess.[176] Conversely,Polygon,IGN, andNintendo Life all responded positively and considered it to be the spotlight she deserved.[177][178][179] Ashley Bardhan ofEurogamer said that, rather than casting Peach in her usual role of Bowser's victim, the game made her a "girl with some agency" and thought that her future was "no longer doomed with dead-end kidnapping" but now had limitless potential.[180]
Los Angeles Times writer Tracy Brown said that Peach started out as an unappealing character due to being simply a princess waiting to be rescued but was given more personality in later games. She further remarked thatThe Super Mario Bros. Movie incarnation had subverted her characteristics by depicting an empowered ruler who is capable of engaging in battle and protecting her subjects without it being at the expense of her femininity.[181] Christian Holub ofEntertainment Weekly responded positively to Peach's characterization in the film, calling her "a female protagonist for theRey generation" but also a relatable character for older players.[182] Hope Bellingham, writer ofGamesRadar+, appreciated her active role in the story, describing her as "the brains behind the operation", even though Mario has the starring role.[183] By contrast, Julia Glassman ofThe Mary Sue considered her film incarnation to be a common sexist trope where the badass female character must step aside for an average male by supporting and training him rather than taking the lead.[184] Gene Park, writer ofThe Washington Post, felt that Peach had been empowered long before her movie incarnation due to being "the most visible woman in video games, having appeared in more titles than any fictional woman in the medium", and hoped that the movie would finally transform her image in the public consciousness.[185] Logan Plant ofIGN described Peach as "one of Nintendo's most iconic characters" and felt that Nintendo was finally giving her the attention she deserved in film and video games.[186]
Peach has been described as one of the greatest video game characters by game websites and publications, including the 2011 version of theGuinness World Records Gamer's Edition andGameSpot, which described her as "arguably the most famous woman in video game history".[187][188][189]Time named Peach as one of the most influential video game characters of all time, describing her as the "quintessential damsel in distress", but noted that Nintendo had improved her status over time by making her a playable character and introducing her in other game series likeSuper Smash Bros. Peach was cited as being an influence on other video game developers creating strong female protagonists.[190] Tracey John, writing forTime, commented that Peach's repeated abductions had become a running joke and a pop culture reference.[191] In 2018, a short comic, "The Super Crown's some spicy new Mario lore", onDeviantArt andTwitter transformed Bowser into a monstrously sinister female resembling Peach that fans namedBowsette, which inspired numerous works of fan art.[192] In May 2021, in an episode ofSaturday Night Live,Grimes dressed as Princess Peach, while hostElon Musk starred as Wario in a sketch in which he was put on trial for murdering Mario in a kart race.[193][194]
ボーカルは谷山浩子氏が謎の歌手「プリンセス・ピーチ」名義で担当するという、驚きの展開を見せました。""Hiroko showed a surprise that she would be in charge of the mysterious singer Princess Peach.
on Play Nintendo| Game series |
| ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other games | |||||||||||
| Cancelled games | |||||||||||
| Universe |
| ||||||||||
| Other media |
| ||||||||||
| People | |||||||||||
| Related |
| ||||||||||
| Games | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Characters |
| ||||||||||||
| Companies | |||||||||||||
| Fan games | |||||||||||||
| Related | |||||||||||||
