Super Mario Bros. 3

This article is about the Nintendo Entertainment System game. For other uses, see Super Mario Bros. 3 (disambiguation).

"Mario 3" redirects here. For the level in Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge, see Mario 3 (level).

"Super Mario 3" redirects here. For the Nelsonic Game Watch also known as simply "Super Mario 3", see Super Mario Bros. 3 (Nelsonic Game Watch). For the manga series originally subtitled as "Super Mario 3", see Miracle Peach.

Super Mario Bros. 3
For alternate art, see the related gallery.
Developer	Nintendo R&D4
Publisher	Nintendo
Platforms	Family Computer, Nintendo Entertainment System, Nintendo PlayChoice-10, Virtual Console (Wii / 3DS / Wii U), NES Classic Edition, Nintendo Classic Mini: Family Computer, Nintendo Entertainment System – Nintendo Classics
Release dates	Family Computer: October 23, 1988 Nintendo PlayChoice-10: July 15, 1989 Nintendo Entertainment System: February 12, 1990 August 29, 1991[?] August 29, 1991 Between 1989 and 1992 Virtual Console (Wii): November 5, 2007 November 9, 2007 November 9, 2007 December 11, 2007 May 26, 2008 Virtual Console (Nintendo 3DS): January 1, 2013 December 26, 2013 December 26, 2013 April 16, 2014 April 6, 2016 Virtual Console (Wii U): December 25, 2013 December 26, 2013 December 26, 2013 April 17, 2014 Nintendo Classic Mini: Family Computer November 10, 2016 NES Classic Edition: November 10, 2016 November 11, 2016 November 11, 2016 Nintendo Entertainment System – Nintendo Classics: September 18, 2018[?] September 19, 2018[?] September 19, 2018[?] September 19, 2018[?] April 23, 2019[?] April 23, 2019[?]
Languages	English Japanese
Genres	2D platformer, action-adventure
Ratings	ESRB: - Everyone[?] CERO: - All ages[?] PEGI: - Three years and older[?] USK: - All ages[?] ClassInd: - General audience[?] GRAC: - All ages[?] ACB: - General[?]
Modes	Single player, multiplayer
Format	Famicom: Cartridge NES: Game Pak Wii: Digital download Wii U: Digital download Nintendo Switch: Digital download Nintendo 3DS: Digital download NES Classic Edition: Built-in
Input	Arcade: Joystick Famicom: Famicom Controller NES: NES Controller Wii: Wii Remote (horizontal) Classic Controller Nintendo GameCube Controller Wii U: Wii U GamePad Wii Remote (horizontal) Classic Controller Wii U Pro Controller Nintendo Switch: Joy-Con Joy-Con (horizontal) Nintendo Switch Pro Controller Famicom Controller (NSO) NES Controller (NSO) Super NES Controller (NSO) Nintendo 3DS: Gamepad NES Classic Edition: NES Classic Controller Classic Controller
Serial codes	Famicom: HVC-UM PlayChoice-10: PCH1-R-UM NES: NES-UM-USA NES-UM-CAN NES-UM-ESP NES-UM-GBR NES-UM-NOE NES-UM-AUS NES-UM-KOR

Super Mario Bros. 3 is a 2D action-adventure platform game for the Family Computer and Nintendo Entertainment System. It is the fourth installment in the Super Mario series and is recognized as the third in Japan. It was released for consoles in Japan on October 23, 1988; in North America on February 12, 1990; and in Europe and Australia on August 29, 1991. Prior to its North American release on the NES, Super Mario Bros. 3 was ported to the Nintendo PlayChoice-10. Being the first game in the series since Super Mario Bros. not to derive its gameplay from another game as well as to release in all regions, Super Mario Bros. 3 retains the same level-based platformer mechanics of previous titles. These core mechanics are iterated upon, featuring greatly expanded levels, several new power-ups, new enemies and bosses, a more fleshed-out multiplayer mode, a world map, and many optional levels and secrets. The game has gone on to become one of the most influential titles for the Super Mario franchise, and several elements introduced in this title have since become mainstays in the 2D games, including landscape-themed worlds, the Koopalings, airships, and Toad's Houses.

The game features a unique stage play-esque aesthetic, with objects being bolted to the background or suspended by ropes and casting drop shadows. Additionally, the ends of most levels feature Mario traveling "offstage" on a black backdrop to complete them. This led to a long-standing rumor that the game was a stage play put on by the Super Mario cast, an idea later confirmed by series creator Shigeru Miyamoto. Some of these aesthetic choices were changed or removed in remakes of the game.

Super Mario Bros. 3 has received near-universal critical acclaim since its release, and it is one of the best-selling NES and Super Mario games of all time. The game has received several re-releases on other platforms, including full remakes for the SNES compilation game Super Mario All-Stars and on the Game Boy Advance as Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3. It is also featured on all of Nintendo's Virtual Console services, as well as Nintendo Switch Online.

Story

The following text is taken directly from the instruction booklet.

The Mushroom Kingdom has been a peaceful place thanks to the brave deeds of Mario and Luigi. The Mushroom Kingdom forms an entrance to the Mushroom World where all is not well.

Bowser sent his seven children to make mischief as they please in the normally peaceful Mushroom World. They stole royal magic wands from each country in the Mushroom World and used them to turn their kings into animals. Mario and Luigi must recover the royal magic wands from Bowser's seven kids to return the kings to their true forms.

"Goodbye and good luck!" said the Princess and Toad as Mario and Luigi set off on their journey deep into the Mushroom World.

Peace has returned to the Mushroom Kingdom thanks to the efforts of Mario and Luigi; however, Bowser sent his own seven children (Larry, Morton, Wendy, Iggy, Roy, Lemmy, and Ludwig) to the other countries of the Mushroom World, which the Mushroom Kingdom forms a gateway to. The Little Koopas stole the royal Magic Wands of the seven kings, using them to transform the kings into various helpless creatures. Mario and Luigi vow to go and stop the Little Koopas' mischief, and change the kings back into their normal form. At the end of each world, Mario and Luigi fight one of the Little Koopas, and after the match is over, retrieve the wand from the Little Koopa to turn the king back to normal. While the brothers are out in their adventure, Bowser kidnaps Princess Toadstool and takes her to his lair in Dark Land. The brothers go to Dark Land and fight Bowser. After defeating Bowser, they save the princess and restore peace once again.

Gameplay

Super Mario Bros. 3 plays similarly to Super Mario Bros., with several additions. The game features a world map where the player can choose which path to take and which level to play. Toad's Houses, Spade Panels, and Enemy Courses are also found on the world map. Midway through each world, Mario or Luigi enter a fortress, where they fight Boom Boom. At the end of each world, they enter the world's airship, where one of the seven Little Koopas is fought. After defeating the Little Koopa, Mario or Luigi restores the king back to his normal state and moves onto the next world.

The first player controls Mario, while the second player controls his brother, Luigi, with the two players taking turns. After one brother completes a level or loses a life, the other brother plays. If one brother interacts with the other brother's icon on the world map, they enter Battle Mode in their Small forms. Whoever wins is immediately given a turn to play in the main game.

New moves include picking up objects and kicking them, as well as sliding down hills, moves which have carried over in future Super Mario games. The Fire Flower returns in this game, where it acts as it does in Super Mario Bros., allowing Mario or Luigi to transform into their Fire forms and shoot fireballs. Several new power-ups are also introduced, including the Super Leaf, a leaf power-up that transforms Mario or Luigi into their Raccoon forms, allowing them to fly into the sky, and the Hammer Suit, which transforms the brothers into their Hammer forms, letting them throw hammers at enemies.

Controls

Action(s)	Input
	NES / Famicom Controller	Wii Remote	Classic Controller	GameCube Controller	Nintendo 3DS	Wii U GamePad Wii U Pro Controller	Dual Joy-Con (2) Nintendo Switch (2) Pro Controller	Single Joy-Con (2)
Game Controls
Move Player			/	/	/	/	() /
Jump / Swim / Fly			/	/
Dash / Throw fireball Hold / Kick object Wag tail			/	/	/	/	/	/
Pause								+ /
World Map Controls
Move Player			/	/	/	/	() /
Select Level / Item			/	/
Open / Close Item Menu			/	/	/	/	/	/

Characters

Playable characters

• 

  Mario
• 

  Luigi

Non-playable characters

Image	Name	Description
	Princess Toadstool	The ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom who directed Mario to help liberate the Mushroom World from the Little Koopas. She periodically sends letters of advice and items to Mario. After defeating Ludwig von Koopa, Mario receives a letter from Bowser, informing him that he has kidnapped Princess Toadstool.
	Toads	Retainers who run Toad's Houses and Spade Panels, where Mario can obtain power-ups or play minigames. A Toad can be found alongside the king of each world.
	Kings	With the exception of Bowser's Dark Land, each world is ruled by a wand-wielding king. Their wands are stolen by the Little Koopas, who use them to transform the kings into other creatures and take over their kingdoms. Defeating the Little Koopa of the visited land returns the wand to its king and turns him back to normal.

Enemies and obstacles

Enemies

Image	Name	Description	Levels		New
			First	Last
	Little Goomba	Little Goombas wander in whatever direction they happen to be going, mindlessly falling off platforms as they go.	World 1-1	World 7-9	—
	Para-Goomba	Para-Goombas are winged Goombas. They become regular Goombas after just one stomp. Brown Para-Goombas fly around, dropping Micro-Goombas onto Mario.	World 1-2	World 8-2
	Red Para-Goomba	Red Para-Goombas hop along the ground in small arches, chasing Mario.	World 1-1	World 7-9
	Mugger Micro-Goomba	Mugger Micro-Goombas are small Goombas. They are dropped by brown Para-Goombas. They drag Mario down if touched. Mashing will get rid of them.	World 1-2	World 8-2
	Pile Driver Micro-Goomba	Pile Driver Micro-Goombas are Micro-Goombas inside dull bricks. They like to hide near other bricks, jumping when Mario gets close.	World 2-1	World 5-7
	Grand Goomba	Grand Goombas are twice the size of Little Goombas. Other than their large size, they are identical to them Goombas, and can be defeated with one stomp.	World 4-1	World 4-6