In my review of the recently released Super Mario Bros Movie, I mentioned that the movie references plenty of Nintendo games, specifically ones featuring Mario. Since his introduction in Donkey Kong, Mario has featured in various genres of games, be it platformers, racing, turn-based strategy, open world and many more, and here’s my attempt at listing out the games were called-out in the movie. Warning: SPOILERS ABOUND, and the list is not exhaustive (I did get distracted by my kids during the screening).

Super Mario Galaxy 1 & 2

At the start of the movie, Bowser leads his koopas to take over the Snow Kingdom, which is populated by penguins led by a King Penguin. These penguins were featured in the Super Mario Galaxy games, along with the super depressing star Lumalee found in the subsequent scenes with the penguins in Bowser’s dungeons.

You can find Super Mario Galaxy as part of the Super Mario 3D All-Stars for the Nintendo Switch.

Super Mario Odyssey

When we were introduced to Mario and Luigi in the movie, they were still struggling Brooklyn-based Italian-American plumbers who have set out on their own with a TV ad on their services to boot. The real world setup reminiscences the Metro Kingdom in the open-world Super Mario Odyssey game. Coincidentally, that game had Mario rescuing Princess Peach from being forced to marry Bowser.

Super Mario Odyssey is available for the Nintendo Switch.

Mario Bros

While trying to save Brooklyn from flooding due to a burst pipe, Mario and Luigi head on down to the sewers only to accidentally break into a walled-off area in the sewers, which look inspired from the platform levels found in the 1983 Mario Bros. game. Both brothers get sucked into pipe, and while Mario is brought to the Mushroom Kingdom, Luigi takes an unfortunate detour to the Dark Lands.

Mario Bros is available as part of the Nintendo Switch Online subscription service.

Luigi’s Mansion

Having landed in the Dark Lands, Luigi makes his way into a haunted house after being chased by a bunch of skeleton Koopas. He is then taken by a bunch of Shy-Guys to Bowser, and these cute masked antagonists were first found in Super Mario Bros 2 (1988). The haunted house itself refers to the Luigi’s Mansion series of games where Luigi, despite being a big scaredy-cat, is often found entering a haunted mansion and uses a vacuum cleaner to suck up ghosts.

Luigi’s Mansion 3 is available on the Nintendo Switch. Super Mario Bros 2 is available as part of the Nintendo Switch Online subscription service.

New Super Mario Bros U. Deluxe & Super Mario 3D World

Once Mario arrives in the Mushroom Kingdom, he gets initiated in the art of platforming, first through Toad and the amount of pipes and platforms that run through the Kingdom, and then by Princess Peach and that crazy obstacle course of hers, replete with a flag-pole. Platforming are a staple in modern Mario games such as New Super Mario Bros U. Deluxe and Super Mario 3D World along with various power-ups showcased in the film.

Both New Super Mario Bros U. Deluxe and Super Mario 3D World are available on the Nintendo Switch.

Donkey Kong

With Princess Peach deciding to take the fight against Bowser and help Mario rescue Luigi, the trio (Peach, Mario and Toad) travel to the Jungle Kingdom to recruit the Kongs. Donkey Kong was first featured in the titular 1981 arcade game of the same name, which also Mario’s first appearance in a video game (he was called Jumpman at that time).

Donkey Kong is available as part of the Nintendo Switch Online subscription service.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

With the Kongs recruited, the heroes proceeded to take a shortcut back to the Mushroom Kingdom on various go-karts and motorcycles on the Rainbow Road, which is a track that has been featured in various Mario Kart games. The best renditions of this track is in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for the Nintendo Switch, so be sure to check it out.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is available on the Nintendo Switch.

Akira

Ok, this is more of a pop-culture reference, rather than a Mario one.The sequence where Princess Peach slides her motorcycle upon returning to the Mushroom Kingdom is known as the Akira bike slide, easily recognized by fans of the Akira anime film; be sure to check it out on Amazon.