Dr. Mario

ドクターマリオNES, Game Boy, Arcade, SNES +41990

  1. JP1990
  2. NA1990
  3. EU1991
  4. RUDendy

Dr. Mario has the same name in every region; in Japan it is written ドクターマリオ, with the logo spelled Dr. MARIO. The easiest legal way to play it today is Nintendo Switch Online, which carries both the NES version (plus an SP version) and the Game Boy version.

Dr. Mario is a puzzle game developed by Nintendo R&D1 and produced by Gunpei Yokoi. It came out for the NES and Game Boy on the same day in Japan, 27 July 1990. Early builds were titled Virus.

The rules are easy to learn: line up four halves of vitamin capsules and viruses of the same color to clear them, with viruses in red, yellow and blue. In the two-player versus mode, chains drop extra capsules onto the opponent's side, and the first to win three rounds takes the match. Hirokazu Tanaka composed the music, and players can pick between the FEVER and CHILL tracks or switch the music off.

The game arrived on the heels of Tetris, and Henk Rogers, a Tetris co-licensor, later called Dr. Mario a "blatant attempt" at a Tetris replacement. It went on to appear in the 1994 compilation Tetris & Dr. Mario and on many later Nintendo systems.123

Names and releases

RegionTitle on the boxPlatformDatePublisherSrc
NA Vs. Dr. MarioPlayChoice-10 / Vs. System; not released in Japanese arcades Arcade August 1990 Nintendo 1
NA Dr. Mario Game Boy October 1990 Nintendo 1
NA Dr. Mario NES October 1990 Nintendo 1
NA Dr. MarioClassic NES Series Game Boy Advance Oct 25, 2004 Nintendo 1
JP ドクターマリオ Game Boy Jul 27, 1990 Nintendo 1
JP ドクターマリオ NES Jul 27, 1990 Nintendo 1
EU Dr. Mario Game Boy Apr 30, 1991 Nintendo 1
EU Dr. Mario NES Jun 27, 1991 Nintendo 1
None Tetris & Dr. Marioenhanced remake in a compilation SNES Dec 30, 1994 Nintendo 1
JP ドクターマリオFamicom Mini series Game Boy Advance May 21, 2004 Nintendo 1
None Dr. MarioVirtual Console (NES version) Wii U 2014 Nintendo 1
WW Dr. MarioNintendo Switch Online NES library Switch Sep 19, 2018 Nintendo 1
WW Dr. MarioNintendo Switch Online Game Boy library Switch Mar 12, 2024 Nintendo 1

Also known as: ドクターマリオ JP2Dr. MARIO JP2Доктор Марио RU4

Box art by region

  • Dr. Mario box art, North America release
    NA Dr. Mario
  • Dr. Mario box art, Europe release
    EU Dr. Mario
  • ドクターマリオ box art, Japan release
    JP ドクターマリオ

Box art © its publishers, shown to identify each release. Scans: libretro-thumbnails.

Version differences

  • GraphicsGame Boy

    The Game Boy version has a smaller playfield, and its viruses are white, black and gray rather than the red, yellow and blue of the NES game.2

  • GameplayNESGame Boy

    The highest level is 24 on the Famicom/NES and 30 on the Game Boy.2

  • ContentNESGame Boy

    The cutscenes differ between the two versions and show the viruses in different places.1

All differences (5)

Where to play legally today

  • Nintendo Switch Online Subscription

    Dr. Mario (NES)

    NES version (plus an SP version)

    Checked: 2026-10-135nintendolife.com

  • Nintendo Switch Online Subscription

    Dr. Mario (Game Boy)

    Game Boy version

    Checked: 2026-10-135nintendolife.com

Reception

About 10.4 million cartridges were sold across platforms, 5.34 million on Game Boy and 4.85 million on NES, including 2.5 million in North America within six weeks. Famitsu gave both versions 31/40.1

In lists

Sources

  1. 1en.wikipedia.org
  2. 2ja.wikipedia.org
  3. 3tcrf.net
  4. 4trashbox.ru
  5. 5nintendolife.com
  6. 6ja.wikipedia.org
  7. 7ja.wikipedia.org

Checked: 2026-10-13Text reviewed: 2026-10-13

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