Mario Bros.

マリオブラザーズ (Mario Burazāzu)NES, Arcade, Famicom Disk System, Game Boy Advance +81983

  1. JP1983
  2. NA1983
  3. EU1986
  4. RU—

Mario Bros. kept the same name worldwide; in Japan it is マリオブラザーズ, and the 1988 Disk System version was called Kaettekita Mario Bros. Today the NES version is part of Nintendo Switch Online, and the arcade original is sold on Switch as Arcade Archives Mario Bros.

Mario Bros. is an arcade game designed by Shigeru Miyamoto and Gunpei Yokoi that debuted in 1983. It introduced Luigi, created for the two-player mode as a palette swap of Mario, and the two-player mode and several mechanics were inspired by Williams' Joust. The game's network of pipes is also why Mario changed from a carpenter to a plumber. It was the first game Intelligent Systems worked on, and it opens with the start of Mozart's Eine kleine Nachtmusik.

The Famicom version came out in Japan on 9 September 1983 and reached North America in June 1986 and Europe on 1 September 1986. Cartridge limits cost it visual detail and the falling icicles.

Two later releases fixed some of that. Kaettekita Mario Bros. for the Famicom Disk System, sold only through Disk Writer kiosks on 30 November 1988 for 400 yen, restored the icicles and added sponsored cutscenes. A 1993 'Classic Serie' NES re-release for Germany and Italy carried those improvements over to Europe.12

Names and releases

RegionTitle on the boxPlatformDatePublisherSrc
NA Mario Bros. Arcade March 1983 Nintendo 1
NA Mario Bros. NES June 1986 Nintendo 1
JP マリオブラザーズMario Burazāzustart of operation per Japanese Wikipedia; Satoru Iwata cited 14 July 1983 Arcade Jun 21, 1983 Nintendo 2
JP マリオブラザーズMario BurazāzuFamicom NES Sep 9, 1983 Nintendo 2
EU Mario Bros. NES Sep 1, 1986 Nintendo 3
JP 帰ってきたマリオブラザーズKaettekita Mario BurazāzuDisk Writer rewrite only, 400 yen Famicom Disk System Nov 30, 1988 Nintendo 2
EU Mario Bros.'Classic Serie' re-release for Germany and Italy NES 1993 Nintendo 3
JP マリオブラザーズMario BurazāzuFamicom Mini Game Boy Advance May 21, 2004 Nintendo 2
JP マリオブラザーズMario BurazāzuVirtual Console (Famicom version) Wii Dec 12, 2006 Nintendo 2
WW Arcade Archives Mario Bros.Arcade Archives (arcade version) Switch Sep 27, 2017 — 2

Also known as: マリオブラザーズ JP1Mario Burazāzu JP1帰ってきたマリオブラザーズ JP1Kaettekita Mario Bros. JP1Mario Bros. Classic WW1

Box art by region

  • Mario Bros. box art, North America release
    NA Mario Bros.
  • Mario Bros. box art, Europe release
    EU Mario Bros.

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

Version differences

  • GraphicsNES/Famicom

    Because of cartridge limits the Famicom version has fewer visual details, smaller Shellcreepers and fireballs, and no icicles.2

  • GameplayNES/Famicom

    In the Famicom version a jump-kick can knock enemies off ledges, something the arcade original does not allow.2

  • ContentKaettekita Mario Bros. (FDS)

    Kaettekita Mario Bros. on the Disk System brings back the icicles and adds cutscenes advertising the food company Nagatanien.2

All differences (5)

Where to play legally today

  • Nintendo Switch Online Subscription

    Mario Bros.

    NES version

    Checked: 2026-10-134nintendo.com

  • Arcade Archives Purchase

    Arcade Archives Mario Bros.

    Arcade version

    Checked: 2026-10-135nintendo.com

Reception

The Famicom version sold over 1.63 million copies in Japan, the NES version 2.28 million worldwide and the Atari 2600 port 1.59 million. Computer and Video Games called the NES two-player mode 'incredibly good fun', while later reviews of the Virtual Console release saw it as a weak arcade conversion.1

Sources

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

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

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