It's-a Mario Day! Celebrating the world's favorite plumber

Yahoo

11-03-2025

ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- Mar 10 isn't just another day; it's National Mario Day, a celebration of the world's most famous pixelated plumber.
Since his first appearance in 1981's Donkey Kong, Mario has been jumping, stomping, and rescuing princesses for over 40 years. Whether players first met him in an 8-bit world or are racing him down Rainbow Road today, one thing is certain: Mario isn't just a game; he's a legend.
Before he was the hero of the Mushroom Kingdom, Mario had a different gig. He started out as a Jumpman in Donkey Kong, battling a very grumpy gorilla to rescue his girlfriend. Two years later, Nintendo rebranded him, swapping out his carpenter's overalls for a plumber's toolkit, giving him a brother named Luigi, and launching him into a new adventure.
Since then, Mario has been everywhere, starring in classic side-scrollers, sports games, RPGs, and even space-themed adventures. Whether dodging Bob bombs, throwing bananas at Bowser, or making a splash in last year's Super Mario Bros. movie, Mario remains one of the most recognizable and beloved characters in gaming history.
To see just how popular Mario still is, we spoke with Tony Sanders, owner of Retro Hall & Funko Mood, a local gaming store dedicated to nostalgia. If anyone thinks Mario is just for longtime gamers, Sanders says that's far from the truth.
'We can't even keep Mario games in stock,' Sanders said. 'Kids today love Mario just as much as people in their 60s who grew up with him.'
That blend of nostalgia and accessibility is what keeps Mario at the top of the gaming charts. With over 210 million copies of Mario games sold, his legacy remains unmatched.
When it comes to the most sought-after Mario games, Sanders didn't hesitate.
Super Mario Bros. 3 – 'A love-hate relationship, but it's a classic.'
Paper Mario – A fan-favorite, story-driven adventure.
Super Mario 64 – The game that defined 3D platforming.
One exception? Mario Paint. 'That one's a little different…people don't always want to track down the mouse pad,' Sanders said with a laugh.
Over the decades, Mario has evolved with updated graphics, new gameplay mechanics, and even a voice in later games. 'I'm glad they finally gave him a voice,' Sanders said. 'That was kind of neat.'
But will Mario still be a household name 20 or 30 years from now?
'Absolutely,' Sanders said. 'They could remaster one or two, but Mario's never going away.'
National Mario Day isn't just about a video game- it's about the memories players have made along the way. Whether it was leaving an NES on overnight because there were no save points, battling siblings for controller time, or discovering Mario for the first time in a modern remake, the joy remains the same.
Mario isn't just a character: he's an era, a tradition, and an adventure that continues to grow with every generation.
So, on March 10, grab a controller, dust off an old console, or fire up the latest Mario game because some things never go out of style.
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