Can You Name These 35 Super Mario Baddies?
- by Dylan Dembrow
- – on
- in The Geek Corner
With over half a billion video game sales to date, it’s no secret that the Mario series is the most popular video game franchise of all time. Created by Shigeru Miyamoto, this now iconic plumber made his debut in the 1981 arcade game Donkey Kong before becoming the centerpiece of a number of spin-off series, including Super Mario Bros., Mario Kart, and Super Mario Galaxy, which have all been greeted with stellar sales and critical acclaim.
Of course, Mario and Luigi often get all the credit, but what fun would these games be without the impressive cast of enemies that the Mario Brothers must defeat one level at a time? After literally hundreds of Mario-themed games, there have been so many enemies created that no one could possibly remember every foe that Mario has faced off against. However, there continue to be a number of go-to enemies that pop up in almost every installment of the series.
While any casual gamer could easily pick Bowser out of a crowd, it takes a true Mario aficionado to remember more than a handful of these enemies. So let’s see how many of these 35 Mario baddies you can name!
Also known as King Koopa
If you don’t get this one right then this is clearly not the quiz for you. This villain is the main antagonist of the Mario series and has appeared in almost every Mario game, starting with 1985’s Super Mario Bros. The King Koopa’s objective begins with kidnapping Princess Peach, which he usually succeeds at during the start of each game. From there, this villain then plans to defeat Mario and Luigi and take over the entire Mushroom Kingdom for himself.
Mario’s arch-rival
First appearing in the 1992 game Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins, this Mario character has been everything from a villain, to a rival, to an anti-hero. The character’s name is a mixture between “Mario” and the Japanese word for “bad” as this character is often very greedy and quick to anger. The character came about when the game developers wanted Mario to face a new set of obstacles outside of always rescuing Princess Peach from Bowser, and decided to develop Mario's arch enemy.
Mario’s original enemy
Before this character became the hero of his own Nintendo franchise, he was the original villain of Jumpman (AKA Mario) way back in a 1981 arcade game. Here, the giant monkey would kidnap Jumpman’s girlfriend, Pauline, and carry her to the top of a construction site. From there, he would hurl barrels and fire at the game’s hero to try to prevent him from reaching the top. Today, Mario and this villain are more friendly rivals rather than all-out enemies.
These villains never show their faces
This recurring troublemaker in the Mario series first appeared in the 1987 Japanese game Yume Kojo: Doki Doki Panic. After the original Super Mario Bros. 2 was deemed too difficult for American audiences, Doki Doki Panic was retrofitted into a Mario game, though many of the games initial enemies, including this bashful creature, made it into the Mario version. Since then, these characters have popped up in many Mario games, most recently appearing as a playable skin in Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition.
The main villain in Super Mario Bros. 2
The main antagonist of the 1988 game Super Mario Bros. 2 is the leader of the 8 Bits, a group of evil doers who are trying to take over the land of dreams, also known as Subcon. He is known as the most mischievous character in Subcon and is the final boss in the game. After he is beaten, Mario wakes up in bed and we are left to wonder whether the events in the game actually happened and if this evil boss is real at all.
Luigi’s arch-rival
This Mario baddie first appeared in the 2000 Mario Tennis for Nintendo 64. The characters name is a combination of the Japanese word for “bad” and the name “Luigi” making him Luigi’s arch-rival throughout the Mario series. Just as Wario was designed to be an extreme version of Mario — shorter and fatter than the series hero — this character is also an extreme adaptation of Luigi, designed to be very tall and very skinny. The character is extremely ill-tempered and cocky, making him disliked by pretty much everyone in the Mushroom Kingdom aside from Wario.
A foe-turned-friend
First appearing in 1988’s Super Mario Bros. 2, this is another series antagonist who was brought over from the Japanese-only game Yume Kojo: Doki Doki Panic. In the first game, this character serves the primary villain, Wart, and appears in many of the game's levels in various colors, including pink, green, and brown. The character was also giving varying attacks, shooting both eggs and fireballs from her mouth. As the series has gone on, this character has shifted from an enemy to one of Mario’s trusted allies.
A fairly weak enemy
It makes sense that one of the most common enemies in the Mario series is also one of the easiest to beat. To defeat this armless mushroom-looking creature, Mario or Luigi need only to jump on its head just once to crush it out of existence. However, the character has appeared in various other forms throughout the series, sometimes granted with wings. These little critters first appeared in the original 1985 game, and have been a staple of the series ever since.
A boss from Super Mario Bros. 2
This Mario antagonist has only appeared in a handful of Mario games, most notably 1988’s Super Mario Bros. 2 and its direct sequel, BS Super Mario USA which was released in Japan in 1996. The villain is a giant mouse that serves King Wart by throwing bombs at the player, and can only be defeated by snatching up the mouse’s bombs before they explode and tossing them back at him. The character needed to be defeated twice in the game, appearing in Words 1 and 3 during the final stages.
A ball and chain with teeth
This Mario enemy was inspired by series creator Shigeru Miyamoto’s real life experience as a child, where a dog tried to attack him only to be held back at the last second by its chain. This enemy was first slated to appear in The Legend of Zelda series but was brought over and added to Super Mario Bros. 3 in 1988 instead. Though this enemies movement is usually restricted by its chain, the characters can break free after a time limit or after they’ve tugged on their chain a certain number of times.
Originally known as “Boo” Diddlys
These floating ghost made their first appearance in the 1988 game Super Mario Bros. 3, named “Boo” Diddles after the famous rock star Bo Diddley, though the now go by a different name. These ghosts are shy when looked upon, but as soon as you turn your back they bare their teeth and swoop in for the kill. The idea for the characters came from one of the game developer’s wives — a normally quiet woman who one day exploded in anger at the long hours her husband was working.
Bowser’s son
First appearing in 2002’s Super Mario Sunshine, this son of the evil Bowser wants nothing more than to carry out his father’s master plan of kidnapping Princess Peach and defeating the Mario Brothers. Spoiled by his father, this enemy absolutely hates losing and he often displays a bratty temper when he is bested by his enemies. The character is of the Koopa species, and is a spitting image of his father, albeit smaller and not quite as intimidating, which often leads to this enemy feeling a bit self-conscious.
A fortress boss
Yet another character who made his debut in Super Mario Bros. 3, this mini-boss is a faithful servant to Bowser, who tries to defeat Mario and Luigi in many of the games fortresses. The further you get in the game, the fast this character moves, even developing the ability to fly. But defeating him is far from impossible, as three stomps to the head are enough to crush this character into oblivion. The character has also served as a mini-boss in the mobile game Super Mario Run.
Turtle-like soldiers
These are one of the most common enemies of Bowser's army, and they appear in many levels throughout the Mario franchise, often walking on all fours with a shell on their back similar to a turtle. A slightly different version of this character can be seen back in the Mario arcade games, but the character underwent a few altercations for Super Mario Bros. Since it is another common foe, they can almost always be killed by stomping on them, though unlike the Goombas, their shells can then serve as an asset to the player.
A tragic villain
Though this villain has only appeared in a few Mario games, starting with 2007’s Super Paper Mario, this character has certainly left a lasting impression on fans. Unlike Bowser and many other primary antagonists in the series, this evil-doer is motivated by sadness rather than the desire for power. Originally, the character was a kind-hearted person who was deeply in love with Timpani. But after she was supposedly killed, this character became fed up with the way of the world and decided to try and destroy it. Pretty dark stuff for a Mario character.
An undead Koopa
First appearing in the 1988 game Super Mario Bros. 3, these Mario baddies are deceased Koopa Troopas who often wander the fortresses and castles of the game. However, stomping on their backs will only but them out of commission for a few seconds, and they will ordinarily spring back to life if they are not dealt with another way. Since they are already dead, they can not be killed off quite as easily as their living counterparts, and sometimes a Star Power up is the only thing that will easily end them for good.
An angry cinder-block
You would think that an enemy that’s contained in such a strict path of movement would be easy to avoid, but think again. These angry looking cinder-blocks are common obstacles in many Mario dungeons, but they are not easy to kill and faster than you may think. Just when you get used to the blocks that fall vertically, ones that move horizontally and diagonally begin to pop up as well. These annoying blocks first appeared in 1988, and have been a staple in the franchise ever since.
Koopa Troopas with helmets
Originally designed by Kazuaki Morita for the original Super Mario Bros. these enemies are an elite faction of Bowser’s army, much more difficult to defeat than a simple Koopa Troopa. These enemies have bigger shells, wear helmets, and also chuck hammers at the player, making them dangerous from both up close and afar. There have been a few variations of these characters throughout the series, and in Super Mario Bros. 3, Mario is even able to acquire these enemies suits as a power up.
A gigantic Cheep Cheep
Though this enemy isn’t as popular as its lesser counterpart, the Cheep Cheep, it is a notable opponent due to the fact that it can kill Mario or Luigi instantly by swallowing them whole — pretty impressive for an enemy that exists outside of the games' fortresses. But this foe is far from invincible, and a simple fireball will rid the player of its annoying presence. But even that doesn’t last, as this character often has a super fast respawn rate.
A caterpillar with shoes
This Mario foe first appeared in the Forest of Illusion in the 1990 game Super Mario World for the SNES. The character is designed after a caterpillar, with a long body, multiple legs, and a flower sprouting from its head. This character can not be defeated by jumping atop it, and instead, that will only serve to aggravate this enemy — changing its color from yellow to red and making it move far more quickly. Instead, a shell or Star Power is needed to eliminate this Mario baddie.
The real antagonist of Super Paper Mario
Though at first, the player believes Count Bleck to be the big baddie of Super Paper Mario, it is actually this mischievous character who is revealed to be the real villain who's pulling the strings. This magical jester may hide behind the guise of a minion, but he is actually the one trying to obtain the Chaos Heart throughout the game, able to flip through dimension just as Mario can. Though the character has only appeared in the one 2007 game he has certainly left a lasting impression on Mario players.
A giant Monty Mole
Both the Monty Mole and their gigantic counterpart made their debut in 1990’s Super Mario World. These gigantic enemies first appeared in Chocolate Island 4 during an underground level. Due to their sheer size, they are not the easiest to avoid, and they’re also not the easiest to defeat either since they are immune to fireballs and being stomped. However, these gigantic sunglass-wearing moles can also be a help to the Mario Brothers, as you can ride upon their backs and jump to a platform that you otherwise wouldn’t have been able to reach.
A plant with teeth
These carnivores plants have been a staple of the series since 1985’s Super Mario Bros. They are usually seen popping out of pipes with either a red or green head complete with a mouthful of teeth. On certain occasions, these creatures can even shoot fireballs out of their mouths or survive outside of a pipe. Unlike most Mario enemies, jumping on these enemies is a big no-no, and the easiest way to be rid of them is to come prepared with some fireballs of your own.
A follower of Cackletta
This Mario baddie first appeared in the 2003 game Maria & Luigi: Superstar Saga, and has since become one of the primary villains in subsequent Mario & Luigi games. The character is a minion of the evil witch Cackletta, and is known for being a tech genius and often speaking in a nonsensical manner. The character is of the Beanish species, and he normally resides in the Beanbean Kingdom when he is not reeking havoc in the neighboring Mushroom Kingdom.
A walking cactus
This Mario enemy first originated in the Japanese game Yume Kojo: Doki Doki Panic, which was then converted into what would be known as Super Mario Bros. 2 in the United States. The enemy is modeled after a cactus, and usually it consists of three to five different segments. To destroy this enemy in later games, they usually have to be disassembled one part at a time, which is most conveniently done if you happen to be riding atop Yoshi, who can swallow this enemy up one segment at a time.
A Koopa in the clouds
This Koopa often appears as a foe to the Mario Bros., as he was in the original 1985 game, throwing down Spiny Eggs at the player while remaining largely safe floating in the sky upon a single cloud. But in more recent games, this Koopa is often a friend or a referee to the Mario Bros. If the character is defeated, the player can often ride in this Koopas cloud for a limited amount of time before it inevitably dissolves and drops the player back to the ground.
An evil witch
Often considered one of the hardest bosses in the entire Mario series, this evil witch first popped up as the primary antagonist in the 2003 game Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga. The character hails from the Beanbean Kingdom and is of the Beanish race along with Fawful, her loyal assistant and fellow evil-doer. At the start of her original game, these evil witch disguises herself as the Goodwill Ambassador and steals Princess Peach’s voice, which she then uses to acquire the Beanstar.
A living bullet
These flying projectiles first appeared in the original Super Mario Bros. game back in 1985, and have been an enemy within the series ever since. These bullets can range in size and are usually shot out of Bill Blasters. They can fire out in any direction, reverse in mid-flight, or even hone in on the Mario Brothers in later games. They can usually be defeated by jumping directly on top of them. A cousin of this character, known as Torpedo Ted’s, made their debut in Super Mario World as underwater bullets.
The main antagonist in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
This character is the main villain in the 2005 game Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, and the second in command of the Shroobs, an alien race that invades the Mushroom Kingdom before Mario and Luigi were grown up. When Shroob Planet began to wither away, this character seized Princess Peach’s castle and, after a struggle for control, eventually kidnaps Peach as well. Though she is far from immortal, this boss has a wide array of powers, including flight, teleportation and the ability to cast fireballs.
Koopas with magic
Sometimes referred to as Kameks, this Mario villain first popped up in the 1990 game Super Mario World as a Koopa dressed up as a wizard that is able to cast magic. This ranks them much higher than most Koopa Troopas, and even the Hammer Brothers, as they are often seen protecting many of the games castles. These koopas also have the ability to pop out of thin air, giving the player limited time to respond and dodge their magical spells.
An evil bat king
First appearing in Mario & Luigi: Dream Team in 2013, this evil king turned from a normal bat into the creature he is in the games by feeding of the nightmares of a Pi’illo. The character first appears in Luigi’s dream, and he is revealed to have obtained the Dark Stone in the past. Though he is at first imprisoned in the Dream World, the evil king was still able to eliminate the Pi’illo race despite being trapped in another dimension.
The main villain in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
This character might not look that evil, but she is actually a demon and the main baddie from the second installment of the Paper Mario series. At the start of the game, this character is sealed up in the Palace of Shadow after being defeated 1,000 years ago. However, after Mario and Luigi enter the palace to defeat this demon for good, it jumps into the body of Peach, possessing the queen and inciting the Mario Brothers to attack her.
The king of the Goombas
Originally just a plain old goomba, this bad guy was transformed into the king of the goombas by Bowser when he used the Star Rod in the 2000 game Paper Mario. Mario is forced to face off against this character in his fortress, where he is accompanied by his henchman, the Red and Blue Goombas. To defeat him easily, the player can hit the Goomnut Tree, which will result in a Goomnut falling on the the Red and Blue Goombas, as well as this giant enemy.
Luigi’s arch-enemy
Just as Bowser is the king of the Koopas, this Mario villain is the king of his own race of characters from the Mario series. Often poised as Luigi’s arch-enemy, this character first appeared in the 2001 Nintendo Gamecube game Luigi’s Mansion, where he kidnaps Mario in the haunted mansion he inhabits, forcing Luigi to defeat this boss by the end of the game and rescue his brother. The character most recently appeared in this year’s Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
Together, these seven villains are known as…
First appearing in the 1988 game Super Mario Bros. 3 for the NES, these seven villains were originally conceived to be Bowser’s children. However, in the current storyline of the Mario series, game creator Shigeru Miyamoto has stated that they are no longer Bower’s children, though the group still remains siblings. Separately, these characters go by the names of Ludwig, Lemmy, Larry, Iggy, Morton, Wendy and Rob and their character designs were originally inspire by the designers that worked on the 1988 game.