It's-a meme, Mario.

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John Summers • Contributor
Aug 9, 2025 1:00 PM EDT

Out of all the gaming heroes to survive the '80s, who would've guessed the biggest icon would be… a short, mustached plumber in overalls? If you'd asked me back then, I'd have bet on a space marine, a lone soldier, maybe an Indiana Jones knock-off. But Mario? The guy who unclogs pipes? Unlikely.

And yet, 40+ years later, Mario is the most recognizable video game character in the world. He's been everywhere - platformers, kart racing, tennis, golf, RPGs, party games, even the Olympics (with Sonic). His design is so simple and bold you can recognize him in 30 pixels or 30,000.

Part of his magic is flexibility: he's whatever the game needs him to be - adventurer, doctor, galaxy traveler - but always Mario. Nintendo's kept him fresh without losing his charm, so every generation has "their" Mario, from Super Mario Bros. to Odyssey.

He is also a meme-king! There is so much lore and history to him that there is an entire meme-y Universe around him and his friends. 

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  • 01
    THANKYOU FOR SAVING ME FROM THAT AWFUL BOWSER, MARIO! YOU'RE MY HERO! I'M JUST GLAD THAT I NEVER HAVE TO SEE THAT HORRIBLE, PERVERTED MONSTER EVER AGAIN You INVITED HIM GOKARTING?!? RAAAR! ERM... INYUO (C) 2010 Boo
    via INYUO , GigglySprinkleCupcake
  • 02
    I will watch over you from beyond the stars. Aqua Lightbeam 1 year ago "I will watch over you from beyond the stars." girl you're gonna come down here and play tennis Reply⚫ 11
    via Aqua Lightbeam, GigglySprinkleCupcake
  • 03
    f AIN'T NO PARTY LIKE A MARIO PARTY ARE YOU GOING TO MARIO'S THIS WEEKEND? NO. L MARIO'S SOCIAL EVENTS ALWAYS GET... WELL... .OUT OF HAND. AAGYAA AGYAARA MARIO, CMON! THIS ISNT A PARTY! BUT IF YOU LIVE YOU WIN COINS! www.NERDRAGECOMIC.COM 9GAG.COM/GAG/3850729 02012 ANDY KLUTHE
    via ANDY KLUTHE, GigglySprinkleCupcake
  • 04
    biscat Oh, I bet that's Mario!, Fashionably late, per the norm. squigglydigg IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE HE ALWAYS TAKES FOREVER TO SAVE PEACH I JUST GOT THIS JOKE
    via GigglySprinkleCupcake
  • 05
    C Hero Link roserayyde: "I heard she gets kidnapped at least twice a week."
    via roserayyde, GigglySprinkleCupcake
  • 06
    HEY IT'S-A THE MARIO BROS! SAFELY ENDANGERED MAMA, WHY-A YOU NEVER REMEMBER MY NAME? I'M-A SORRY GREEN MARIO
    via SAFELY ENDANGERED, GigglySprinkleCupcake
  • 07
    YOU WILL GET A KISS ON THE NOSE SOON. WHO WANTS A FORTUNE COOKIES!? YOU WILL INHERIT A LOVELY MANSION. YOUR BEST PAL WILL DUMP YOU IN A PIT TO GET A SECOND JUMP www.brawlinthefamily.com joyreactor.com
    via brawlinthefamily, GigglySprinkleCupcake
  • 08
    ladytiki Gaming 42 minutes ago Nintendo wants you to know 'Luigi is okay' after he appeared to get killed 1.8K people Tweeting about this Oh thank god skarchomp Disney He's resting... ifunny.co
    via GigglySprinkleCupcake
  • 09
    H At what age did you find out that Mario 64 is viewed from the POV of Bowser, watching footage filmed by Lakitu, and that's why you can hear Bowser laughing when Mario dies? 8 CO 83
    via GigglySprinkleCupcake
  • 10
    KELLY CLARKSON SHOPY Were you excited to play Bowser?
    via GigglySprinkleCupcake
  • 11
    Some conversations are hard to have HOW COME WE DON'T HAVE WARIO COUNTER- PARTS LIKE MARIO AND LUIGI? OH SWEETIE... DEAR GOD... MLP @ nukelanta Wra may
    via MLP, GigglySprinkleCupcake
  • 12
    M SORRY MARIO BUT THE PRINCESS IS IN ANOTHER CASTLE. NO MY LITTLE FRIEND YOU'RE THE ONE I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR. & DRAWINGNOTHING.TUMBLR.COM
    via GigglySprinkleCupcake
  • 13
    Junior! Bring out the pineapple slices! Torture me all you want Bowser, but you will never break my spirit! Heh, we will see about that Ma-Ri-O~ GOT IT! PAPA! @Idiot ofthe East Idiot of the East f TOON patreon
    via @IdiotoftheEast, GigglySprinkleCupcake
  • 14
    KAMI MOMORU
    via KAMI MOMORU, GigglySprinkleCupcake
  • 15
    Remember what they took from us
    via GigglySprinkleCupcake
  • 16
    TT: @LINMIEE 16: @LINMIEEE THAT'S A CUTE OPINION DID A YOUTUBER GIVE IT TO YOU? 3
    via @LINMIEEE, GigglySprinkleCupcake
  • 17
    @ADAMTOTS ARE You DONE
    via @ADAMTOTS, GigglySprinkleCupcake
  • 18
    THE MESSAGE MAMA MIA! ITSA NEW EMAIL MESSAGE! مم HOLOA *CLICK* STUPIDA EMAIL SCAMS! *MARK AS SPAM* GREETINGS, I AM A PRINCESS FROM A FARAWAY LAND AND I NEED YOUR HELP... TH OH COME ON! GIMMME A BREAKA PRI TOADSTOOL. SIGH... *REFRESH REFRESH* @GUYELNATHAN
    via @GUYELNATHAN, GigglySprinkleCupcake
  • 19
    Oh, so youre in first place? It would be a shame 0 0 If somehing were to happen
    via GigglySprinkleCupcake
  • 20
    Nintendo: "We make family friendly games" Also Nintendo:
    via GigglySprinkleCupcake
  • 21
    HAS THE ABILITY TO BREAK BRICK BLOCKS WITH HIS HEAD DIES IF HE TOUCHES À TURTLE zipmeme
    via GigglySprinkleCupcake
  • 22
    Defeat your enemies while you have the chance Invite them all karting
    via GigglySprinkleCupcake
  • 23
    HEY KIDS! WANNA BUY SOME MUSHROOMS? WRAP SWE OFFE
    via GigglySprinkleCupcake
  • 24
    She's everything He's just Ken
    via GigglySprinkleCupcake
  • 25
    Everyone's complaining about Chris Pratt as Mario but when I was a kid, he was voiced by a pro wrestler and had a rap off with King Koopa
    via GigglySprinkleCupcake
  • 26
    nessie @swankisses yesterday we got out from godzi- lla at like 1am and there was just this princess peach lamborghini parked next to my car????? Traducir Tweet ifunny.co
    via @swankisses, GigglySprinkleCupcake
  • 27
    Matt-stletoe @toxicure_matt Follow I went to a White Elephant party last night and this was the gift I got at the end of it. Absolute perfection. CLE
    via @toxicure_matt, GigglySprinkleCupcake
  • 28
    ATRANDOMCOMICS.COM O At Random by Ryan Mason How many more fake kidnappings before you finally leave him?
    via Ryan Mason, GigglySprinkleCupcake

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playstation games god of war gaming sonic the hedgehog funny memes sega Memes online gaming halo gaming memes pc gaming xbox video games mario nintendo
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