As Nintendo's most valuable franchise (and it isn't even close), the Super Mario series is alive and well thirty-five years after its debut. Fans were instantly delighted with the games when they first hit the market and have continued to crave adventures from their favorite mustachioed plumber ever since. Mario himself has never felt uncomfortable in any format, becoming a sensation on handheld devices, emulators, and consoles.
Yet as fans think of these games, they might not recall the trailers. It's not that the trailers have been ineffective, quite the contrary, Nintendo's strategy for Super Mario has been to show the gameplay, without any frills or out-of-game editing. There have been some advertising flops, even in their best games. For example, Super Mario Sunshine never once showed what the device strapped to Mario's back was used for. But these trailers make fans smile and here are the most smile-inducing trailers of them all.
10 Super Mario Brothers 2: The Lost Levels
Gamers in America were tantalized by this trailer that presented a follow-up to one of their favorite games on the Nintendo Entertainment System. Why were these levels "lost" to them? The game was only initially available on the Famicom.
It was not Luigi's first appearance, but it was the first time that he was functionally different than Mario, with a higher jump at the cost of less traction. The trailer also boasted an increased range of enemy vulnerability, so perfect landings were no longer required.
9 Super Mario Brothers 2
There is an argument to be made this "other" Super Mario Brothers 2 game was the most confusing one in the entire series, but the trailer was nothing short of exciting. It showed secret doors, interactive environments, and even a fight with a bomb-throwing mouse!
It was one of those hard video games even though it was designed for kids, but the challenge was eagerly anticipated. Weaponized turnips and digging through sand were clear upgrades to a series that already pushed the envelope.
8 New Super Mario Brothers 2
With how many cameo appearances Mario makes, it's hard to believe he has time to be making all of these sequels. In order to make the time, the trailer appears to bribe him.
Yes, this trailer could be deemed the most unique because it has a central theme: Gold. Be it coins, enemies, blocks, backgrounds, or shells, everything was gold. Mario's head memorably turns into a gold coin dispenser in the middle of the trailer, much to the hilarity of his fans.
7 New Super Mario Brothers Wii
The game itself was hardly worthy of the worst Super Mario game of all time, but players were disappointed to find that playing with teammates in this game was just not that fun. In fact, it was borderline impossible.
The trailer made it look so incredibly awesome. It started with just Mario and built up in both music and progression until all four playable characters were on the screen at once. The new power-ups and suits looked like a hoot and fans could hardly stand to wait.
6 Super Mario Brothers
This trailer is not placed here for nostalgia's sake, but it does require some context. One must remember than in 1985, gamers were lucky to see a game that tried one or two new things. When this trailer hit the screens, the gaming world came to a breathless stop.
Every possible aspect of gaming was being advanced by Super Mario Bros. Colors were brighter, enemies had more variety, platforms were unique, and the moving screen was unparalleled. It ensured immediately that any forgettable Super Mario game was a long way off. And, as a bonus treat, the trailer sported off a sneaky way of defeating Bowser!
5 Super Mario Galaxy 2
Super Mario Galaxy took the world by storm after its release on the Nintendo Wii. Players experimented with gravity, space travel, and planets for the first time in a Super Mario game and the installments blew the minds of everyone who thought they knew what a Mario game was capable of.
Then the trailer for Super Mario Galaxy 2 hit. Any complaints fans could concoct were addressed. Space travel was quicker, graphics were cleaner, enemies had more variety, and lonely Mario got his favorite ridable dinosaur back. The hype the trailer generated ensured it would be one of the best video game sequels of the decade.
4 Super Mario Galaxy
The first trailer for Super Mario Galaxy gets the nod over the sequel's trailer. The second game showed all of the ways that the first could be improved upon, but Super Mario Galaxy itself showed unimaginable creativity that blindsided gamers in the best way possible.
Trailers are designed to get fans excited and asking questions like, "When is this game coming out?" and "Where can I pick up a pre-order?" This one made fans of the series ask a different kind of question; "How could it be possible to develop a game this expansive?"
3 Super Mario 3D Land
With so much hinging on the handheld device's success, Nintendo put the work in to make a game that was just as good as the console competition. They knew they outdid themselves, but the real trick was in the advertising.
And the trailer exceeded every expectation. Between the rich environments, unique power-ups, and fluid movement, Super Mario fans lined up to buy the Nintendo 3DS so they could sink hundreds of hours into this game and others (hopefully) just like it.
2 Super Mario World
There will always be some nervousness when great franchises try to make the jump from one console to the next. Many lose their entire souls in exchange for graphics. Some improve only enough to put an unnecessary coat of paint on beloved originals.
Super Mario World was not having any of that and it let fans know immediately with the gameplay trailer. The music was celebratory, Yoshi makes his first appearance, and the colors on the characters and foes dazzled. It also hinted at some secret areas and encouraged exploration.
1 Super Mario 3D World
This is a truly unforgettable trailer. Fans weren't sure if 3D and multiplayer would ever combine forces in a Super Mario game. Then the Wii U showed off a commercial that would subvert every expectation gamers had.
Super Mario 3D World showed unique gameplay coordination between four characters, with a camera that made the action incredibly easy to follow. It boasted a power-up that fans didn't know they needed until the moment that they saw it on screen; Mario could transform into a powerful-yet-adorable bright-yellow kitty cat complete with wall-climbing abilities.