There have been numerous sports games featuring Mario characters, based, among others, on tennis, golf, baseball, soccer, and various sports featured in the Olympic Games.
The Mario Kart and F1 series are not included in this list.
Baseball games
editMario has appeared in multiple baseball video games. The last two titles were developed by Bandai Namco Entertainment.
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
Original release date(s): |
Release years by system: 1983 — NES 1984 — Arcade (as Vs. Baseball) 1986 — PlayChoice-10 1986 — Famicom Disk System 1989 — Game Boy 2001 — GameCube (NES version) 2006 — Wii Virtual Console (NES version) 2011 — 3DS Virtual Console (Game Boy version) 2013 — Wii U Virtual Console (NES version) 2018 — Nintendo Switch Online (NES version) 2020 — Nintendo Switch (arcade version) 2024 — Nintendo Switch Online (Game Boy version) |
| Notes:
In the Game Boy version, Mario and Luigi are pitchers for the Bears and Eagles teams respectively. | |
Original release date(s): |
Release years by system: 2005 — GameCube |
| Notes:
Known in Japan as Super Mario Stadium Miracle Baseball.[a] | |
Original release date(s): |
Release years by system: 2008 — Wii 2016 — Wii U Virtual Console[1] |
| Notes:
Known in Japan as Super Mario Stadium Family Baseball.[b] |
Tennis games
editWhile Mario appeared in Tennis as a referee, he first starred as a player in the Virtual Boy game Mario's Tennis, developed by Nintendo R&D1. Like the Mario Golf series, the games have been developed by Camelot Software Planning since the Nintendo 64 instalment.
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
Original release date(s): |
Release years by system: 1984 — NES 1984 — Arcade (as Vs. Tennis) 1985 — PC-88 1985 — Sharp X1 1985 — MZ-1500 1986 — PlayChoice-10 1986 — Famicom Disk System 1989 — Game Boy 2001 — GameCube (NES version) 2006 — Wii Virtual Console (NES version) 2011 — 3DS Virtual Console (Game Boy version) 2013 — Wii U Virtual Console (NES version) 2018 — Nintendo Switch Online (NES version) |
| Notes:
Mario is the referee. | |
Original release date(s): |
Release years by system: 1995 — Virtual Boy |
| Notes:
Released in stereoscopic 3D. | |
Original release date(s): |
Release years by system: 2000 — Nintendo 64 2010 — Wii Virtual Console 2024 — Nintendo Switch Online |
| Notes:
This marks the first appearance of Waluigi. Characters from the Game Boy Color version of Mario Tennis can be uploaded to the Nintendo 64 version via Transfer Pak connectivity. | |
Original release date(s): |
Release years by system: 2000 — Game Boy Color 2013 — 3DS Virtual Console 2024 — Nintendo Switch Online |
| Notes:
The Game Boy Color version is the first game in the series to feature a story mode with original characters. Characters from the Game Boy Color version of Mario Tennis can be uploaded to the Nintendo 64 version via Transfer Pak connectivity. | |
Original release date(s): |
Release years by system: 2004 — GameCube 2009 — Wii |
| Notes:
Re-released as part of Wii's New Play Control! game lineup. | |
Original release date(s): |
Release years by system: 2005 — Game Boy Advance 2014 — Wii U Virtual Console |
| Notes:
This is the second game in the series to feature a story mode, after the Game Boy Color's game. | |
Original release date(s): |
Release years by system: 2012 — Nintendo 3DS |
Original release date(s): |
Release years by system: 2015 — Wii U |
Original release date(s):
|
Release years by system: 2018 — Nintendo Switch |
| Notes:
This is the third game in the series to feature a story mode. |
Golf games
editAs with tennis, Mario appeared in multiple golf games before appearing in a Mario-branded entry on the Nintendo 64. Golf was the first sports game to feature Mario as a player. The series is currently developed by Camelot Software Planning.
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
Original release date: |
Release years by system: 1984 — NES 1984 — Arcade (as Vs. Golf) 1985 — PC-88 1985 — Sharp X1 1986 — PlayChoice-10 1986 — Famicom Disk System 1990 — Game Boy 2001 — GameCube (NES version) 2006 — Wii Virtual Console (NES version) 2011 — 3DS Virtual Console (Game Boy version) 2013 — Wii U Virtual Console (NES version) 2024 — Nintendo Switch Online (NES version) |
| Notes:
Features Mario as the player character. | |
Family Computer Golf: Japan Course Original release date(s):
|
Release years by system: 1987 — Family Computer Disk System |
| Notes:
Features Mario as the player character | |
Family Computer Golf: US Course Original release date(s):
|
Release years by system: 1987 — Family Computer Disk System |
| Notes:
Features Mario as the player character | |
Original release dates: |
Release years by system: 1991 — Family Computer Disk System 1991 — Nintendo Entertainment System 1991 — PlayChoice-10 2007 — Wii Virtual Console 2011 — 3DS Virtual Console 2018 — Nintendo Switch Online |
| Notes:
Known in Japan as Mario Open Golf. | |
Original release dates: |
Release years by system: 1999 — Nintendo 64 2008 — Wii Virtual Console 2022 — Nintendo Switch Online |
| Notes:
Characters from the Game Boy Color version of Mario Golf can be uploaded to the Nintendo 64 version via Transfer Pak connectivity. | |
Original release dates: |
Release years by system: 1999 — Game Boy Color 2012 — 3DS Virtual Console 2024 — Nintendo Switch Online |
| Notes:
Characters from the Game Boy Color version of Mario Golf can be uploaded to the Nintendo 64 version via Transfer Pak connectivity. | |
Mobile Golf Original release date:
|
Release years by system: 2001 — Game Boy Color |
| Notes:
Mobile Golf features compatibility with the Mobile Adapter GB, allowing players to compete in multiplayer matches and unlock additional characters. | |
Original release date: |
Release years by system: 2003 — GameCube |
| Notes:
Similar to the N64 and GBC Mario Golf games, Toadstool Tour and Advance Tour can exchange data using the GameCube – Game Boy Advance link cable. | |
Original release date(s): |
Release years by system: 2004 — Game Boy Advance 2014 — Wii U Virtual Console |
| Notes:
Similar to the N64 and GBC Mario Golf games, Toadstool Tour and Advance Tour can exchange data using the GameCube – Game Boy Advance link cable. | |
Original release date(s): |
Release years by system: 2014 — Nintendo 3DS |
Original release date(s):
|
Release years by system: 2021 — Nintendo Switch |
Mario Strikers series
editMario Strikers (Mario Football in PAL regions and Mario Soccer in South Korea) is a series of association football video games that take place in the Mushroom Kingdom. All entries are developed by Next Level Games.
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
Original release date(s): |
Release years by system: 2005 — GameCube |
| Notes:
Known as Mario Smash Football in Europe. | |
Original release date(s): |
Release years by system: 2007 — Wii |
| Notes:
Known as Mario Strikers Charged Football in Europe and Mario Power Soccer in South Korea. | |
Original release date(s):
|
Release years by system: 2022 — Nintendo Switch |
| Notes:
Announced during a Nintendo Direct presentation on February 9, 2022.[2] Known as Mario Strikers: Battle League Football in Europe. |
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games series
editThe Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games series is a collection of games that take place during the Summer and Winter Olympic Games, crossing over characters from the Mario series with those from Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. It debuted in 2007 for the Wii with the Beijing 2008 edition, titled Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games. Nintendo published the East Asian versions of the first three games and fully published the fourth and fifth games, while Sega published the Western versions of the first three games and fully published the sixth game, with Nintendo licensing characters. The International Olympic Committee allowed the licensing deal to lapse in 2020, effectively ending the series.[3][4]
Summer Olympic Games
edit| Title | Details |
|---|---|
Original release date(s): WiiNintendo DS |
Release years by system: 2007 — Wii 2008 — Nintendo DS |
Original release date(s): WiiNintendo 3DS |
Release years by system: 2011 — Wii 2012 — Nintendo 3DS |
Original release date(s): Arcade
|
Release years by system: 2016[5] — Wii U, Nintendo 3DS,[6] Arcade[7][8] |
Original release date(s):[9] Nintendo SwitchArcade
|
Release years by system: 2019 — Nintendo Switch 2020 — Arcade |
| Notes:
The last known game overall with work by AlphaDream before the company declared bankruptcy in 2019.[10]
|
Winter Olympic Games
edit| Title | Details |
|---|---|
Original release date(s): |
Release years by system: 2009 — Wii, Nintendo DS |
Original release date(s): |
Release years by system: 2013 — Wii U |
| Notes:
The last known game overall of the Winter Olympics before the discontinuation of the Wii U in 2017. |
Mario Sports series
edit| Title | Details |
|---|---|
Original release date(s): |
Release years by system: 2010 — Wii |
| Notes:
First game to have dodgeball in a Mario game. It is also the first game to have volleyball in a Mario game outside of a Mario Party title. | |
Original release date(s): |
Release years by system: 2017 — Nintendo 3DS |
| Notes:
This is the first Mario sports game to feature horse racing. |
Basketball games
edit| Title | Details |
|---|---|
Original release date(s): |
Release years by system: 2005 — GameCube 2005 — PlayStation 2 2005 — Xbox |
| Notes:
Mario, Luigi, and Peach, as unlockable characters, appear exclusively in the GameCube version of the game. | |
Original release date(s): |
Release years by system: 2006 — Nintendo DS |
| Notes:
The first Mario-branded basketball game outside of a Mario Party title. |
Pinball games
edit| Title | Details |
|---|---|
Original release date(s): |
Release years by system: 1984 — Nintendo Entertainment System 1984 — Arcade 1989 — Family Computer Disk System |
| Notes:
A Mario-themed pinball game developed by Nintendo Research & Development 1 and HAL Laboratory, and released by Nintendo. | |
Original release date(s): |
Release years by system: 2004 — Game Boy Advance |
| Notes:
A Mario-themed pinball game developed by Fuse Games and released by Nintendo. |
Stunt sports
edit| Title | Details |
|---|---|
Original release date(s):
|
Release years by system: 1997 — Satellaview |
| Notes:
A Mario-themed variant of Excitebike released in four installments through Satellaview. | |
Original release date(s): |
Release years by system: 2005 — GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox, PlayStation Portable |
| Notes:
The GameCube version features cameo appearances by Mario, Luigi, and Peach as playable characters. The Mario characters were exclusive to Nintendo's platform. |
Dancing
edit| Title | Details |
|---|---|
Original release date(s): |
Release years by system: 2005 — GameCube |
| Notes:
The first entry in the Dance Dance Revolution featuring Mario. |
See also
editNotes
editReferences
edit- ^ Harrington, Jonathan (30 March 2016). "Mario Super Sluggers Hitting NA Virtual Console Tomorrow". Nintendo Enthusiast. Archived from the original on 17 April 2016. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
- ^ Marks, Tom (2022-02-09). "Mario Strikers: Battle League Announced for Nintendo Switch". IGN. Archived from the original on 2022-02-09. Retrieved 2022-02-09.
- ^ Phillips, Tom (30 July 2024). "Olympics ditched Mario & Sonic series to explore NFTs and esports". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 30 July 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
- ^ "Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games: Where is the 2024 edition?". www.bbc.com. Archived from the original on 2024-08-13. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
- ^ "MARIO & SONIC AT THE RIO 2016 OLYMPIC GAMES - Nintendo @ E3 2015 - Gameplay Images, Videos". Archived from the original on 2015-06-18. Retrieved 2015-06-18.
- ^ Carter, Chris (May 31, 2015). "Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games is happening". Destructoid. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
- ^ "Reino do Cogumelo: Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games será lançado também em arcades no Japão". Archived from the original on 2015-07-17. Retrieved 2015-07-16.
- ^ "『マリオ＆ソニック AT リオオリンピック -アーケード エディション（仮題）』2016年春にゲームセンターに登場予定 - ファミ通.com". Archived from the original on 2015-09-15. Retrieved 2015-09-15.
- ^ "Sega announces four Tokyo 2020 Olympics games". Gematsu. 30 March 2019. Archived from the original on June 4, 2020. Retrieved March 30, 2019.
- ^ Ashcraft, Brian (October 2, 2019). "Mario & Luigi RPG Developer AlphaDream Has Gone Bankrupt". Kotaku. Archived from the original on April 9, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
External links
edit- History of Mario Sports Games at GameSpot