Why Can Pokémon Only Say Their Names?
Pikachu and friends can teach us a lot about how humans relate to the natural world.
Mario 101: For Super Players
The weird history of Super Mario, told in one hundred and one stories.
Is There a Vibrator Joke in Super Princess Peach?
It wouldn’t be the only instance of Nintendo letting Mario get risque.
Why Do We Think Mario and Luigi Are From Brooklyn?
Exploring the brothers’ alleged real world origins — and their inexplicable Italian accents.
When Did Luigi Get His Own Look?
The other plumber stood in his brother’s shadow for longer than you’d think.
Is the Super Mario Galaxy Movie’s Rosalina Reveal Canon?
Plus an argument why Shigeru Miyamoto does not, in fact, hate story elements.
Super Mario Bros. and the Legend of ‘Drain Man’
How the 1993 live-action movie connects to 1988’s Rain Man but also 1989’s The Wizard.
What Is the Etymology of ‘Power-Up’?
And how did this term become part of the western video game lexicon?
Who Put the ‘P’ in the Fire Flower?
An early build of Super Mario Bros. features a certain letter that would reappear on items in later games.
Who Put the ‘Kong’ in ‘Donkey Kong’?
The competing, contradicting explanations for the strangest name in video games.
Why Did the Super Mario Anime Make Toad Female?
A longstanding rumor states that the Mushroom Retainers were meant to be Peach’s handmaidens.
Was the Legend of Zelda Actually Named After Its Heroine?
Why the princess of Hyrule may not technically be the series’ title character.
Is There a Sex Joke Hidden in Plain Sight in Zelda II?
An investigation into those women who ask Link to “come inside.”
Why Does Donkey Kong Throw Barrels?
Not all paths lead to Popeye, despite what you may be thinking.
You Will Be Visited by Three Ghosts… of Super Mario RPG 2
Three Kazuyuki Kurashima sketches show off weird sequels that never came to be.
Maybe We Don’t Need to Call Birdo ‘Birdetta’
Since Super Mario Bros. 2, Birdo has come to own her original name.
There’s Super Mario DNA in Doki Doki Panic
And becoming Super Mario Bros. 2 was just a return to its roots.
Wait, Super Mario Galaxy’s Lubba Is Female?
And if she is, this “change” may not actually be Nintendo retconning itself.
How Nonexistence Connects Chrono Trigger to Super Mario Bros. 2
Belthasar was off by one letter; all life actually begins with mu and and ends with mu!
The Origin of Mario’s Trademark Death Animation
Super Mario Bros. taught side-scrolling heroes how to kick the bucket… even if Mario stole those moves.