Super Mario Bros
Stomp Goombas, grab mushrooms, and race the flagpole in the classic that started it all.
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About Super Mario Bros
Few games have shaped the platformer genre like Super Mario Bros. Released by Nintendo in 1985, it sends Mario across eight worlds of the Mushroom Kingdom to rescue Princess Toadstool from Bowser. Every stage is a side-scrolling run filled with brick blocks, warp pipes, bottomless pits, and enemies like Goombas and Koopa Troopas, all set to one of the most recognizable soundtracks in gaming history.
The design still holds up because it is so easy to learn and so rewarding to master. Hidden coin blocks, secret warp zones, and speedrun-friendly shortcuts reward curious players, while the simple run-and-jump core means anyone can pick it up in seconds and start clearing levels. Speedrunners still study it decades later, which says a lot about how carefully its jumps and enemy placements were tuned.
How to play Super Mario Bros
Guide Mario from the left side of each stage to the flagpole on the right before the timer runs out. Jump on enemies to defeat them, and hit question blocks from below to collect coins and power-ups. A Super Mushroom makes Mario bigger so he can survive one hit and break bricks, while a Fire Flower lets him throw fireballs. Each world ends in a castle where you face Bowser or one of his decoys. Collect 100 coins for an extra life, find the hidden warp pipes to skip ahead, and keep moving until you reach the final castle.
Controls
| Arrow Keys | Move and crouch |
| ZorSpace | Jump |
| XorShift | Run and throw fireballs |
| Enter | Start and pause |
Tips & strategy
- Hold the run button before a long jump; Mario's jump distance depends on how much speed he builds up.
- Hit every question block you see early in a level, since power-ups make the later sections far more forgiving.
- Jump on a Koopa shell and kick it into a row of enemies to rack up points and clear the path.
- In World 1-2, run along the ceiling near the end of the stage to find the famous warp zone.
- Holding the jump button longer gives a higher jump, which helps clear tall pipes and gaps.
Game features
- Eight classic worlds packed with secrets
- Power-ups like Super Mushroom and Fire Flower
- Hidden warp zones for skipping ahead
- Iconic chiptune music and pixel art
Super Mario Bros FAQ
How many levels are in Super Mario Bros?
The game has eight worlds with four stages each, for 32 levels in total. The fourth stage of every world is a castle that ends with a Bowser encounter. Warp zones in World 1-2 and World 4-2 let experienced players skip entire worlds, which is why speedrunners can finish it in only a few minutes.
Can two people play Super Mario Bros?
The original game supports two players who take turns, with the second player controlling Luigi when Mario loses a life. It is not simultaneous co-op, so only one character is on screen at a time. Whether the alternating mode is available depends on the browser version you load.
How do I play Super Mario Bros at school?
Open the game page on Classroom 6X and it runs directly in your browser, so there is nothing to download or install. It works well on Chromebooks and school laptops. Use the keyboard for the best experience, and check the on-screen instructions if a particular version maps jump and run to different keys.
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