If we’re talking about “how many versions of Mario”, there are a few ways to interpret that: versions of the character, versions of the games, and even versions of Mario across different consoles or media. Let’s break it down carefully.
1. Mario as a Character
Mario has appeared in hundreds of games, but the main distinctions usually fall into:
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Classic 2D Mario: Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World
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3D Mario: Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, Super Mario Galaxy, Super Mario Odyssey
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Spin-offs:
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Sports games: Mario Kart, Mario Tennis, Mario Golf, Mario Strikers
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Party games: Mario Party series
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RPGs: Paper Mario, Mario & Luigi series
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Other appearances: Super Smash Bros., crossover games, mobile games
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So there are dozens of distinct “versions” of Mario depending on game style, power-ups, or universe.
2. Mario in Different Forms / Power-Ups
In many games, Mario has multiple forms:
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Super Mario (big Mario) – after eating a Mushroom
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Fire Mario – after eating a Fire Flower
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Cape Mario – Super Mario World
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Tanooki Mario / Cat Mario / Metal Mario / Bee Mario / Ice Mario – depending on game and power-ups
If you count each power-up as a “version,” there are easily 20–30 unique forms in mainline games.
3. Mario in Spin-Off Media
Mario also exists in:
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Anime / TV shows: The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!
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Movies: 1993 live-action Super Mario Bros. and the 2023 animated film
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Comics / Manga: Various adaptations in Japan and worldwide
Each of these sometimes reinterprets his appearance and personality.
4. Total Estimate
If you include:
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Mainline games
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Spin-offs (sports, racing, party, RPG)
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Power-up forms
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Different art styles / media adaptations
…Mario has dozens of versions, probably 50+ distinct portrayals across games, media, and power-up forms.
✅ Answer in short: Mario has 50+ different versions, depending on whether you count games, power-ups, or media appearances.