20 Nintendo Games You Must Play Before You Die

Super Mario Bros. is far and away one of the most important games ever released. Although Nintendo has since refined its formula for platforming success, none of the subsequent Mario games or their countless imitators would have been possible without the blueprint they inherited from the NES original.

Boiled down to its essence, this revolutionary platformer is underpinned by a design philosophy that continues to inspire developers today. It starts out by teaching the player a set of base skills and encourages them to hone them over time. New ones are drip-fed to equip Mario for the new challenges he will face in later levels.

Super Mario Bros. came along at a time when many of the most popular games were designed to cheat players out of pocket change in arcade parlours with challenges that put them at a serious disadvantage, but the Mushroom Kingdom was a place where you could test your skills. If you missed a jump there, it was on you.

From Bowser and the Koopa Troopers, to Toad and Princess Peach, many of gaming's best known characters made their debuts here, as did the legendary Mario theme tune and countless series tropes. Games don't come more influential.

That said, it's more than just a piece of gaming history. Qualities such as its masterful level design and flawless controls make Super Mario Bros. a timeless offering.