Super Mario Bros.

Nintendo's 1985 NES side-scrolling platformer, directed by Shigeru Miyamoto, is one of the most important games ever made. Plumber Mario journeys through eight worlds and 32 levels across the Mushroom Kingdom — overworld plains, underground caverns, underwater depths, and castle fortresses — to rescue Princess Peach from Bowser. Power-ups include the Super Mushroom, Fire Flower, and Super Star. Bowser can be defeated by stomping or triggering the axe switch at each castle's end. Precise jump physics, hidden warp zones, bonus pipes, and Koji Kondo's iconic score established the template for platform gaming worldwide.