Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario Bros. is a side-scrolling platform game developed and published by Nintendo, first released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1985. Designed by Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka, it casts players as the plumber Mario, or his brother Luigi, on a quest to rescue Princess Toadstool from the villain Bowser across eight worlds of the Mushroom Kingdom. Its precise running-and-jumping controls, hidden power-ups such as the Super Mushroom and Fire Flower, and secret warp pipes set the template for the entire platforming genre.
Widely credited with helping revitalise the North American video game industry after the 1983 crash, it became the console's defining title and one of the best-selling games of its era, turning Mario into gaming's most recognisable mascot.
You can play the original today through the Nintendo Switch Online NES library, while modern successors such as Super Mario Bros. Wonder carry the classic 2D formula forward.
Play it today
Modern alternatives to Super Mario Bros., with the devices they run on and their price. Ordered editorially by how well each one stands in for the original, with community votes weighted in as they accumulate.
Prices, platform availability and Steam Deck compatibility can change at any time. Always check the store page before buying.
| Alternative | Price | Steam Deck | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Celeste Indie | € 19,99 | Steam Deck Verified | PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
| Pizza Tower Indie | € 19,50 | Steam Deck Verified | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
| Super Mario Bros. Wonder | € 59,99 | Not on Steam | Switch |
| Nintendo Switch Online (NES library) | € 19,99 + in-app purchases | Not on Steam | Switch |
| New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe | € 59,99 | Not on Steam | Switch |
Celeste Indie
€ 19,99A modern indie platforming masterpiece with tight, precise controls.
Celeste runs on PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet.
Pizza Tower Indie
€ 19,50A frantic hand-drawn platformer that channels the speed and secret-hunting of classic 2D Mario and Wario games.
Pizza Tower runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder
€ 59,99The inventive modern 2D Mario platformer for Switch.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder runs on Switch. Not available on PC, Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox.
Nintendo Switch Online (NES library)
€ 19,99 + in-app purchasesA subscription that includes the original Super Mario Bros. and many NES classics.
Nintendo Switch Online (NES library) runs on Switch. Not available on PC, Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox.
New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
€ 59,99The closest modern equivalent of the original: classic side-scrolling Mario levels with four-player co-op.
New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe runs on Switch. Not available on PC, Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox.
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