Super Mario Bros.

Super Mario Bros. is the game that made Mario a star. You run from left to right through the Mushroom Kingdom, jumping over gaps, stomping Goombas and Koopa Troopas, and breaking blocks with your head to find coins and power-ups. At the end of every fourth level a castle waits, and in the last one Bowser holds Princess Toadstool. This is the original 1985 NES game by Nintendo, with 8 worlds and 32 levels, and it plays right here in your browser with no download.

Looking for the newer browser version with Mario and Luigi? Try Super Mario and Luigi too.

How to play

1. Press Play under the title picture, then Start (Enter) to begin a 1 player game.
2. Walk with the arrow keys and jump with X. Hold the button for a higher jump.
3. Hold Z to run. A running jump goes much further.
4. Jump on enemies to defeat them, and hit the question blocks from below to find coins and power-ups.
5. Reach the flagpole at the end of each level before the timer runs out. Grab the pole as high as you can for more points.

Controls

Computer: arrow keys walk and crouch, X jumps, Z runs and throws fireballs as Fire Mario, Enter is Start and pauses. Move the mouse over the game to show the bar with pause, restart, sound, save state, load state and full screen buttons.

Phone and tablet: an on-screen pad appears under the game. The cross walks, A jumps, B runs and throws fireballs, and Start pauses.

A USB or Bluetooth gamepad also works.

Cheats

Press the magic wand button next to the full screen button above the game. A small panel opens over the game, and the game waits until you close it.

• Unlimited lives: the lives counter never goes down.
• Fire Mario: you are always big and can throw fireballs, and a hit from an enemy can’t make you small. Pits and lava still cost a life.
• Star power: Mario flashes as if he had touched a star, and enemies fall when you run into them.

Reloading the page turns the cheats off again.

Power-ups

• Super Mushroom: makes Mario big. A big Mario survives one hit and breaks bricks.
• Fire Flower: turns big Mario into Fire Mario, who throws bouncing fireballs.
• Starman: a few seconds of invincibility.
• 1-Up Mushroom: the green mushroom gives an extra life, and so do 100 coins.

Warp zones and tips

• In World 1-2, run along the ceiling above the exit pipe to find a warp zone with pipes to Worlds 2, 3 and 4.
• World 4-2 has warp zones to Worlds 5 to 8.
• After a Game Over, hold A (X on a keyboard) and press Start on the title screen to continue from the first level of the world you reached.

About Super Mario Bros.

Nintendo released Super Mario Bros. in 1985. Created by Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka, with music by Koji Kondo, it became one of the best-selling video games of all time and set the rules for side-scrolling platform games.

Frequently asked questions

Is this the original Super Mario Bros.?

Yes. It is the 1985 NES game with its 8 worlds and 32 levels.

How do I run?

Hold B on the pad, or Z on a keyboard, while you walk.

Can I play Super Mario Bros. on my phone?

Yes. On a phone or tablet an on-screen pad with a cross, A, B and Start appears under the game.

Can I save my progress?

Yes. The bar under the game has a save state button that stores the game exactly where you are, in your browser on this device.

How many lives do I start with?

Three. Collect 100 coins or a green mushroom for more, or switch on unlimited lives in the cheats.