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Who knew that a little Italian plumber with a voluminous mustache could make such an impact on the video gaming world? He seems an unlikely hero — and yet, Mario has become quite the cultural icon. His first appearance was way back in 1981 as a minor character in Donkey Kong. Mario’s creator, Shigeru Miyamoto, didn’t expect him to gain any sort of popularity and at first gave him the impersonal moniker “Jumpman.”
But as fate would have it, the U.S. Nintendo offices were late on their rent one month, and as they sat brainstorming a stronger name for Jumpman, they were interrupted by their displeased landlord demanding payment. His name was — you guessed it — Mario Segale. Inspiration can come from anywhere, right?
These days Mario is an instantly recognizable character, and the Mario Bros. games are one of the top-selling gaming franchises in the history of … well, ever. Not to mention his presence on nearly every type of merchandise you can imagine. As of 2018, the worth of his franchise totaled over $30 billion. That’s a lot of revenue for a plumber!
As parents, we know that Mario hits the “sweet spot.” The games in the Mario Bros. franchise are kid-friendly, yet enjoyable for adults too, and they’re a fun way to bond without worrying about inappropriate content. Plus, not much rivals the satisfaction of lapping your kid in a game of Mario Kart … if you know, you know.
To celebrate this much-loved character, fans created Mario Day — on March 10th, appropriately, since Mar10 looks like “Mario.” And though it wasn’t created by Nintendo, the company (and the retailers who sell its products) wholeheartedly embraced the festivities starting in 2016, and have leaned into it by offered some amazing sales. Keep clicking for some of the best Mario Day deals on Nintendo Switch games and accessories that we’ve found so far.
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Mario Kart 8 Deluxe — Nintendo Switch
Image Credit: Nintendo Arguably the best version of the game, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is fun for up to four players. And its new Smart Steering feature makes staying on the track easier (so there are fewer meltdowns when you’re playing with little kids!).
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Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury — Nintendo Switch
Image Credit: Nintendo Featuring two Mario adventures you can play by yourself or with friends, the goal of Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury is to be the highest scorer as you compete through dozens of vibrantly-colored courses.
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Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit — Nintendo Switch
Image Credit: Nintendo This version of Mario Kart lets you turn your own home into a track! You’ll see it in real time on your Nintendo Switch or TV screen as you compete with other racers and get power-ups that give you a speed boost. But watch out for those red turtle shells! (Psst … it’s $40 off right now!)
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New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe — Nintendo Switch
Image Credit: Nintendo This version of Super Mario Bros. U is fun for everyone, but an especially good choice for younger players; two new characters, Toadette and Nabbit, are perfect for beginners because they offer extra assistance during play.
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PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller for Nintendo Switch
Image Credit: PowerA We love the look of this “Mario Vintage” controller from PowerA! It comes with a 10-foot cable and its intuitive button layout feels natural for those of us who may have grown up with … a slightly older model of gaming system. Wink wink!
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Luigi’s Mansion 3 – Nintendo Switch
Image Credit: Nintendo This Mario Day deal is all about Luigi! After all, what would Mario be without his brother? Team up with the all-green “Gooigi” to help Luigi navigate through tricky obstacles in this haunted mansion!
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SanDisk 128GB microSDXC-Card — Nintendo Switch
Image Credit: SanDisk Emblazoned with the signature Mario mushroom, this 128GB microSDXC card from SanDisk lets you add space to your gaming system so that you spend less time waiting for things to load, and more time playing. You can also use it to store all your downloaded games in one place for convenience on the go (and it’s 43% off right now!).
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Officially Licensed Mario Nintendo Switch Case
Compatible with both Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite, this bright and glossy hard-shell case is lightweight but durable, protecting not only your gaming system but up to 10 game cards, too — and it’s 20% off!
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