With the Massive Success of ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’, Mario Merch Is Hotter Than Ever
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Mario of Super Mario Bros. (whose last name is, of course, also Mario), one-time Jump Man, and part-time plumber from Brooklyn, has only gotten more popular recently. After all, along with his faithful brother Luigi, he’s the star of the new Super Mario Bros. Movie, a smash hit that generated a whopping $377 million worldwide in its opening weekend. Not only was this animated feature the best international opening of the year, it’s also one of biggest animated debuts of all time.
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While slapping his mustached face on merch isn’t anything new (March 10, known as Mario Day, has long been embraced by Nintendo and its fans) there are plenty of new ways to celebrate the video game icon after his animated big-screen debut. We’re talking action figures, LEGO sets, even hot sauces!
If you’d like to join in on the fun, we’ve collected the best Mario merch, games, gear, and more. Some of these items are tied to the movie’s release, and they’ll only be around for a limited time — so let’s-a go!
1. The Super Mario Bros. Movie Official Storybook
Designed for kids but ideal for fans of all ages, the 32-page The Super Mario Bros. Movie Official Storybook tells the story of Mario and Luigi along with Princess Peach and all the other characters using full-color illustrations and scenes from the film.
As the name implies, this is an officially-licensed release from Nintendo and Illumination, who worked with publisher Random House to release the hardcover picture book. Listed at a retail price of $16.99, an Amazon deal gets you the Super Mario Bros. book for 10% off right now for a limited time.
Super Mario Bros. Movie Storybook
2. The Super Mario Bros. Movie Truff Hot Sauce
Transport your taste buds to the Mushroom Kingdom with Truff’s iconic hot sauce flavors in a Collectible Pack inspired by the Super Mario Bros. Movie. It’s a gift that will power-up your pantry and take your favorite foods on a flavor adventure. The exclusive pack comes with Truff’s Original Hot Sauce, White Hot Sauce, and Hotter Sauce, all topped with geometric truffle caps with a colorful twist inspired by the forest of mushrooms from the film.
Whether you’re gifting someone a flavor adventure, or trying to power up your own pantry, we love Truff’s unique blend of ripe red chili peppers, black truffle, agave nectar, and savory spices. It’s especially good on pizza, over avocado toast, and on scrambled eggs. If the Super Mario Bros. Pack sells out, you can also buy the same iconic hot sauce trio here.
Super Mario Bros. Truff Hot Sauce Pack
3. Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit
Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit is an augmented reality game for the Nintendo Switch that lets you turn your home into interactive Mario Kart levels. The kit comes with one kart (featuring Mario, of course), and four cardboard gates, which you can place on your floor to set up your level. You’ll need to drive your kart through all of the gates to complete a lap.
To play your constructed course, download the Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit game from the Nintendo eShop onto your Nintendo Switch. The app is free to download. Once it’s installed, you can control the kart in this kit using the Nintendo Switch. Your racer will appear on the Switch’s screen, and you’ll be able to navigate around your floors thanks to a camera mounted on top of Mario’s Kart.
You can race against other players by getting additional carts, or face off against computer players that are generated automatically. This is one of the most imaginative Mario games to come out of Nintendo in a long time, and a must-have for any Nintendo Switch owner.
Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit
4. LEGO Super Mario Master Your Adventure Maker Set
Nintendo and LEGO have teamed up to create new, unique construction sets, including this 366 piece play set designed to look like an actual Super Mario Bros. level. The set includes enemies, a warp pipe, multiple types of terrain, question blocks, and a flag pole. The set isn’t overly big or complicated to build, so this is an excellent Mario-themed activity to share with newer players. You can also find the LEGO Super Mario Starter Course here if you want a smaller, similarly-themed set.
LEGO Super Mario Master Your Adventure Maker Set
5. Super Mario Games For The Nintendo Switch
It’s hard to celebrate Mario without some Nintendo games, and the Switch’s library is full of excellent entries from the storied series.
Longtime fans should pick up Super Mario 3D All-Stars, a collection that features Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy, which was released in honor of the 35th Anniversary of Super Mario Bros.
If you like multiplayer games, Mario Kart 8: Deluxe is a fast-paced racing game that lets you compete against three other players. Super Mario Odyssey is the latest entry in the Super Mario Bros. series, and is an open-world 3D platformer that hearkens back to titles like Super Mario 64. All of these games are critically acclaimed, and there’s no wrong choice.
If you want to experience the original games, you can sign up for a Nintendo Switch Online subscription, which includes unlimited access to a growing catalogue of Nintendo and Super Nintendo games. Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros 2., Super Mario Bros: The Lost Levels, Super Mario World, and Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island are all available through this service.
6. Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros
Nintendo’s Super Mario Bros. Game & Watch is another piece of limited-edition Mario gear — the fully functioning handheld allows you to play the original 1985 NES version of Super Mario Bros with you on the go. Its 2.36-inch screen is small by today’s standards, but this is a fun novelty. This system contains the original game, its sequel (known in America as The Lost Levels), Ball (Mario Version; an original Game & Watch title) and a digital clock.
It’s very rare for Nintendo to put out a unique piece of hardware to honor one of its games. This Game & Watch is a throwback to the pre-Mario era of Nintendo with a nod to the series that helped make them a household name.
Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros
7. Super Mario Encyclopedia and Super Mario Adventures
Super Mario Bros. is among the most influential and historically relevant video game series of all time, and there’s a lot of facts you may not know if you’ve only played the games. Nintendo partnered with the publisher Dark Horse to release Super Mario Encyclopedia, a 256-page compendium that chronicles the first 30 years of the franchise. The book includes artwork, anecdotes about the creation of characters like Yoshi, and even some tips on how to play the games.
Super Mario Adventures is a 112-page collection of comics that were run in Nintendo Power Magazine between 1992 and 1993. It’s a fun side story that chronicles one of Mario’s quests in the Mushroom Kingdom without being tied to any particular game. It’s a period piece that gives a glimpse into how Mario was portrayed during the Super Nintendo era.
8. Super Mario Amiibo
Nintendo has been celebrating characters from all of its iconic franchises by releasing Amiibos, which are 7.4 inch statuettes. There are many Mario Amiibos, but the two above sum up the two stages of digital plumber’s life.
The first is a faithful recreation of his 8-bit sprite from Super Mario Bros. with his original brown and red colorway. The second showcases Mario’s modern appearance, which he adopted after becoming a 3D character in Super Mario 64. Nintendo has done a great job making Amiibo look and feel substantial, so these are statues you won’t mind keeping on a shelf in your room, or on your work desk.
Mario amiibo – Japan Import (Super Mario Bros Series)
9. Super Mario TV Shows And The Official Movie
Die-hard Mario fans can celebrate the film’s release by binge watching Super Mario World: The Complete Series, a two-DVD set that contains all 26 episodes of the 90s-era cartoon. The show features familiar faces from the Mushroom Kingdom, and one of the first examples of Mario expanding from video games to other media.
If you’re fine going on an ultra campy ride, the Super Mario Bros. movie from 1993 was the first full-length film featuring Mario and Luigi. The pair of plumbers find themselves sucked into the Mushroom Kingdom from Brooklyn and need to save Princess Toadstool from Bowser. The movie has grown a cult following since its original release, and it’s a lot of fun if you’re a fan of movies like The Room.
Super Mario Bros
10. Super Mario Bros. Nintendo Switch Bundle
Best Buy has a special Super Mario Bros. edition of the Switch available right now for just $299.99 online. The bundle deal includes the Nintendo Switch console and Switch dock in black, plus red Joy-Con controllers, and a choice of one full game download of either Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe or Super Mario Odyssey. A bonus: you’ll also get official sticker sheets from The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
The console comes with a “dock” accessory that allows you to play games on your TV — often in a higher resolution. The consoles hybrid nature makes it an excellent choice for gamers who want to take a single library of HD games with them everywhere they go. One of the reasons for the Switch’s popularity is its impressive roster of games, including the latest entries in its popular Super Mario series.
Super Mario Bros. Nintendo Switch
11. Nintendo Super Mario Retro Gamer Collector Box
Can’t decide on a single piece of Mario merch to jump for? This retro collector box from CultureFly is full of officially licensed collectibles that Super Mario Bros. enjoyers old and new will appreciate. The box features seven exclusive items, including a Bowser beanie, throw blanket, foldable overnight bag, pint glass, sliding pin, coasters and a Mario decal. This is a great gift for fans who love more of the retro Mario aesthetic of the original games, and offers a wide range of options if you prefer wearable swag, or practical merch.
Nintendo Super Mario Retro Gamer Collector Box
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