Few video games have remained in the public consciousness for decades, crossing generations. Super Mario is one of, if not the only, games that has achieved this.

Almost everyone has heard of the iconic Italian plumber, Mario. Even those who haven’t played the game know of him in some way.

Mario wasn’t the main character in his first appearance. In fact, he wasn’t even called Mario at the time. In his first game, Donkey Kong (released in 1981), he was known as Jumpman and wasn’t a plumber—he was a carpenter.

In the game, players take on the role of Mario as he explores the Mushroom Kingdom. The goal is to overcome Bowser and his evil forces to rescue Princess Toadstool. To complete each level, Mario must reach the flagpole at the end.

Throughout the game, coins are scattered for players to collect. There are also question mark blocks that, when hit, reveal coins and other helpful items. It’s essential to strike these blocks whenever possible, as they may contain rare items or valuable coins.

When Mario eats a mushroom, he transforms into Super Mario, growing larger and gaining the ability to break bricks above him. However, if hit in this form, he returns to his original size but doesn’t die.