Overview

New Super Mario Bros. is the shared title for a family of side‑scrolling platform games starring Mario that launched in the mid‑2000s. The name appears on several distinct releases across Nintendo platforms and is also used to refer to the broader sub‑series that revived classic 2D gameplay with modern graphics, new power‑ups and occasional multiplayer.

Main releases

  • New Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo DS, 2006) — The first game to modernize the classic side‑scroll formula for handhelds, reintroducing familiar power‑ups and level design with new mechanics suited to the DS.
  • New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii, 2009) — Expanded the formula with simultaneous multiplayer for several players, cooperative and competitive play, and larger, more complex stages.
  • New Super Mario Bros. 2 (Nintendo 3DS, 2012) — A handheld sequel that emphasizes coin collection and high scores while retaining traditional platforming and power‑ups.
  • New Super Mario Bros. U (Wii U, 2012) — A high‑definition entry that introduced new playable characters and more expansive levels, originally for Wii U hardware.
  • New Super Luigi U — Originally distributed as downloadable content and later standalone, this title reworks levels to feature Luigi and a higher difficulty, tied to the New Super Mario Bros. U engine.
  • New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe (Nintendo Switch, 2019) — A repackaged edition that combines New Super Mario Bros. U and New Super Luigi U and adds extra playable characters, adapted for the Switch.

Notable distinctions

Although the games all share the New Super Mario Bros. brand, they differ in platform focus (handheld vs home console), gameplay emphasis (coins, multiplayer, difficulty), and content (unique power‑ups or characters). The series is distinct from both the classic 2D Mario titles of the 1980s–1990s and the 3D platformers bearing Mario's name.

Use this page to identify which specific New Super Mario Bros. release is meant when the title is referenced, and to distinguish mainline entries from expansions and reissues within the sub‑series.