Mariois one of Nintendo’s biggest franchises ever since the dawn of gaming in arcades withDonkey Kongin 1981. Eventually, the series transitioned to home consoles withSuper Mario Brosin 1985, and has become a mainstay of Nintendo’s intellectual property. Most recently, the mainline series expanded onto Nintendo Switch withSuper Mario Odyssey.
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For almost forty years, Mario has slowly become an icon of video game history. Over those years, there have been plenty of baddies that have stood in the way of Mario’s attempts to rescue the princess or others. These villains from across theMariofranchise are some of thetoughest, and most complex, the series has had to offer.
10Il Piantissimo
Those who have playedSuper Mario Sunshinelikely have strong memories (and probably negative feelings) about the recurring rival of Mario, Il Piantissimo. This character appears in several stages ofSunshinechallenging Mario to a race. While his confidence can be annoying for some players, there’s actually a deeper reason behind his competitiveness.
By talking to some locals in Pianta Village, players will learn that Il Piantissimo’s outsider nature and attitude has made him a social outcast. As a result, he’s become bitter towards people who won’t step up to his challenges, which drives his passion to race Mario. While he’s definitely earned this social position, it wouldn’t hurt for people to be a bit nicer to him.
9The Shadow Queen
The Shadow Queen is a mythological figure in thePaper Mariouniverse, serving as the final boss ofPaper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. The queen is the creator of the crystal stars that Mario collects throughout the RPG. However, she was defeated by a team of four characters who sealed her spirit in her Palace of Shadows.
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In the events ofThe Thousand-Year Door, the Shadow Queen is revived by Beldam after capturing Princess Peach. Peach is used as a vessel for the Shadow Queen, offering Mario a chance to serve her. Once Mario refuses, the Shadow Queen presents her true form, but Mario is empowered with the goodwill of all the people he’s saved and defeats her.
8King Boo
Mario’s brother Luigi takes center-stage in theLuigi’s Mansionfranchise, becoming an amateur ghost-hunter and teaming up with a scientist named Professor E. Gadd. King Boo serves as the main antagonist of the game, creating the titular mansion in the series' first game to enact revenge on Mario and Luigi for capturing Boos in earlier games.
However, it’s King Boo’s conflict with E. Gadd that really drives his evil actions in the franchise. It’s E. Gadd’s capture of Boolossus prior to the events ofLuigi’s Mansionthat makes King Boo driven to sabotage E. Gadd’s ghost-busting duties. King Boo’s return inLuigi’s Mansion: Dark Moonis even a result of E. Gadd selling the portrait of King Boo.
7Wart
BeforeSuper Mario Bros. 2was aMariogame, it was a Famicom-exclusive title known asDoki Doki Panic. The game retained the same villain asSuper Mario Bros. 2, Wart, though in this game he goes by the name Mamu. In that game, Mamu takes control of a dream machine, creating chaos in the dreams of the Muu people.
InSuper Mario Bros. 2, Wart serves a similar purpose to Mamu, though the game’s dream-like nature is a twist after defeating the game. Wart’s plan is to conquer Subcon, the world of the game, until he’s stopped by Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, and Toad. Strangely, in the Game Boy Advance remake of the game,Wart’s voice resembles that of Wario.
6Donkey Kong
As the first antagonist of theMariofranchise, Donkey Kong has played many roles in the series. Often, he stars in his own franchise of sidescrolling games, likeDonkey Kong Country, but in the original arcade title, he was once the pet gorilla of Mario, a.k.a. Jumpman. Rebelling against his master, Donkey Kong kidnapped Mario’s girlfriend Pauline.
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However, retcons in theDonkey Kong Countryseries establish that the pet gorilla in these games may have actually been Cranky Kong. Despite this confusion, Donkey Kong has reprised his role as a boss character in games likePunch-Out!!and theMario vs. Donkey Kongseries, the latter of which finds him at odds with Mario over wind-up toys.
5Cackletta
Cackletta appears as the main antagonist ofMario & Luigi: Superstar Saga,the fan-favorite entry in the Game Boy Advance RPG. Cackletta, a witch hailing from the Beanbean Kingdom, steals Princess Peach’s voice to use it to harness the power of the Beanstar. Unfortunately, this earns the ire of the heroic Mario Brothers.
However, Cackletta’s plan was foiled ahead of time by Toadsworth, who replaced Peach with Birdo in disguise. Therefore, the voice that Cackletta steals is not truly Peach. However, Cackletta does help springboard the villainous arc of Fawful, her follower who becomes the primary antagonist ofBowser’s Inside Story.
4Kamek
Kamek is a recurring minion in the mainlineMariofranchise, but the magic-using underling of Bowserplays an important role in theYoshiseries. Prophesizing that Mario and Luigi would create trouble for the Koopa Army, Kamek attacked the stork delivering the twins to their parents, inadvertently letting Baby Mario be discovered by Yoshi.
Throughout the firstYoshi’s Islandgame, Yoshi and Baby Mario team up to rescue Baby Luigi, who is still in the possession of Kamek. However, Kamek is still just an underling inYoshi’s Island, making way for a final boss battle with Baby Bowser. Nevertheless, the character continues to terrorize Yoshi in futureYoshiseries titles.
3Bowser Jr.
Aside from Il Piantissimo,Super Mario Sunshinealso introduces Bowser Jr. to theMariofranchise. As the son of Bowser, Bowser Jr. disguises himself as Shadow Mario and kidnaps Princess Peach, who he believes is his mother. Nevertheless, the truth of Bowser Jr’s parentage remains a mystery in theMarioseries.
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Although Shigeru Miyamoto once claimed thatheis Bowser Jr’s mother, the character’s desire for a family remains a driving force of the character in the games. Nevertheless, Bowser Jr happens to find it with the Koopalings, seven other minions of Bowser, who were originally stated to be Bowser’s children, but Miyamoto also disconfirmed that.
2Bowser
Bowser has been Mario’s primary antagonist ever since the original game on NES in 1985.His rivalry with Mario is a never-ending conflict, but it does have an origin way back in their childhoods. InYoshi’s Island, Baby Bowser is still the boss of Kamek, ordering him to kidnap Baby Mario & Luigi to thwart their future roles in Bowser’s demise.
Baby Bowser also plays a significant role in the time-traveling RPG titleMario & Luigi: Partners in Time, kidnapping Baby Peach at the beginning of the game. However, Baby Mario & Luigi team up with their older selves to thwart Bowser yet again. Unfortunately, Bowser rarely succeeds in his attempts to kidnap the princess or capture Mario and Luigi.
1Count Bleck
By far one of the most fascinating bosses to ever grace theMariofranchise is Count Bleck. The 2D character appears in the Wii titleSuper Paper Mario, forcing Peach to marry Bowser and cause a rift between dimensions. However, it’s his backstory before the events ofSuper Paper Mariothat makes him such a compelling villain in the game.
Count Bleck was a young man named Blumiere, who fell for a girl named Timpani. His father, however, forbid their love and banished Timpani, turning her into a pixel named Tippi, Mario’s ally in the game. Heartbroken, Blumiere destroyed his dimension, believing life was worthless without her, until they’re eventually reunitedin the events of Mario’s adventure.
