Game Art Styles

Super Mario Bros.

Nintendo R&D4 · 1985

Side-scrolling · Platformer · Console

Dimension
2D
Rendering
Pixel art
Colors
BlueBlackGray
Linework
Black outlines
Shading
Flat / Unlit
Pixel details
8-bit
Palette
Limited palette, Vibrant
Proportions
Exaggerated
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About

A side-scrolling platform game in which Mario or Luigi crosses the Mushroom Kingdom to rescue Princess Toadstool from Bowser. Players jump over hazards and use power-ups including the Super Mushroom and Fire Flower.

Art style

Super Mario Bros. (1985, Nintendo R&D4) is a 2D pixel art game played from a side-scrolling view. Its look is built from black outlines and flat/unlit shading. The palette is limited and vibrant.

Details

Release
Original release · NES / Famicom
Developer
Nintendo R&D4
Publisher
Nintendo
Released
1985 North America, Nintendo Entertainment System
1985-09-13 Japan, Famicom
1987-05-15 Europe, Nintendo Entertainment System
1987-07 Australia, Nintendo Entertainment System
Platforms
NES / Famicom
Also known as
スーパーマリオブラザーズ (Japan)
Credits
Shigeru Miyamoto Artist
Takashi Tezuka Artist
Shigeru Miyamoto Director
Shigeru Miyamoto Producer
Links
official · official · wikipedia

Screenshots 2

Related

Mario series 23 games

Super Mario Bros. screenshot: pixel art, side-scrolling, black outlines, flat / unlit (environment)1985Super Mario Bros.Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels screenshot: pixel art, side-scrolling, black outlines, flat / unlit (environment, combat)1986Super Mario Bros.: The Lost LevelsSuper Mario Bros. 2 screenshot: pixel art, side-scrolling, black outlines, flat / unlit (environment)1988Super Mario Bros. 2Super Mario Bros. 3 screenshot: pixel art, side-scrolling, black outlines, flat / unlit (environment, combat)1988Super Mario Bros. 3Super Mario Land screenshot: pixel art, side-scrolling, black outlines, flat / unlit (environment)1989Super Mario LandSuper Mario World screenshot: pixel art, side-scrolling, three-quarter, black outlines, flat / unlit (environment)1990Super Mario WorldSuper Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins screenshot: pixel art, side-scrolling, black outlines, flat / unlit (environment)1992Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden CoinsSuper Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island screenshot: pixel art, hand-drawn, side-scrolling, black outlines, hatching (environment)1995Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's IslandSuper Mario 64 screenshot: low-poly, third-person, no outlines, soft gradient (environment, character)1996Super Mario 64Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 screenshot: pixel art, side-scrolling, three-quarter, black outlines, flat / unlit (environment, character)2001Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2Super Mario Sunshine screenshot: stylized 3d, third-person, no outlines, soft gradient (environment)2002Super Mario SunshineSuper Mario Galaxy screenshot: stylized 3d, third-person, no outlines, soft gradient (environment)2007Super Mario GalaxyNew Super Mario Bros. Wii screenshot: stylized 3d, side-scrolling, three-quarter, no outlines, soft gradient (environment, combat)2009New Super Mario Bros. WiiSuper Mario Galaxy 2 screenshot: stylized 3d, third-person, no outlines, soft gradient (environment, character, combat)2010Super Mario Galaxy 2New Super Mario Bros. 2 screenshot: stylized 3d, side-scrolling, no outlines, soft gradient (environment)2012New Super Mario Bros. 2New Super Mario Bros. U screenshot: stylized 3d, side-scrolling, no outlines, soft gradient (environment, combat)2012New Super Mario Bros. USuper Mario 3D World screenshot: stylized 3d, third-person, three-quarter, no outlines, soft gradient (environment, combat)2013Super Mario 3D WorldSuper Mario Odyssey screenshot: stylized 3d, third-person, no outlines, soft gradient (environment, character)2017Super Mario OdysseyNew Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe screenshot: stylized 3d, painterly, side-scrolling, no outlines, soft gradient (environment)2019New Super Mario Bros. U DeluxeSuper Mario Maker 2 screenshot: pixel art, stylized 3d, side-scrolling, flat / unlit (environment)2019Super Mario Maker 2Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury screenshot: stylized 3d, third-person, three-quarter, no outlines, soft gradient (environment, character)2021Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's FurySuper Mario Bros. Wonder screenshot: stylized 3d, side-scrolling, no outlines, soft gradient (environment, character)2023Super Mario Bros. WonderSuper Mario Galaxy 2 (Nintendo Switch) screenshot: stylized 3d, third-person, no outlines, soft gradient (environment, character)2025Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Nintendo Switch)

How the Mario art style changed over time →

Similar art style

Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels screenshot: pixel art, side-scrolling, black outlines, flat / unlit (environment, combat)
Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels
Pixel art · 2D · 1986
Super Mario Bros. 2 screenshot: pixel art, side-scrolling, black outlines, flat / unlit (environment)
Super Mario Bros. 2
Pixel art · 2D · 1988
Super Mario Bros. 3 screenshot: pixel art, side-scrolling, black outlines, flat / unlit (environment, combat)
Super Mario Bros. 3
Pixel art · 2D · 1988
Dragon Warrior III (NES) screenshot: pixel art, three-quarter, black outlines, flat / unlit (environment)
Dragon Warrior III (NES)
Pixel art · 2D · 1988
Shovel Knight screenshot: pixel art, side-scrolling, black outlines, flat / unlit (environment)
Shovel Knight
Pixel art · 2D · 2014
Furi Demake - The Chain screenshot: pixel art, side-scrolling, black outlines, flat / unlit (combat)
Furi Demake - The Chain
Pixel art · 2D · 2023
Super Mario Land screenshot: pixel art, side-scrolling, black outlines, flat / unlit (environment)
Super Mario Land
Pixel art · 2D · 1989
Super Mario World screenshot: pixel art, side-scrolling, three-quarter, black outlines, flat / unlit (environment)
Super Mario World
Pixel art · 2D · 1990