Super Mario Bros. 3

Download Super Mario Bros. 3 and experience the legendary platformer that defined a generation! Explore vibrant worlds, defeat Bowser's minions, and save the Mushroom Kingdom. Rediscover the magic of Mario and play now!
a game by Nintendo
Genres: Action, Platformer
Platforms: GBA (1998), NESNES
Mode Single-player, Multiplayer
Setting Mushroom World
Gameplay Side-scrolling platformer with power-ups, hidden secrets, and level variety
Playable Characters Mario, Luigi (in multiplayer mode)
Graphics 2D sprite-based graphics
Editor Rating: 8.2/10, based on 6 reviews, 5 reviews are shown
User Rating: 7.1/10 - 131 votes
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See also: High Score Games, Retro Games, Mario Games, Speedrun Games, Super Mario Games, Super Mario Bros. Games
Super Mario Bros. 3
Super Mario Bros. 3
Super Mario Bros. 3

Encore!

The indomitable brothers, Mario and Luigi are back with their hopping antics in the second sequel to one of the most spellbinding video games in the world, Super Mario Bros. 3.

An Odyssey Through Eight Worlds

In "Super Mario Bros. 3", Mario and Luigi are faced with the ultimate challenge of venturing into eight new worlds with more than 80 areas to save Princess Peach from the evil hands of the sorcerer Kuppa King. Each world has a ruler who has been transformed by a magic spell into some creature or another.

Only the magic wand possessed by the fierce, gargantuan guardian at the end of each world can restore each ruler back to his original human form. It is up to Mario or Luigi to wrest this magic wand from the wild and savage guard to bring normalcy back to each world.

A Snapshot of the Eight Worlds

The first world is the Grass Land with its lush, green terrain. The ruler has been changed by sorcery into a humble dog. Mario and Luigi have to comb eight areas to retrieve the magic wand.

The second world is Desert Hill, replete with swaying date palms, pyramids, and the beat of jungle drums. The brothers have to fend off fireball-spitting piranha plants, the menacing killer sun, and flying boomerangs whizzing overhead. The ruler of Desert Hill has been turned into an ugly spider. There are nine areas in this world.

The third world is a watery adventure in Ocean Side, where the brothers are surrounded by deadly Spiny's Eggs, poison-spitting Lotus flowers, and lurking hungry giant fishes. Mario and Luigi must clear the course of its obstacles before the ruler can change back from a slimy, old toad to his royal highness. There are 11 areas of difficulty to cover.

Everything is double its size in Big Island, the fourth world. Here, Mario and Luigi have to survive against the deadly jaws of greedy carnivorous plants, Spiny's Eggs, coral reefs, and the hammer-wielding Hammer Brothers. The royal ruler has been transformed into a hideous reptile by black magic. Mario and Luigi will have to journey through eight areas before reaching the ship which houses the guarded magic wand.

In the fifth world, Mario and Luigi are transported into The Sky. They have to venture through 11 different areas, as they make a tortuous climb along a zig-zagging bridge of bricks to the heavens. Hopping, skipping, and jumping over moats of bubbling molten lava, the brothers once more show their prowess against voracious piranha plants and flying turtles. With the aid of staircasing drifting logs, the brothers are able to escape from their adversaries. The ruler of The Sky has been changed into a bird.

The sixth world, Iced Land, has a ruler who has been transformed by the Kuppa King into a seal. In order to break the spell, Mario and Luigi have to journey through 13 areas of freezing temperatures, hopping over blocks of ice, and "moonwalking" over slippery grounds. With the help of a frog suit, they are able to escape from their aquatic enemies.

The seventh world is the Pipe Maze, a convolution of pipes of every imaginable shape and size. Lurking in the pipes are the much-dreaded piranha plants, snapping their razor-sharp teeth in unison. The mighty ruler of this world has been turned into a piranha plant himself. The brothers must endure the 12 most difficult areas in this game in seeking the magic wand. By hopping on the box marked with an arrow, Mario or Luigi can maneuver the box to move in the direction he pleases to avert the advances of the pesky enemies. There are also blocks with musical notes that serve as spring boards for quick escape.

The eighth world is the Kuppa Castle where the brothers are besieged with tanks, cannons, and boomerangs. Princess Peach is only within an arm's reach to safety, so the Mario brothers cannot fail her now. While evading the laser-emitting gargoyles in the dank and dark dungeon, Mario and Luigi have to duck from the ghosts in hot pursuit. And then there are the blowtorches, and the moats of molten lava along the way. After going through 10 areas of wits versus weaponry, Mario and Luigi finally come face to face with the fireball-breathing Kuppa King. He is a nasty giant of a king with a disposition to match. A fierce battle ensues, and the Mario brothers are victorious. Princess Peach is saved. The curtain falls.

Touches of a Super Game

There are some new characters to the line of original enemies who try to make the brothers' life miserable as they journey through a maze of obstacles. The music and sound effects of this game set a mood for each world, from a honky-tonk beat to eerie, suspenseful music. The Super Mario Bros. 3 gamepak is equipped with a map screen for each world that shows which areas one must complete before eliminating the Kuppa guardian who is holding the magic wand. Along the way the brothers will find bonus rooms which give extra lives and items to use. On the map screen there is an item sub screen. Mario and Luigi can hold many items like mushrooms, flowers, stars, leaves, and other power-ups that they can use before the level has started so survival will be easier against these enemies. Not only can Mario and Luigi run and jump, they can also fly with the leaf that transforms them into raccoons. By flying high in the sky they can find secret pipes and power-ups. All these nice options help the brothers complete their quest to defeat the Kuppa King. This game is not for amateurs, but it is for all adventurers. Are you ready for the ultimate challenge of Super Mario Bros. 3?

ProTip: Drop into this bonus room for corns, extra lives, etc.

Download Super Mario Bros. 3

GBA

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
NES

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
  • P-200, 32 MB RAM

Game Reviews

Long considered a masterpiece in the world of platforming games, Super Mario Bros. 3 is one of the finest gaming experiences you can have. Simple to play, but enormously imaginative at the same time, this titan of classic Nintendo games deserves all the praise it gets. Presenting players with 90 levels, spread across eight unique worlds, you'll run through an assortment of expertly designed stages on your quest to save Princess Peach. Playable either alone or with a friend, Super Mario Bros. 3 is a title that every gamer should play.

Main Game Features

  • 90 levels of awesome platforming
  • Unique power-ups that change the game
  • Single-player and two-player options

Story

Super Mario Bros. 3 tells a familiar tale, with the Mushroom Kingdom overtaken by the evil Bowser, who has kidnapped the royal Princess Peach. This is the exact same setup as the original Super Mario Bros., but it's a classic story that works well at pushing players from stage to stage. However, there's a small twist this time, as Bowser has sent his mischievous children to put a stranglehold on each land. Across the Mushroom Kingdom's eight worlds, a different Koopaling child has taken power by stealing the magic wands from the world's respective kings, which they use to transform the royal leaders into animals.

Although the story is one that we've seen many times before, there's a very charming aspect to Super Mario Bros. 3 that's hard to deny. It's consistently happy and fun, except when you reach some more ominous stages, but by that time you'll be fully invested. The introduction of the seven Koopaling kids helps expand the list of characters, adding a bit of diversity to the cast. Even though it's very basic, the narrative of Super Mario Bros. 3 is one that's unforgettable and helped shape the games we know today.

Gameplay

Of course, the gameplay is where Super Mario Bros. 3 earns its reputation, combining wonderful platforming gameplay with cool power-ups and levels. Unlike in previous games like Super Mario Bros. 2, the game starts on an overworld screen, where players can see all available levels along the path to the end. There are eight different worlds to explore, with players starting in Grass World before moving to Desert World, Sky World, Ice World, and more. Each world has unique gameplay elements to consider, such as slippery floors, disappearing platforms, and sinking sand pits.

There are also mini-games that pop up along the path, giving players an opportunity to earn power-ups for use later on. You'll need as many power-ups as you can find, as each world ends with a massive boss fight on a floating ship. There are loads of upgrades to find, including the Super Mushroom and Fire Flower, as well as new power-ups like the Tanooki Suit that allows Mario to fly. Best of all, you can enjoy this magical adventure with a friend through two-player mode, which lets players take turns attempting to clear each level.

Conclusion

There are some games that transcend time and remain as fun now as they were decades ago, and Super Mario Bros. 3 is a shining example of that. Although the story is bare-bones and the concept is extraordinarily straightforward, the game is tons of fun to play and never grows old. It's even better when you bring a friend along, especially one who can help you clear the harder stages if you're having trouble.

10

Although there are a few problems here and there, Super Mario Bros. 3 is a nearly perfect game and one that we can play forever and never grow bored.

Pros

  • Timeless gameplay that feels perfect
  • Lots of variety in world design
  • Power-ups are fun to use

Cons

  • Might be hard for new players
  • Repeated boss designs
  • Manufacturer: Nintendo
  • Machine: NES

Andy Mitchell of Roseville, California, has come up with a great find. To make Mario (or Luigi) invisible, you must first get to World 3-9, then make your way to the second pipe (the first one going down). Once at the second pipe, you will notice a white block. Go to the block and kneel. After approximately five seconds, you'll fall through and end up behind the scenery. When you run quickly to the pipe and go down, if you're still behind the background, you'll become invisible. Notice the bubbles in the picture - that's where Mario is. Thanks for the hint, Andy.

Note: The bullets can still kill you when you're running to the pipe, and you'll become visible again once you exit the water area.

International Outlook

It's currently the number one game in Japan, and judging by the way it's selling, it's going to stay on top for quite a while! The game? None other than Super Mario Bros. 3!

Both Mario and Luigi are back, as are their arch enemies - the Kuppas. This time though, besides kidnapping the Princess, the Kuppas have used their new magical powers to turn the kings of each of the eight worlds into animals and insects. It's up to the dynamic duo (namely Mario and Luigi) to restore each of the kings to his original human shape. This can only be done by finding the magical wand which controls the spell over each king. Unfortunately, the wand is held by the guardian Kuppa on each world. Our heroes have to travel through the dozen or so areas in each world to get to the moving pirate ship where the Kuppa is hiding. Then, after defeating the Kuppa, the wand can be returned to the king who gets turned back into his original form. Do this in each of the first seven worlds and it's on to the Boss Kuppa. Destroy him and the Princess is safe once again!

Like the original Super Mario Bros. game, Super Mario 3 has eight different worlds. Each world can, however, have up to a dozen different areas. To help you along there is a map of the world with the paths to and from the various areas. The first world, for example, is called the Grass Land. Here Mario and Luigi travel through unfriendly terrain loaded with relatives of the old Goombas, various versions of the old turtles, and plenty of new characters as well!

The second world, called Desert Hill, has lots of sand, pyramids, and palm trees. The familiar Mario-eating piranha plants are back, but with a new twist! Some shoot fireballs at Mario!

World three is Ocean Side and, like the ocean, there are tides which rise and fall. When the water is low, Mario can proceed as normal, but when the tides rise the land is overtaken by the ocean! Mario can continue running and jumping, but his progress is hindered by the waves. That's just part of his problem, however, because waiting in the waters are giant man-eating fish who think Mario would be the perfect meal!

World four is called Big Island and here everything is HUGE! Each block is the size of four normal blocks and the turtles are gigantic!

World five is The Sky and you must jump carefully from moving block to moving block while the screen scrolls from right to left.

World six is Ice Land and the going gets very hard when you discover that everything is coated with ice! Traction is difficult and stopping is even harder!

World seven is the Pipe Maze and it's in one pipe and out the other - bringing you to a new location. Find the right pattern and you'll make it to the end.

Make it to world eight - the Kuppa Castle - and they have the heavy artillery waiting. You must run over giant tanks bristling with cannons while staying away from the land mines which have a tendancy of blowing up in your face! Survive the gauntlet and it's head to head with the fire-breathing Kuppa king!

  • POWER-UP - As in the original, Mario starts off small. Get a mushroom and you become Super, get a flower and you're Fiery Mario. Now you can become a frog to swim, raccoon to fly and break bricks with your tail, or bear!
  • BONUS SQUARE - At the end of each area there is a rotating bonus square. By jumping up and hitting the square it will stop rotating and award you the card shown. Mario can get bonus lives by matching three cards in order.
  • FACE GAME - The face game is a slot machine type of contest that requires precise timing. Stop the different sections of the Mushroom face, Star face, and Flower face to get lUp awards of up to five free Marios!
  • TREASURE ROOM - Find the treasure chest room and you will discover three closed chests. Pick one and a special power-up item will appear and be added to Mario's inventory (which can be selected before starting a round).
  • CARD GAME - At certain intervals throughout the game, a special card matching room will appear. Eighteen cards are turned face down. Match two and you get what's underneath (lUps, Coins, Flower Power, etc.)
  • SAVE THE KING! - You did it! The magic wand has been returned to the palace and the king is there (with Toad), to give thanks for a job well done! Now it's off to the next world to battle even tougher Kuppas!

The long-awaited sequel and latest chapter in the Super Mario saga continues the running/jumping/block-breaking of the Italian duo of Mario and Luigi. In this expanded update, you control a new Super Mario who must explore rounds of play that are scattered across landscapes. Claim areas and fight for control by playing a derivitive of Mario Bros.! New power-up items, special costumes that broaden Mario and Luigi's actions, and even nastier enemies make this the most challenging Super Mario yet.

People say:

9.0

Super Mario Bros. 3 is the largest, most detailed, graphically superb, audio enhanced, three-meg masterpiece loaded with perfect power-ups and extraordinary execution, most fun-to-play game I've seen on the Nintendo. This is one of the few games that comes close to a perfect "10" rating!

8.0

Nintendo has done the impossible. They have created a game as close to perfection as you can get. Take the best from SMB, add the changing personalities of SMB 2, and beef it up with 3 meg of power, hundreds of secrets, and hidden items, and you get the best game ever made for the NES!

9.0

Super Mario Bros. 3 is awesome! It has so much to do and so many things to see, that it's hard to believe how they did it! Mario must now find new secrets while using power-up suits that allow him to change shapes in order to swim, fly, and do more! One of the best Nintendo games ever made!

8.0

This is the best Nintendo game ever made. All new worlds, filled with multiple stages to conquer, huge scrolling graphics, challenging new opponents, and hidden items everywhere along the way combine to make SMB 3 a thrilling game with near 16-Bit looks! You have to see it to believe it!

Snapshots and Media

NES/Famicom/Dendy Screenshots

GBA Screenshots

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    Sean Kalifut said on Forum:

    Ah! My kingdom for Super Mario 3! I know a lot of people are drooling over the new Mario Galaxy, but you just cannot beat the simple yet fantastic gameplay, music, and past complexity of a Mario game that changed the way most action games were made. Next to the original Mario and Nintendo console this game was one of the highest selling video games of the 8-bit era. Now it is finally here on dotnes.com! Dreams do come true!