Save file · Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario Bros.
First release on record 1985 · 2D platform
Super Mario Bros. is a 2D platform game published by Nintendo. Nintendo's US Super Mario history lists it for the Nintendo Entertainment System on 13 September 1985. Players control Mario or Luigi through caves, castles and pipes to reach Bowser and rescue Princess Peach. The title is not sold as its own download on current Nintendo US or UK stores. On Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 it is included in Nintendo Entertainment System – Nintendo Classics, which requires a paid Nintendo Switch Online membership. In the United States an individual membership is $19.99 per year or $3.99 per month. Nintendo says there are no plans to sell those classic games individually. ESRB rates Super Mario Bros. E for Everyone with no descriptors. Nintendo UK lists it as PEGI 3. It is a one-player game or a two-player game in which players take turns.
Researched from the official pages · Updated
| First release | 13 September 1985, Nintendo Entertainment System |
|---|---|
| Current digital path | NES – Nintendo Classics on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, via Nintendo Switch Online (app dated 18 September 2018) |
| Publisher | Nintendo |
| Price (US) | Not sold separately; Nintendo Switch Online Individual $3.99/month or $19.99/year, Family $34.99/year for up to 8 accounts · checked 29 Oct 2026 |
| Modes | 1–2 players, alternating turns; friends-only online on Nintendo Classics |
| Age rating | ESRB E (no descriptors); PEGI 3; USK 0 on Wii and Game Boy Advance listings |
| NES Classics size | 153 MB on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 |
| PC needs | No official PC release |
Where can you play Super Mario Bros. now?
On Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, Super Mario Bros. is one of the NES titles inside Nintendo Entertainment System – Nintendo Classics. That app is a Nintendo Switch Online benefit, not a standalone eShop purchase. Nintendo's US store dates the app to 18 September 2018, lists a 153 MB download on both Switch and Switch 2, and marks it as supported on Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo UK still lists older Virtual Console copies: Wii on 5 January 2007, Nintendo 3DS on 1 March 2012, and Wii U on 12 September 2013. The same UK page states that purchases in Nintendo eShop for Wii U and the Nintendo 3DS family ended on 27 March 2023. Super Mario Bros. is also one of 30 games built into Nintendo Classic Mini: Nintendo Entertainment System, which Nintendo UK reported as out on 11 November 2016, and it is included on the Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. handheld, which Nintendo UK reported as out on 13 November 2020. Super Mario All-Stars, which contains Super Mario Bros. with three other Mario games, is in the Super NES – Nintendo Classics library whose US store page is dated 5 September 2019.
How much does Super Mario Bros. cost on Nintendo Switch?
There is no separate US dollar price for Super Mario Bros. on the Nintendo US store. Access is through Nintendo Switch Online. Nintendo lists an individual membership at $19.99 per year for one Nintendo Account and a family membership at $34.99 per year for up to eight accounts. Nintendo Support also lists a 1-month individual plan at $3.99 and a 3-month individual plan at $7.99 in the United States. The NES, Super NES and Game Boy Nintendo Classics libraries come with that standard membership. Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack costs $49.99 per year for one account or $79.99 for a family of up to eight and adds Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, SEGA Genesis, Virtual Boy and GameCube libraries; those extra libraries are not required to play Super Mario Bros. Membership auto-renews unless cancelled. Nintendo's Classics FAQ states there are no plans to sell the classic games individually.
Can two people play, and is there online or crossplay?
Super Mario Bros. is a one- or two-player game. Nintendo UK describes the multiplayer mode as alternating, with a player count of 1–2. On Nintendo Classics, Nintendo says you can select a 1- or 2-player mode, play together on one console, compete or cooperate online with friends, share a screen, or pass the controller, and that in single-player games friends can take turns. Online play in these collections is with friends only; the FAQ says the games do not matchmake with random players. When playing online, each Switch or Switch 2 system supports one player. The pages do not state crossplay with other brands or cross-progression to PC or phones. Optional wireless NES-style controllers are sold to Switch Online members and are not required. Nintendo Switch Online includes save data cloud for compatible games. Offline play is allowed for up to seven consecutive days, then the membership must be verified online. Rewind is available by holding ZL and ZR.
What age rating does Super Mario Bros. carry?
ESRB rates Super Mario Bros. E for Everyone, with no content descriptors and no interactive elements, on a Nintendo platform listing. Nintendo UK displays PEGI 3 for the NES, Wii, 3DS and Wii U listings. USK classified the Wii version with no age restriction on 4 October 2006, and the Game Boy Advance version the same way on 13 May 2004. The Nintendo Entertainment System – Nintendo Classics app that currently hosts the game on Switch carries a broader ESRB label of Mild Violence and Suggestive Themes, plus Users Interact, because that app is a multi-game library. Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. is separately rated E with Mild Cartoon Violence by ESRB, and PEGI 3 on the PEGI site, with PEGI noting occasional very mild violence.
How do All-Stars, the Game & Watch system and the NES Classic Mini change the original?
Super Mario All-Stars – 25th Anniversary Edition, launched across Europe on Wii from 3 December 2010, puts Super Mario Bros. on one disc with Super Mario Bros. 2, Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, plus a history booklet and an audio CD. Nintendo's UK announcement names Shigeru Miyamoto's team as the group that finished the original NES game in 1985. Super Mario All-Stars is also one of the titles in Super NES – Nintendo Classics, whose US store page is dated 5 September 2019. Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros., out 13 November 2020, is a handheld that includes NES Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels (originally released in Japan as Super Mario Bros. 2), Ball, and a digital clock with 35 animations. Nintendo UK documents extras the cartridge original did not keep after power-off: world select from the title screen, Infinite Mario lives, and a HARD mode. Nintendo Classic Mini: NES, out in the UK on 11 November 2016, includes Super Mario Bros. among 30 built-in games, with four suspend points per title and a 60 Hz HDMI picture.
Can you still buy the Wii, 3DS or Wii U downloads?
Nintendo UK still lists those Virtual Console editions, and it also states that from 27 March 2023 it is no longer possible to make purchases in Nintendo eShop for Wii U and the Nintendo 3DS family. The Wii listing is dated 5 January 2007, the 3DS listing 1 March 2012 at 38 blocks, and the Wii U listing 12 September 2013 at 34.88 MB. Nintendo notes that the Wii U Virtual Console copy is the US version of the game. Players who already bought the Wii Virtual Console version and transferred it to Wii U could buy the enhanced Wii U version at a reduced price; that path is historical. The current storefront path Nintendo still sells is the Switch Online Classics library, which Nintendo says is not a return of the Virtual Console banner.
Release dates by platform
| Platform | Date | Region | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Entertainment System | 13 Sep 1985 | Nintendo US history listing | Released |
| Nintendo Entertainment System – Nintendo Classics (Nintendo Switch / Switch 2) | 18 Sep 2018 | United States | Released |
| Wii Virtual Console | 05 Jan 2007 | Europe | Released |
| Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console | 01 Mar 2012 | Europe | Released |
| Wii U Virtual Console | 12 Sep 2013 | Europe | Released |
| Wii (Super Mario All-Stars – 25th Anniversary Edition) | 03 Dec 2010 | Europe | Released |
| Nintendo Classic Mini: Nintendo Entertainment System | 11 Nov 2016 | Europe | Released |
| Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. | 13 Nov 2020 | Europe | Released |
| Super Nintendo Entertainment System – Nintendo Classics (includes Super Mario All-Stars) | 05 Sep 2019 | United States | Released |
Prices and editions
| Store | Edition | Price | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Switch Online (US) | Individual membership, 1 month, includes NES – Nintendo Classics | $3.99 | 29 Oct 2026 |
| Nintendo Switch Online (US) | Individual membership, 3 months, includes NES – Nintendo Classics | $7.99 | 29 Oct 2026 |
| Nintendo Switch Online (US) | Individual membership, 12 months, includes NES – Nintendo Classics | $19.99 | 29 Oct 2026 |
| Nintendo Switch Online (US) | Family membership, 12 months, up to 8 Nintendo Accounts, includes NES – Nintendo Classics | $34.99 | 29 Oct 2026 |
| Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack (US) | Individual membership, 12 months (not required for Super Mario Bros.) | $49.99 | 29 Oct 2026 |
| Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack (US) | Family membership, 12 months, up to 8 Nintendo Accounts (not required for Super Mario Bros.) | $79.99 | 29 Oct 2026 |
Prices change often; each is the store's own price on the day shown.
Modes and features
| Feature | On record | Platforms |
|---|---|---|
| Single-player | Yes | Nintendo Entertainment System, Wii, Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Local multiplayer | 1–2 players, alternating turns | Nintendo Entertainment System, Wii, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Online multiplayer | 1–2 players with friends; screen share or pass the controller; no random matchmaking | Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Crossplay | Not stated on official pages | Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Cross-progression | Not stated on official pages | Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Controller support | Joy-Con and other compatible Switch controllers; optional NES-style wireless controllers for Nintendo Switch Online members; Wii Remote, Classic Controller, GameCube Controller, Wii U GamePad and Wii U Pro Controller on older Virtual Console listings | Nintendo Switch, Wii, Wii U |
| Cloud saves | Nintendo Switch Online includes save data cloud for compatible games | Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Offline play | Up to 7 consecutive days, then membership must be verified online | Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Rewind | Hold ZL + ZR | Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Supported languages (NES Classics app) | 13: American English, British English, French, Canadian French, Spanish, Latin American Spanish, German, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Korean | Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Supported languages (original listings) | English | Nintendo Entertainment System, Wii, Nintendo 3DS, Wii U |
| Steam Deck rating | Not applicable; no Steam release | — |
Age ratings
| Board | Rating | Content descriptors |
|---|---|---|
| ESRB | E | — |
| ESRB | E | Mild Cartoon Violence |
| PEGI | PEGI 3 | — |
| PEGI | PEGI 3 | Very mild violence |
| USK | USK 0 | No age restriction |
| USK | USK 0 | No age restriction |
FAQ
Do you need Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack for Super Mario Bros.?
No. Super Mario Bros. is in Nintendo Entertainment System – Nintendo Classics, which Nintendo includes with a standard Nintendo Switch Online membership.
Can you play the Switch version with no internet?
Yes, for up to seven consecutive days. After that the console must connect so Nintendo can verify the membership. An active membership is still required.
Is Super Mario Bros. on Steam or another PC store?
No official Steam, Epic, GOG or other PC store page was published by Nintendo for this game. Nintendo's current digital path is Nintendo Switch Online.
What happens to save data if the membership lapses?
Nintendo says classic games can only be opened by an account with an active membership, but save data stays on the console and is usable again after the membership is renewed.
How many languages does the original game use?
Nintendo UK lists English for the NES, Wii, 3DS and Wii U Super Mario Bros. listings. The NES – Nintendo Classics app on the US store lists 13 interface languages, and Nintendo's FAQ says available languages depend on the original game title.
Our take
If you already pay for Nintendo Switch Online, Super Mario Bros. is already in the NES – Nintendo Classics library on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. The Expansion Pack is not required for this title. Budget for a subscription that auto-renews, friends-only online play, and a seven-day offline window before the console must check the membership. Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. and Nintendo Classic Mini: NES are separate hardware products that include the 1985 game; they are older retail items, so availability depends on shops rather than a live eShop listing. Wii U and 3DS eShop purchases ended on 27 March 2023. Nintendo does not offer Super Mario Bros. on PC.
Best for: Nintendo Switch Online members who want the 1985 NES game without a separate purchase; households that want 1–2 player alternating platforming at ESRB E / PEGI 3; players who already own Switch or Switch 2 and will use the rest of the NES Classics library.
Not for: buyers who want a one-time Switch download with no subscription; PC players looking for Steam or another desktop store; players who want random online matchmaking or stated crossplay.
Which version: Nintendo Entertainment System – Nintendo Classics on Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2 with a standard Nintendo Switch Online membership
Built only from the official facts above. We don't review games we haven't played, and nothing here is paid.
Sources
- Nintendo read 29 Oct 2026
- Nintendo read 29 Oct 2026
- ESRB read 29 Oct 2026
- Nintendo read 29 Oct 2026
- Nintendo read 29 Oct 2026
- USK read 29 Oct 2026
- USK read 29 Oct 2026
- Nintendo read 29 Oct 2026
- Nintendo read 29 Oct 2026
- ESRB read 29 Oct 2026
- Nintendo read 29 Oct 2026
- Nintendo read 29 Oct 2026
- Nintendo read 29 Oct 2026
- Nintendo read 29 Oct 2026
- Nintendo read 29 Oct 2026
- PEGI read 29 Oct 2026
The record
Every line has its source and the day it was read- Dates on record
- 1985 Wikidata · read 26 Oct 2026
- Developer
- Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & DevelopmentWikidata · role not verified
- Publishers on record
- Nintendo Wikidata
- Genres
- 2D platform game Wikidata
- Modes
- multiplayer, single-player Wikidata
- Age ratings on record
- Wikidata
- Series
- Super Mario Wikidata
- Platforms on record
- SwitchWii U3DSNintendo Entertainment SystemGame Boy Advancearcade video game machineFamicom Disk SystemGame Boy ColorNintendo GameCubeGame & Watch seriesNEC PC-8800 seriesPlayChoice-10Super Nintendo Entertainment SystemWii on Wikidata · on Wikidata without a reference. A platform missing here is not proof it is absent.
Facts: Wikidata Q11168 (CC0), revision 2558952525, read 26 Oct 2026, researched by VGKami Games Research (VGK-WIKIDATA-CENTRE-20261028-V3d). Spotted a wrong fact? Tell us.