A platforming series created by
Nintendo, which stars a plumber named
Mario [マリオ] and his twin brother
Luigi [ルイージ]. Mario originally appeared as the protagonist in 1981's
Donkey Kong. The Mario franchise and the
Donkey Kong franchise remain strongly linked.
The franchise has spawned multiple spin-offs and side series, from board game-like party games to racing and sports games. In total, games from this franchise have sold more than 500 million copies worldwide.
The Mario series has also spawned spin-off series for some of its major characters, including
Luigi [ルイージ],
Wario [ワリオ], and
Yoshi [ヨッシー].