If you grew up with the original NES, Bowser was a pixelated turtle-dragon who breathed fire and lived at the end of a bridge. He was a one-dimensional obstacle. Today? Bowser is a father (shoutout to Bowser Jr.), a romantic lead (however misguided), a kart racer, a golf enthusiast, and occasionally, Mario’s reluctant business partner.

The reason kids are rooting for him isn't that they want to be "evil." It's that Bowser represents agency. In a world where kids are told what to eat, when to sleep, and how to sit in a classroom, there is something deeply cathartic about a 2,000-pound spike-shelled monster who just does whatever he wants. He’s the physical embodiment of a toddler’s tantrum, but with a much cooler soundtrack.

Ask our chatbot about the best Mario games for your child's age

We’re seeing a massive shift in how kids consume media. The "perfect hero" like Mario can sometimes feel a bit... mid. He’s nice, he jumps, he saves the day. But Bowser? Bowser has personality.

If your kid is obsessed, don't just let them fall down a YouTube rabbit hole of weird fan-made Bowser animations (some of those get "Ohio" levels of weird very fast). Instead, steer them toward these high-quality experiences:

This is arguably the best modern Mario game. Without spoiling too much, the final sequence allows the player to actually become Bowser in a way that feels incredibly satisfying. It’s creative, polished, and lacks any of the predatory monetization found in mobile clones.

"Bowser's Fury" is a standalone mode that feels like a Kaiju movie. Bowser becomes "Giga Bowser"—a massive, ink-covered version of himself. It can be a little intense for very young kids (the music gets heavy and the sky turns dark), but for the 7-10 age range, it’s pure adrenaline.

If you want your child to engage with actual storytelling and reading, the Paper Mario series is the way to go. Bowser is often a comic-relief character here, and the dialogue is genuinely sharp and funny. It’s a great "bridge" game for kids moving from action to RPGs.

Bowser is a "Heavy" class racer. Using him teaches kids about the trade-offs in game design: he has a slow start (acceleration) but a high top speed. It’s a tiny, stealthy lesson in physics and strategy.

Learn more about the benefits of strategy games

Is Bowser too scary? Generally, no. Nintendo is the Pixar of gaming; they know exactly where the line is. However, the 2023 Super Mario Bros. Movie version of Bowser is a bit more menacing than the one in Mario Party. He threatens people with death by lava and has a bit of an obsessive streak regarding Princess Peach.

If you have a particularly sensitive 4 or 5-year-old, "Giga Bowser" in Bowser's Fury might cause a few "don't turn the lights off" moments. But for the most part, Bowser is the "safe" way for kids to explore the concept of a villain.

Instead of just rolling your eyes when they sing "Peaches" for the 400th time, use Bowser to talk about some real-world stuff:

Q: Is the Mario Movie appropriate for a 5-year-old?

Yes, mostly. The Super Mario Bros. Movie is rated PG for "action and mild peril." Bowser’s scenes can be a bit loud and fire-heavy, but it’s balanced with a lot of humor. Most 5-year-olds handle it fine, though some might find the "Dark Lands" scenes a bit spooky.

Q: Why is my kid calling everything "Bowser-level" or "Big Bowser"?

In current kid-slang, "Bowser" is sometimes synonymous with being "big," "bossy," or "powerful." If they’re saying someone has "Bowser energy," they usually mean that person is being loud, dominant, or perhaps a bit of a show-off. It’s better than being called "Skibidi," trust me.

Q: Are there Bowser games on the iPad?

Not officially. Nintendo keeps its big characters on the Switch. If you see a "Bowser" game on the App Store, it’s almost certainly a knock-off filled with ads and potentially "brain rot" content. Stick to the official console games or the Nintendo website for safe activities.

Bowser is the rare villain that manages to be iconic without being toxic. He’s a gateway into understanding that characters—and people—can be more than one thing. He’s a bad guy, but he’s a great dad. He’s a monster, but he’s a romantic. He’s a loser, but he never quits.

As we gear up for the new movie next month, embrace the Koopa King. He’s a lot more interesting than the plumber, and he’s providing a much-needed outlet for our kids to be a little bit loud, a little bit "scary," and a whole lot of fun.