Super Mario

Super Mario

game

1985, Platform, Adventure

WISE
82%

WISE Score

84%

IGDB

The OG platformer that started it all—pure, frustrating, pixelated perfection from 1985.

Where to Play

Nintendo
Nintendo
Screenwise Verdict

This is the game that launched a thousand childhoods—and for good reason. It's pure, challenging, and completely safe. No ads, no chat, no nonsense.

That said, let's be real: the original 1985 Super Mario Bros. is hard by modern standards, and the graphics are museum-quality ancient. Kids raised on Fortnite and Minecraft may bounce off the pixelated aesthetic and unforgiving difficulty. If your kid has never touched a controller, this might not be the entry point—newer Mario games are more forgiving and visually appealing.

But if they stick with it? They'll learn genuine persistence, pattern recognition, and the satisfaction of mastering something difficult. It's a masterclass in game design that still holds up mechanically, even if it looks like it was rendered on a potato.

Bottom line: A perfect game for its era, still great today if your kid can handle the retro vibe and challenge. If not, start with Mario Odyssey or Wonder and work backwards.

Age Fit

Best for ages 5-12, though the original NES version skews older (7+) due to difficulty. Younger kids can enjoy it with help, but modern Mario titles like Odyssey or Wonder are more accessible. Adults still love it for nostalgia.

WISE Breakdown
Wholesome
92

Pure, straightforward gameplay with no mean-spirited content. Mario's quest to rescue Princess Peach is classic hero stuff—no cynicism, no edge, just a plumber jumping on turtles. The only 'violence' is cartoonish bopping of enemies that poof into nothing. Models persistence and courage without any toxic elements.

Imaginative
88

Revolutionary for 1985—side-scrolling worlds with hidden blocks, warp pipes, and secret areas rewarded exploration and experimentation. The power-up system (mushrooms, fire flowers, stars) introduced creative problem-solving. While it doesn't offer open-ended creation like modern games, it sparked decades of imaginative play and is the blueprint that inspired countless platformers.

Safe
98

About as safe as games get. No online chat, no in-game purchases, no social features, no ads. The 'violence' is so mild it barely registers—you jump on cartoon enemies. No scary moments, no mature themes, nothing inappropriate. IGDB rating of 83.8 and universal E-for-Everyone ratings across the Mario franchise confirm this. The only minor knock: some levels can be frustrating for very young kids.

Enriching
75

Builds hand-eye coordination, timing, pattern recognition, and spatial reasoning. Teaches persistence through trial-and-error gameplay—you will die, you will restart, you will improve. Problem-solving comes from figuring out enemy patterns and level layouts. Not deeply educational in a traditional sense, but the skills are real. Loses points because it's fundamentally about mechanical mastery rather than storytelling or deeper themes.

Parent Info
✓

Why It Might Be Great

  • Zero inappropriate content—just a mustachioed plumber rescuing a princess by jumping on goombas
  • Teaches genuine persistence and problem-solving through old-school trial-and-error gameplay
  • Cultural touchstone that's shaped gaming for 40 years—kids recognize Mario even if they've never played
  • No microtransactions, no ads, no online toxicity—just you vs. the level
  • Hidden secrets and warp zones reward exploration and experimentation
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What to Watch For

  • The difficulty is real—no tutorials, no hand-holding, and kids used to modern checkpoints may rage-quit
  • Graphics are ancient by today's standards; some kids won't get past the 8-bit aesthetic
  • Can be genuinely frustrating for kids under 6 who lack the motor skills for precise jumping
  • The damsel-in-distress setup is dated, though it's so abstracted it barely registers as a story

Conversation Starters

  • "What's the hardest level you've beaten? Want to show me your strategy?"
  • "Why do you think Mario became so famous when there were other games back then?"
  • "If you could design a new power-up for Mario, what would it do?"
  • "How does it feel when you finally beat a level that's been stumping you?"

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