TIME Super MarioTIME Super Mario

Forty years ago, Super Mario jumped out of his debut role—he was the nameless carpenter “Jumpman” in the classic game Donkey Kong—and into a realm of his own with the 1985 release of Super Mario Bros. Video games have never been the same. In this spectacular new special edition, TIME follows Mario’s journey, featuring interviews with creator Shigeru Miyamoto, inside details of Mario's development and insights from video game experts. Mario's indisputable greatness and how he has inspired some of the most popular modern games is all laid bare. Plus: Film industry experts reveal why 2023’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie was such a success.