Super Mario Bros. 3 is a side-scrolling platformer developed and published by Nintendo for the NES. Mario or Luigi travel eight themed worlds via an overworld map to rescue Princess Toadstool and the kings of the Mushroom World from Bowser and the Koopalings. It introduced power-ups like the Super Leaf (raccoon flight), Frog Suit, and Tanooki Suit, plus stored items and two-player alternating play.
How To Play Super Mario Bros. 3
Control
Action
D-Pad
Move; crouch; climb; navigate the world map
A Button
Jump
B Button
Run; throw fireballs; hold while running to build the P-meter and fly
Select
Use a stored item on the map
Start
Pause
About Super Mario Bros. 3
Release date
Famicom (JP): October 23, 1988 · NES (NA): February 1990 · NES (EU): August 29, 1991
Developer
Nintendo R&D4 (EAD)
Publisher
Nintendo
Platform
NES / Famicom; later Super NES (All-Stars) and other re-releases
Sheldon has spent over a decade immersed in retro gaming, from NES classics to arcade gems. He's deeply passionate about preserving gaming history and helping others rediscover these timeless titles. When he's not gaming, Shaun writes about the evolution of video games and their cultural impact.
