Super Mario Bros memes are the perfect way to celebrate a true gaming milestone: today is the 40th anniversary of Super Mario Bros., which came out on September 13th, 1985. Keep the nostalgia going with 8 Mario Bros. Easter Eggs To Impress Your Inner 10-Year-Old and our look at the Top 25 Best-Selling NES Games of All Time.
This roundup taps every corner of Mushroom Kingdom lore, from the “clouds and bushes are the same sprite” gag to the laws-of-physics-defying underwater fireballs, the banana peel dread of Mario Kart, and even an existential Game Over. It’s a 40-year victory lap of tiny details only lifelong players spot at a glance.
1. Clouds vs. Bushes: Same Sprite, Different Paint
Once you see that clouds and bushes share the same shape, you can’t unsee it.
2. Plumber By Trade, Gamer At Heart
Real-world pipes get the Mushroom Kingdom treatment.
3. Grocery Cart vs. Mario Kart
Adult you pushes straight. Kid you drifts every aisle like Rainbow Road.
4. Underwater Fireballs Logic
Physics class: failed. Boss fight: passed. Mario’s flames don’t care about water.
5. Pixel-Perfect Edge Save
If a single pixel of your boot touches ground, gravity politely waits.
6. Surprise Second Phase
Beat the final boss, cue the music, then… phase two says “mamma mia.”
7. Hours Without Saving
The instant your game crashes after a marathon grind is true character building.
8. Breaks Bricks, Loses To Turtles
Can headbutt stone, but one bump from a Koopa ends it all. Balance.
9. Banana Peel Sabotage
First place on the last lap is just an invitation for potassium-powered chaos.
10. “She’s Always In Another Castle” IRL
Street-level cosplay captures every Mario bro’s eternal heartbreak.
11. Power-Up? Aaaand It’s Gone
That block had your mushroom right up until the universe said “nope.”
12. Side Quests With The Villain
Saving Peach is hard when you keep golfing, karting, and picnicking with Bowser.
13. Ramsay Rates The Mushroom
“It’s so raw it told me the princess is in another castle!” Chef’s kiss.
14. Best By MAR10
Limited edition milk stamped with the most on-brand date in grocery history.
15. How To Avoid Work Stress
Step 1: Don’t go to work. Step 2: See Step 1.
16. Mario Through The Years
From 8-bit icon to HD hero, every era gets a power-up.
17. Adulthood In A Nutshell
“Nothing is real. There is only suffering.” Press A to cope.
18. Mario Lore Is… Complicated
Rescue mission by day, country club with Bowser by night.
19. What If Peach Chose Bowser?
Conspiracy Keanu asks the question the timeline can’t handle.
20. What Doesn’t Kill Me Makes Me Smaller
Nietzsche didn’t see the Super Mushroom coming.
21. Tea Time With Mario Kart 64
Settling household chores with Rainbow Road since 2001.
22. Work it, Mario.
No touching!
23. Don’t Look Down, Yoshi
Faith jump across a sea of Yoshis. Everything’s fine. Probably.
24. “Peaches, Peaches, Peaches”
Grocery store sign goes full Bowser ballad.
25. “That’s Him, Dad!”
TMNT outing goes sideways when they spot the plumber.
26. Pop Quiz: Rideable Sidekick
I see what you did there.
27. Sorry For What I Said During Mario Kart
Some friendships require apology cake and 150cc.
28. “I Prefer The Real Mario”
From pixels to live action, perfection is in the eye of the player.
More Retro Gaming Nostalgia
- This Super Nintendo Unboxing Video Will Transport You Back to 1991 – You can practically smell that brand new NES getting unboxed.
- 10 Most Valuable NES Games That Collectors Pay Big Money For – NES holy grails and why they’re so valuable to collectors.
- 30 Best-Selling Video Game Consoles of All Time – Check out where your favorite consoles rank.
