New Super Mario Bros.

Players control Mario or Luigi through side-scrolling stages, jumping over hazards, defeating enemies by stomping on them, and reaching the goal pole at the end of each level. The game emphasizes item use and movement tech, including Super Mushrooms, Fire Flowers, the Blue Shell power-up, triple jumps, and wall jumps. Stages feature hidden routes, secret exits, and collectible coins, while map progression opens up more areas and bonus content.

Mario

The main hero who travels through the Mushroom Kingdom to rescue Princess Peach.

Luigi

A playable character with a similar move set, often used as an alternate run.

Princess Peach

The kidnapped princess whose rescue drives the story.

Bowser

The recurring villain who masterminds the abduction plot.

Bowser Jr.

Bowser's son and a supporting antagonist who interferes throughout the journey.

Learn wall jumping and triple jumps early, as they make it much easier to cross gaps and reach hidden routes. Keep a power-up whenever possible, since being big or having fire attacks reduces the risk of losing progress. Watch for suspicious bricks, pipes, and upper paths, because many secrets are tied to alternate exits. If a stage is giving you trouble, stock up on extra lives before pushing forward.

Tips and tricks

• Try to stay powered up so one mistake does not end the run immediately.
• Use wall jumps and enemy bounces to reach ledges and shortcuts.
• Explore branching paths and hidden pipes for secret exits.