The game uses a side-scrolling stage structure with an overworld map for route selection. Each world includes standard stages, fortresses, and castles, and players advance by clearing nodes and unlocking new paths. Mario can use items such as the Super Leaf and Tanooki Suit to glide, fly, or transform, while jumping, stomping, and throwing are the core actions. Stages also include hidden areas, item inventories, minigames, airship battles, and a variety of environmental gimmicks.
Super Mario Bros. 3
Nintendo Entertainment SystemControls
These are the emulator defaults. You can remap them from the emulator menu.
Game-specific controls
Gameplay
Characters
Mario
The main protagonist who travels through the Mushroom World to rescue its kings and stop Bowser.
Luigi
Mario's brother and an alternate playable character.
Princess Peach
A central series character who supports the rescue-driven storyline.
Bowser
The main antagonist who commands the Koopalings and threatens the Mushroom Kingdom.
The Koopalings
The world bosses who guard different regions and challenge the player throughout the adventure.
Strategy
Learn the overworld routes and search carefully for hidden blocks, pipes, and secret stages. The Super Leaf is especially useful for bypassing hazards, while the Tanooki Suit offers reliable mobility and offense. In fortresses and castles, memorize enemy and trap patterns before advancing, and keep a spare power-up whenever possible to recover from mistakes.
Cheats
Hidden 1-Up Mushrooms and secret areas can be found in specific stages for extra lives and items.
Secret routes and flight-based shortcuts on the overworld can lead to hidden stages or skip certain normal stages.
Tips
Tips and tricks
- Keep a spare power-up if you can, so a single mistake does not break your momentum.
- In water stages, move in short controlled bursts and watch enemy patterns carefully.
- For hidden flight areas, build speed in open space before jumping and activating flight.
Comments
Before you play Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES) online
Use the NES edition
Super Mario Bros. 3 combines side-scrolling stages with a world map. This entry is the NES game, separate from the Super Mario All-Stars version and Super Mario Advance 4. Keep the same edition when restoring a player save.
Try a short stage first
Check movement, run, jump and Start in the player mapping. Practise jumping while holding run before relying on a longer leap. Use the save panel before leaving; clearing browser data can remove a device save.
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