Super Mario Bros. 3

Nintendo Entertainment System
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Controls

These are the emulator defaults. You can remap them from the emulator menu.

PC Keyboard
Game Button
↑
UP
↓
DOWN
←
LEFT
→
RIGHT
Z
A
X
B
A
Y
S
X
Q
L
W
R
Enter
START
Shift
SELECT

Game-specific controls

No verified game-specific inputs or combos are available for this version yet.

Gameplay

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.

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

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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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