

The Mario and Luigi RPGs also evoke a clear unity between the two brothers their most powerful attacks come from their ability to work together. They work excellently as a duo in many Mario sports titles involving teaming up, like Mario Kart: Double Dash or Mario Tennis. In many ways, the Luigi’s Mansion games suggest that, despite their cowardice, Luigi can be quite an intuitive thinker, relying more on intellect than his brother, who often relies on instinct.ĭespite their differences, Mario and Luigi are particularly capable of working as a team. In these games, Luigi becomes an amateur ghost hunter to save his brother.

The Luigi’s Mansion series of games offer plenty of additional context for the character of Luigi. This characterization of Luigi is especially supported by the Mario & Luigi RPGs and the Luigi’s Mansion games, which both play into the idea of the ‘cowardly’ Luigi for laughs. If Mario is the main star, Luigi is often cast in a supporting role (at least, within the universe - Luigi certainly has a dedicated fan base in the real world).

If Mario is brave by default, Luigi needs to do a lot more to summon courage by comparison. Luigi's modern characterization positions him as an underdog living in their brother’s shadow. And no, the Super Mario Bros Super Show doesn't count. Many fans have already done the work in examining Mario and Luigi’s rich 40-year history to speculate on their true nature. Related: Every 3D Mario Platformer, RankedĪlthough many games in the mainline Super Mario series of platformers attempt to convey information about Mario and their brother Luigi, narrative consistency has never been the focus of the Mario franchise, leading to plenty of confusion about the brothers and their origins. Despite their plethora of appearances in some of the best games ever made and their fame as Nintendo’s mascots, the characterization and details surrounding Mario and Luigi are, at best, scarce and at worst, contradictory. Since their first named appearances in the classic arcade game Mario Bros, and the iconic NES platformer Super Mario Bros, Mario and his brother Luigi have made appearances as a sibling duo in hundreds of beloved titles by Nintendo.
