Wario

A greedy, muscular anti-hero and rival to Mario, created by Nintendo and debuting as a main antagonist before starring in his own series.

Action

Strategy

Sports

Driving

Puzzle

71

Games

1993–2023

Years

33

Platforms

$55.73

Ø CIB

-7.1%

24M change

About

Wario was designed by Hiroji Kiyotake and first appeared as the final boss in Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins. He transitioned to a protagonist in Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3, establishing his own successful spin-off franchise. He is defined by his yellow-and-purple outfit, exaggerated mustache, and obsession with treasure.

Following his debut, the character featured in Mario & Wario (1993) and its specialized Mario & Wario [Mouse Set] (1993) bundle, a Super Famicom puzzle game where he obstructs the player's vision. He quickly transitioned to a playable lead in Super Mario Land 3: Wario Land (1994), also distributed under titles such as Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 (1994), Wario Land Super Mario Land 3 (1994), Wario Land Super Mario Land 3 [Player's Choice] (1994), and the promotional Wario Land Super Mario Land 3 [Not For Resale] (1994). This title established his unique physics, emphasizing brute force and physical attacks over traditional jumping mechanics.

In the same era, he crossed over with the Bomberman franchise in Wario Blast (1994) for the Game Boy. Over the subsequent decades, his presence expanded through the WarioWare series, which introduced a distinct, comedic art style and rapid-fire microgame format. He remains a staple in Nintendo's ensemble roster, appearing regularly in multiplayer sports, racing, and fighting titles.