Super Mario Bros. and the NES Revival

What happened

By the mid-1980s the American home video game market had collapsed. In 1985 Nintendo, led by designer Shigeru Miyamoto, released Super Mario Bros. on its Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). Its colorful worlds and tight controls made it a phenomenon and the best-selling game of its era.

Why it matters

Super Mario Bros. and the NES revived a crashed industry, made Nintendo a giant, and turned Mario into the most famous character in gaming.

Sources

• The Strong National Museum of Play. Super Mario Bros. · Reputable source