The Mario franchise is one of the largest and longest-running video game universes in history. Since Mario first appeared in the arcade era, Nintendo has introduced an enormous collection of heroes, villains, bosses, enemies, supporting characters, species, and one-off creatures.

Creating a truly complete list of every Mario character and enemy is difficult because the franchise extends far beyond the main Super Mario games. It includes series such as Mario Kart, Mario Party, Paper Mario, Mario & Luigi, Super Mario RPG, Luigi’s Mansion, Yoshi, Wario, Donkey Kong, sports games, television adaptations, comics, and other related media.

A literally complete franchise-wide catalog would contain thousands of entries. The following master list instead focuses on the major, recurring, and recognizable characters and enemies from the Mario universe.

Main Heroes, Friends, and Recurring Characters

Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Princess Daisy, Rosalina, Pauline, Toad, Toadette, Yoshi, Birdo, Nabbit, Cappy, Tiara, Prince Florian, Poplins, Sprixie Princesses, Luma, Baby Luma, Lubba, FLUDD, Plessie, Glydon, Talkatoo, Captain Toad, Toad Brigade, Yellow Toad, Blue Toad, Purple Toad, Green Toad, Red Toad, Yoshi Kid, Poochy, Baby Mario, Baby Luigi, Baby Peach, Baby Daisy, Baby Rosalina, Wario, Waluigi, Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Cranky Kong.

Mario and Luigi remain the central heroes of the franchise, while Peach, Daisy, Rosalina, Toad, Yoshi, and other allies regularly appear as playable or supporting characters.

Bowser and Major Villains

Bowser, Bowser Jr., Kamek, Kammy Koopa, King Boo, Wart, Tatanga, Wario, Foreman Spike, Shadow Mario, Cosmic Mario, Cosmic Luigi, Dry Bowser, Fury Bowser, Meowser.

Bowser is Mario’s most famous enemy and has served as the primary antagonist in dozens of games. However, Mario has also faced a wide variety of rival villains, supernatural threats, impostors, and alternate versions of familiar characters.

The Koopalings

Larry Koopa, Morton Koopa Jr., Wendy O. Koopa, Iggy Koopa, Roy Koopa, Lemmy Koopa, Ludwig von Koopa.

The seven Koopalings originally became prominent as Bowser’s commanders in Super Mario Bros. 3. They later returned as recurring bosses in numerous Mario games.

Major Mario Bosses

Boom Boom, Pom Pom, Reznor, Petey Piranha, King Bob-omb, Whomp King, Goomboss, Big Boo, Big Bully, Chief Chilly, Eyerok, Chill Bully, Wiggler, Mega Goomba, Mega Blooper, Mega Cheep-Cheep, Mega Unagi, Mega Mole, Monty Tank, Lakithunder, Mummipokey, Cheepskipper, King Kaliente, Dino Piranha, Tarantox, Megaleg, Topmaniac, Kamella, Major Burrows, Bouldergeist, Baron Brrr, Undergrunt Gunner, Bugaboom, Bonefin, Kingfin, Fiery Dino Piranha, Squizzard, Peewee Piranha, Gobblegut, Glamdozer, Sorbetti, Rollodillo, Prince Pikante, Digga-Leg, Megahammer, Boomsday Machine, Fiery Gobblegut, King Lakitu, Prince Bully, Hisstocrat, Motley Bossblob, King Ka-thunk.

Bosses are an important part of Mario’s identity. Some are giant versions of ordinary enemies, while others were created specifically to guard important areas or serve as major story opponents.

Classic Ground Enemies

Goomba, Galoomba, Goombrat, Goombud, Bone Goomba, Cat Goomba, Paragoomba, Micro Goomba, Mini Goomba, Grand Goomba, Mega Goomba, Shoe Goomba, Chuboomba.

Koopa Troopa, Koopa Paratroopa, Beach Koopa, Chargin’ Chuck, Amazing Flyin’ Hammer Brother, Hammer Bro, Fire Bro, Ice Bro, Boomerang Bro, Sledge Bro, Heavy Fire Bro, Heavy Hammer Bro, Sum Bro, Sumo Bro.

Buzzy Beetle, Para-Beetle, Spike Top, Bony Beetle, Spiny, Spiny Egg, Lakitu, Fishing Lakitu, Lakithunder.

Dry Bones, Parabones, Dry Bowser.

Bob-omb, Bob-omb Buddy, King Bob-omb.

Shy Guy, Snifit, Ninji, Beezo, Pidgit, Phanto, Pokey, Panser, Cobrat, Hoopster, Flurry, Porcupo, Autobomb, Albatoss.

Many of these enemies have existed for decades and continue to appear in modern Mario games.

Piranha Plant Family

Piranha Plant, Fire Piranha Plant, Venus Fire Trap, Jumping Piranha Plant, Nipper Plant, Ptooie, Muncher, Bone Piranha Plant, Frost Piranha, Prickly Piranha Plant, Piranha Creeper, Ink Piranha Plant, Dino Piranha, Fiery Dino Piranha, Petey Piranha, Peewee Piranha, Naval Piranha, Piranha Pest, Poison Piranha Plant, Putrid Piranha, Stalking Piranha Plant, Trottin’ Piranha Plant.

The Piranha Plant family has expanded dramatically over the years. Some varieties breathe fire, others move freely, and several have become full-scale bosses.

Bullet Bill Family

Bullet Bill, Banzai Bill, Bomber Bill, Bull’s-Eye Bill, Cat Bullet Bill, Missile Bill, King Bill, Torpedo Ted, Targeting Ted, Seeker Bullet Bill.

Bullet Bills are usually fired from cannons and travel through stages as moving hazards. Larger and more advanced variations have appeared throughout the franchise.

Boo and Ghost Enemies

Boo, Big Boo, King Boo, Peepa, Stretch, Boo Buddy, Boo Block, Block Boo, Bomb Boo, Balloon Boo, Fishin’ Boo, Circling Boo Buddies, Broozer, Polterpup, Eerie.

Boos are among Mario’s most recognizable supernatural enemies. King Boo later became especially important through the Luigi’s Mansion series.

Thwomp-Type Enemies

Thwomp, Big Thwomp, Thwimp, Whomp, Whomp King, Grindel, Spindel, Tox Box, Rhomp, Wallop, Ka-thunk, King Ka-thunk.

These heavy stone enemies usually attack by crushing Mario or blocking pathways.

Chain Chomps and Related Enemies

Chain Chomp, Big Chain Chomp, Chomp Shark, Unchained Chomp, Chain Chomplet.

Chain Chomps are aggressive ball-and-chain creatures known for lunging at nearby characters. Several different forms have appeared across the series.

Water Enemies

Cheep Cheep, Deep Cheep, Big Cheep Cheep, Boss Bass, Cheep Chomp, Rip Van Fish, Blurps, Porcupuffer, Spiny Cheep Cheep, Eep Cheep, Eep-Cheep, Bonefish, Fish Bone, Mecha-Cheep, Blooper, Blooper Baby, Blooper Nanny, Big Blooper, Gooper Blooper, Urchin, Mega Urchin, Unagi, Mega Unagi, Maw-Ray, Gringill, Big Gringill, Clampy, Sushi, Torpedo Ted, Huckit Crab, Crabber.

Underwater levels have introduced some of Mario’s most persistent hazards, including Cheep Cheeps, Bloopers, eels, mechanical fish, and large aquatic predators.

Flying Enemies

Para-Goomba, Koopa Paratroopa, Para-Beetle, Parabones, Swoop, Crowber, Stingby, Stingbie, Fly Guy, Para-Biddybud, Biddybud, Flaptor, Klepto, Condor, Albatoss.

Flying enemies add vertical movement and unpredictable attack patterns to Mario stages.

Lava and Fire Enemies

Lava Bubble, Podoboo, Fire Snake, Fire Chomp, Hot Foot, Blargg, Magmaargh, Magmaw, Lava Lotus, Flame Chomp, Fire Bro, Fire Piranha Plant, Charvaargh.

These enemies are commonly found in volcanoes, lava caves, castles, and other high-temperature environments.

Ice and Snow Enemies

Freezie, Ice Bro, Snow Pokey, Cooligan, Snowman, Flurry, Ty-foo, Foo, Ice Piranha Plant, Chill Bully.

Snow and ice stages often introduce enemies that freeze characters, slide across surfaces, or take advantage of slippery terrain.

Desert Enemies

Pokey, Mummipokey, Angry Sun, Tweester, Spindrift, Fire Snake, Sandmaargh.

Mario’s desert worlds typically feature cactus-like creatures, sand-based hazards, aggressive suns, and burrowing enemies.

Castle and Fortress Enemies

Thwomp, Thwimp, Dry Bones, Podoboo, Lava Bubble, Bowser Statue, Fire Bar, Grinder, Hot Foot, Roto-Disc, Spike, Rocky Wrench, Mechakoopa, Magikoopa.

Castle levels are traditionally among Mario’s most dangerous environments and frequently combine mechanical traps with Bowser’s toughest minions.

Mechanical Enemies

Mechakoopa, Blasta Mechakoopa, Zappa Mechakoopa, Rocky Wrench, Monty Mole, Monty Tank, Bullet Bill, Banzai Bill, King Bill, Topman, Spiky Topman, Spring Topman, Amp, Ball Beamer, Sentry Beam, Octoomba, Astro Goomba.

The Mario universe includes a surprising number of mechanical enemies, ranging from simple wind-up creatures to tanks, electrical machines, and automated defenses.

Super Mario 64-Era Enemies

Bully, Big Bully, Chill Bully, Mr. Blizzard, Mr. I, Scuttlebug, Skeeter, Heave Ho, Chuckya, Klepto, Ukiki, Spindrift, Snufit, Amp, Grindel, Spindel, Tox Box, Moneybags, Mad Piano, Bookend, Swooper, Dorrie, MIPS.

Super Mario 64 introduced Mario to fully three-dimensional platforming and brought with it a large collection of new creatures and hazards.

Super Mario Sunshine Enemies

Cataquack, Plungelo, Strollin’ Stu, Swipin’ Stu, Gooble, Blooper, Gooper Blooper, Electrokoopa, Snooza Koopa, Wind Spirit, Pokey Head, Pokey, Chain Chomp, Chain Chomplet, Phantamanta, Wiggler, Mecha-Bowser.

Super Mario Sunshine featured enemies designed around the tropical setting of Isle Delfino and the game’s pollution-based mechanics.

Super Mario Galaxy Enemies

Octoomba, Elite Octoomba, Jack O’Goomba, Electrogoomba, Flipbug, Mandibug, Spoing, Sprangler, Starbag, Slurple, Swaphopper, Topman, Spring Topman, Spiky Topman, Undergrunt, Crabber, Cluckboom, Jammyfish, Sentry Beam, Ball Beamer, Amp, Bomp, Cataquack, Tweester, Urchin, Gringill, Bonefin.

The Super Mario Galaxy games introduced enemies designed around gravity, spherical planets, space environments, and unusual movement systems.

Recurring enemies such as Boo, Bob-omb, Bullet Bill, Chain Chomp, Cheep Cheep, Dry Bones, Goomba, Koopa Troopa, and Piranha Plant also returned.

Super Mario 3D Land and Super Mario 3D World Enemies

Ant Trooper, Horned Ant Trooper, Biddybud, Para-Biddybud, Cat Goomba, Cat Bullet Bill, Conkdor, Piranha Creeper, Fuzzy, Fuzzler, Hop-Chop, Rammerhead, Ring Burner, Spiked Roller, Stingby, Ty-foo, Snow Pokey, Skipsqueak, Spiny Skipsqueak, Hisstocrat, Prince Bully, Motley Bossblob.

These games blended traditional 2D Mario mechanics with three-dimensional movement and introduced enemies designed around compact platforming challenges.

New Super Mario Bros. Enemies

Balloon Boo, Broozer, Crowber, Blockhopper, Cheep Chomp, Deep Cheep, Mega Cheep-Cheep, Mega Goomba, Mega Unagi, Snailicorn, Splunkin, Scaredy Rat, Prickly Goomba, River Piranha Plant.

The New Super Mario Bros. games also brought back many classic enemies, including Blooper, Bob-omb, Boo, Bullet Bill, Buzzy Beetle, Chain Chomp, Dry Bones, Goomba, Koopa Troopa, Lakitu, and Piranha Plant.

Super Mario Odyssey Enemies

Sherm, Pokio, Uproot, Tropical Wiggler, Gushen, Moe-Eye, Lava Bubble, Glydon, Jaxi, Bitefrost, Urban Stingby, Chincho, Burrbo, Mini Goomba, Paragoomba, Goomba, Bullet Bill, Banzai Bill, Chargin’ Chuck, Hammer Bro, Fire Bro, Bowser’s Minions.

Super Mario Odyssey made enemies particularly important because Cappy allows Mario to capture many creatures and use their abilities.

The Broodals

Topper, Hariet, Rango, Spewart, Madame Broode, Chain Chompikins.

The Broodals are a group of rabbit-like wedding planners who serve Bowser during the events of Super Mario Odyssey.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder Enemies

Goomba, Goombrat, Koopa Troopa, Koopa Paratroopa, Piranha Plant, Trottin’ Piranha Plant, Fire Piranha Plant, Fiery Note Piranha Plant, Bone Piranha Plant, Bullet Bill, Seeker Bullet Bill, Bull’s-Eye Bill, Buzzy Beetle, Bob-omb, Boo, Bone Goomba, Bulrush, Hoppycat, Big Hoppycat, Hoppo, Condart, Maw-Maw, Mumsie, Swirlypod, Snortoise, Blewbird, Bloomps, Gnawsher, Smogrin, Snootle, Shoomp, Baboom, Armad, Anglefish.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder expanded the enemy roster with creatures designed around the game’s Wonder Effects and its unusual Flower Kingdom environments.

Donkey Kong and Original Arcade Characters Connected to Mario

Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., Pauline, Mario, Jumpman, Stanley, Foreman Spike, Lady, Junior.

Mario’s history began in the arcade era, where several characters now associated with the broader Donkey Kong and Mario franchises first appeared.

Recurring Species and Groups

Toads, Yoshis, Lumas, Koopas, Goombas, Shy Guys, Boos, Bob-ombs, Piantas, Nokis, Sprixies, Poplins, Broodals, Tostarenans, Bonneters, Steam Gardeners, Shiverians, New Donkers, Lochladies, Volbonans.

These groups help populate the many kingdoms, planets, islands, cities, and worlds that Mario visits throughout the franchise.

Why a Truly Complete Mario Character List Is So Large

Even this extensive list represents only part of the Mario universe.

A genuinely complete list would also need to include every named and unnamed character from:

• Paper Mario
• Mario & Luigi
• Super Mario RPG
• Luigi’s Mansion
• Mario Kart
• Mario Party
• Mario sports games
• Mario educational games
• Yoshi
• Wario
• Donkey Kong
• Arcade games
• Mobile games
• Remakes and ports
• Television series
• Comics and manga
• Promotional material
• One-off NPCs
• Minor bosses
• Enemy variants
• Regional name variations

Some individual games contain dozens or even hundreds of unique characters. RPG titles are especially large because they feature named townspeople, merchants, partners, villains, bosses, and supporting NPCs that may never appear again.

Conclusion

The Mario franchise contains hundreds of famous recurring characters and enemies and thousands of documented characters when every game and related series is included.

The most recognizable figures include Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Bowser, Yoshi, Toad, Princess Daisy, Rosalina, Wario, Waluigi, Bowser Jr., Donkey Kong, Goomba, Koopa Troopa, Boo, Piranha Plant, Bullet Bill, Shy Guy, Dry Bones, Chain Chomp, and many others.

For anyone attempting to catalog literally every Mario character and enemy, the most practical format would be a database or spreadsheet containing fields such as:

Name | Character or Enemy | Species | First Appearance | Game | Year | Boss | Playable | Affiliation

Such a database could eventually include the thousands of heroes, villains, NPCs, bosses, creatures, enemy variants, and species that have appeared throughout Mario’s more than four decades of history.