One of the most interesting aspects of the LEGO® Super Mario sets is the various characters dotted about them. With 35 years of games to take inspiration from, the sets have done a great job of capturing iconic characters and enemies from many of them. The main man is, of course, Mario, who, in LEGO form, is a specifically created digital figure. His cubic appearance has lead the style for the rest of the buildable friends and foe, found across the LEGO take on the Mushroom Kingdom. But how do these brick-built characters compare to their digital counterparts? Here you’ll find a comparison of the in-game models compares to their brick-built versions. Many of these characters have changed over the last 35 years. Although most of them appeared in 1985s Super Mario Bros. their LEGO appearance is based on some of the most recent games.
Being recreated in LEGO bricks has provided a nice balance between the original 8-bit models and the more advanced 3D versions. With the LEGO characters shape more akin to the pixel art shapes used in early games. The printing of faces is clearly based on the Wii, Wii U and Switch takes on characters.
Mario
First Appears In: Super Mario Bros. (1985) Found In Set: 71360: Starter Course
Fire Mario
First Appears In: Super Mario Bros. (1985) Found In Set: 71370: Fire Power-up Pack
Cat Mario
First Appears In: Super Mario 3D World (2013) Found In Set: 71372: Cat Power-up Pack
Propeller Mario
First Appears In: New Super Mario Wii. (2009) Found In Set: 71371: Propeller Power-up Pack
Builder Mario
First Appears In: Super Mario Maker (2015) Found In Set: 71373: Builder Power-up Pack
Yoshi
First Appears In: Super Mario World (1990) Found In Set: 71367: Mario & Yoshi’s House
Toad & Toadette
First Appears In: Super Mario Bros. 2 (1988) & Mario Kart Double Dash Found In Set: 71368: Toad’s Treasure Hunt
Bowser & Bowser Jr.
First Appears In: Super Mario Bros. (1985) & Super Mario Sunshine (2002) Found In Set: 71369: Bowser’s Castle Boss Fight & 71360: Starter Course
Shy Guy
First Appears In: Super Mario Bros. 2 (1988) Found In Set: 71366: Boomer Bill Barrage
Goombas
First Appears In: Super Mario Bros. (1985) Found In Set: Various
Desert Pokey
First Appears In: Super Mario Bros. 2 (1988) Found In Set: 71363: Desert Pokey
Whomp
First Appears In: Super Mario 64 (1994) Found In Set: 71364: Whomp’s Lava Trouble
Thwomp
First Appears In: Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988) Found In Set: 71376: Thwomp Drop
Koopa Troopa & Dry Bones
First Appears In: Super Mario Bros. (1985) & Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988) Found In Set: 71362 + 71365 & 71369
King Boo & Boo
First Appears In: Luigi’s Mansion (2001) & Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988) Found In Set: 71360: Stater Course
Banzai Bill
First Appears In: Super Mario World (1990) Found In Set: 71366: Boomer Bill Barrage
Cheep Cheep
First Appears In: Super Mario Bros. (1985) Found In Set: 71368: Toad’s Treasure Hunt
Monty Mole
First Appears In: Super Mario World (1990) Found In Set: 71363: Desert Pokey
Pirahna Plant
First Appears In: Super Mario Bros. (1985) Found In Set: 71362: Guarded Fortress
Bob-omb
First Appears In: Super Mario Bros. 2 (1988) Found In Set: 71362: Guarded Fortress