The first game to use an orchestra to record its stellar soundtrack
Super Mario Galaxy
A controversy with PETA was involved saying this power-up promoted the skinning of this endangered Japanese species
Tanooki Suit
In Japan this character was always female according to the game manual, but the American manual says otherwise
Birdo
An official game inspired by a browser fangame that can no longer be played
Super Mario Bros. 35
This track almost made it into Mario Kart DS, but was rejected because of the overlap of music and similar theming with other tracks
GCN Mario Circuit
The Starman music uses part of a tune from "Can You Can Can?"
Super Mario Land
One of the only power-ups to never reappear, the color scheme uses an inverted version of an early Mario sprite
Red Star
From recolor to unique personality and design, this character has risen to the top in terms of spin-offs and is essential for every game to have
Daisy
The non-English dubs of this game have a trans person that Mario interacts with
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Even though it can seen physically from another track, you cannot race on it even with the expansive track selection this game has to offer
Koopa Troopa Beach
Slot machines and fruits, while not the first time, they are very prominent in this game
Super Mario 3D World
This power-up had its function change 3 times in the course of 4 years
Ice Flower
Originally being made to fill a character slot, this character slowly became more and more prominent in spin-offs and mainline games
Toadette
The lowest-selling Mario game in the series
Mario and Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey
This is the only nitro track in Mario Kart 7 to not have a glider ramp
Rosalina's Ice World
Behind the original Super Mario Bros, this game is the best-selling mainline Mario game
New Super Mario Bros. DS
When you collect this power-up, flowers appear on your character model
Metal Cap
First appearing in the early 2000s, this character has been originally lost to time but rising in popularity once more in recent years
Petey Piranha
Mario characters use a gun to shoot Bowser in a cutscene of the Japanese version of this game
Mario Party 2
The first track in the series to have a reverse version
DK Pass
Multiple textboxes in this game have typos that weren't patched with rereleases
Super Mario 64
First introduced in a party game, it reappeared later on in several mainline and spin-offs with its purpose never altered
Mega Mushroom
With different designs depending on the game series he's in, this secondary villain has consistently acted as the main antagonist for one of the Mario Brothers
King Boo
Developed by Konami and Hudson Soft in 2005, this game requires a unique pad controller that is exclusively used for it
Dance Dance Revolution Mario Mix
References to the character this track is based on can be heard in the music, albeit harder to hear than in the remake
Yoshi Desert