The Mario franchise is home to a huge cast of characters, including over 10 main characters and 30+ enemies. The series has come a long way from its original arcade games, and now the majority of Mario characters are household names. With its history spanning four decades, the Mario universe has become increasingly developed and creative.

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Most new Mario characters debut as NPCs, and grow into fan favorites through their appearances in spin-off games like Mario Kart or Mario Tennis. Not all characters end up as popular, and some gamers may even be left wondering where they even got their start. Of all the people Mario has met over the years, why have these guys stuck around, and what makes them such good friends? There are a few ways to figure out which ones are the best, and gamers are sure to agree that there's a clear order to Mario's best friends.

8 Birdo

A Complicated History

To some Mario fans, Birdo might be a relatively new face. But, Birdo is actually a very old character, first appearing in Super Mario Bros. 2 in 1988. Unfortunately, aside from being a helper in Wario's Woods in 1994, she hasn't been featured in any other Mario main series games. That doesn't mean that she hasn't played a massive role in the spin-offs, her first one being Mario Tennis in 2000. In total, Birdo has appeared in roughly 24 spin-off Mario games, not always as a playable character.

Birdo's friendship with Mario is complicated since she's played the villain role more than once. However, in other games, she's often introduced as a counterpart to Yoshi, and it can be interpreted that Birdo is more of a lackey than an evil mastermind. Besides, on the racetrack or the tennis court, many foes have become friends. Birdo is also generally believed to be video gaming's first-ever transgender character, solidifying her as a true icon of the Mario universe.

7 Princess Daisy

Mario's Ally

Princess Daisy is another longstanding character in the Mario world, first appearing in 1989's Super Mario Land as the ruler of Sarasaland. However, Daisy's career really took off in the 2000s in Mario Tennis. From that moment on, Daisy has become a staple of Mario spin-off games. She's appeared in almost every Mario Party, has been a playable character in every Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games, and all Mario Kart installments since Double Dash.

Since her inception, Princess Daisy has been an ally of Mario. She was key in providing a new kingdom for Mario to traverse and was even saved by him in Super Mario Land. Since then, she's become unrivaled in her sports prowess and spin-off appearances. To celebrate her consistent and reliable appearances, Daisy is featured as a playable character in Super Mario Bros. Wonder – her second-ever time being a PC in a main Mario series game.

6 Pauline

The Original

It's safe to assume that most gamers will recognize Pauline from Super Mario Odyssey, where she appears as the mayor of New Donk City. However, she's actually one of the first-ever characters from the Mario franchise – first debuting in the 1981 arcade game Donkey Kong. Super Mario Odyssey was the first game Pauline was featured in outside the Donkey Kong series. Since her 2019 renaissance, Pauline can now be found as a playable character in Mario Tennis Aces (DLC), Mario Golf: Super Rush, and Mario Strikers: Battle League.

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Pauline is often cited as the original video game damsel in distress and was even the first ever woman in a video game to have a speaking role. This makes her growth into a jazz singer and mayor of a major metropolitan city even more impressive. At every turn, Pauline has been breaking down barriers and defying expectations – and she's managed to stay great friends with Mario in the process.

5 Toads

Always Around To Help

Toads have appeared in Mario games since 1985, and are the denizens of the Mushroom Kingdom. Prominent Toad characters like Toad, Toadette, Captain Toad, and Toadsworth have helped Mario through his various quests, and they've quickly become a staple of the franchise – appearing in over 20 Mario titles and even gaining spin-off games like Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker.

It's safe to say Mario wouldn't be where he is now with the help of the various Toads. They're pillars of his adventures and loyal subjects of Princess Peach. They're absolutely fundamental in the world, and players are more likely to notice when there isn't a Toad present than when there is one. These eccentric citizens are true friends, and undeniably key to the Mario franchise.

4 Rosalina

Trustworthy Friend

Rosalina is one of the newer faces in the Mario franchise, first showing up in Super Mario Galaxy in 2007. She quickly became a fan favorite thanks to her mysterious and caring nature. Her only main series appearance as a PC is Super Mario 3D World, and she is mostly known for her immediate presence in Mario spin-off games. Rosalina is in a total of 6 Mario Kart games, 6 Mario sports games, 3 Mario Party games, and as a fighter in Super Smash Bros 3DS/Wii U and Ultimate.

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Rosalina has been an unbelievably good and reliable friend to Mario, and her strong sense of kindness makes her incredibly likable. Nintendo knew they struck gold with her well-developed story, and she began appearing in spin-offs a year after her initial launch. Rosalina is often cited as a key reason for Super Mario Galaxy's critical success and is well-known for being one of the best-written characters ever featured in the Mario franchise.

3 Yoshi

Loyal Sidekick

Yoshi is perhaps Mario's most beloved character. This adorable but fierce dinosaur has been a trusty sidekick to Mario since 1990 when he debuted in Super Mario World. He has become a major part of the franchise, even gaining 8 individual Yoshi titles. No other Mario character has quite been given the same love and treatment, and he's featured in every Mario Kart and Mario Party game – as well as most other Mario spin-offs.

Yoshi might easily be categorized as Mario's greatest friend. He's been a reliable and dedicated steed and is by no means helpless. Yoshi has his unique mechanics and can be incredibly useful in a Mario game – and has done his fair share to get Mario out of some tricky scenarios.

2 Princess Peach

Love Interest & More

Princess Peach is easily the most recognizable woman in gaming history and has appeared in more Mario games than any other female character. She's featured in well over 100 games since her creation for Super Mario Bros. in 1985 and is the only female Mario character to have her own game. She has made an appearance in almost every single Mario spin-off game and is essentially the third protagonist in the franchise, along with Mario and Luigi.

Princess Peach is an icon of gaming. Although she's Mario's love interest, Peach has gone on to become a staple of the franchise and the face of women in games. The truth is, there is no Mario without Princess Peach. She has been a fundamental part of almost all critically acclaimed Mario games, and the Mushroom Kingdom has been the backdrop for some of Mario's most beloved adventures. Without Peach, Mario just wouldn't be the same.

1 Luigi

Mario's Player 2

Luigi has often been cited as a better character than Mario himself. After decades of skirting the edges of the spotlight, in the last few years, Luigi has truly taken center stage in the Mario fanbase. Aside from being a principal character in many main Mario series titles – often as a sign of increased difficulty – Luigi is also the star of his own games. His most notable series is Luigi's Mansion, where he hunts ghosts in various locations, as well as New Super Luigi U and Dr. Luigi.

Luigi is easily Mario's greatest friend. Mario got his start as one-half of the Mario Bros. and Luigi is just as responsible for the franchise's success. Thanks to his more complex characteristics, and his recent recognition as the too-often forgotten brother, Luigi is undeniably the biggest face of the Mario franchise besides Mario himself.

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