Happy 25th birthday Super Mario!

The world’s favourite plumber, Super Mario, has turned 25. Happy birthday Mario!

The driving force behind Nintendo’s success over the last 25 years, Mario has lead the video-gaming charge almost as long as home consoles have existed. Easily the most recognisable gaming star of all time, Mario technically first kicked off his pixel-powered life as Jumpman back in 1981 as he faced off against the king of kongs in Donkey Kong before taking on the “Super” moniker four years later.

From then on in, whether he’s been playing golf or tennis, hurtling around in his go-kart, or off on his never-ending quest to save the Princess, he’s provided us more hours of fun than any number of other gaming “icons” combined.

To Mario; may we have another quarter-century and beyond of your mushroom chomping charms!