Mario first appeared as 'Jumpman' in the arcade game Donkey Kong, created by Shigeru Miyamoto and released by Nintendo.
The character was officially named 'Mario' and given a backstory as a plumber, distinguishing him from 'Jumpman'.
Super Mario 64 released on the Nintendo 64 console, marking Mario's transition into 3D gameplay and significantly impacting gaming.
The first Mario Kart game, Super Mario Kart, was released, spawning one of Nintendo's most popular multiplayer franchises.