As Super Mario Bros. 3 turns 30, we remember why it was great

gilian white October 23, 2018

Super Mario Bros 3. turns 30 today - a milestone for perhaps the greatest NES game ever.

Nintendo's platformer, which came out in Japan on 23rd October 1988, introduced a number of new features into the Mario side-scrolling platforming gameplay, including flying and a world map.

There was a wonderful mystery to the game, too, that endured through playground whispers in the pre-internet era. How could you get behind the level? What happened if you flew up there? How could you warp to the secrets? From the moment the curtain raised, I was entranced.