Mariois one of the most iconic characters in gaming. Not only for the games he appears in, but also because of the way he looks. He has a bulbous nose, a cheery mustache, and a winning smile. But on top of that, he often wears his classic blue dungarees on top of a red shirt and white gloves. He’s an instantly recognizable character in and out of video games.
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But his key, red and blue outfit isn’t the only one he dons across the series of games he appears in. Sometimes, he mixes things up. There are outfits that grant him power ups or abilities, ones that increase his size and stature, or allow him to do things he could never otherwise do. There are also those that simply change his style, for cool value, or for comedy.
10Samurai Mario
There’s something cool about the look of a classic, Japanese Samurai. When Mario dons the iconic outfit inSuper Mario: Odyssey, it retains his classic red and blue colors while giving him that cool look.
Plus, wearing the outfit in certain areas of the game makes sense on a visual level. There are parts of the game that evoke classic Japanese culture and locations, so the samurai outfit is the best way to fit in. Sadly, it’s purely cosmetic, with the armor adding no extra protection.
9Builder Mario
Mario often wears the perfect outfit for whatever job he happens to be doing. Usually, he’s a plumber. InSuper Mario Maker, he’s a builder. Naturally, that means he needs a new outfit. His red and blue plumber outfit simply wouldn’t cut it.
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So, the builder outfit twists the colors to red and yellow, and it adds a very handy, form fitting tool belt. You can’t use any of the tools on the belt, begging whether Mario really knows how to build. He also dons a hard hat, which adds cosmetic value and no actual protection.
8Boxer Shorts
For years, certain players wondered what Mario looked like beneath his clothes. Was he fat? Was he jacked? Was he hairy? Did he have any tattoos? Super Mario: Odyssey finally answered these questions by allowing you to make Mario wear nothing but his boxer shorts.
The boxer shorts outfit has Mario wearing red shorts covered in white polka dots. More significantly, we can see his bare chest. He isn’t hairy, nor is he fat, nor does he have a third nipple. He’s an average-looking man beneath his plumber’s outfit. He still wears his hat, however, because he would look silly without it.
7Cat Mario
InSuper Mario 3D World, one of the power-ups you can get transforms you character into a catsuit-donning hero. In Mario’s case, it’s a yellow outfit that covers his entire body except his face.
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It’s not just a cosmetic change, though. The suit makes Mario move and act like a cat too. For some reason. He can claw enemies, climb terrain and pounce from a height. The suit gives Mario an advantage in traversal and combat, while also making him look fun and quirky too.
6Flying Squirrel
Another suit that’s more than just cosmetic is the Flying Squirrel outfit, first featured in New Super Mario Bros. U. He retains his classic dungarees, although they change to red, and he gains a gray shirt that also features large squirrel wings for gliding across the environment.
The suit isn’t one of the best looking out there. With it, Mario can cling to certain surfaces and glide, which makes it something special. In addition to all of this, the suit gives Mario’s hat squirrel ears, as well as a tail protruding from his backside. Otherwise, how would you know he’s a squirrel?
5Fire Mario
One of the first alternate outfits presented to Mario inSuper Mario Brosis the Fire Mario outfit. It gives him a pristine white shirt and matching hat, with fire engine red dungarees. It’s a striking outfit that makes him stand out in a crowd.
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What makes it more striking is the ability it grants. Mario can conjure fireballs and throw them at his foes. It’s a great way of turning the tables on his enemies, evening the odds a little bit.
4Bee Mario
InSuper Mario Galaxy, Mario can find a special Bee Mushroom that transforms him into a bee. His hat grows antennae, he gets black and yellow stripes, and his backside produces a bee’s stinger. It’s a unique, fun look.
The stinger cannot be used against enemies, but little wings poking from Mario’s back allow him to fly. For a short time.Collecting coinsor landing helps refill a flight gauge. Another alteration made by this outfit is a cool yellow trail that follows Mario, replacing the blue, cosmic one.
3Dr. Mario
Mario has a lot of different professions. His skills in said professions are questionable. InDr. Mario, he dons a classic white lab coat, a stethoscope around his neck, plus a doctor’s lamp atop his head. It’s not the most original outfit ever, but it does provide some variety.
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Dr. Mario would later appear in other Mario games across the series. The outfit doesn’t offer any perks or abilities, but it does make Mario seem more sophisticated. In certain Mario media, Dr. Mario is depicted as a different being, making this outfit, and its relation to the Mario we all know and love, confusing.
2Boomerang Mario
One of Mario’s recurring nemeses are the Boomerang Bros. They are Koopa’s with helmets that throw boomerangs at Mario while hopping around, making it tough to stomp them. They are a nuisance.
It’s very satisfying in Super Mario 3D Land when you can get a boomerang flower and don the outfit and gain the abilities yourself. Mario wears a red turtle outfit topped with blue shells and a helmet. Most significantly, he earns the ability to throw boomerangsat his enemies, getting sweat payback in the process.
1Tanooki Mario
Not to be confused with the Raccoon outfit that allows Mario to spin a raccoon tail and fly, the Tanooki Mario outfit does all of that and more. Its name and look are based on a Tanuki, also known as a raccoon dog, and it’s an outfit that encompasses Mario’s entire body, except his face.
First appearingSuper Mario Bros. 3, the outfit allows Mario to spin attack enemies with his tail, fly for short periods, and float softly down to surfaces. On top of that, Mario can turn into a statue, becoming invulnerable from all attacks, although he cannot move. It’s a powerful outfit that makes him look more Ewok than a raccoon dog, but one of his all-time best.
