As a much-loved character that has been around for the best part of four decades, it’s no surprise that businesses of all sizes have attempted to cash in on the popularity of Mario, his brother Luigi and the rest of the characters that make up the Mushroom Kingdom.

From official Nintendo merchandise to products that are so not official but yet intriguing anyway, the Super Mario franchise continues to deliver some of the best and most bizarre items of merch of any video gamer series.

So let’s take a look at some of the finest Mario merchandise ever produced, as well as those which just leave you scratching your head in sheer bewilderment.

Online Casino: Hidden Games Discovered Inside Super Mario

It may seem a totally bizarre combination on the surface of it, but the fact is, gambling is found throughout all levels of console gaming, so with this an avoidable consequence, we look at the hidden delights of the best online casino games lurking behind the tiles of Super Mario.

There’s no doubt that Super Smash Bros. is the video gaming world’s most popular fighting series, and it’s not hard to see why. Filled with memorable characters derived from Nintendo’s incredibly colourful history of games, there’s simply nothing quite like it.

Mario is undoubtedly the legendary game which is still being played by game lovers. Since the release of recent Super Mario Odyssey, the craze has certainly increased further. There is a historical significance for Mario Games, and the new release Super Mario World 2: Yoshi Island is considered as the best and engaging.

That little guy, a bit on the chubby side in blue dungarees and a red cap emblazoned with an M. He’s a plumber and Italian, with a strong accent and an innate desire to save the world, one princess at a time. If you haven’t realised who we’re talking about by now, then you’re missing out on one of the most iconic figures in video game history. Never has a little guy with a black moustache and such an unassuming name hit it this big, and is still going strong more than thirty years down the line. Naturally, things have changed since he first appeared on video game arcades in 1981 and today we’ll trace just how much It’s-a-Mario has changed in three decades.

The Super Mario Bros and Casinos is one of those combinations you rarely expect to see. It’s just hard to imagine Nintendo icons actively pursuing their passion for casino games by going to a Vegas casino to play slots or searching online for Live Roulette games. Yet, the Mario Bros. have still ended up playing classic casino games throughout the years to earn coins in some of the weirdest ways possible.

But how real are their skills for gambling? Or, more importantly, how much can they prepare you for the real thing? Let’s find out by looking at some of the most notable examples of Super Mario casino games.

Bonus challenges are the cherry on the top of a lot of hard-earned levels of Super Mario. Introduced in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island (and its remake) and Yoshi’s Island for Nintendo DS, bonus challenges give players an added boost if they have earned enough points (700/800 depending on the game). Sometimes a breather for difficult levels, sometimes a way to release tension.

An Italian plumber with a bushy moustache who jumps on the heads of his foes –strangely enough, that’s the description of one of the most beloved video game characters the world has ever seen! Over the years Mario has moved on and up, and his long history provides a heady number of games to compare. We’ve rounded up the best 5 Mario games ever, so take a look and see what titles are considered tops.

Gaming has been a popular pastime throughout history, and thanks to the rise in mobile and tablet devices, it’s remained as prominent as ever. In fact, if you love to try your hand at casino games, you don’t even need to leave the comfort of your couch. You can even find plenty of casino games in the world of Nintendo. We’re introducing seven of the most noteworthy ones.

Today I thought we would reflect a little at the wonders of the human brain. Why is it that I can’t remember calculus but I can remember that there is a secret coin block in Super Mario Brothers 1 right here randomly in these bricks?

There is something about cheats and secrets in video games that gets seared into our brains! Whether it’s the classic Konami Code or the location of that hidden bean stalk, there are some things us gamers are just going to take to the crypt! And leading the pack in this intense cheat brain searing race? Super Mario of course! So join me if you will as we explore some of the classic Super Mario cheats and tricks that our brains won’t let us forget!