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Wario
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Wario
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Wario
Mario character
Art from the Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia (2015) by Shigehisa Nakaue
First appearanceSuper Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (1992)
Designed byHiroji Kiyotake
Voiced by
Various

Wario (English: /ˈwɑːrioʊ, ˈwær-, ˈwɒr-/ ⓘ)[a] is a character in Nintendo's Mario franchise that was designed as an antithesis of Mario. Wario first appeared as the main antagonist and final boss in the 1992 Game Boy game Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins. His name is a portmanteau of the name Mario and the Japanese word warui (悪い), meaning "bad". He is usually portrayed as a selfish and greedy treasure hunter who, in karmic irony, routinely loses his spoils by adventure’s end. Since his debut, he has appeared in the majority of Mario video games. Hiroji Kiyotake designed Wario, and Charles Martinet voiced the character from 1993 to 2023.

Wario is also the main protagonist and antihero of the Wario Land platformer series and the WarioWare party game series. He makes regular appearances as a playable character in Mario spin-offs and other video game series, including Mario Sports games, Mario Kart, Mario Party, in which he is typically paired with the character Waluigi to form a comedy duo that rivals the partnership of Mario and his brother, Luigi. Wario has also been featured in several entries of the fighting game series Super Smash Bros..

Concept and creation

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A white circle with a blue "W" inside it is seen over a yellow background.
The emblem on Wario's hat, which in most appearances has the letter W extend outside of the white circle

The character Foreman Spike, a possible inspiration for Wario, first appeared in the 1985 game Wrecking Crew. Spike is a construction foreman who bears a slight resemblance to Wario.[13] Game artist Hiroji Kiyotake designed Foreman Spike,[14] whom Kiyotake imagined as "the Bluto to Mario's Popeye".[15] Wario's first named appearance occurred in the 1992 game Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins. Wario's design arose from Super Mario Land's design team's distaste for making a game based around someone else's character. The creation of Wario allowed them their own character to "symbolize their situation".[13][16]

Wario is portrayed as a caricature of Mario: he has a large head and chin; huge muscular arms; a wide, short, slightly obese body; short legs; a large, pointier, zig-zagging mustache; and a bellicose cackle. He wears a plumber outfit with a yellow-and-purple color scheme, which is a short-sleeved yellow shirt, purple overalls, and a blue "W" on his hat. He also wears green shoes and white gloves with blue "W" symbols. In his early appearances, Wario wears a yellow, long-sleeved shirt and fuchsia overalls.[17] The name "Wario" is a portmanteau of "Mario" and the Japanese adjective warui (悪い), meaning "bad", hence "bad Mario", which is also symbolized by the "W" on his hat (an upside-down "M").[18][19] Wario was planned to be a temporary name, but it proved popular with the staff.[20] Waluigi was created to be the tennis partner of Wario in Mario Tennis and early material from Nintendo of Europe portrayed them as brothers,[21] but their relationship has since been ambiguous.[22] When asked whether Wario was a brother to Waluigi in 2008, voice actor Charles Martinet stated that while he did not know, he felt that they were just "two nice, evil guys who found each other".[23]

Nintendo originally considered making Wario a German character before he developed into an Italian like Mario.[24] Wario was intended to be German at one point; German translator Thomas Spindler gave him German lines when he was brought on to voice Wario.[25] This part of Wario was eventually dropped; Martinet's Wario voice did not have any German influence. During his audition for the part, Martinet was told to speak in a mean-and gruff-sounding tone; he said voicing Wario is a looser task than voicing Mario, whose speaking manner and personality are freer-flowing, rising from the ground and floating into the air, while jealousy is one of Wario's characteristics.[26]

Wario is often portrayed as a villain in video games in which he makes a cameo appearance. The development team for Wario Land: Shake It! stated he was not really a villain, and they did not consider him one during development. They focused on his behavior, which alternates between good and evil.[27][28] Etsunobu Ebisu and Takahiro Harada, producers of Shake It!, considered Wario to be a reckless character who uses his strength to overwhelm others.[29] Tadanori Tsukawaki, Shake It!'s design director, described Wario as manly and said he was "so uncool that he ends up being extremely cool." Because of this, Tsukawaki wanted Wario to act macho rather than silly and asked the art designers to emphasize his masculinity.[30] During an interview with Kikizo, video game designer Yoshio Sakamoto, who was a member of R&D1 since its early days, stated the project centered around Wario because the team "couldn't think of anyone else best for the role",[31] and he was then described as "unintelligent"[32] and "always idiotic",[31][33] which is the reason he was chosen as the star of the WarioWare series.[33] According to an early 1990s Nintendo guide, Wario was Mario's childhood friend, which Kotaku later contested in a parody article.[34] Afterward, it was stated that they were not related to each other and were considered childhood rivals.[28]

In his earliest appearances in Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins and Wario's Woods, Wario displays considerable magical power, using spells on the population of islands to turn them into his minions, create duplicates, and grow very large.[35] These traits were discontinued starting with Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3, in which he is rejuvenated by garlic in a similar manner to Mario being powered by mushrooms.[16] In the WarioWare series, he became as a smelly slob, while in Mario Strikers: Battle League, his super shot special involves smashing his butt into the ball, followed by him devouring a giant clove of garlic.[36] In WarioWare: Touched!, consuming garlic transforms Wario into "Wario-Man", a superhero with powers relating to garlic-induced flatulence and bad breath.[37][36] In other games, he uses farts as his special attack. Wario prominently uses bombs as tools and weapons in the WarioWare series as a visual motif to represent the time limit of a microgame.[38][39]

Appearances

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See also: List of Wario video games

Wario Land series

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Wario first appeared as a villain in the 1992 Game Boy video game Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins, in which he captures Mario's castle.[35] Tatanga, the villain of the first Super Mario Land game, is a henchman of Wario in the second, implying Wario is responsible for the events of both games. Wario also serves as a villain in the 1993 Japan-only puzzle game Mario & Wario, in which Wario drops a bucket on the heads of Mario, Princess Peach, or Yoshi.[40] This was followed by the first game in the Wario Land series, Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 (1994), a platform game that marks Wario's first appearance as a protagonist and introduced his first villains, Captain Syrup and her Brown Sugar Pirates.[35][41] In his next appearance in Virtual Boy Wario Land (1995), Wario plays similarly and has the ability to move in and out of the background.[35] A sequel to the Game Boy game Wario Land II (1998) features Captain Syrup's return as the antagonist. This game introduces Wario's invulnerability, allowing him to be burned or flattened without sustaining damage.[35]

In 2000, Wario Land 3 was released for the Game Boy Color; it is another sequel that uses the same mechanics and concepts as its predecessor.[35] The following year, the sequel Wario Land 4 (2001) debuted on the Game Boy Advance and incorporates Wario's ability to become burned or flattened and reintroduces the ability to become damaged from standard attacks.[35] In 2003, Wario World, the first console Wario platform game, was released for the GameCube. It has three-dimensional graphics and gameplay and does not incorporate major elements from previous platform games.[35] Wario: Master of Disguise (2007) for the Nintendo DS introduces touch-screen control of Wario and incorporates puzzles into the gameplay.[42] The series' most recent release, Wario Land: Shake It! (2008) for the Wii, reintroduces Captain Syrup. The game uses a hand-drawn animation style; Wario's design required more than 2,000 frames of animation.[30]

WarioWare series

[edit]
An overweight character with pointy ears, a pink nose, thick eyebrows, muscular arms and a wavy moustache. He wears a navy blue shirt with a light blue jacket, pink pants with a red belt, blue shoes, and yellow biker gloves with a blue W. On his head, a yellow biker helmet with a blue W, goggles, and a red strap.
Wario has a redesign by Ko Takeuchi in the WarioWare series, depicting him as a biker, such as in this promotional artwork for WarioWare Gold.

In 2003, the Wario franchise introduced a new series of games, the first of which was WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgames! for the Game Boy Advance. The game's premise involved Wario's decision to open a game development company to make money, creating short "microgames" instead of full-fledged games. The game's gameplay focused on playing a collection of microgames in quick succession. Mega Microgames! was later remade as WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Party Games! (2003) for the GameCube; it featured the same microgames but lacked a story mode and focused more on multi-player.[35] In 2004, two sequels were released for the game. The first was the Game Boy Advance game WarioWare: Twisted!, which used the cartridge's tilt sensor to allow microgames to be controlled by tilting the handheld left and right.[43] The second was the Nintendo DS release WarioWare: Touched!, which incorporates the DS's touch screen and microphone into its gameplay.[44]

One of the Wii's launch games in 2006 was WarioWare: Smooth Moves, which used the Wii Remote's motion-sensing technologies in a variety of ways.[45] The Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi have offered two new releases: 2008's WarioWare: Snapped!, which can be downloaded with the DSiWare service and uses the DSi's built-in front camera in its gameplay,[46] and 2009's WarioWare D.I.Y., which allows players to create microgames.[47] Game & Wario for the Nintendo Wii U was released on June 23, 2013.[48] Although it does not use the WarioWare name, it incorporates gameplay and characters from the WarioWare series. The game also pays tribute to the original Game & Watch games.[49] In 2018, the Nintendo 3DS game WarioWare Gold was released, featuring 316 microgames and combining elements from Twisted and Touched.[50] He also appeared in the 2021 Nintendo Switch game WarioWare: Get It Together![51] and the 2023 Nintendo Switch game WarioWare: Move It!, with 223 microgames.[52]

Other video games

[edit]

In Wario's Woods (1994), Wario is the main antagonist who wants to take over the forest and is defeated by Toad.[35] The same year, Wario appeared in the video game Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman! (1994), a remake of a Bomberman game for the Game Boy that includes Wario as a playable character.[35] Wario is a playable character in the Mario Kart series, starting with Mario Kart 64 (1996).[28] Wario has appeared in Mario sports games, including Mario Golf, Mario Tennis, Mario Baseball, Super Mario Strikers, and the Mario & Sonic series.[28][53][54] Wario has also appeared in all installments of the Mario Party series, except Mario Party Advance (2005).[28][35]

Wario is a playable character in two platform games for the Nintendo DS: the remake Super Mario 64 DS (2004) and Yoshi's Island DS (2006) as an infant version of himself,[35][55] and the puzzle game Dr. Mario 64 (2001).[56] He is also a playable character in the fighting game series Super Smash Bros. and has appeared in every game since being introduced in Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008).[57] He then reappears in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U (2014) and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018).[58][59] Wario's cameos include in Mario's Super Picross (1995),[60] Pilotwings 64 (1996),[35] Densetsu no Starfy 3 (2004),[61] and Dr. Mario World (2019).[62]

Other media

[edit]

The 1992 graphic novel Super Mario Adventures, which is a collection of comics originally serialized in the video-gaming magazine Nintendo Power, features Wario in two of the stories, one of which focuses on Wario's past and explains his rivalry with Mario.[63]

Wario appears in South Park's "Imaginationland Episode III" (2007) as one of the characters from the "dark side" of Imaginationland.[64] In 2010, Charles Martinet's Wario voice was used in an advertisement promoting WarioWare D.I.Y. for British supermarket chain Tesco.[65] In a May 2021 episode of Saturday Night Live, host Elon Musk starred as Wario in a sketch in which he was put on trial for murdering Mario in a kart race.[66][67] In February 2024, Homer Simpson portrayed Wario in an episode of The Simpsons, "Lisa Gets an F1".[68] Wario has also received several of his own Amiibo, which can be used in a wide array of games, including his own.[69]

Jack Black stated his interest in a potential sequel to The Super Mario Bros. Movie in which Pedro Pascal, who played Mario in a Saturday Night Live sketch, would voice Wario as the film's main villain.[70]

Reception

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Since his appearance in Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3, Wario has received a largely positive reception and has become a well-established mascot for Nintendo.[71] Several gaming publications described Wario as one of the best video game villains.[19][72][73] Computer and Video Games found the levity of Wario games "liberating" compared to big Nintendo franchises such as Mario and The Legend of Zelda. The writer could "empathise more with the hopelessly materialistic Wario than goody brown-shoes Mario. Deep down, we'd all rather chase pounds over princesses."[74] IGN editor Travis Fahs said that while Wario is not the most likeable character, his strong confidence overshadows his flaws and makes him entertaining.[75] Audrey Drake of IGN said of Wario, "[A]ll this weird dude seems to care about is amassing as many material possessions and shiny things as possible",[76] KhalidEternalNigh of Destructoid praised the character, describing him as "fat, lazy, greedy, and a cheater" and said: "[D]espite all of this I can't help but love him. Wario is, in my humble opinion, the most perfect 'evil twin' in the history of video games. [...] During Wario's career he has worn many hats – a game designer, a biker, a treasure hunter, and a hat that spits fire for some reason. Yet no matter what he does, no matter how mean he is, somehow Wario manages to charm his way into our hearts while picking our pockets."[77] Ryan Gilliam of Polygon described Wario as the "ultimate Italian American" and said the character "captures so much more of the Italian personality that resonates with me." He also said, "Wario trumps Mario as my family mascot, born with a crucial, relatable need to be louder and larger than life."[78] According to Mike Sholars of Kotaku, "Wario Isn't Evil, He's Honest". Sholars concluded, "Wario was conceived out of a desire to put a twist on the familiar, but his creators tapped into a powerful, universal constant: The Unrepentant Asshole."[19] Edwin Evans of Eurogamer praised Wario for being "repulsive" and "brilliant" and said, "In general, Wario isn't the star he used to be, [...] [b]ut he remains a crucial component of the Nintendo pantheon, the counterbalancing touch of malevolence and cunning without which Mario's star wouldn't shine quite so brightly."[79] William Hughes of The A.V. Club described him as "Nintendo's stinky, cheating genius" and said the character "captures the split at the heart of Nintendo. [...] All we know if that Wario would have loved the possibilities the smash hit console presents, and that the absence of a new WarioWare game on the handheld remains a real shame to the legacy of all the things—good, bad, flatulent, weird, and more—that he means to the company",[80] while Cass Marshall of Polygon said he "was institutionalized as a teen, and Wario was my only friend", and that he "find[s] Wario kind of soothing. He's just got a friendly face."[81]

In the book A Parent's Guide to Nintendo Games: A Comprehensive Look at the Systems and the Games, Craig Wessel described Wario as a "sinister twist" on Mario.[82] In Icons of Horror and the Supernatural: An Encyclopedia of Our Worst Nightmares, Volume 1, S. T. Joshi cites Waluigi and Wario as archetypal examples of alter egos.[83] Wario was used by Todd Harper as an example of the cultural signifiers of fatness that were specifically being created as traits typical of fat characters in fighting games as a whole in a paper for the Journal of Electronic Gaming and Esports. They mentioned that Wario possesses a unique move in which he uses his teeth to efficiently chomp through anything, including other fighters, explosives, and even his own motorcycle. He was also being described as a "slob" archetype.[84]

Magazines have also praised Wario's outfit, particularly in Mario Golf: Super Rush.[85][86][87] In September 2021, Peter Nguyen, a professional stylist for "The Essential Man", commented on a Hiking Wario outfit in Mario Kart Tour, calling it "stylish" and saying, "I think this is the most wearable and strongest appearance for Wario".[88] He was also described as a "fashion icon".[89] A screenshot of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 showing Wario in swimwear appeared to depict him without nipples, leading fans and video game website Polygon to speculate about his lack of anatomical features.[90]

Notes

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References

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Further reading

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Wario

View on Grokipedia
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Wario is a fictional video game character created by Nintendo, serving as the self-professed archrival to the plumber Mario in the broader Mario franchise. Introduced as the main antagonist in the 1992 Game Boy title Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins, Wario seeks to seize Mario's castle through villainous schemes, marking his debut as a hot-tempered, greedy foil to the hero. His name derives from "warui," Japanese for "bad," combined with an inverted "M" logo to emphasize his antagonistic role. Visually, Wario is portrayed as a stocky, muscular human with an instantly recognizable mustache, a yellow hat, purple overalls, and yellow shirt, contrasting Mario's red attire and setting him apart as a crude, opportunistic anti-hero. His personality is defined by stubbornness, sneakiness, and an insatiable love for treasure and quick riches, often leading to rude or self-serving antics, though he occasionally aids friends despite his crooked nature. This greed drives his adventures, evolving him from a one-off into a in dedicated series. Wario headlines two primary spin-off series: the Wario Land platformers, beginning with Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 in 1994, where he embarks on treasure-hunting quests with power-up transformations like turning into a bull or a puffy, bouncy form. The WarioWare series, launched in 2003 with WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!, casts him as the bombastic CEO of WarioWare, Inc., a company producing chaotic collections of short "microgames" focused on fun and profit, with titles like WarioWare: Get It Together! (2021) and WarioWare: Move It! (2023) showcasing innovative Nintendo hardware features. Beyond these, Wario appears in multiplayer spin-offs such as Mario Kart, Mario Party, and Super Smash Bros., often as a playable racer or fighter emphasizing his gluttonous, scheming traits. Over three decades, Wario's character has symbolized Nintendo's exploration of anti-hero archetypes, blending humor, absurdity, and platforming innovation while maintaining his core rivalry with Mario.

Origins and Development

Concept and Creation

Wario made his debut as the primary antagonist in Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins, a platformer developed and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy and released in November 1992. In this game, Wario was positioned as Mario's rival, invading and seizing control of Mario's castle while amassing coins through his actions, driven by an inherent motivation of greed. The character was conceived by Hiroji Kiyotake, director and designer at Nintendo R&D1, who aimed to introduce an "evil counterpart" to Mario as a means of expanding the Mario universe with a persistent antagonist. Kiyotake drew inspiration from classic rival dynamics, explicitly envisioning Wario as the "Bluto to Mario’s Popeye," a selfish foil that contrasted Mario's heroic selflessness with traits of antagonism and self-interest. This concept emerged during the early development of Super Mario Land 2, where Wario's role was crafted to challenge Mario directly, emphasizing themes of rivalry and treasure accumulation to differentiate him within the franchise. Wario's name originated as a portmanteau combining "" with the Japanese word warui (わるい), meaning "bad" or "evil," reflecting his antagonistic nature from the outset. Early development notes highlighted his as treasure-obsessed and greedy, portraying him as a gluttonous figure fixated on in opposition to Mario's altruism, which solidified his identity as a comedic yet villainous counterpart.

Design Evolution

Wario's initial design debuted in as a deliberate to , featuring a stocky, chunky build with a large head, prominent chin, and oversized nose, paired with a shirt and purple overalls (an inversion of 's red shirt and blue overalls) and a hat bearing a "W" emblem derived from an upside-down "M." This visual scheme emphasized his antagonistic role, with the color inversion and "bad" motif—stemming from the Japanese word "warui" for "bad"—reinforcing his rivalry. In the Wario Land series, Wario's design evolved to incorporate dynamic transformation powers, beginning with power-up mechanics in the 1994 title Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3, where he gained abilities like fire-breathing and gliding via collectible hats, marking a shift toward versatile gameplay tied to his physique. Later entries introduced full-body transformations, such as Puffy Wario in (1998), where bee stings inflated his body for floating, highlighting his exaggerated, resilient form and enabling new movement styles like shoulder bashing—a charging tackle introduced in 1994 to smash obstacles and enemies. These changes refined his visual identity as a robust, adaptable treasure hunter, with consistent purple-and-yellow attire but added animations emphasizing his strength and greed. The WarioWare series, starting in 2003, adopted a more cartoonish aesthetic for Wario, amplifying his expressions into exaggerated, comedic grimaces and wide-eyed greed to suit the microgame format's chaotic humor. This iteration leaned into his slovenly traits, portraying him as a garlic-munching entrepreneur whose designs featured bouncier proportions and mischievous poses, diverging from the Wario Land's macho toughness toward villainy. Post-2000s 3D models further bulked up Wario's physique, as seen in Mario Kart 8 (2014), where his rendering emphasized a wider, more imposing torso and muscular limbs while retaining the core color scheme and zigzag mustache for recognizability. Animations incorporated playful mischief, like winking taunts, aligning with his anti-heroic evolution from a 1992 pure villain—jealous and hypnotic—to a 1994 treasure-obsessed adventurer, with recurring gluttony and flatulence gags solidifying his crude, opportunistic personality by the WarioWare era.

Video Game Appearances

Wario Land Series

The Wario Land series began with Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 in 1994 for the Game Boy, marking Wario's transition from antagonist in Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (1992) to a treasure-hunting protagonist exploring the fantastical Kitchen Island. In this debut entry, produced by of R&D1, Wario embarks on a greedy quest to steal pirates' treasure and construct a castle surpassing Mario's, emphasizing puzzle-platforming elements through environmental interactions and enemy encounters. The game's narrative centers on Wario's avarice, devoid of traditional heroics like rescuing damsels, instead portraying him as an anti-hero navigating cursed lands for personal gain. Subsequent titles expanded the series' scope while retaining its core identity as side-scrolling platformers. (1998, ) follows Wario reclaiming his fortune from the Black Sugar Gang, introducing an "" mechanic where enemies trigger transformations rather than health loss, such as shrinking or inflating Wario to solve puzzles. (2000, ) delves into a music box realm, where Wario collects 100 treasures and mystical boxes to unravel a , featuring day-night level variants and ability-unlocking items that enable forms like Flat Wario for squeezing through gaps. (2001, ) shifts to a non-linear structure across five worlds, with Wario cursed inside a ; here, he gains temporary power-ups like Puffy Wario for floating or Zombie Wario for invincibility, alongside enemy-bashing moves such as the dash attack. The latest mainline entry, Wario Land: Shake It! (also known as Wario Land: The Shake Dimension, 2008, ), places Wario in the Shake Dimension's bizarre continents, where he shakes the to dislodge treasures from enemies or environments, incorporating transformations like Mad Wario for enhanced strength. Throughout the series, gameplay revolves around Wario's robust physique for brawling and exploration, with transformation-based power-ups—such as Fat Wario for shoulder-bashing doors or Bull Wario for charging—driving progression in magical, gold-filled worlds often tied to curses or otherworldly realms. Narratives consistently highlight Wario's self-serving pursuits, contrasting Mario's altruism by focusing on hoarding wealth amid humorous, grotesque perils without moral redemption arcs. Early games under Yokoi's direction prioritized inventive puzzle-platforming, blending combat with environmental manipulation to emphasize Wario's opportunistic nature. In 2025, Wario Land 4 joined Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack on February 14, allowing access via the Game Boy Advance app and reviving its metroidvania-style exploration for modern players.

WarioWare Series

The WarioWare series is a microgame anthology sub-series developed and published by , debuting in 2003 with WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgames! for the Game Boy Advance. This inaugural title introduced the core concept of rapid-fire microgames, each lasting approximately five seconds and themed around absurd, everyday scenarios such as slicing or dodging meteors, presented in collections exceeding 100 per game. Wario serves as the greedy CEO of WarioWare, Inc., a fictional company that exploits his friends' talents to produce these bizarre mini-games for profit, often leading to chaotic developments in the overarching narratives. Gameplay centers on sequential microgames that increase in speed and difficulty, controlled via innovative input methods tailored to each console's features, such as touch screens, tilting, or motion gestures. Players progress through levels structured around individual characters' contributions, culminating in boss stages that classic games or extend the microgame format. The series emphasizes quick reflexes and humor, with microgames drawn from pop culture, daily life, and Wario's avaricious schemes, fostering replayability through unlockable modes and high-score challenges. Story elements typically revolve around Wario's ill-fated business ventures, such as unleashing a rogue in the original game or getting trapped in a world in WarioWare: Get It Together!, always resolving in comedic mishaps for the protagonist while highlighting the ensemble cast's dynamics. Supporting characters like the tech-savvy Mona, rhythmic dancer Jimmy T., retro-gaming enthusiast 9-Volt, and alien Orbulon each host themed microgame sets, expanding the company's roster across entries and contributing to the series' quirky interpersonal humor. Major releases include WarioWare: Touched! (2004, ), which utilized the system's touchscreen and microphone for interactive microgames; WarioWare: Smooth Moves (2006, ), pioneering full-body motion controls with the ; WarioWare Gold (2018, ), compiling over 300 microgames from prior titles; WarioWare: Get It Together! (2021, ), introducing cooperative play by controlling different characters simultaneously; and the most recent, WarioWare: Move It! (2023, ), featuring over 200 motion-based microgames activated by sensors. The series has sold over 7 million units worldwide as of late 2022, with subsequent entries contributing to its commercial success and influence on motion gaming innovation during the era.

Appearances in Mario and Other Games

Wario first appeared in the Mario franchise as the primary antagonist in the 1992 Game Boy title Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins, where he seizes Mario's castle and curses its inhabitants to serve him until Mario collects six golden coins to break the spell. He transitioned to a playable role in Mario Kart 64 (1996), introduced as a heavyweight racer with high speed and off-road capabilities, establishing his recurring presence in the racing spin-offs. Wario has become a fixture in numerous Mario spin-off series, often portraying a greedy antagonist or opportunistic ally. In the series, he debuted as a playable character in (1999) and has appeared in every subsequent entry, including the 2024 release Super Mario Party Jamboree for , which includes him among 22 characters across seven boards and over 110 minigames emphasizing multiplayer chaos. He regularly features in Mario sports games, such as Mario Golf: Super Rush (2021), where players can select him for his exceptional power and stamina stats in , speed golf, and battle golf modes. Similarly, in titles like (2018), Wario competes with aggressive playstyles suited to his bulky build. In the Super Smash Bros. series, Wario entered as a playable fighter in Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008) and returned in later installments up to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018), showcasing a moveset that highlights his crude personality, including the side special Chomp—where he swings a chained Chain Chomp to damage foes—and the Wario Bike, a recovery and attack tool that allows him to ram opponents. Beyond core spin-offs, Wario appears in select other Nintendo productions, frequently as a supporting or rival figure. In Super Mario 64 DS (2004), he is one of four playable characters unlocked via mini-games, utilizing his signature shoulder bash to smash yellow blocks, defeat certain enemies, and access hidden areas in the remastered levels. His greedy traits shine in ensemble titles like Game & Wario (2013), a Wii U minigame collection where he stars in several modes alongside other Mushroom Kingdom residents. In October 2025, the Japan-exclusive Mario & Wario (1994, SNES) was added to Nintendo Switch Online, marking its Western debut as a puzzle game featuring Wario guiding Mario through obstacle courses. Wario has made cameo appearances outside the Mario universe, including brief roles in rhythm-based games like Rhythm Heaven (2009), which incorporates microgame-inspired challenges echoing his WarioWare style, and guest themes in third-party licensed titles such as Tetris 99 (2019 onward), where events feature WarioWare motifs with custom visuals and soundtracks. In his most recent outing, Super Mario Party Jamboree (October 2024), Wario participates in fresh minigames like relay races and button-mashing contests, reinforcing his role as a scheming competitor in group play. Across these games, Wario consistently acts as a mischievous rival, leveraging his anti-hero persona to disrupt proceedings or pursue personal gain.

Media Appearances Beyond Video Games

Comics and Print Media

Wario's first appearance in print media occurred in the "Mario vs. Wario" comic arc, published in magazine issues #44 and #56 in 1993 and 1994, respectively, where he serves as an stealing coins from the Mushroom Kingdom and engaging in schemes against during Princess Peach's birthday celebration. Japanese adaptations have prominently featured Wario since the , including stories in Club Nintendo magazine where he embarks on treasure hunts mirroring his game adventures, such as in original Japanese issues from the mid-1990s, and in European-localized editions like the German version's "Warios Weihnachtsmärchen" (Wario's Christmas Tale) from the June 1995 issue, depicting him as a bomb shop owner with as an employee. Wario also makes recurring cameos in the long-running Super Mario-Kun manga, serialized by in since 1991 and compiled into over 80 volumes by 2024, portraying him as comic relief and a rival to in humorous, exaggerated antics. Recent print media includes mentions of Wario in official guidebooks and art books, such as concept art and character profiles in 2024 releases tied to Super Mario Party Jamboree, emphasizing his anti-hero role in party-themed illustrations. Across these formats, Wario's portrayals in comics and print media amplify his villainous greed and gadget-reliant schemes, adapting his video game persona into static narratives that explore anti-hero antics without interactive elements.

Television and Animation

Wario has made several cameo appearances in animated television shows and promotional media, often highlighting his greedy and mischievous personality as a comedic contrast to Mario. His earliest official animated portrayals appeared in Nintendo's promotional commercials for Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 in 1994, where he was depicted in short, humorous sketches emphasizing his treasure-hunting antics and burly physique. These early animations set the tone for Wario's role as a bombastic anti-hero, with subsequent commercials for titles like Virtual Boy Wario Land (1995) and WarioWare: Smooth Moves (2006) featuring exaggerated physical comedy in fast-paced, game-inspired scenarios. In crossover television sketches, Wario has been parodied in adult-oriented animation. On , he first appeared in a 2005 episode parodying The Fast and the Furious, where Wario, alongside and Luigi, participated in a high-speed kart race filled with chaotic crashes and greedy banter, underscoring his role as a comic . Later sketches, such as those in the 2007 "Video Game Episode," further lampooned his avaricious traits through absurd video game tropes. A notable 2021 digital short, "The Trial of Wario," portrayed him in a drama spoofing , where Wario stood trial for "murdering" via a sabotage, blending humor with satirical legal twists. More recent television cameos include a 2024 episode of The Simpsons titled "Lisa Gets an 'F1'," featuring a dream sequence parody of Mario Kart's Rainbow Road track. In this segment, Homer Simpson cosplays and voices Wario, racing against Lisa as Mario in a high-stakes, item-filled chase that amplifies Wario's gluttonous and scheming demeanor through physical gags and competitive rivalry. Nintendo has continued producing official animated content for Wario in promotional trailers, particularly for the WarioWare series. The 2023 trailer for WarioWare: Move It! includes short animated sequences showcasing Wario's over-the-top reactions to motion-controlled microgames, with his greed driving frantic, comedic chases for coins and gadgets. These clips, tied to broader Mario franchise promotions like the 2023 The Super Mario Bros. Movie marketing, often position Wario as a humorous side character in ensemble vignettes, reinforcing his foil dynamic to Mario through greedy schemes and boisterous antics.

Portrayal and Voice Acting

Voice Actors

provided the original voice for Wario starting in 1996 with , delivering a deep, raspy portrayal infused with an exaggerated Italian accent, along with signature grunts, exclamations, and the character's iconic "Wah-ha-ha!" laugh that became synonymous with his greedy, bombastic personality. Over the course of nearly three decades, voiced Wario in dozens of titles across the Mario and Wario franchises, including every entry in the WarioWare series, contributing to the character's enduring audio identity through performances that emphasized his over-the-top villainy and comedic flair. Wario's debut in the 1992 title Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins featured no , relying instead on text-based . In August 2023, announced his retirement from voicing Nintendo's core characters, including Wario, transitioning to the role of Mario Ambassador to continue engaging with fans outside of game performances. This change was part of broader updates to Nintendo's roster following Martinet's long tenure. was revealed as Martinet's successor later that year, debuting as Wario in WarioWare: ! (2023), where he maintained the gravelly, accented tone while infusing a fresh, energetic delivery that carried over the "Wah-ha-ha!" laugh. Afghani reprised the role in Super Party Jamboree (2024), further establishing his interpretation amid the franchise's voice transition. In Japanese dubs and motion-capture work, Wario has been portrayed by various since the mid-. Chikao Ōtsuka voiced Wario in early promotional materials and select titles from the to , while Hironori Kondo has been the primary Japanese voice actor since the , including in recent WarioWare games.

Live-Action and Other Portrayals

Wario has been depicted in live-action promotional contexts through animatronic s during events in the late and early . These s, used at exhibitions like the , featured mechanical movements for the mouth, eyes, mustache, and eyebrows, constructed from fabric, plastic, clay, foam, and metal components to bring the character's greedy and mischievous expressions to life. The s appeared at public events from 1996 to 2001, often alongside a similar , to engage audiences and demonstrate upcoming games. Voice actor performed live as Wario at trade shows, including a 1996 demonstration ahead of the launch, where he embodied the character's bombastic personality through physical gestures and vocal improvisations to hype the crowd. In sketches, Wario received a notable live-action portrayal on in 2021, with host donning a yellow-and-purple costume and fake mustache as Wario in the courtroom comedy "The Trial of Wario." In the skit, Musk's Wario faces trial for spinning out with a during a race, leading to Mario's fictional death, while emphasizing the character's scheming nature through exaggerated Italian-accented dialogue and mannerisms. At fan conventions such as PAX East and , Wario has become a staple, with participants in detailed yellow-purple outfits replicating his shoulder bash and treasure-hoarding poses to interact with fellow attendees. These portrayals evolved from rudimentary event puppets in the , focused on basic animations for crowd appeal, to more interactive representations in the and that allow for full-body performances of Wario's antagonistic traits.

Reception and Cultural Impact

Critical Reception

Wario has been widely praised by critics for his role as an anti-hero and his stark contrast to Mario, embodying unapologetic greed and mischief that subverts traditional heroic tropes. In a 2017 retrospective, Destructoid described Wario as "the most perfect 'evil twin' in the history of video games," highlighting how his selfish pursuits and bombastic personality provide a refreshing foil to Mario's altruism. Critics have noted Wario's evolution from a straightforward in his 1992 debut to a charismatic lead in his own series, appreciating his enduring appeal despite crude elements like flatulence-based humor. The same analysis praised Wario's "charm" and "endearing" quirks, such as his gaseous antics originating in the WarioWare series, which add to his flawed yet relatable persona without overshadowing his core greed-driven motivations. The Wario Land series has received acclaim for its innovative platforming mechanics, particularly the transformations that alter gameplay dynamics. GameSpot's 2001 review of awarded it an 8.7/10, calling it a "fresh take on the " for blending puzzle-solving with action through abilities like turning Wario into a or a . Meanwhile, the WarioWare series has been lauded for its rapid-fire humor and microgame variety, with many entries earning aggregates in the high 80s, such as WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$! at 89/100, emphasizing the chaotic, comedic energy that defines Wario's entrepreneurial antics. More recent entries continue to receive positive notices for maintaining Wario's mischievous essence, though scores have varied. WarioWare: Move It! (2023) holds a aggregate of 75/100, with several outlets scoring it 80 or above, including Nintendo Life at 8/10 for its motion-controlled absurdity. confirmed that voice actor Kevin Afghani's performance suits Wario's "irreverent" style, succeeding in capturing the character's boisterous tone. Some reviews have critiqued the reliance on repetitive greed motifs and formulaic level design in certain titles. Eurogamer's 2008 review of Wario Land: Shake It! gave it a 7/10, noting the game's short length and linear stages as limiting replay value, which can make Wario's treasure-hunting premise feel overly familiar despite its cartoonish charm.

Fan Legacy and Merchandise

Wario has cultivated a dedicated fanbase since his debut, with communities actively engaging in creative endeavors such as artwork, game modifications, and discussions exploring his backstory and motivations. The subreddit r/Wario, established on July 23, 2011, serves as a central hub for these activities, where fans share theories on Wario's rivalry with and his treasure-hunting persona, alongside custom mods for titles like that integrate him as a playable character. Annual Wario Day celebrations on , marking his first appearance in Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins in 1992, further unite enthusiasts through online events, tributes, and retrospectives highlighting his evolution from to anti-hero. Official merchandise has sustained Wario's visibility, featuring figures from the series released starting in 2015, which allow interaction with games like and WarioWare titles for enhanced gameplay features. These collectibles, including variants tied to WarioWare microgames, remain available through Nintendo's official store and have become staples for collectors. Broader apparel lines extend his presence into fashion, while toy figures inspired by the series appear in retail lines. Wario's cultural footprint includes enduring memes centered on his greed and pungent traits, often portraying him as a comically avaricious figure whose schemes backfire in humorous ways, a trope popularized since the early 2000s through his appearances in Super Smash Bros. games where abilities like his down special emphasize flatulence for comedic effect. These elements have influenced indie game development, with titles mimicking Wario Land's platforming format—such as Antonblast in 2024, which echoes the series' fast-paced, chaotic action through explosive platforming challenges—demonstrating his lasting impact on genre innovation. Fan-led commemorative events underscore Wario's longevity, including celebrations for his 30th anniversary in 2022 that revisited his origins and quirky traits across media. The 2025 addition of Wario Land 4 to Nintendo Switch Online further fueled nostalgia, reintroducing the Game Boy Advance classic to new audiences and inspiring fresh fan content tied to recent releases like WarioWare: Move It!. As of September 2025, the Wario series had sold over 23 million units worldwide, per aggregated sales data, affirming its commercial endurance.

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