Nintendo realized Mario’s potential outside of traditional platforming games pretty early on. The success of Super Mario Kart early in the life of the SNES proved that the mascot was malleable enough to tackle a wide array of genres, which has only grown throughout the generations. Just look at this year’s E3, where Nintendo showcased Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Super Mario Party.
One major area of expansion for Mario has been into the world of sports, which have ranged from traditional to extremely strange. From Mario’s Tennis on the Virtual Boy to a weird dancing phase on the GameCube, here’s a brief history of Mario’s adventures in sports. Check out the slideshow below.
Source: IGN.com A Visual History of Mario Sports Games