Unlicensed developers and fans have created unofficial media relating to the Mario franchise. Such media include video games, ROM hacks, level editors, live action adaptations, and animations.
Due in-part to the franchise's popularity, some of these unlicensed works have received critical attention. In September 2016, Nintendo issued over 500 DMCA takedown requests for various fan games hosted at Game Jolt based on their intellectual properties. All of these games have been taken down. While some of these pieces of media have been deemed to fall under fair use, many have not, with the specifics of rulings often depending on the country in which the notice for copyright infringement was given.
Video games Console games Several unofficial, and unlicensed, Mario games and game mods have been released for various video game consoles.
Kaizo Mario World, also known as Asshole Mario, is a series of three ROM hacks of the 1990 Super Nintendo Entertainment System video game Super Mario World, notable for deliberately breaking normal rules of "accepted" level design and featuring extreme difficulty. It became the namesake for Kaizo, a genre of Mario games modified for intense difficulty. Super Dram World is series of three Super Mario World ROM hacks created by American ROM hacker PangaeaPanga and named after speedrunner Dram55, designed for high difficulty. Super Panga World is a ROM hack of Super Mario World created by Linkdeadx2 and dedicated to PangaeaPanga. (), translated to English as Big TV Mary Bar and also known as Mario Lottery, TV Mario, Li Ma Shin Dian on newer releases is an unlicensed video game for the Family Computer made by Bit Corporation and released by Fiver Firm (五合企業有限公司) and Fortran, under their first name "Namco Corporation". It is based on the Taiwanese slot machine game Xiǎo Mǎ Lì (; "Small Mari[o]"), where features a character resembling Mario with an F on his cap, who has become known as "Fortran" based on hidden text discovered in the ROM. The game is a roulette wheel/slot machine – different buttons control the betting, and each button produces a musical note. Landing on the coin produces a message in Chinglish: "PUSH START TO RICH". It became an internet meme when users created fad videos on YouTube. 7 Grand Dad, also known as Primitive Mario VII, is a bootleg ROM hack of The Flintstones: The Rescue of Dino & Hoppy in which Fred Flintstone's head is replaced with that of Mario. The bootleg is notorious for its nonsensical title, as well as its lack of effort in removing Flintstones elements such as the characters and theme song. The game has become an internet meme due to Twitch streamer "Vargskelethor" Joel's shocked reaction to the ROM hack, and parody video game music collective SiIvaGunner's bait-and-switch remixes of the game's soundtrack. New Super Mario Land is a port of Super Mario Land to the Super NES, made by an unknown developer. It features graphics and music reminiscent of New Super Mario Bros. According to its developer, it was made from the ground up, using an assembler and tools for graphics and music. It was originally created as a gift for the developer's "Nintendo-loving friends." The game was very well received due to featuring DS-quality graphics on a 16-bit system. Kart Fighter is a 2D fighting game produced for the Nintendo Entertainment System. The game features unauthorized appearances by Nintendo's mascot Mario and the rest of the cast of Super Mario Kart in a port of Street Fighter II. Somari is a port of Sega's flagship video game Sonic the Hedgehog, produced for the Nintendo Entertainment System and sold primarily in Asia, Russia, and other regions where pirate Famicom cartridges were distributed, in 1994. The game features a character named "Somari" – Mario wearing Tails's shoes. Mario 3: Around the World and Mario 4: A Space Odyssey are bootleg Mario games developed for the Sega Genesis. They were produced in Russia by a developer named "VMV" around 2011 and distributed by a publisher named Kudos. Games produced by VMV are known for having graphic imagery featured on their game over screens, and often their continue screens as well. Project M is a modification of the 2008 fighting game Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the Wii, created by the community to retool Brawl to play more like its two predecessors, Super Smash Bros. and Super Smash Bros. Melee. Newer Super Mario Bros. is a series of modifications developed by the Newer Team. Newer Super Mario Bros. Wii, a modification of New Super Mario Bros. Wii, overhauls most of the original game, featuring a custom 2D map system as well as new levels and themes. An updated version titled Newer Super Mario Bros. Wii Deluxe is in progress. Newer Super Mario Bros. DS, a modification of New Super Mario Bros., was released in 2018. Newer Super Mario Bros. U was a cancelled modification of New Super Mario Bros. U. Kaze Emanuar is a particularly prolific modder of Super Mario 64, having made many significant ROM hacks including: , converting the game into a 2.5D running game in the spirit of Super Mario Run; , enabling online multiplayer; , a Super Mario Maker-like level editor; , featuring levels based on Super Mario Odyssey while also adding its mechanic of possessing enemies by throwing Mario's hat; , an original game with new levels made using Super Mario 64s engine; and , in which The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time world is recreated in Super Mario 64s engine, with new gameplay elements, puzzles and story. is a ROM hack of the 1999 Nintendo 64 fighting game Super Smash Bros. It retains the gameplay style of the original release while adding new gameplay modes, stages, and characters; these include characters from later Super Smash Bros. games such as Ganondorf, Bowser, and Sonic the Hedgehog, and new characters such as Conker the Squirrel and the Mad Piano from Super Mario 64. is a modification for Mario Kart Wii by Chadsoft, incorporating the addition of fan-made custom race tracks, many of which serve as remakes of "retro" tracks that originate from older generations of Mario Kart. To replicate game's online functionality before the 2014 termination of Nintendo Wi-Fi connection, CTGP hosts the fan-made Wiimmfi service, which enables players to join online lobbies to race against others. Similar modifications for Mario Kart DS and Mario Kart 7 have also been made, titled CTGP Nitro and CTGP-7, respectively. The "Revolution" and "Nitro" titles references the respective development codenames of the Wii and Nintendo DS. Super Mario Eclipse is a modification of Super Mario Sunshine made with the goal of polishing and restoring cut content from the original game. An additional 120 Shine Sprites are added on to the original game (making a total of 240 Shines), which are placed in brand new locations. Two new playable characters are unlocked throughout the game. is a collaboratively developed crossover ROM hack of Super Mario 64. Each of the game's stages was designed by a different modder and based on a different franchise, such as SpongeBob SquarePants, Doom, and Katana Zero, with Mario able to acquire new abilities based on each franchise to progress. is a full conversion ROM hack of Pokémon Emerald directed by YouTuber Alpharad, in which Mario captures various enemies from the series.
Level editors There exist several unofficial level editors created to allow users with no programming skills to easily make their own levels or ROM hacks. Super Mario Bros. X is a fangame blending elements from Super Mario Bros., Bros. 2, Bros. 3 and World, and other video game franchises such as The Legend of Zelda series and includes both a level editor, as well simultaneous split-screen multiplayer. Super Mario Bros. X had received its fan-made sequel titled Super Mario Bros. X2 which had its first open beta distributed on December 2, 2015; Super Mario Bros. X2 still receives updates to this day. NSMB Editor is a level editor for New Super Mario Bros. CoinKiller is a level editor for New Super Mario Bros. 2. Super Mario ReMaker is a Windows-based level editor designed to replicate the Wii U title Super Mario Maker on computers. Toad's Tool 64 is a level editor for Super Mario 64 developed by Qubed Studios. Mario Builder 64 is a Super Mario 64 level editor developed by Arthurtilly and Rovertronic, which allows users to share their created levels and is capable of running on actual Nintendo 64 hardware.
Computer games Unofficial Mario games playable on computers have consisted mostly of browser-based games. Such games either can be parodies or fangames that feature the franchise's characters or settings reimagined within the style of other media, or vice-versa. Syobon Action, a Mario parody known for its difficulty and troll levels. Ennuigi is a browser game designed by Josh Millard that centers on Luigi's inability to come to terms with the lack of narrative in Super Mario Bros. is a Flash game based on Super Mario World, featuring former United States president Barack Obama as the protagonist against enemies such as lobbyists, Sarah Palin, and pigs wearing lipstick. is a sidescrolling platformer mashup of Super Mario Bros. and Tetris. As the visible screen automatically scrolls to the right, the player moves to the right while avoiding obstacles. The player can switch between moving the player-character Mario and dropping tetrominos that Mario can use as platforms. The game has traditional Mario enemies. The Flash game is freely available via Newgrounds. Chris Donlan of Edge wrote that the game showed signs of hasty development. Its gameplay was occasionally inelegant as a result. Jenni Lada of TechnologyTell particularly appreciated how she could build a staircase to the flagpole at the end of the level. Super Mario War is fan-made battle-based Mario platformer. The game has been ported to a number of platforms, including an unofficial port to the Nintendo Wii. , a 2019 browser game in which dozens of players simultaneously attempt to outrun each other in battle royale-style gameplay. After receiving a takedown notice, its creator InfernoPlus edited the game to use non-Nintendo assets as DMCA Royale. Later on, after a second takedown, there have been several instances of the game being rehosted by different people, as there currently are two available versions of the game: MRoyale and Mario Royale Legacy (formerly known as Mario Royale Deluxe), which are independent of each other. Mari0 is a fan game that combines elements of Portal and Super Mario Bros. Super Mario Bros. Crossover is a flash game that puts various video game characters into Super Mario Bros. levels. Super Smash Bros. Crusade is a Super Smash Bros. fan game featuring over 60 characters and 24 stages. Super Smash Flash is a series of non-profit, fighting, crossover, fan-made Flash games based on the Super Smash Bros. series. Secret Maryo Chronicles is a free, open source two-dimensional platform game. Super Smash Land is a demake of Super Smash Bros. featuring six playable characters and eleven stages. The game visual design resembles the graphics from the Nintendo Game Boy. No Mario's Sky is an indie game that crosses over between the gameplay of No Man's Sky and Super Mario Bros. Due to a Digital Millennium Copyright Act notice filed by Nintendo, the game was re-released as DMCA's Sky with all in-game references to Super Mario Bros. removed. Mario Kart: Source was a planned total conversion mod in development using the Source game engine developed by Valve. It was first announced in 2006 with development suspending in November 2012 due to difficulties in making a fun racing game with the engine. It is based on the Mario Kart series. Kill the Plumber is a platform game parody of Super Mario Bros. Players control the inhabitants of a kingdom invaded by a plumber and must stop him before he can reach a princess.