Editing Impostor Bowser

{{Redirect|Fake Bowser|other uses|[[Fake Bowser (disambiguation)]]}}
{{species infobox
|image=[[File:SMPJ Bowser Magic.png|250px]]<br>Artwork from ''Super Mario Party Jamboree''
|first_appearance=''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' ([[List of games by date#1985|1985]])
|latest_appearance=''[[Super Mario Party Jamboree]]'' ([[List of games by date#2024|2024]])
|variant_of=[[Koopa (Bowser's species)|Koopa]]
|variants=[[Tail Bowser]]
}}
{{quote|It's shocking how much Impostor Bowser looks like the real [[Bowser|Mr. Bowser]]. Magic is an amazing thing, huh?|Lakitu|Super Mario Party Jamboree}}
'''Impostor Bowsers''', originally known as '''fake Bowsers''' and alternatively known as '''Bowser's decoys''' in ''[[NES Remix]]'' and spelled '''Imposter Bowsers''',<ref>{{cite|url=https://www.nintendo.com/au/games/nintendo-switch/super-mario-party-jamboree/|title=Super Mario Party Jamboree|publisher=Nintendo Australia|accessdate=March 19, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite|url=https://my.nintendo.com/rewards/22dbac06d15f8a55|title=My Nintendo Super Mario Party™ Jamboree Family Party Sweepstakes|publisher=My Nintendo|accessdate=March 19, 2025}}</ref> are standard enemies that were transformed to resemble [[Bowser]] and serve a comparable role to him. They first appear as [[list of bosses|bosses]] in the original ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'', in which they were transformed by Bowser himself using his black magic.

==Concept and creation==
The concept of fake Bowsers came about during development of ''Super Mario Bros.'' Since all enemies have their sprites flipped upside-down when they are defeated (except for [[Piranha Plant]]s, which simply disappear, and [[Bullet Bill]]s, which stay rightside up), one of the programmers accidentally inserted an upside-down Koopa Troopa shell when portraying Bowser's  defeat animation as if he were defeated with fireballs. The developers liked this idea, and as a result, this idea was extended to most of the Bowser battles in the game.<ref>https://www.giantbomb.com/false-bowser/3015-8320/{{better source}}</ref>

==History==
===''Super Mario'' series===
====''Super Mario Bros.'' / ''Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels'' / ''Super Mario Bros. Deluxe''====
[[File:SMB W1-4 Fake Bowser Screenshot.png|thumb|The fake Bowser from World 1-4 in ''Super Mario Bros.'']]
In ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'', the seven fake Bowsers are placed in each [[castle]], with [[World 8-4 (Super Mario Bros.)|Bowser's Castle]] containing the real one. Defeating a fake Bowser with five [[fireball]]s reveals that they are really just common enemies disguised as Bowser. The enemies and their abilities are the following:
*'''World 1''': [[Goomba|Little Goomba]] - [[Fire Breath|fire]]
*'''World 2''': [[Green Shell|Green]] [[Koopa Troopa]] - fire
*'''World 3''': [[Buzzy Beetle]] - fire
*'''World 4''': [[Spiny]] - fire
*'''World 5''': [[Lakitu]] - fire
*'''World 6''': [[Blooper|Bloober]]<!--DO NOT CHANGE TO "BLOOPER". "Bloober" was the name at the time of this game and should be the name displayed here. --> - [[hammer]]
*'''World 7''': [[Hammer Bro]]ther - hammer
''[[Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels]]'' additional worlds (in the ''[[Super Mario All-Stars]]'' version, the final fake Bowser is now replaced with the actual Bowser):
*'''World A''': Goomba - fire ([[Family Computer Disk System|FDS]]) / [[Red Shell|Red]] [[Koopa Troopa]] - hammer (''All-Stars'')
*'''World B''': Green Koopa Troopa - fire (FDS) / Green [[Cheep Cheep|Cheep-Cheep]] - hammer (''All-Stars'')
*'''World C''': Buzzy Beetle - fire (FDS) / [[Bullet Bill]] - hammer (''All-Stars'')
*'''World D''': [[Spiny]] - fire (FDS)
The "You VS. Boo" challenge of ''[[Super Mario Bros. Deluxe]]'':
*'''1-4''': Green [[Cheep Cheep|Cheep-Cheep]]
*'''2-4''': [[Bullet Bill]]
[[File:SMBLL World D-4 Bowser Imposter.png|thumb|[[Mario]] facing the fake [[Bowser's Brother]] in [[World D-4]] of ''[[Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels]]''.]]
Like Bowser, the blue [[Bowser's Brother]] in World D-4 is also a fake revealed to be a Spiny when defeated with fireballs, and only breathes fire. In ''Super Mario All-Stars'', both of these fakes are replaced with the real ones that only throw hammers, although Bowser's Brother is now green and looks identical to his twin. Due to ''[[All Night Nippon: Super Mario Bros.]]'' also featuring Worlds A-D, all of the fake Bowsers from those worlds return, including the fake Bowser's Brother in World D-4.

====''Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3''====
In ''[[Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3]]'', a fake Bowser appears as a boss in the [[World-e]] level [[Classic World 1-4]], where it plays a similar role to that played in ''Super Mario Bros.'', though it looks identical to the game's real Bowser. It is revealed that the fake Bowser is a Goomba if it is defeated with fireballs. Since it acts like the fake Bowsers in ''Super Mario Bros.'', it is shown walking, unlike ''Super Mario Advance 4''{{'}}s (as well as every other version of ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]''{{'}}s) depiction of Bowser, who only leaps.

====''Super Mario 3D Land''====
While typical fake Bowsers do not appear in ''[[Super Mario 3D Land]]'', variants powered by [[Super Leaf|Super Leaves]] known as [[Tail Bowser]]s make their first appearance.

====''Super Mario Run''====
In ''[[Super Mario Run]]'', fake Bowsers appear at the end of [[castle]] courses, excluding [[World 6 (Super Mario Run)|World 6]]'s [[Bowser's Bob-ombing Run]] and [[Make the Cut!]] which have the real Bowser. [[World 1 (Super Mario Run)| World 1]]'s castle, [[Bowser's Castle Hangout]], has a Goomba as the Fake Bowser.  [[World 3 (Super Mario Run)|World 3]]'s [[Fire Bar Castle! Youch!]] has a Green Koopa Troopa as the Fake Bowser, and [[World 5 (Super Mario Run)|World 5]]'s [[Rings of Fire!]] has a Buzzy Beetle as the Fake Bowser. They walk back and forth along their bridge, occasionally shooting a [[Bowser's Flame]], jumping, or jumping and briefly staying in the air to shoot a Bowser's Flame. A [[Pause Block]] is placed directly before the bridge, and a cutscene forces the player to stop on it the first time the player enters the area per run of the course. Fire Bar Castle! Youch! adds a [[Fire Bar]], while Rings of Fire! adds a [[Fire Chain]]. An [[Axe]] on the other side collapses the bridge, causing the Fake Bowser to reveal its true identity before falling into the lava.

Fake Bowsers do not have an entry in the Notebook. Rather, a Fake Bowser counts as the enemy using the disguise. Thus, the results screen for a course shows that enemy, and adds one to the number of that enemy defeated for the purposes of [[level up|leveling up]] that enemy.

In Remix 10, some areas end in castles, with the [[VS Bowser]] course. A Fake Bowser must be defeated, through the same means as before. For doing so, the player receives all three of the course's [[Bonus Medal]]s. The Fake Bowser is always the disguised form of a Goomba. VS Bowser allows the player to enter with a [[Super Star]] or while [[Invincible Mario|invincible]], and touching a Fake Bowser while invincible defeats it instantly. It is knocked off the bridge without losing the disguise. Area 30's version instead has the real Bowser.

===''Super Mario Party Jamboree'' / ''Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV''===
{{quote|Bet you didn't see that coming. Bye-bye, Toady! Hello, humongous Impostor Bowser!|Kamek|Super Mario Party Jamboree}}
[[file:SMPJ Bowser Crashers.png|thumb|Impostor Bowser in the ''Super Mario Party Jamboree'' minigame Bowser Crashers]]
In ''[[Super Mario Party Jamboree]]'', [[Kamek]] transforms a [[Toady]] into a massive fake Bowser called Impostor Bowser. Unlike other fake Bowsers, Impostor Bowser has a purple glow and Magikoopa magic symbols coming out of him. He replaces Bowser himself as the host of [[Bowser Space]]s due to Bowser being a playable character.

Impostor Bowser appears prominently on the [[King Bowser's Keep]] board, where he is in the middle of the Bowser Byway. Periodically, he will transform more spaces on the byway into Bowser Spaces, as well as changing the direction of travel should one of the [[Event Space]]s surrounding him be landed on. Uniquely on this board, he will grab players that land on Bowser Spaces instead of them being transported to another location, and even occasionally destroy the roulette to instantly steal a star or all of their coins. He also serves as the boss of that board in the Party-Planner Trek mode, being faced in the [[Bowser Crashers]] [[minigame]].

Aside from Mario Party mode, Impostor Bowser is also a focal point in the "Bowser Challenges", Koopathlon, and Bowser Kaboom Squad. Both involve surviving attacks from Impostor Bowser, with the ultimate goal of the latter being to defeat him within the time limit. Bowser is not a playable character in any of these modes.

Imposter Bowser reprises his role in the [[Nintendo Switch 2]] version of ''Super Mario Party Jamboree'', ''Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 + Jamboree TV''.
{{br}}

==List of appearances==
{|class="wikitable sortable" width=100%
!width=50%|Title
!width=20%|Description
!width=20%|Release date
!width=10%|Format
|-
|''[[Super Mario Bros.]]''
|Boss
|1985
|[[Family Computer]] / [[Nintendo Entertainment System]]
|-
|''[[Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels]]''
|Boss
|1986
|[[Family Computer Disk System]]
|-
|''[[Super Mario All-Stars]]''
|Boss
|1993
|[[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]]
|-
|''[[Super Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World]]''
|Boss
|1994
|Super Nintendo Entertainment System
|-
|''[[Super Mario Bros. Deluxe]]''
|Boss
|1999
|[[Game Boy Color]]
|-
|''[[Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3]]''
|Boss
|2003
|[[Game Boy Advance]]
|-
|''[[Super Mario All-Stars Limited Edition]]''
|Boss
|2010
|[[Wii]]
|-
|''[[Super Mario Run]]''
|Boss
|2016
|iOS, Android
|-
|''[[Super Mario Party Jamboree]]''
|Boss
|2024
|[[Nintendo Switch]]
|}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
SMB W1-4 Fake Bowser revealed Screenshot.png|''[[Super Mario Bros.]]''
Bowser_Impostor_All-Stars_Version.png|''[[Super Mario All-Stars]]''
SuperMarioRun - screen3.jpg|''[[Super Mario Run]]''
SMPJ King Bowser's Keep icon.png|''[[Super Mario Party Jamboree]]''
SMPJ King Bowser's Keep.png|''Super Mario Party Jamboree''
</gallery>
{{br|right}}

==Names in other languages==
{{foreign names
|Jpn=にせクッパ
|JpnR=Nise Kuppa
|JpnM=Fake Bowser
|JpnN=Shared with [[Bowser Clone]]
|JpnC=<ref>{{cite|author=Sakai, Kazuya (Ambit), kikai, Akinori Sao, Junko Fukuda, Kunio Takayama, and Ko Nakahara (Shogakukan), editors|language=ja|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|location=Tokyo|date=2015|title=『[[Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia|スーパーマリオブラザーズ百科: 任天堂公式ガイドブック]]』|page=19, 27|isbn=978-4-09-106569-8}}</ref><ref name=SMBsite>{{cite|author=[[Nintendo]]|url=www.nintendo.co.jp/character/mario/characters/smb/index.html|language=ja|title=CHARACTERS of ''Super Mario Bros.'' and ''Super Mario Bros. 2''|date=2020|publisher=Nintendo|accessdate=March 20, 2021|archive=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210074011/https://www.nintendo.co.jp/character/mario/characters/smb/index.html|archivedate=February 10, 2021|deadlink=yes}}</ref>
|Jpn2=ニセクッパ
|Jpn2R=Nise Kuppa
|Jpn2M=Fake Bowser
|Jpn2N=''[[Super Mario Party Jamboree]]''
|Jpn2C=<ref>{{cite|title=Super Mario Party Jamboree official Japanese website|url=nintendo.com/jp/switch/a7hla/index.html|publisher=Nintendo|language=ja|accessdate=October 14, 2024}}</ref>
|Dut=Nep-Bowser
|DutM=Fake Bowser
|DutC=<ref>{{cite|quote='''Een nep-Bowser?!''' In Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels moest Mario een blauwe nep-Bowser verslaan voor hij het tegen de echte kon opnemen. Die blauwe vorm is Bowsers achtste variatie in deze game.|author={{iw|smashwiki|Tips}}|title=''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'' by [[Nintendo]], [[Sora Ltd.]], and [[Bandai Namco Entertainment|BANDAI NAMCO Studios Inc.]]|format=European Localization|publisher=[[Nintendo|Nintendo of Europe SE (Germany)]]|language=nl|date=7 Dec. 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite|title=Super Mario Party Jamboree official Dutch game page|url=nintendo.com/nl-nl/Games/Nintendo-Switch-games/Super-Mario-Party-Jamboree-2591147.html|publisher=Nintendo|language=nl|accessdate=October 16, 2024}}</ref>
|Fre=Faux Bowser
|FreM=Fake Bowser
|FreC=<ref>{{cite|quote='''Un faux Bowser ?!''' Dans Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, Mario affronte un faux Bowser bleu avant le combat final. C'est aussi le huitième costume de Bowser dans ce jeu.|author={{iw|smashwiki|Tips|Smashtuces}}|title=''[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]'' by Sora Ltd. and Bandai Namco Games|format=European Localization|publisher=[[Nintendo|Nintendo of Europe SE (Germany)]]|language=fr|date=28 Nov. 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite|title=Super Mario Party Jamboree official Canadian French game page|url=nintendo.com/fr-ca/store/products/super-mario-party-jamboree-switch/|publisher=Nintendo|language=Canadian French|accessdate=October 16, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite|title=Super Mario Party Jamboree official European French game page|url=nintendo.com/fr-fr/Jeux/Jeux-Nintendo-Switch/Super-Mario-Party-Jamboree-2591147.html|publisher=Nintendo|language=fr|accessdate=October 16, 2024}}</ref>
|Fre2=Le faux Bowser
|Fre2M=The fake Bowser
|Fre2C=<ref>{{cite|date=2018|title="Super Mario Bros." in ''[[Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia|Super Mario Encyclopedia]]''|location=Toulon|publisher=Soleil Productions|language=fr|isbn=2302070046|page=19}}</ref>
|Fre2N=''[[Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia]]''
|Ger=Falscher Bowser
|GerM=Fake Bowser
|GerC=<ref>{{cite|quote='''Ein falscher Bowser?''' In „Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels“ kämpfte Mario gegen Bowsers blauen Doppelgänger! Blau ist übrigens Bowsers achte Farbe in diesem Spiel.|author={{iw|smashwiki|Tips}}|title=''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'' by Nintendo, Sora Ltd., and BANDAI NAMCO Studios Inc.|format=European Localization|publisher=[[Nintendo|Nintendo of Europe SE (Germany)]]|language=de|date=7 Dec. 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite|date=2017|title="Super Mario Bros." in ''[[Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia|Super Mario Encyclopedia]]''|location=Hamburg|publisher=Tokyopop|language=de|isbn=978-3-8420-3653-6|page=19}}</ref>
|Ger2=Trug-Bowser
|Ger2M=Deception Bowser
|Ger2C=<ref>{{cite|title=Super Mario Party Jamboree official German game page|url=nintendo.com/de-de/Spiele/Nintendo-Switch-Spiele/Super-Mario-Party-Jamboree-2591147.html|publisher=Nintendo|language=de|accessdate=October 16, 2024}}</ref>
|Ger2N=''Super Mario Party Jamboree''
|Ita=Falso Bowser
|ItaM=False Bowser
|ItaC=<ref>{{cite|date=2018|title=''[[Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia|Super Mario Bros. Enciclopedia]]''|publisher=Magazzini Salani|language=it|isbn=889367436X|page=19, 27}}</ref><ref>''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'', tip section: "Un falso Bowser?!"</ref>
|Ita2=Finto Bowser
|Ita2M=Fake Bowser
|Ita2N=''Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia''
|Ita2C=<ref>{{cite|date=2018|title=''[[Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia|Super Mario Bros. Enciclopedia]]''|publisher=Magazzini Salani|language=it|isbn=889367436X|page=22}}</ref>
|Ita3=Bowser finto
|Ita3M=Fake Bowser
|Ita3C=<ref>{{cite|title=Super Mario Party Jamboree official Italian game page|url=nintendo.com/it-it/Giochi/Giochi-per-Nintendo-Switch/Super-Mario-Party-Jamboree-2591147.html|publisher=Nintendo|language=it|accessdate=October 16, 2024}}</ref>
|Ita3N=''Super Mario Party Jamboree''
|Kor=가짜쿠파
|KorR=Gajja Kupa
|KorM=Fake Bowser
|KorC=<ref>{{cite|quote='''가짜 쿠파!?''' "슈퍼 마리오브라더스 2"에는 파랑 쿠파가 등장한다. 물리치고 나면 그 뒤에 낯익은 초록 쿠파가 있다. "스매시 브라더스"에선 8P 컬러로 파랑 쿠파가 된다.|author={{iw|smashwiki|Tips|스매시 팁}}|title=《[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate|슈퍼 스매시브라더스 얼티밋]]》 by Nintendo, Sora Ltd., and BANDAI NAMCO Studios Inc.|format=Korean Localization|publisher=[[Nintendo|Nintendo of Korea Co., Ltd.]]|language=ko|date=7 Dec. 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite|title=Super Mario Party Jamboree official Korean website|url=nintendo.co.kr/switch/a7hla/|publisher=Nintendo|language=ko|accessdate=October 14, 2024}}</ref>
|Por=Bowser Impostor
|PorM=Impostor Bowser
|PorC=<ref>{{cite|title=Super Mario Party Jamboree official Brazilian game page|url=nintendo.com/pt-br/store/products/super-mario-party-jamboree-switch/|publisher=Nintendo|language=pt-br|accessdate=October 16, 2024}}</ref>
|Rus=Лже-Боузер
|RusR=Lzhe-Bouzer
|RusM=False Bowser
|RusN=''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate''
|RusC=<ref>{{cite|quote='''Лже-Боузер?!''' B игре Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels перед встречей с Боузером Марио сражался с синим Лже-Боузером. B этой игре это восьмая внешность Боузера как бойца!|author={{iw|smashwiki|Tips|Советы}}|title=''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'' by Nintendo, Sora Ltd., and BANDAI NAMCO Studios Inc.|format=European Localization|publisher=[[Nintendo|Nintendo of Europe SE (Germany)]]|language=ru|date=7 Dec. 2018}}</ref>
|Rus2=Лжебоузер
|Rus2R=Lzhebouzer
|Rus2M=False Bowser
|Rus2C=<ref>{{cite|quote=Неожиданно, да? Прощай, мелкий маджикупа! Да здравствует великий Лжебоузер!|title=''Super Mario Party Jamboree''|publisher=Nintendo|language=ru}}</ref>
|Rus2N=''Super Mario Party Jamboree''
|SpaA=Bowser impostor
|SpaAM=Impostor Bowser
|SpaAC=<ref>{{cite|quote='''¡¿Un Bowser impostor?!''' En Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, Mario se enfrentaba a un Bowser azul falso antes de pelear contra el real. ¡Y ya había vencido a otros siete!|author={{iw|smashwiki|Tips|Consejos}}|title=''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'' by Nintendo, Sora Ltd., and BANDAI NAMCO Studios Inc.|format=North American Localization|publisher=[[Nintendo|Nintendo of America Inc.]]|language=es|date=7 Dec. 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite|title=Super Mario Party Jamboree official Mexican Spanish game page|url=nintendo.com/es-mx/store/products/super-mario-party-jamboree-switch/|publisher=Nintendo|language=es-419|accessdate=October 16, 2024}}</ref>
|SpaE=Bowser falso
|SpaEM=Fake Bowser
|SpaEN=''Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia''
|SpaEC=<ref>{{cite|date=2017|title="Super Mario Bros." in ''[[Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia|Enciclopedia Super Mario Bros]]''|location=Madrid|publisher=Planeta Cómic|language=es|isbn=8491462236|page=19}}</ref>
|SpaE2=Bowser de pega
|SpaE2M=False Bowser
|SpaE2N=''Super Mario Party Jamboree''
|SpaE2C=<ref>{{cite|title=Super Mario Party Jamboree official European Spanish game page|url=nintendo.com/es-es/Juegos/Juegos-de-Nintendo-Switch/Super-Mario-Party-Jamboree-2591147.html|publisher=Nintendo|language=es-es|accessdate=October 16, 2024}}</ref>
}}

==Notes==
[[File:Superstarfalse.png|thumb|A cardboard Bowser in ''Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga''.]]
*The World 3 and World C (original) fake Bowsers are the only Buzzy Beetles that can be defeated by fireballs (outside of ''[[Super Mario Bros.: Peach-hime Kyūshutsu Dai Sakusen!]]''), and the World C (''All-Stars'') and "You VS. Boo" 2-4 (''Deluxe'') ones are the only Bullet Bills that can be defeated by fireballs.
**The World A and World C fake Bowsers in ''All-Stars'' are the only fake Bowsers whose true forms are right-side-up instead of upside-down.
*The World 6 and World 7 Bowsers, despite spitting flames at the player from a distance, do not breathe fire in their actual battles, only throwing hammers.
*In ''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga]]'' and ''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions]]'', an exaggerated cardboard Bowser suspended by a pair of ropes over a bridge is seen at the end of a special area inside [[Bowser's Castle]], which is a side-scrolling level imitating a ''Super Mario Bros.'' castle. [[Mario]] must move underneath the stationary object and touch the [[axe]] to make it fall.
**In both Lemmy and Wendy's boss fights, they have doppelgangers that are disguised Spinies, similar to the Fake Bowsers (although they bore more similarities to the [[Decoy (obstacle)|decoys]] from ''Super Mario World'' in overall role).
*If the player beats [[Bowser's Sky Scuffle]] with any character barring [[Bowser Jr.]] in ''[[Mario Party: Island Tour]]'', Bowser will reveal that the "Bowser" they defeated had been a decoy, which may have been a reference to the fake Bowsers.

==References==
<references/>

{{Koopas}}
{{SMB}}
{{SMB3}}
{{SMR}}
{{SMPJ}}
[[Category:Koopas]]
[[Category:Bowser lookalikes]]
[[Category:Shapeshifters]]
[[Category:Fire creatures]]
[[Category:Bosses]]
[[Category:Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 enemies]]
[[Category:Super Mario Bros. enemies]]
[[Category:Super Mario Bros. Deluxe]]
[[Category:Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels enemies]]
[[Category:Super Mario Party Jamboree characters]]
[[Category:Super Mario Run enemies]]
[[de:Falscher Bowser]]
[[it:Bowser finto]]