List of references in video game pre-release and unused content

On multiple occasions, in both first-party and third-party video games, references to the Super Mario franchise have appeared and then been subsequently removed from a game. This can range from the inclusion of Super Mario locations to unused sprites of Super Mario characters. The following is a list of references to the Super Mario franchise that went unused.

First-party games

Metroid Fusion (GBA)

• A test level in the game's files uses objects and sprites from Wario Land 4, suggesting that the two games share the game engine.

Mickey's Speedway USA (N64)

Greenwood Village.

• Greenwood Village is hidden within the game's files, and can be raced on via a GameShark code. This is because Mickey's Speedway USA uses a similar engine to Diddy Kong Racing, which was also developed by Rare.

Pikmin series

Pikmin (GCN)

Unused Mario model in Pikmin.

• Unused models show a giant form of Mario and a model entitled "Kuribo", the Japanese name for Goomba. The model is the planned Goomba design for Super Mario Sunshine suggesting an appearance was planned but later scrapped.

Pikmin 2 (GCN)

• The game includes four unused treasures based on various Nintendo GameCube game discs, including Luigi's Mansion and Super Mario Sunshine.

Punch-Out!! (Wii)

Main article: Punch-Out!! (Wii)

• Princess Peach was considered to appear as an opponent in this game, but the idea was scrapped due to Kensuke Tanabe's concerns about violence towards women. Mario was also considered to be an opponent or reprise his role from the NES game as the referee, but these were decided against as the developers deemed punching him in the game to be inappropriate and thought he would not fit well with the game's art style.

Rhythm Tengoku (GBA)

• There is an unused song in the game's files that consists of the first six notes of the Ground BGM from Super Mario Bros. Its placement in the files suggest that it was going to be used as the practice song for The Bon Odori.

Uniracers (SNES)

• Mario, Donkey Kong, Wario and Yoshi among other Nintendo characters cameo in pre-release footage from Nintendo Power Previews #9.

Third-party games

Alex Kidd in Shinobi World (Sega Master System)

"Mari-Oh"

• During development, the first boss of the game was intended to be a character based on Ken-Oh, the first boss of the Shinobi arcade game, named "Mari-Oh", who bore a striking resemblance to Mario (likely to mock Nintendo, as the Alex Kidd games were all made by Sega, Nintendo's business rival at the time) By the final game, however, Mari-Oh was replaced with the unrelated "Kabuto" boss. "Kabuto", however, throws fireballs like Fire Mario to attack, and shrinks in size after taking enough damage.

Astal (Sega Saturn)

• A sprite of Mario is present in the game's data.

Bangai-O Spirits (DS)

• • A background resembling Super Mario Bros. with a dead, green Piranha Plant-looking creature, a superimposed human face at the top-left corner, and a superimposed mushroom in the underground half can be found in the game's files.

Braid (XBLA and multiplatform)

• One of the game's levels is named "Jumpman" (referencing Mario's original name), which resembles 25m from the original Donkey Kong arcade game. In Indie Game: The Movie, it is shown that the gorilla in said level was originally a sprite of Donkey Kong from the arcade game in the prototype.

Colors Live (Switch)

• Three paintings of Broque Monsieur are shown in the application's Kickstarter trailer.

Crash Bandicoot (PS1)

• In one of the game's prototypes, there is an unused stage hidden in the files that has the same layout as 25 m in Donkey Kong.

Dino Crisis 2 (PS1)

• There is an unused track in the trial version of the game that is an arrangement of the Ground Theme from Super Mario Bros.

The Fairly OddParents: Breakin' Da Rules

• An enemy's file name is called "PiranhaPlant.gcp", referencing its namesake.

Fortnite (multiplatform)

An asset resembling a ? Block, named "MC Box", is present in the game's files during Update v32.00 that would lead to Chapter 2 Remix, possibly intended as a vehicle cosmetic. As of January 2025, the purpose of this asset is unknown.

Hard'n Heavy (Amiga/C64)

• Originally meant to be a sequel to the famous Super Mario Bros. clone The Great Giana Sisters, this game was originally known as Giana 2: Arthur and Martha in Future World. This changed due to a lawsuit, as Nintendo threatened to take legal action due to the game's deliberate similarity to their flagship franchise. Just like the The Great Giana Sisters, Hard'n Heavy features two heroes (Heavy and Metal) who make their way through a Super Mario-styled, vertically-scrolling futuristic world.

Hebereke no Popoon (Arcade)

• An unused sprite of Roy Koopa is found in the game's graphics bank for the cutscenes. The graphic was taken from Terebi Denwa: Super Mario World.

Mega Turrican (Genesis)

• Hidden within the game's data is a sprite of Mario frozen in carbonite similar to Han Solo in the Star Wars films. This is restored in Mega Turrican Director's Cut.

Postal 2 (PC)

• A model of Kamek, based on the appearance of Magikoopas in Super Mario World artwork and the Super Mario World television series, is present in the game's files.

Sea of Thieves (multiplatform)

T.T. seen as a placeholder

T.T. was used as a placeholder model during the game's development; he never actually appears in the final game.

Sega GT (Dreamcast)

• In a prototype for the game, Luigi appears as a flag bearer.

Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne (PS2)

• A placeholder message contained in the files of the original game is spoken by Luigi and alludes to Mario.

Simple DS Series Vol. 44: The Gal Mahjong (DS)

• Sprites of Yoshi and a Shy Guy from Yoshi Demo can be found in the game data.