Super Mario Bros (Special)

Overview

The Super Mario Bros Special Edition is a unique Game & Watch unit that stands apart from the main series lineup. This special release was produced to commemorate the Super Mario Bros franchise and features a distinctive design that reflects the era's enthusiasm for Nintendo's breakout character. It is one of the more unusual and collectible items in the entire Game & Watch catalogue.

Unlike the standard New Wide Screen or Multi Screen releases of the era, this special edition was produced in limited quantities and is considered a premium collector's item. Its connection to the Super Mario Bros brand — at a time when Mario was becoming Nintendo's most recognisable character globally — gives it particular historical significance.

Gameplay

The gameplay adapts the Super Mario Bros platforming concept to the Game & Watch LCD format. Mario must navigate obstacles and enemies across the LCD screen, using the directional controls to jump and move. The single-screen format condenses the platforming action into a repeating challenge that escalates in difficulty as the score increases. Both Game A and Game B modes are included.

Legacy & Significance

This special edition represents the intersection of two of Nintendo's greatest products: the Game & Watch format and the Super Mario Bros franchise. As a limited release it is considerably rarer than standard Game & Watch units, and examples in good condition are highly sought after by collectors. It serves as a fascinating artefact of the mid-1980s moment when Nintendo's fortunes were transformed by the global success of Super Mario Bros.