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In the early 1990s, the video game industry saw a surge in "edutainment" titles—games designed to teach while they entertained. Among the most famous of these is Mario Is Missing!, a title that subverted the long-standing tropes of the Super Mario franchise. For the first time, Mario was not the hero of the story; instead, he was the victim of a kidnapping, leaving his often-overshadowed brother, Luigi, to step into the spotlight. Developed by The Software Toolworks and released on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in 1993, this game traded precision platforming for geographic trivia and exploration, offering a unique, if polarizing, experience for fans of the Mushroom Kingdom.
Unlike most Mario adventures that take place in the fantastical Mushroom Kingdom, Mario Is Missing! is set on Earth. The plot follows Bowser, who has set up a base in Antarctica. In a characteristically bizarre scheme, Bowser plans to use thousands of hairdryers to melt the Antarctic ice caps, flooding the Earth and allowing him to claim the world's treasures. To fund this operation, his Koopas travel to various real-world cities—such as New York, Paris, Rome, and Tokyo—to steal priceless historical artifacts.
When Mario, Luigi, and Yoshi travel to Antarctica to stop him, Mario is captured by a Piranha Plant. Luigi, initially hesitant and fearful, must overcome his cowardice to navigate the globe, recover the stolen items, and track down his missing brother. The game takes players on a digital tour of our world, visiting dozens of famous landmarks along the way.
The gameplay of Mario Is Missing! deviates significantly from the core Super Mario series. There is no running and jumping over pits or stomping Goombas in the traditional sense. Instead, Luigi explores various city streets in a top-down/side-scrolling hybrid perspective. To progress, Luigi must defeat Koopas wandering the streets to retrieve stolen artifacts, such as the Mona Lisa's smile or the torch from the Statue of Liberty.
Once an item is recovered, Luigi must talk to local citizens to gather clues about his current location and the specific landmark the item belongs to. This involves answering geography-based questions to prove he is at the correct destination. Once the artifact is returned to the local information booth, Luigi must use his "Globulator" device to summon Yoshi, who helps him navigate to the next city via a transport tube. The SNES version features colorful 16-bit sprites and a simplified interface, making it accessible for younger audiences while challenging their knowledge of world history and geography.
This game was released on several platforms, including the PC, NES, and the Super Nintendo Entertainment System.
Mario Is Missing! holds a fascinating place in gaming history. While it was met with mixed reviews from critics who found the lack of action disappointing, it remains a cult classic for its educational value and its status as Luigi’s first solo starring role. It predates Luigi's Mansion by nearly a decade, serving as the first piece of media to really lean into Luigi’s personality as a reluctant, nervous hero. Today, it is remembered as a hallmark of the 90s edutainment era, illustrating Nintendo's willingness at the time to license its characters for experimental educational purposes. The game’s music, which features 16-bit remixes of classic Mario themes, also remains a nostalgic point for many players.