Mario: Mario is the main character of the series. He is an Italian-American man, and was originally referred to as Jumpman in Donkey Kong. He is often portrayed having superhuman acrobatics. In most of the Mario spin-offs, he is the most average character, and is a good choice for starters. He is usually portrayed today with his iconic hat with an M, while also wearing a red shirt and blue overalls. He also has his iconic brown mustache.
Luigi: Luigi is Mario's slightly taller brother. His abilities are usually the same as Mario's, but in some games Luigi can jump higher. Luigi is usually the sidekick, but was the hero in a few games such as Luigi's Mansion. His appearance is similar to Mario's, but instead wears a green shirt and hat with the letter L.
Peach: Princess Peach is the Princess of the Mushroom Kingdom. Mario often saves her from Bowser in many of the Mario games. She is a girlfriend and love interest of Mario. However, she may sometimes be the protagonist in the game, such as Super Princess Peach and Super Mario 3D World. She is shown wearing a pink dress and a crown on her head of yellow hair. She is also known as Princess Toadstool.
Daisy: Daisy is the Princess of Sarasaland. The first game that she was in was Super Mario Land. She is a girlfriend and love interest of Luigi. She dresses similarly as Peach, but with an orange dress and brown hair.
Yoshi: Yoshi is a dinosaur that Mario rides in some games. He is the best friend and partner of Mario. He appeared in his own game, Yoshi's Island. He can have many colors.
Toad: Toad is a mushroom-shaped creature who appears in many Mario series games. He is the Toadette's boyfriend and Mario's 2nd best friend and sidekick. He is just one of many toads. These creatures first appeared in Super Mario Bros., where they were called Mushroom Retainers.
Toadette: Toadette is a female version of Toad, and she is Toad’s girlfriend and Mario's good friend, but her mushroom hat is pink and white and she wore pigtails.
Diddy Kong: Donkey Kong's smaller sidekick in the Donkey Kong Country series.
Main Villains
Bowser: Bowser is the King of Koopas, a turtle-like monster species, who was first seen in Super Mario Bros. He kidnaps Princess Peach many times, and is beaten by Mario.
Kamek: A powerful magic Koopa leader who raised Bowser and appears as the secondary villain of the Yoshi games.
The Koopalings: Includes Iggy Koopa, Morton Koopa Jr., Lemmy Koopa, Ludwig Von Koopa, Larry Koopa, Roy Koopa, and Wendy O. Koopa.
Wario: Wario is an evil version of Mario who likes money. He is short, fat, muscular, and wears yellow. Wario is voiced by Charles Martinet.
Waluigi: Waluigi is Wario's sidekick, and an evil version of Luigi. He is tall and thin, like Luigi, and wears purple. Waluigi is voiced by Charles Martinet.
Tatanga: A space alien who stole Princess Daisy and took over the kingdom of Sarasaland in Super Mario Land. He returns in Super Mario Land 2 as a henchman of Wario.
Koopa Troopa: Koopa Troopas are turtle-like monsters that often work for Bowser, though in some games, they are friendly. They are playable characters in some Mario sports games, such as Mario Kart.
Goomba: Goombas are mushroom shaped enemies that are the most common in the series. They are easily killed by jumping on their head.