The Mario Franchise is a popular series of video games created by Nintendo, featuring the iconic character Mario, a plumber who embarks on adventures to rescue Princess Peach from the villain Bowser. The franchise began with the release of Donkey Kong in 1981 and gained immense popularity with the launch of Super Mario Bros. in 1985, which set the standard for platforming games. Over the years, the Mario Franchise has expanded to include various spin-off games, such as Mario Kart, Mario Party, and Super Smash Bros., showcasing a diverse range of gameplay styles. The franchise has sold over 368 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling video game franchises in history.