If the idea of an Italian plumber collecting mushrooms was pitched to a game developer today, they’d probably ask where the quick-time events and DLC are. But thankfully Mario is a hero of yesteryear, synonymous with video game history and culture. Mario’s image is so solid that it even stood strong in the wake of 1993’s movie adaptation Super Mario Bros. (read Empire‘s take here).

From his earliest Donkey Kong battling days as Jumpman, to his latest HD adventures on the Nintendo Switch, Mario has starred in countless games – and here’s a pick of the best.