Mario games released only in Japan

ListJapan exclusivesRetro

One Mario sponsored by a radio show, another one to teach you how to knit. This list rounds up the titles that never left the archipelago: Super Mario Bros. Special and All Night Nippon Super Mario Bros. in 1986, the astonishing I am a Teacher: Super Mario no Sweater, the BS Super Mario Collection broadcast by satellite in 1997, and Excitebike: Bun Bun Mario Battle Stadium.

While Mario is now a worldwide video game icon, not all of his games got an international release. Some Mario games exclusive to Japan slipped by unnoticed in the West, whether because of their experimental nature, their educational format or their unusual hardware. Let's dig into these little-known titles, sometimes cult classics, often forgotten, but always fascinating for curious fans.

Contents

• 1. Educational and cultural games
• 2. Experimental and alternative titles
• 3. Arcade-only games
• 4. Recap table of the Japan-only Mario games
• 5. FAQ

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1. Educational and cultural games

In the 1990s, Nintendo developed several educational titles aimed at the Japanese public. Often released on rare formats or experimental ones, these games taught basic school skills under a Mario coat of paint.

• I am a Teacher: Super Mario no Sweater (1986): software for designing knitted sweater patterns, built for the Famicom Disk System.

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2. Experimental and alternative titles

Some games were developed for machines specific to Japan, or as part of one-of-a-kind services such as the Satellaview or the Famicom Disk System. They were never officially translated or sold anywhere else.

• BS Super Mario Collection (Satellaview): a re-release of the Mario games broadcast by satellite.
• Excitebike: Bun Bun Mario Battle Stadium (1997): a crossover broadcast solely on the Satellaview, blending Excitebike's gameplay with the Mario cast.
• Super Mario Bros. Special (1986): developed by Hudson Soft for the NEC PC-8801 and Sharp X1, with gameplay reworked compared to the original game.
• All Night Nippon Super Mario Bros. (1986): a special version of Super Mario Bros. inspired by a Japanese radio show, with reworked sprites.

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3. Arcade-only games

Mario also made a few forays into Japanese arcades with titles never seen, or barely distributed, outside Japan.

• Vs. Super Mario Bros.: a tougher version of the original game, available only in arcades until its re-release on Switch.
• Mario Kart Arcade GP DX: although it was partly distributed internationally, some updates and cabinets remain exclusive to Japan.

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4. Recap table of the Japan-only Mario games

Game name	Year	Platform	Type	Notable feature
Super Mario Bros. Special	1986	NEC PC-8801 / Sharp X1	Platformer	Developed by Hudson Soft
I am a Teacher: Super Mario no Sweater	1986	Famicom Disk System	Creative	Lets you design sweater patterns
BS Super Mario Collection	1997	Satellaview	Compilation	Game broadcast by satellite
Excitebike: Bun Bun Mario Battle Stadium	1997	Satellaview	Racing	An Excitebike take starring Mario
All Night Nippon Super Mario Bros.	1986	Famicom Disk System	Platformer	Radio-themed reworked sprites

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5. FAQ

• Why were some Mario games never released outside Japan? Usually for market reasons, language barriers, or formats incompatible with Western consoles.
• Can you still play these games today? Yes, through emulation or certain re-releases on virtual consoles such as the Switch or the Wii.
• Can the Satellaview games be recovered? Partly. Enthusiasts have preserved a number of ROMs, but some content is lost for good.
• Is Excitebike: Bun Bun Mario Battle Stadium a genuine official game? Yes, it was released exclusively through the Satellaview service in Japan.
• Is there an English version of Super Mario Bros. Special? Not officially, but fan translations do exist.

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