Luigi
The playable protagonist who travels around the world searching for Mario and recovering stolen landmarks and artifacts.
Documented for this version
Arrow UpArrow DownArrow LeftArrow Right | Move Luigi |
|---|---|
A | Jump or confirm a selection |
B | Cancel or interact with available objects |
Button behavior can vary by screen and activity.
These are Nintendo Entertainment System controller inputs.
How it plays
The game uses a side-view exploration format inside Bowser’s castle and a series of world locations. Luigi searches each area for stolen artifacts and gathers clues by speaking with characters and consulting information.
Progress depends on answering geography questions correctly and returning each recovered item to the appropriate location. The main objective is to clear the required destinations and stop Bowser’s plan. Platforming is limited compared with other Mario games, and the emphasis is on reading, identifying landmarks, and recalling facts.
Plan your run
Read every clue carefully before answering a question. City names, landmarks, flags, currencies, and country information are often linked, so use the surrounding location as an additional hint.
Return artifacts promptly after identifying them. When unsure, revisit characters and information sources rather than guessing repeatedly, since the game’s progression is tied to correct answers.
Meet the cast
The playable protagonist who travels around the world searching for Mario and recovering stolen landmarks and artifacts.
Luigi’s brother, who is kidnapped by Bowser at the beginning of the game.
The antagonist who kidnaps Mario and steals cultural objects as part of his plan to melt Antarctica.
Before you begin
Record each landmark’s city and country while exploring.
Use the information provided by characters before answering quiz questions.
Expect a slower, reading-focused experience than a standard Mario platformer.
Mario is Missing! is an educational adventure game developed by The Software Toolworks and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1993. Luigi takes the lead after Bowser kidnaps Mario and begins melting Antarctica’s ice to fund his scheme. The game combines side-scrolling exploration with geography quizzes about real-world cities, landmarks, currencies, and cultural facts. Players visit locations, question characters, recover stolen objects, and return them to museums or their rightful places. Its deliberately instructional structure makes it very different from a traditional Mario platformer. Reception was mixed: the game was recognized for presenting educational material in a familiar Nintendo setting, but its slow pace, repetitive questioning, and limited action disappointed players expecting a conventional platform game.
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