It’s the most famous "will they, won't they" in history. Forget Ross and Rachel. Forget whatever is happening on reality TV this week. Since 1985, we’ve been watching a short Italian plumber risk life, limb, and literal lava just to get a thank-you from a princess in a pink dress. But if you're looking for a genuine, full-blown mario and peach kiss, you might be waiting for a while. It’s weird, honestly. You’d think after forty years and roughly a billion Bowser defeats, he’d at least get a consistent spot on her calendar. Instead, Nintendo treats their romance like a state secret, giving us just enough of a tease to keep the fan theories alive while never actually letting the man close the deal.
The History of the Near-Miss and the Nose-Peck
Most people remember the ending of Super Mario Bros. on the NES. You get through World 8-4, you kill the lizard, and Peach tells you your quest is over. That’s it. No physical contact. No "I love you." Just a text box and some pixels. It wasn't until the 16-bit era and the handheld titles that things started getting a little spicy—well, "Nintendo spicy," which is basically the equivalent of a G-rated Hallmark movie.
In Super Mario World, if you manage to clear the Special Zone or just beat the game normally, you get a little scene. Peach stands there, the music swells, and she plants a quick kiss on Mario’s nose. It’s cute. It’s innocent. It’s also deeply frustrating if you’re a kid who just spent six hours fighting Football Chucks and Bowser’s Clown Car. We see this trend repeat in Super Mario 64. After Mario falls from the sky and loses his wing cap, Peach thanks him, bakes him a cake (the famous "The Cake is a Lie" precursor), and gives him a peck on the nose.
Why the nose?
Actually, Nintendo’s developers, specifically Shigeru Miyamoto, have often spoken about the characters being more like a "troupe of actors." Think of them like Mickey and Minnie Mouse. They have roles to play. If Mario and Peach actually got married or had a definitive, cinematic mario and peach kiss that changed their relationship status, the "rescue the princess" trope would lose its tension. You can't really have a high-stakes kidnapping if they're worried about their mortgage and who's picking up the kids from Toadstool Daycare.
That Time Odyssey Broke Everyone’s Heart
If you want to talk about the most controversial moment in their "relationship," we have to talk about Super Mario Odyssey. This was the moment. The moon was literally the backdrop. Mario had defeated Bowser in an epic gravity-defying battle. Both Mario and Bowser—who, let's be real, is just a very aggressive suitor—offered Peach flowers.
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Mario looked hopeful. Bowser looked desperate.
Peach? Peach said "No."
She rejected both of them. She hopped on the Odyssey ship and almost left them stranded on the moon. It was a massive subversion of the trope. For decades, fans assumed the mario and peach kiss was the ultimate endgame, the "Level 100" reward. By having Peach choose her own independence in that moment, Nintendo signaled that she isn't just a trophy to be won at the end of a platforming gauntlet. She’s a sovereign ruler who’s probably a bit tired of being shoved into bags and dragged to volcanic castles.
Honestly, it made Mario look a bit pathetic, standing there with his piranha plant bouquet. But it also humanized him. He’s not a stoic hero; he’s a guy who gets nervous and fails at romance just like anyone else. This "friend zone" status is actually essential for the gameplay loop. If they were a settled couple, the motivation for the games would have to shift entirely, perhaps into something more like It Takes Two, which, while great, isn't the vibe of a mainline Mario title.
What the "Ship" Community Gets Wrong
Walk into any corner of the internet dedicated to "shipping" and you’ll find mountains of fan art depicting a deep, soul-shattering mario and peach kiss. Fans want it. They crave the catharsis. But if you look at the actual lore—and yes, Mario has lore, even if it’s messy—the relationship is more about mutual respect and a weirdly consistent "knight and lady" dynamic.
- The RPGs tell a different story: In games like Paper Mario or the Mario & Luigi series, we see more personality. There are hints of deeper affection. In Super Mario RPG, you can actually find Peach's... "XX," which is widely hinted to be her underwear (the localization was weird back then).
- The Sports titles: This is where the chemistry actually shows up. In Mario Power Tennis, if Peach wins a trophy, she blows a kiss to Mario, who basically has a heart attack from joy. It’s played for laughs, but it’s the most "couple-y" they ever get.
- The Movie Factor: The 2023 Super Mario Bros. Movie changed the dynamic significantly. Peach was the mentor; Mario was the fish out of water. There was no kiss. There was barely a romantic spark, leaning more into a "partners in crime" vibe. This suggests that Nintendo is moving away from the "damsel" narrative entirely to protect the brand's modern image.
Real Talk: Will It Ever Happen?
Let’s be real for a second. A definitive, lips-to-lips mario and peach kiss in a mainline game would probably break the internet, but it would also "end" the story. In the world of intellectual property, "happily ever after" is a death sentence. Once the hero gets the girl, the tension evaporates. Look at what happened in The Legend of Zelda. Link and Zelda have a thousand years of tension, yet they rarely even hold hands. It's a Japanese storytelling quirk—the beauty is in the yearning, not the consummation.
Also, consider the demographics. Mario is for everyone. From a four-year-old in Tokyo to a sixty-year-old in London. Keeping the romance at a "peck on the cheek" level keeps it safe, universal, and eternally repeatable. It’s basically a loop. Bowser kidnaps, Mario travels, Mario wins, Peach gives a small token of gratitude, repeat. It’s a ritual.
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Why the "Nose Kiss" Matters
- It maintains the E-for-everyone rating without question.
- It keeps the characters in a state of perpetual "almost."
- It allows Peach to maintain her status as a powerful individual rather than just "Mario's girlfriend."
- It drives the sales of the next game because we’re all suckers for "maybe this time."
If you’re looking for evidence of their love, look at the small things. Look at how Mario keeps a photo of her in his house in various games. Look at how Peach bakes him cakes even when she’s not being rescued. It’s a domestic, comfortable kind of affection that doesn't need a cinematic make-out session to be valid.
Actionable Takeaways for the Mario Fan
If you're trying to track down every instance of their "romantic" encounters, you've got to look outside the main platformers.
- Check out the ending of Super Mario World (SNES): It's the most iconic "reward" kiss in the series history.
- Play the Mario & Luigi RPGs: These games have the best dialogue and character interactions that hint at their actual feelings.
- Watch the credits of Mario Odyssey: It’s a masterclass in "friend-zoning" and shows a more modern side of Peach.
- Don't ignore the spin-offs: Games like Mario Kart and Mario Party often have "chemistry" mechanics that pair them together for stat boosts.
The mario and peach kiss might be the "Bigfoot" of gaming—lots of sightings, plenty of blurry photos, but no definitive proof of a lasting relationship. And honestly? That's probably for the best. The chase is always more interesting than the catch, especially when the chase involves jumping over fireballs and riding green dinosaurs.
Next time you beat a Mario game and feel disappointed that he only got a thank-you note and a snack, just remember: he's doing it for the love of the game. And maybe, just maybe, he really likes cake.
Next Steps for Lore Hunters
To truly understand the dynamic, go back and play Super Princess Peach on the DS. It flips the script entirely, putting Peach in the hero role. Seeing her motivation to save Mario provides a lot more context for their relationship than any 2D ending ever could. You can also dive into the various manga adaptations, though be warned: the Japanese "Super Mario-kun" manga gets much weirder and more slapstick than anything you’ll see on the Switch.