Super Mario Land

The launch game for the introduction of the Game Boy, 1989’s Super Mario Land paved the way for the future of gaming. Released in tandem with the handheld console, this was the first Mario series game in Sarasland (rather than the Mushroom Kingdom) and the first in the series made without series creator Shigeru Miyamoto. This relatively short game was meant to be a portable version of Super Mario Bros, which had gained wide popularity on the NES. Lauded for its soundtrack, the game was a significant departure from traditional Mario series forms.