History EnsembleDarkhorse / SuperMarioBros

* No discussion about ''Mario'' darkhorses is complete without mention of Fawful, Cackletta's [[IntentionalEngrishForFunny Engrish]]-spewing sidekick from the ''[[VideoGame/MarioAndLuigi Mario & Luigi]]'' RPG series. He's gone from [[TheDragon Dragon]], to [[TheCameo Cameo]], to one of the most successful {{Big Bad}}s in the series.

* Fans have been begging for ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRPG'''s Geno to make another appearance ''anywhere'', but he has yet to show up outside his role in the original RPG. He got a cameo in ''[[VideoGame/MarioAndLuigi Mario & Luigi]]'', but beyond that, the reason he hasn't appeared is likely due to [[FanNickname Squeenix]] still holding the rights to the character. Many years later, Geno is remembered in Super Smash Bros. 4 when he comes along with the Chocobo Hat and Cloud Strife as a Mii Fighter costume.

* From the same game, Flavio. Initially, he was loved because of being haughty and arrogant, yet endearing, especially since nobody else in-game likes him. His popularity skyrocketed years after the game's release when it was discovered that, by using a few glitches to open up shortcuts to Keelhaul Key and Poshley Heights early, Flavio can be your guest in the party permanently, resulting in him showing up at particularly random times and places during cutscenes.
* Goombella's been getting a fairly decent following in recent years for being a BadassAdorable [[BadassBookworm Bookworm]] who provides plenty of the game's [[Funny/PaperMario gut-busters]] through her Tattles. It also helps that she has the [[GameBreaker Multibonk]] like Goombario before her, enabling her to dish out some serious punishment. She even got a cameo in ''Sticker Star's'' localization that wasn't there in the original, alongside Parakarry.

* Since then, though, the latest ''DK'' darkhorse seems to be Funky, who has been the fourth character in ''VideoGame/DKKingOfSwing'' and ''VideoGame/DKJungleClimber'', was unlockable alongside Diddy in ''VideoGame/MarioKart Wii'', and got an entire mode dedicated to playing as him in the Switch rerelease of ''Tropical Freeze''.

* Due to once being series mainstays second only to the Kongs themselves that have been PutOnABus since 2008, King K. Rool (and, by extension, the Kremlings in general) have tons of fans demanding their return. K. Rool in particular also has fans of his [[WesternAnimation/DonkeyKongCountry cartoon characterization]], an AffablyEvil WickedCultured tyrant with [[VillainSong an impeccable singing voice]]. King K. Rool's playable debut in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate'' has pleased older ''Donkey Kong Country'' fans, with moves based from the original ''DKC'' trilogy and ''[=DK64=]''. [[https://www.sourcegaming.info/2018/08/22/more-information-about-the-smash-direct-sakurais-famitsu-column-vol-561/ Even Sakurai mentioned the Smash Ballot for his popularity]].

* Waluigi started out as a character solely to mirror Mario and Wario's rivalry by giving Luigi an enemy, completely lacking a personality beyond being overconfident and narcissistic. Since then, Waluigi has steadily increased in popularity over the years, even earning himself several appearances in the ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' series as an Assist Trophy. The biggest reason he's so popular is thanks to ''Webcomic/BrawlInTheFamily'', where the fans of the series were able to see Waluigi in a different (and crazier and funnier) light. He also became more of a mischievous trickster with flairs of TragicVillain and ButtMonkey thrown in as more games came out to give him a better degree of characterization than just "rival to Luigi," got some awesome music and stages to his name (particularly [[VideoGame/MarioKart Waluigi Pinball]] in ''Mario Kart DS''), and was given [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments increasingly hilarious mannerisms and roles]] in the games he appeared in (even serving as the BigBad in ''VideoGame/DanceDanceRevolutionMarioMix''). All of this combined with his early years as TheScrappy fading steadily into the realm of distant memory have earned him so much more positive reception in recent years that [[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2018/06/12/waluigi-was-robbed-and-humiliated-by-nintendo-and-his-fans-are-furious/?utm_term=.938b8bd31618 demand for him to be included as a playable fighter in]] ''Super Smash Bros''. or even given his own game to star in is prevalent [[MemeticMutation across the internet]].

* [[VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy Rosalina]] is very popular among the fans of the series, mainly thanks to her being one of the only, if not ''the'' only female in the main series that is not a DamselInDistress and has more character and personality to her (especially given the inclusion of her TearJerker backstory as an unlockable in the first ''Mario Galaxy''). Since her debut, she has appeared in several spin-off titles, [[spoiler:was an unlockable character in ''Super Mario 3D World'']], and even became playable in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'', possibly the highest honor for any Nintendo character.

* 9-Volt and 18-Volt. Why? Because their mini games are all based on classic Nintendo franchises. How can anyone not like mini games/microgames based on ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'', ''[[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda Zelda]]'' and ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}''?

* Due to once being series mainstays second only to the Kongs themselves that have been PutOnABus since 2008, King K. Rool (and, by extension, the Kremlings in general) have tons of fans demanding their return. King K. Rool's playable debut in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate'' has pleased older ''Donkey Kong Country'' fans, with his movesets that are based from the original ''DKC'' trilogy and ''[=DK64=]''. [[https://www.sourcegaming.info/2018/08/22/more-information-about-the-smash-direct-sakurais-famitsu-column-vol-561/ Even Sakurai mentioned the Smash Ballot for his popularity]].

* Popple also takes this status due to being an amusing IneffectualSympatheticVillain who keeps trying and failing to best the Mario Bros. People rejoiced when they discovered his return in ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiDreamTeam'', and even though he TookALevelInJerkass, he's still well-liked in both appearances for the comedy factory alone.

* Bowser's original seven children, the Koopalings, were a well loved QuirkyMinibossSquad that appeared before being replaced by [[ReplacementScrappy Bowser Jr.]] Their surprise return in ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBrosWii'' made many nostalgic fans happy, even if some are [[ItsTheSameSoItSucks annoyed that they appeared in so many games after that]].

* No discussion about ''Mario'' darkhorses is complete without mention of Fawful, Cackletta's [[IntentionalEngrishForFunny Engrish]]-spewing sidekick from the ''[[VideoGame/MarioAndLuigi Mario & Luigi]]'' RPG series. He's gone from [[TheDragon Dragon]], to [[TheCameo Cameo]], to... wait for it... BigBad.

* Popple will also be taking this status, see?

* Piranha Plants, specifically the standard "moves-up-down-in-a-pipe" Piranha Plant, saw a rapid increase in popularity after a Piranha Plant was added as an UnexpectedCharacter to ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate''. Since then, likely thanks to its endearing UglyCute depiction in ''Ultimate'', the Piranha Plant has quickly shot up the ranks to become one of the Mario series' most popular {{mook}}s.

* Waluigi started out as a character solely to mirror Mario and Wario's rivalry by giving Luigi an enemy, completely lacking a personality beyond being overconfident and narcissistic. Since then, Waluigi has steadily increased in popularity over the years, even earning himself several appearances in the ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' series as an Assist Trophy. The biggest reason he's so popular is thanks to ''Webcomic/BrawlInTheFamily'', where the fans of the series were able to see Waluigi in a different (and crazier and funnier) light. He also became more of a mischievous trickster with flairs of TragicVillain and ButtMonkey thrown in as more games came out to give him a better degree of characterization than just "rival to Luigi," got some awesome music and stages to his name (particularly [[VideoGame/MarioKart Waluigi Pinball]] in ''Mario Kart DS''), and was given [[CrowningMomentOfFunny increasingly hilarious mannerisms and roles]] in the games he appeared in (even serving as the BigBad in ''VideoGame/DanceDanceRevolutionMarioMix''). All of this combined with his early years as TheScrappy fading steadily into the realm of distant memory have earned him so much more positive reception in recent years that [[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2018/06/12/waluigi-was-robbed-and-humiliated-by-nintendo-and-his-fans-are-furious/?utm_term=.938b8bd31618 demand for him to be included as a playable fighter in]] ''Super Smash Bros''. or even given his own game to star in is prevalent [[MemeticMutation across the internet]].

* Vivian and Doopliss from ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor'' are this. The former for being an AntiVillain who [[TheWoobie is constantly mistreated by her sisters]], which [[MistreatmentInducedBetrayal she eventually has had enough of and makes her switch sides to fight alongside Mario]]. It also helps that she is really [[CuteWitch cute]] and arguably one of the best partners in the game. The latter is appreciated for being a villain who is both savvy and a walking, talking CrowningMomentOfFunny. The two of them are often voted the most popular characters in the game and frequently get requested to return in future installments.

* Waluigi started out as a character solely to mirror Mario and Wario's rivalry by giving Luigi an enemy, completely lacking a personality beyond being overconfident and narcissistic. Since then, Waluigi has steadily increased in popularity over the years, even earning himself an appearance in ''[[VideoGame/SuperSmashBros Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' as an Assist Trophy. The biggest reason he's so popular is thanks to ''Webcomic/BrawlInTheFamily'', where the fans of the series were able to see Waluigi in a different (and crazier and funnier) light. He also became more of a mischievous trickster with flairs of TragicVillain and ButtMonkey thrown in as more games came out to give him a better degree of characterization than just "rival to Luigi," got some awesome music and stages to his name (particularly [[VideoGame/MarioKart Waluigi Pinball]] in ''Mario Kart DS''), and was given [[CrowningMomentOfFunny increasingly hilarious mannerisms and roles]] in the games he appeared in (even serving as the BigBad in ''VideoGame/DanceDanceRevolutionMarioMix''). All of this combined with his early years as TheScrappy fading steadily into the realm of distant memory have earned him so much more positive reception in recent years that [[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2018/06/12/waluigi-was-robbed-and-humiliated-by-nintendo-and-his-fans-are-furious/?utm_term=.938b8bd31618 demand for him to be included as a playable fighter in Super Smash Bros.]] or even given his own game to star in is prevalent [[MemeticMutation across the internet]].

* Pauline has historically been a bit character in the ''Mario'' series, despite being important in a meta sense. She has, however, long sported a small but loyal fanbase who want her to appear in more games such as ''VideoGame/MarioKart''. Her reappearance in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioOdyssey'' not only pleased many of her old fans, but earned her plenty of new ones thanks to her [[CharacterDevelopment newfound independent streak compared to her previous appearances]] and [[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=h1IHvzwUd6w# dazzling stage presence and singing voice,]] leading many to predict (and desire) for her to effectively become "the new Rosalina" by becoming a staple in the ''Mario'' spinoff titles or even staying a recurring character in the main series. Time will only tell.

* Due to once being series mainstays second only to the Kongs themselves that have been PutOnABus since 2008, King K. Rool (and, by extension, the Kremlings in general) have tons of fans demanding their return. King K. Rool's playable debut in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate'' has pleased older ''Donkey Kong Country'' fans, with his movesets that are based from the original ''DKC'' trilogy and ''[=DK64=]''. [https://www.sourcegaming.info/2018/08/22/more-information-about-the-smash-direct-sakurais-famitsu-column-vol-561/ Even Sakurai mentioned the Smash Ballot for his popularity]].

* Due to once being series mainstays second only to the Kongs themselves that have been PutOnABus since 2008, King K. Rool (and, by extension, the Kremlings in general) have tons of fans demanding their return.

** 5-Volt has become quite popular as well, not only due to her surprisingly creepy behavior in the "Gamer" segment of ''Game & Wario'', but outside of that segment, she is a pretty lady who's just as much into Nintendo as her son is, if not more so.

** Mr. L is also this, despite clearly being a {{brainwashed}} Luigi. His [[AwesomeEgo cocky attitude]] and [[AwesomeBosses Brobot fights]] have made him pretty popular, not to mention the [[EvilIsCool admittedly cool]] EvilCostumeSwitch.

* Goombella's been getting a fairly decent following in recent years for being a BadassAdorable [[BadassBookworm Bookworm]] who provides plenty of the game's [[FunnyMoments/PaperMario gut-busters]] through her Tattles. It also helps that she has the [[GameBreaker Multibonk]] like Goombario before her, enabling her to dish out some serious punishment. She even got a cameo in ''Sticker Star's'' localization that wasn't there in the original, alongside Parakarry.

** Mr. L is also this, despite clearly being a {{brainwashed}} Luigi. His [[AwesomeEgo cocky attitude]] and [[SugarWiki/AwesomeBosses Brobot fights]] have made him pretty popular, not to mention the [[EvilIsCool admittedly cool]] EvilCostumeSwitch.

* [[VideoGame/SuperPaperMario Dimentio]] has gotten this treatment from the fans as well, due to his effectiveness as a ManipulativeBastard, his [[FauxAffablyEvil cheerful disposition]], his numerous [[TalksLikeASimile weird similes]], and his [[LargeHam ... MAGIC!]] Many are desperately hoping for his return in later games.

* Less a character and more a species, but Boos have been hugely popular for years with their CreepyCute design. Notably, they're the first enemy to get an amiibo, quite a while before the more prominent Goomba and Koopa did. Their leader King Boo is also very popular among fans, especially for his role as the BigBad in the ''VideoGame/LuigisMansion'' series. He was playable in ''VideoGame/MarioKartDoubleDash'' and ''VideoGame/MarioKartWii'', and appeared as a boss in ''VideoGame/MarioKartDS''. He returned to the series as a playable character in ''VideoGame/MarioKart8'' ''Deluxe'', pleasing fans that were disappointed of his absence in ''VideoGame/MarioKart8''.

* Diddy would then have the same thing happen to him because his co-star Dixie, along with being a girl, could use [[HelicopterHair her hair]] to make jumps easier. Dixie was so popular that many were upset that she didn't appear in ''[[VideoGame/DonkeyKong64 DK64]]'' or ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountryReturns'' and [[SugarWiki/AndTheFandomRejoiced welcomed her return]] in ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountryTropicalFreeze'' with much enthusiasm. (The fact that Dixie is almost universally considered the most useful helper Kong outside of Time Trials in that game and boasted a variety of adorable animations certainly didn't hurt.)

* Waluigi started out as a character solely to mirror Mario & Wario's rivalry by giving Luigi an enemy and completely lacking a personality beyond being overconfident and narcissistic. Since then, Waluigi has steadily increased in popularity over the years, even earning himself an appearance in ''[[VideoGame/SuperSmashBros Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' as an Assist Trophy. The biggest reason he's so popular is thanks to ''Webcomic/BrawlInTheFamily'', where the fans of the series were able to see Waluigi in a different (crazier and funnier) look. He also became more of a mischievous trickster with some bits of TragicVillain and ButtMonkey as more games came out, giving him an overall better characterization other than just being a "rival to Luigi", got awesome music and stages to his name (particularly [[VideoGame/MarioKart Waluigi Pinball]] in ''Mario Kart DS''), and got more [[CrowningMomentOfFunny hilarious animations and roles]] in the games he appeared in. All of this with the Mario series constantly pulling in new fans who didn't have to deal with his early [[TheScrappy Scrappy]] moments, have been responsible for his more positive reception.

* [[VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy Rosalina]] was very popular among the fans of the series, mainly thanks to her being one of the only, if not ''the'' only female in the main series that is not a DamselInDistress and has more character and personality to her. Since her debut, she has appeared in several spin-off titles, [[spoiler:was an unlockable character in ''Super Mario 3D World'']], and even became playable in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'', possibly the highest honor for any Nintendo character.
* In addition to being one in-universe, Luigi ''used'' to be one, and the best example at that. However, Nintendo caught on, and he's now presented as an equal partner to Mario, to the point that Advertising/TheYearOfLuigi was celebrated in his honor. He's also been a perfect attendee in Super Smash Bros. as an unlockable character in the first three to prominently featuring in the fourth's advertising as a reflection of his huge popularity (The first game even states he's secretly popular in his biography).

* Pauline is a bit character in the ''Mario'' series despite being important in a meta sense. She however has a small but strong fanbase who want her to appear in more games such as ''VideoGame/MarioKart''. Her reappearance in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioOdyssey'' pleased many of her fans.

* No discussion about ''Mario'' darkhorses is complete without mention of Fawful, Cackletta's [[IntentionalEngrishForFunny Engrish]]-spewing sidekick from the ''[[VideoGame/MarioAndLuigi Mario & Luigi]]'' RPG series. He's gone from [[TheDragon Dragon]], to [[TheCameo Cameo]], to... wait for it...BigBad.

* Diddy would then have the same thing happen to him because his co-star Dixie, along with being a girl, could use [[HelicopterHair her hair]] to make jumps easier. Dixie was so popular that many were upset that she didn't appear in ''[[VideoGame/DonkeyKong64 DK64]]'' or ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountryReturns'' and welcomed her return in ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountryTropicalFreeze''.

* Since then though, the latest ''DK'' Darkhorse seems to be Funky, who has been the 4th character in ''VideoGame/DKKingOfSwing'' and ''VideoGame/DKJungleClimber'' and was unlockable alongside Diddy in ''VideoGame/MarioKart Wii''.
* Cranky Kong was always popular thanks to his 4th-wall breaking snarky quips. And then it was announced that he'd be playable in ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountryTropicalFreeze'', which many regarded as the best news to come out of VGX in 2013.
* Due to once being series mainstays that have been PutOnABus since 2008, King K. Rool (and, by extension, the Kremlings in general) have tons of fans demanding their return.

* In addition to being one in-universe, Luigi ''used'' to be one, and the best example at that. However, Nintendo caught on, and he's now presented as an equal partner to Mario, to the point that Main/TheYearOfLuigi was celebrated in his honor. He's also been a perfect attendee in Super Smash Bros. as an unlockable character in the first three to prominently featuring in the fourth's advertising as a reflection of his huge popularity (The first game even states he's secretly popular in his biography).

* Waluigi started out as a character solely to mirror Mario & Wario's rivalry by giving Luigi an enemy and completely lacking a personality beyond being overconfident and narcissistic. Since then, Waluigi has steadily increased in popularity over the years, even earning himself an appearance in ''[[VideoGame/SuperSmashBros Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' as an Assist Trophy. The biggest reason he's so popular is thanks to ''Webcomic/BrawlInTheFamily'', where the fans of the series were able to see Waluigi in a different (crazier and funnier) look. He also became more of a mischievous trickster with some bits of TragicVillain and ButtMonkey as more games came out, giving him an overall better characterization other than just being a "rival to Luigi", got awesome music and stages to his name (particularly [[VideoGame/MarioKart Waluigi Pinball]] in ''Mario Kart DS''), and got more [[CrowningMomentOfFunny hilarious animations and roles]] in the games he appeared in. All of this with the Mario series constantly pulling in new fans who didn't have to deal with his early [[TheScrappy Scrappy]] moments, have been responsible for his more positive reception, even if he still is a BaseBreakingCharacter.

* [[VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy Rosalina]] was very popular among the fans of the series, mainly thanks to her being one of the only, if not ''the'' only female in the main series that is not a DamselInDistress and has more character and personality to her. Since her debut, she has appeared in several spin-off titles, [[spoiler:was an unlockable character in ''Super Mario 3D World'']], and even became playable in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'', possibly the highest honor for any Nintendo character. Nowadays, she's more along the lines of a BaseBreakingCharacter, [[SpotlightStealingSquad thanks to overshadowing several longer standing characters]].

* Kamek has a huge fanbase, and he's even gotten the distinction of having several appearances of unnamed Magikoopas in other games [[{{Fanon}} be considered to be him]]: a cut playable Magikoopa in ''VideoGame/MarioKart 64'', ''VideoGame/YoshisSafari'', ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRPG'', ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor'', ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'', ''VideoGame/BowsersInsideStory'', and [[http://www.mariowiki.com/images/9/9b/KamekTradingCard.PNG an official trading card]] even confirms his appearance in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy''.

* Mad Jack, the Frantic Factory boss of [=DK64=], is well-remembered for his terrifying nature.

* Mad Jack, the Frantic Factory boss of [=DK64=], is one series' most well-remembered bosses due to his terrifying nature.

* ''[=DK64=]'' gave us Chunky, who is liked more than his younger brother Kiddy from ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry3DixieKongsDoubleTrouble'' for having a [[CowardlyLion more ]] [[RealMenWearPink developed]] [[GentleGiant personality.]] There is also Lanky. No doubt because the two provide most of the comedy in game and the DK Rap.