It’s fair to say that the Mushroom Kingdom from theSuper Marioseries has the worst guards and royal protectors ever. The Princess of this kingdom, Princess Peach, is constantly being kidnapped by a dragon-like creature named Bowser and his many subordinates.
None of her staff are even the ones who typically get her back, either. That job usually goes to a local plumber named Mario. He is the one constantly saving her. How long this takes varies depending on the game. Here are all the titles in which she is kidnapped, ranked by how many levels it takes to get her back.
The likes of Super Mario 64, Super Mario Galaxy, Super Mario Galaxy 2, and Super Mario Odyssey haven’t been included because rescuing Princess Peach in those games involves acquiring a certain number of stars or moons instead of completing a certain number of levels. Also, only the main levels have been counted, not secret levels, warp pipes, Toad houses, etc.
Super Mario Bros. 3 is one of the rare games in the series that doesn’t have Princess Peach kidnapped right at the start. In fact, she is fine for almost all of the game. You don’t see her during this time, but you get letters from her, giving you some tips.
That is, until the end of World Seven, when you get a letter from Bowser instead, informing you that he has the Princess locked up in his lair. So, the final world revolves around tracking her down and rescuing her. It takes nine levels to do that.
Being a mobile game, Super Mario Run is a bit shorter than other entries in the series. So, it’s no surprise that it only takes Mario 24 levels to be able to track down and save Princess Peach.
When Bowser grabs her, he destroys the Mushroom Kingdom, and he also apparently steals a cake that Peach made for you. So, the stakes are high straight from the start. Bowser should have spent more time thinking about his defenses, though, as they don’t hold Mario back for long.
Shadow Mario attempts to kidnap Princess Peach early in the game. Thankfully, Mario is able to thwart him. For some reason, this attempted abduction doesn’t lead to Peach going into complete lockdown and making sure she has a bunch of guards accompanying her at all times.
As a result, Shadow Mario gets another chance just under the halfway point of the game. He succeeds this time. From this point, it takes 29 levels for Mario to get her back.
The first Super Mario Bros game introduces Bowser to the world. As such, he’s not yet experienced in kidnapping, as shown by the fact that he’s only able to keep Peach for 32 levels spread over eight worlds.
It feels a lot longer when playing, as you keep visiting castles, hoping to locate the damsel in distress, but you keep finding Toads instead. Mario could’ve rescued her much faster if he knew which castle she was in. Yet, in that case, you would miss out on one ofthe most famous video game quotesever: “Your Princess is in another castle”.
The Lost Levels is the real version of Super Mario Bros. 2, not the strange game that Western Mario fans got instead. The other one is better for Peach, though, as she’s not abducted in that one. Yet, she is captured in The Lost Levels.
It takes Mario 32 levels to get her back, so it takes just as long as it does in the first game. However, this title is notoriously difficult, so it probably takes longer to finish everything in this one than it does in the first game.
Super Mario 3D Land is one ofthe best Mario games on handheld consoles. It provides a new type of Mario experience as it combines both 3D and 2D gameplay.
However, it doesn’t do much new in terms of the story since Bowser kidnaps Peach in classic Mario fashion. This time, the heroic plumber learns about it from a picture that a Goomba or Koopa Troopa must’ve taken. It doesn’t give Mario much to go on to find her, but he’s a pro, so it only takes him 48 levels to do so.
You’d think by this point, Mario and Luigi would be a bit careful about leaving Peach outside alone. Yet, that is exactly what they do at the beginning of New Super Mario Bros 2, as they frolic with their flying raccoon powers. While they’re distracted, Bowser’s kids arrive and kidnap her.
They drag her to the first castle, so it should only take a few levels to get to her. However, this is a Mario game, so she’s not actually at the first castle when you get there. In fact, you need to complete 49 levels to get her back.
Super Mario World changedthe series' art styleand made several of the characters look very different. However, it didn’t change the general premise that Bowser’s crew has taken Princess Peach. This time, the game informs you of this with a big block of text right from the start.
Therefore, Mario is aware of the situation early. Yet, he still has to beat 61 levels to be able to save her. In that time, he travels along a large map and battles all sorts of foes.
Mario isn’t alone in New Super Mario Bros. U, as it’s a co-op game where Luigi and a few Toads can join him on the adventure. All of them begin the game by having tea with Princess Peach.
So, there’s a whole crew of heroes with the Princess, making it seemingly impossible for Bowser to capture her without some sort of ridiculous contraption. Well, it just so happens that he turns up riding an airship that unleashes a giant mechanical hand, which throws the heroes away before Bowser takes over Peach’s castle. Mario’s crew then needs to beat 68 levels to get her back.
2New Super Mario Bros.
It Takes 68 Levels To Get Princess Peach Back
At the start of New Super Mario Bros, Mario and Peach are taking a nice stroll until they see the castle get struck by lightning. This makes Mario spring into action and run toward the castle. Bowser Jr takes this chance to grab the Princess and attempt to run off with her.
Mario is right behind them when Bowser Jr begins to run away. Yet, he gets distracted by pesky levels, which the villain just sprints past. By the end, the hero gets through 68 levels to rescue Peach.
