Adapting Literature, Adapting Games

The adaptation of video games into other media faces a plethora of narrative and ludic challenges. As evident in this chapter’s case study of the Super Mario Bros. franchise, adaptations must negotiate the tension between fidelity to their source materials and the demands of alternate media, particularly when translating interactive games into films. The commercial and critical failure of the 1993 Super Mario Bros. film contrasts sharply with the blockbuster success of the 2023 animated version, which highlights shifts in audience expectations, game lore, and cinematic language. Super Mario Bros. has also been adapted into books for young readers, yet these books struggle to move beyond the simplistic plot of this highly engaging game series. Ultimately, the enduring success of Super Mario Bros. stems from its iconic characters, freewheeling style, and capacity to inspire new stories across evolving media landscapes, even as some adaptations have metaphorically crashed and burned along the way.