Canon

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Section 1 - Publisher Rules

Rule 1 - Must be published by Nintendo

[WIP]

Section 2 - Crossover Rules

Rule 1 – Mario games that feature crossovers from other franchises

1.a - A game that features crossovers (characters from another franchise) is canon if the game isn't considered a game for the franchise "crossing over" to Mario.
Examples: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe isn't considered a Zelda game; Mario Hoops 3-on-3 isn't considered a FF game;
1.b – However, if the crossover title can still be considered a game for the other franchise, but doesn't in any way interact with the canon of that franchise, the game can still be considered canon to Mario.
Examples: Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix does not connect to any other DDR game, and so is considered canon to Mario;
1.c – If a game is presented in a way that places both franchises equally, then it is not canon to Mario.
Examples: Wario Blast feat. Bomberman places more importance in the Wario franchise than the Bomberman franchise, so it is canon; Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games holds Mario and Sonic to the same level; Super Smash Bros. holds multiple franchises to the same level neither are canon to Mario;

Rule 2 – Other games that feature crossovers from Mario

2.a – Similarly, a game that features Mario elements in it, but isn't generally considered to be a Mario game isn't canon.
Examples: Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening isn't considered a Mario game; NBA Street V3 isn't considered a Mario game;

Addendum A - For the sake of simplicity, "Mario game", or "Mario franchise" includes other Mario-related franchises such as Donkey Kong, Wario and Yoshi.

Section 3 - Retcon Rules

Rule 1 – Newer remakes retcon older content

1.a – Newer remakes overrides previous titles and content, as if the original never happened. This includes changes such as: Characters, locations, story and names;
Examples: Super Mario All-Stars retcons the originals; Super Mario Advance series retcons Super Mario All-Stars; Mario & Luigi DX retcons the originals; Super Mario 64 DS retcons Super Mario 64;
1.b – Older content can still be considered canon if it doesn’t explicitly contradict with newer content.
Examples: The backstory in the original Manuals for Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World; levels based on Super Mario 3D World in Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker;
1.c - Simple ports of older games do not count as remakes, and therefore don't fall under 1.a, and don't count as canon over previous remakes.

Examples: Super Mario 64 DS still takes precedence over the Super Mario 64 port in the 3D All-Stars Collection;

Rule 2. - Revisiting locations aren’t retcons

2.a – Changes to old locations that are revisited in new games (that aren't remakes) are considered in-universe changes and not retcons.
Examples: Tracks revisited in Retro Cups in newer Mario Kart games or in Mario Kart Tour; The giant Kong head not present in newer versions of DK Island;
2.b – Newer changes that causes contradictions to older content due to technical limitations in hardware can be disregarded. The older appearance takes precedence over the newer content. (i.e. the Double Dash Exception)
Examples: GCN Mushroom Bridge lacking references to Mushroom City in Mario Kart DS;
2.c – Locations that are radically different from previous appearances to the point that they can’t be explained as in-universe changes, (that aren’t covered by Exception 2.b), can be considered retcons. The newer appearance takes precedence over the older appearance.
Examples: Super Mario Odyssey’s globe retcons older references to Mario’s planet as our Earth (e.g. Rainbow Roads); N64 Choco Mountain and DS Airship Fortress in Mario Kart Tour; Cheese Land in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe; New Donk City retcons older New York City references;

Addendum A - Whether a location revisited is the exact same location or simply around a general area should be decided on a case by case basis Examples: Star Hill seen in Super Mario RPG and in Partners in Time aren't the exact same location, while retro tracks is the Mario Kart series generally are.

Significant Partially Canon Franchises

Mii

Mii is the flagship series of the Wii, and extends onto newer consoles as well. Wuhu Island is a location that has appeared in the Mario Kart series, as seen in the Mario Kart 7 Star Cup and Flower Cup, however, the Mii series is considered large enough, divergent enough, and "meta" enough that its games are generally not considered canon to Mario. Miis who are seen cheering for Mario in Mario Kart Wii and Mario Kart 7 are to be mostly ignored for this project.

Game & Watch

All but two of the games in the Game & Watch franchise has been re-released as Mario games in the Game & Watch Gallery series.

Excite

Excite, best known for including Excitebike, is a series of games that has some ties to the Mario franchise. The Excitebike arena appears in the Super Bell Subway map and as a Mario Kart 8 Deluxe stage, and the game Excitebike: Bun Bun Mario Battle Stadium is thought to take place there. As such, parts of the Excitebite series are canon to the Mario franchise. However, the Excite franchise as a whole is large and separate enough to be considered generally "non-canon", so games such as Excitebike 64, Excite Truck, and Excitebots: Trick Racing are not considered part of the universe.

R.O.B.

R.O.B. appears as a playable character in Mario Kart DS, and is referred to in the Wario games, meaning he exists as a concept in the Mario Universe. However, appearances outside of Mario games are not considered part of the Mario franchise.

Rhythm Heaven

Wario games have often referenced the Rhythm Heaven series, and so some Rhythm Heaven characters exist in the Mario Universe. However, the primary crossover game, Rhythm Heaven Megamix, is not considered canon due to the extensive crossover nature of the game, nor is the rest of the Rhythm Heaven series.

Significant Non-Canon Franchises

Super Smash Bros.

Super Smash Bros is explicitly a crossover series, and so is considered non-canon. Even if it weren't, the characters in Smash Bros are toys, as shown in the first game of the series.

Sonic the Hedgehog

Sonic is best known to join Mario in the Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games series. This is clearly both a crossover series and a series that mostly takes place in the "real world", and so is not considered canon.

Rabbids

Mario joins with the Rabbids in Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, however, this is certainly a crossover game. The Rabbids franchise is also large and highly divergent from Mario.

Dragon Quest

The Mario franchise crosses over with Dragon Quest in Itadaki Street DS, the Fortune Street series, and Mario Sports Mix. However, Dragon Quest has a large, complex, and highly divergent canon of its own, and so all of these games are considered crossovers rather than canon.

The Legend of Zelda

Link and Hyrule appears as a character and kart course, along with the Animal Crossing and F-Zero series, in Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, however, as part of crossover DLC, they are considered non-canon.

Animal Crossing

Similar to the Zelda franchise, Animal Crossing appears as characters and a kart course in Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, however, as part of crossover DLC, they are considered non-canon.

F-Zero

F-Zero joins Animal Crossing and Zelda with Mario in the Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. The series is considered non-canon as it is included as part of a crossover DLC.

Mario Edutainment

Games that are intended to teach "real-world" facts are not considered canon. Such games include "Mario's Time Machine" and "Mario is Missing!".

Final Fantasy

Final Fantasy briefly crosses over with Mario alongside Dragon Quest in Mario Sports Mix. For these reasons, the game and series are considered non-canon.

Punch-Out!!!

Mario seemingly stars as a referee in certain games in the Punch-Out!!! series, however, since the referee is never confirmed as Mario, and the series is highly divergent and takes place in the "real world", it is not considered a canon appearance.

Spyro

Mario has crossed over with the Spyro series in Skylanders: SuperChargers Racing. This is considered a crossover game from a separate franchise, and so is not canon.

Banjo-Kazooie

This series, along with Conker's Bad Fur Day, appear in the Diddy Kong Racing series. This has led to the game being considered non-canon, as the game is not only a crossover but also not a significant part of Donkey Kong canon.

Conker's Bad Fur Day

Similar to Banjo-Kazooie, this series appears in Diddy Kong Racing, leading to the game being considered non-canon.

SSX

Mario, Luigi, and Peach appear in SSX on Tour in a cameo appearance, but as this is considered a non-canon crossover.

NBA Street

Mario, Luigi, and Peach make an appearance in this "real life" basketball series, but besides taking place in the "real world", this is a crossover cameo in a separate franchise, and so is considered non-canon.

The Legendary Starfy

Wario makes an appearance in Densetsu no Starfy 3, but the series diverges enough from Mario that it is considered a cameo in a separate series.

Captain Rainbow

The game "Captain Rainbow" features Birdo prominently, however, this is considered a cameo appearance in a game not part of Mario canon.

Canon Games List

Notable Non-Canon Games List

Mario Kart Course Information

Many Mario Kart courses (and battle arenas) have been remade, and so may have adjusted canon. Included here is a list of all courses, with information on courses that have been remade. Not included in this table are 16 non-canon courses: Pac Mountain, Pac Labyrinth, Mute City, Hyrule Circuit, Animal Crossing, Big Blue, Urchin Underpass, New York Minute, Tokyo Blur, Paris Promenade, London Loop, New York Minute 2, Tokyo Blur 2, Paris Promenade 2, Vancouver Velocity, and London Loop 2.