For as long as Mario has been leaping across screens, Princess Peach has been at the heart of his adventures—usually kidnapped, sometimes helping, but always inspiring Mario’s heroics. But don’t let the pink dress and parasol fool you. Saving Peach is no easy feat. Over the years, Bowser (and other villains) have thrown every trap, monster, and mind-bending platforming gauntlet imaginable between Mario and his beloved princess. Today, we’re counting down the Top 10 Peach Rescue Missions That Were Anything But Easy, honoring the times Mario really had to work for that final “Thank you, Mario!”
#10: Super Mario Bros. (NES)
It may seem simple compared to modern games, but back in 1985, the original Super Mario Bros. was a brutal test of endurance and precision. Eight worlds, 32 levels, and countless enemies stood between Mario and Princess Peach—who, let’s not forget, was repeatedly replaced by a Toad shouting, “Thank you, Mario! But our princess is in another castle!” That repeated fake-out made finally reaching World 8-4 feel like a triumph. Navigating mazes of warp pipes, lava pits, and fire bars to confront Bowser himself was no small task, especially given that a single misstep could send Mario back to the beginning of the level. Saving Peach in the original game required pure perseverance—and a willingness to endure endless frustration without giving up. It set the tone for every rescue mission to come: saving Peach was always going to be an adventure worth sweating over.
#9: Super Mario Sunshine (GameCube)
In Super Mario Sunshine, rescuing Peach wasn’t just about overcoming Bowser—it was about clearing Mario’s own name. Wrongfully accused of polluting the pristine Isle Delfino, Mario had to clean up the entire island while battling the mysterious Shadow Mario, who was actually Bowser Jr. in disguise. Peach’s kidnapping here led Mario through some of the series’ most challenging and bizarre levels, from riding insane roller coasters to battling giant sandbirds. And let’s not even get started on the infamous FLUDD-less platforming sections, which stripped away Mario’s water-powered safety net and forced players into pure, punishing precision jumps. By the time Mario reached Corona Mountain and faced Bowser and Bowser Jr. in a surreal hot tub battle suspended over molten lava, players had been tested at every level of platforming skill. Saving Peach in Sunshine was messy, frustrating, and gloriously difficult.
#8: New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii)
At first glance, New Super Mario Bros. Wii seemed like a charming throwback to classic 2D Mario platforming. But don’t let the colorful visuals fool you—this game pulled no punches, especially in the later worlds. Rescue missions here involved coordinating with—or surviving the chaos caused by—other players. Accidental pushes into lava, stolen power-ups, and poorly timed jumps made cooperative play a beautiful disaster. World 8, set amid rivers of molten rock and collapsing platforms, was a particularly brutal gauntlet. The final tower, filled with traps and culminating in a multi-stage Bowser battle, demanded teamwork, reflexes, and no small amount of patience. By the time Mario (and hopefully his friends) fought their way through to Peach’s cage, it felt like a true earned victory. Saving Peach together—or arguing all the way—made the triumph even sweeter.
#7: Paper Mario (Nintendo 64)
Paper Mario offered a fresh twist on the classic Peach rescue. Rather than focusing purely on platforming, Mario had to navigate a sprawling RPG adventure, complete with turn-based battles, badges, and sidequests. Bowser, having stolen the powerful Star Rod, was no longer a comic villain—he was a legitimate, terrifying threat. Meanwhile, Peach, imprisoned in Bowser’s Castle, played an active role in her own rescue for once, sneaking around and gathering intelligence to help Mario. The journey to save her led Mario through haunted forests, treacherous deserts, and icy mountains. The final ascent to Bowser’s floating fortress was a test of everything players had learned, combining puzzle-solving, strategy, and intense boss fights. Taking down a supercharged Bowser and finally reuniting with Peach was an emotional high point that rewarded every step of the epic quest.
#6: Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)
In Super Mario Galaxy, saving Peach meant crossing the entire universe. Bowser didn’t just kidnap her—he kidnapped an entire castle, launching it into space to create his own twisted galaxy empire. Mario’s journey was breathtaking and brutal, forcing players to master gravity-defying mechanics, spherical platforming, and mind-bending puzzles. Every new galaxy introduced wild, disorienting challenges: surfing on manta rays, navigating black hole mazes, dodging meteors on tiny planets. By the time players reached the final showdown at the center of the universe, the stakes felt bigger than ever. Battling Bowser across collapsing planets, then watching an entire galaxy be reborn after the fight, was a jaw-dropping, emotional experience. Saving Peach here wasn’t just a rescue—it was saving the cosmos itself. No pressure.
#5: Super Mario 3D World (Wii U / Switch)
Super Mario 3D World pulled a twist on the classic formula by making Peach a playable character… but that didn’t mean the road was easy. When Bowser kidnaps the Sprixie Princesses instead of Peach, the team—including Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Peach—has to navigate some of the most creative and chaotic level designs in the series. And when Bowser inevitably strikes again in the post-game, attempting to trap everyone in the Crown World, things get even tougher. The levels become pure gauntlets: precision jumps, speed runs, and brutal boss rushes. Players controlling Peach still have to fight tooth and nail to free their friends from Bowser’s clutches, including tackling the notoriously punishing Champion’s Road—the ultimate test of Mario platforming skill. Even though Peach wasn’t the one needing rescue this time, saving the Sprixie Kingdom proved that whether she’s a damsel or a hero, the journey is never easy—and always unforgettable.
#4: Luigi’s Mansion (GameCube)
It might be Luigi’s name on the box, but Luigi’s Mansion is one of the most difficult rescue missions involving Peach—because this time, Mario himself is the one who’s been captured. And of course, Mario was only there trying to save Peach in the first place. Navigating the haunted mansion requires Luigi to overcome his deepest fears, solve puzzles, and battle dozens of aggressive ghosts, all without the agility or firepower that Mario usually brings. The Poltergust 3000 isn’t just a neat gadget—it’s Luigi’s lifeline in a place where every hallway drips with dread. Facing King Boo at the climax—and seeing a terrified Luigi charging into battle to rescue his brother and eventually Peach—is both hilarious and heartwarming. The rescue of Peach through Luigi’s lens shows how much work it takes to save her, even when the usual hero is missing. And it proves that Luigi has just as much heart as Mario—if not more.
#3: Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (SNES)
Saving Peach in Super Mario RPG was anything but a straightforward adventure. Bowser still kidnaps her—because, tradition—but then an entirely new threat, Smithy and his mechanical army, disrupts everything. Mario’s quest to rescue Peach takes him through bizarre worlds filled with talking swords, anthropomorphic cake bosses, and enemy clowns. The road is filled with puzzles, tough turn-based battles, and surreal humor. One standout moment? Mario literally using pantomime to communicate because he can’t talk. After a long journey filled with oddball characters and emotional twists, Mario finally rescues Peach from the clutches of Booster (a bizarre Bowser-wannabe) in a chaotic wedding scene that turns into a hilarious slapstick brawl. Saving Peach here meant surviving the weirdest, wildest corners of the Mushroom Kingdom—and laughing the entire way through.
#2: Super Princess Peach (Nintendo DS)
In a brilliant role reversal, Super Princess Peach put Peach herself in the hero’s seat—but saving Mario (and Luigi and Toadsworth) wasn’t remotely easy. Armed with her magical emotion-based powers, Peach journeyed across Vibe Island, battling enemies while channeling joy, rage, gloom, and calm. The game’s emotional mechanics—using anger to burn obstacles, sadness to make plants grow, happiness to float—added a layer of complexity to platforming challenges. And the boss fights were no joke either; mastering Peach’s powers while solving puzzles and facing tricky opponents tested players’ reflexes and brains. Super Princess Peach flipped the classic rescue narrative on its head, but kept all the heart (and difficulty) intact. Saving Mario never felt more rewarding—or hilarious—especially given how many games he’d spent rescuing her first.
#1: Super Mario Odyssey (Switch)
Super Mario Odyssey stands as one of the most expansive, challenging, and emotional journeys to save Peach. Bowser’s plan this time is outrageous even by his standards—kidnapping Peach for a forced intergalactic wedding. Mario chases them across kingdoms ranging from sandy deserts to steampunk cities, each filled with intricate platforming challenges, hidden moons, and breathtaking boss battles. But what makes this rescue so compelling isn’t just the difficulty—it’s the emotional nuance. Throughout the adventure, Peach shows agency, curiosity, and resilience. And when Mario finally defeats Bowser on the moon in an epic battle amid crumbling stone and low gravity, he doesn’t simply “win” her heart. Instead, Peach politely rejects both Mario and Bowser’s clumsy marriage proposals and sets off on her own globetrotting adventure. Odyssey made the rescue feel earned, real, and hilariously bittersweet. Saving Peach wasn’t just a goal—it was part of a much larger story of growth, respect, and independence.
Conclusion
Across countless worlds, galaxies, and dimensions, Mario’s quest to rescue Princess Peach has been anything but easy. Each adventure brings new challenges—whether it’s dodging lava, battling ghosts, surviving slapstick weddings, or even chasing her across the universe. But what makes these rescue missions truly special isn’t just the difficulty—it’s the heart behind every jump, spin, and stomp. Saving Peach has never been about a simple end goal; it’s been about perseverance, courage, laughter, and the timeless belief that some things are worth fighting for. And with every rescue, both Mario and players alike are reminded that the journey is just as important as the destination.
