What is the Age Gap Between Mario and Luigi? The Brotherly Truth
The Verdict: Mario and Luigi are fraternal twins, with Mario being the older brother by a matter of minutes. This makes their age gap virtually negligible, though their personalities create an "older/younger brother" dynamic that makes Mario seem more mature.
Official Nintendo Statements
Nintendo has clarified the brothers' relationship multiple times:
- 1995: Shigeru Miyamoto confirmed they're twins in a Nintendo Power interview
- 2005: Nintendo's character guide listed them as "twin brothers"
- 2013: Super Mario Wiki officially states they're twins with Mario being slightly older
- 2023: The Super Mario Bros. Movie depicts them as contemporary peers with no significant age difference
Brother Comparison
Mario
Age: ~24-26 years
Birth Order: Older twin (by minutes)
Personality: Confident, bold, takes leadership
Luigi
Age: ~24-26 years
Birth Order: Younger twin
Personality: Nervous, cautious, follows Mario's lead
Why They Seem Different Ages
Despite being twins, several factors create the illusion of an age gap:
- Personality: Mario's confidence vs Luigi's nervousness
- Character Design: Mario's stockier build vs Luigi's taller frame
- Game Roles: Mario as protagonist vs Luigi as player 2
- Cultural Perception: Western audiences often assume Luigi is younger
Timeline of Twin Revelations
Mario Bros. Arcade: First appearance together with no stated age difference
Yoshi's Island: Shows Baby Mario and Baby Luigi as contemporaries
Nintendo Character Guide: Officially lists them as twin brothers
Super Mario Bros. Movie: Depicts them as same-age brothers running a business together
FAQ About Mario and Luigi's Ages
Are Mario and Luigi definitely twins?
Yes. Nintendo has confirmed this multiple times in official publications and interviews, though they rarely emphasize it in games themselves.
Why is Mario considered the older brother?
While twins, Mario was born first (even if just by minutes). This, combined with his more assertive personality, establishes him as the "older" brother in their dynamic.
Has their age gap ever changed?
In very early Western localizations (pre-1990), Luigi was sometimes portrayed as significantly younger, but Nintendo has consistently maintained their twin status in Japanese materials.
Do they have the same birthday?
While Nintendo hasn't officially established their birthday(s), being twins would mean they share a birthday. Fans often celebrate "Mario Day" on March 10 (MAR10).
Conclusion
Despite their different personalities creating an "older brother/younger brother" dynamic, Mario and Luigi are canonically fraternal twins with virtually no age gap. Nintendo has consistently maintained this since the mid-1990s, even if early Western interpretations sometimes portrayed Luigi as significantly younger.
Their twin status explains why they're always portrayed as peers capable of the same feats (just with different approaches), and why they're shown as babies together in Yoshi's Island. While Mario will always be the "older brother" by minutes, their identical ages make them one of gaming's most iconic sibling duos - proving that even twins can have dramatically different personalities!