- By Prateek Levi
- Sun, 27 Jul 2025 02:16 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
For decades, fans have assumed that Mario and Princess Peach were more than just teammates—thanks to frequent gestures like a kiss on the cheek or a lovingly baked cake at the end of many games. But according to Nintendo, that long-standing assumption may be off the mark.
In a post on the Nintendo Today app, the company clarified the nature of their relationship, describing Mario and Peach as "good friends who help each other out whenever they can." While this revelation may come as a surprise to fans who grew up imagining a romantic storyline, it reflects a deliberate choice on Nintendo’s part.
The Mario series has never prioritized romance in its narrative. Even though Mario continuously tries to save Peach and they have a plethora of adventures together, their dynamic has always been somewhat light-hearted and vague. And although there are the occasional kisses or cake, it seems they were more just expressions of gratitude than indications of a more profound connection.
This platonic philosophy isn't limited to the Mario series, though. The Legend of Zelda franchise, commonly seen to be on the verge of romantic tension between Zelda and Link, has done the same thing and left their connection nebulous. This was reemphasized when it was discovered that casting for the new Zelda film included a 21-year-old actor for Zelda and a 16-year-old for Link—leading fans to wonder about the sexuality of their relationship on screen.
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Nintendo’s decision may also be driven by its efforts to create consistent narratives across games, films, and other media. For example, the Super Mario Bros. Movie avoided a romantic subplot between Mario and Peach altogether.
Still, fans find it amusing that despite everything, Mario and Peach are just friends—and that somehow, they’re all still playing tennis with Bowser afterward.