Princess Peach, the mesmerizing monarch of the Mushroom Kingdom, has been brightening up the Mario series since 1985. Although her interests seem limited to cakes, lacy gowns and the color pink, when pressed, Peach can hold her own. Her princess-ly powers include the ability to float, toss turnips and bring the pain with a dainty parasol without ever sacrificing any of her royal hotness. And did we mention she lives in a freaking castle?
Regal life isn't all roses for Peach, though. In addition to being the frequent target of Bowser's scheming, the Princess presides over a world populated exclusively by short, shrill fungus people -- it's no wonder that a fat plumber has become her most frequent fling. In this gallery we celebrate the original 8-bit bombshell with images from her decade-spanning career as the First Lady of video games.
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+<a+class='autolink'+href='https://cheats.ign.com/objects/006/006693.html'>Super+Mario+Bros</a>.++(1985,+NES)+
Eventually, the princess dropped her original name, "Toadstool," along with the Jay-Leno-in-drag look seen here at the end of Super Mario Bros. After all of the mushroom men in diapers in other castles, the deformed damsel at the end of World 8-4 actually looked pretty good.| ? | ? |
+<a+class='autolink'+href='https://wii.ign.com/objects/924/924808.html'>Super+Mario+Bros.+2</a>+(1988,+NES)+
You could choose between four playable characters in SMB2, but the Princess gave Mario a run for his money with her ability to float right over the game's trickier parts. Not only did SMB2 break ground with a female protagonist, but it also featured gaming's first transgendered monster, Birdo.| ? | ? |
+<a+class='autolink'+href='https://wii.ign.com/objects/950/950868.html'>Super+Mario+Bros.+3</a>+(1989,+NES)+
By Super Mario Bros. 3 the Princess seemed to be warming up to the whole kidnapping routine -- she shrugs off Mario's daring rescue with a joke before dismissing him with a curt "Bye bye."| ? | ? |
+<a+class='autolink'+href='https://cheats.ign.com/objects/006/006885.html'>Super+Mario+World</a>+(1991,+SNES)+
After some hair experiments in the 80s, Toadstool's teased-out blonde 'do stuck around after its debut in Super Mario World. This would be the last time, however, that Yoshi was graced with her royal heinie.| ? | ? |
+The+Legend+of+Zelda,+Link's+Awakening+(1994,+Game+Boy)+
Peach has made her way into several non-Mario games over the years, including a few cameos in the Zelda series: In The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Peach appeared in a portrait in Zelda's castle; in Link's Awakening, the Princess's headshot was used by a goat to deceive a smitten penpal.| ? | ? |
+<a+class='autolink'+href='https://wii.ign.com/objects/865/865240.html'>Super+Mario+RPG:+Legend+of+the+Seven+Stars</a>+(1996,+SNES)+
The Princess proved a valuable asset to your party in the Super Mario RPG. Playing the role of "healer," her Group Hug ability restored life to your allies, while the Super Slap kept the Goombas in check.| ? | ? |
+<a+class='autolink'+href='https://ign64.ign.com/objects/000/000606.html'>Super+Mario+64</a>+(1996,+<a+class='autolink'+href='https://games.ign.com/objects/025/025047.html'>Nintendo</a>+64)+
In Japan, the Princess went by "Peach" from the start, but it wasn't until Super Mario 64 that this name caught on in the US. Her 3D debut had some rough edges, but hey, those thick polygon mittens probably protected the Princess from drafts in the castle, right?| ? | ? |
+Paper+Mario+(2001,+Nintendo+64)+
In Paper Mario, the adorable Paper Princess Peach is held captive by Bowser in her own castle. During this time she becomes a poster girl for Stockholm Syndrome, baking cakes for her captors, telling Bowser about Mario's pet peeves and participating in a game show with Bowser's goons just for yuks.| ? | ? |
+Super+Mario+Sunshine+(2001,+GameCube)+
When Peach needs an escape from her life of luxury in a giant castle, she heads to Isle Delfino. Before she has a chance to ditch her petticoat for a pina colada, she's snatched by Bowser Jr., who is under the impression that Peach is his mother. Bowser clears up the confusion at the end of the game, but not before things get really awkward.| ? | ? |
+NBA+Street+Volume+3+(2005,+GameCube)+
The Princess keeps her trim figure by participating in a number of sports, usually with Mario and the gang. In one of her stranger cameos, Peach shows up in NBA Street Volume 3 where the levitating Princess gives a whole new meaning to "hang time."| ? | ? |
+Super+Princess+Peach+(2005,+Nintendo+DS)+
Peach's big break came in Super Princess Peach, where a role-reversing plot had her saving Mario and Luigi from Bowser. Peach's pent-up frustrations manifested themselves in a variety of powers in the game: "Rage" enveloped her in protective flames, "Joy" allowed her to fly, and "Gloom" tantrums revealed she has a lot of baggage.| ? | ? |
+Mario+Kart+Wii+(2008,+Nintendo+Wii)+
Peach has always been an essential part of the Mario Kart series, but she put the other racers to shame with her Mach Bike and matching jump suit in Mario Kart Wii. Hot.| ? |
+Super+Smash+Bros.+Brawl+(2008,+Wii)+
Overlooked in the original Smash Bros., Peach appears in her royal regalia in both Melee and Brawl. The Princess's move set draws from her long career: A vegetable projectile from SMB2; a Super Slap from Mario RPG; various Mario sports-related bludgeons.
Picking out the Princess's finest moments wasn't easy, so be sure to check out the full Princess Peach Gallery for more Peachy goodness and let us know about your favorites in the comments below.
