Every year on March 10th, fans around the world celebrate Mario Day, a tribute to one of the most iconic characters in video game history. The date comes from a simple but clever observation: when written as Mar10, it resembles the name Mario. Over time, what started as a fun nod among fans grew into a global celebration embraced by gaming communities, creators, and technology enthusiasts.
At LinkAmerica, we decided to join the celebration this year—not just because Mario is fun, but because the character and the games behind it represent something deeper: innovation, design excellence, and timeless user experience.
A Milestone in Game Design
Released in 1985, Super Mario Bros. changed the world of video games. Developed by Nintendo and led by legendary designer Shigeru Miyamoto, the game introduced players to a side-scrolling adventure that set the standard for platform games for decades.
Beyond its popularity, Super Mario Bros. is widely recognized as a masterclass in game design and user experience.
One of the best examples is the first level of the game (World 1-1). Interestingly, the game offers no written instructions or manuals when you begin playing. Instead, the design of the level itself teaches the player how to play.
The placement of enemies, blocks, and obstacles naturally encourages players to:
- Experiment with buttons
- Discover how Mario moves and jumps
- Understand speed and timing
- Learn core mechanics through interaction
Without realizing it, players are guided through an intuitive learning process that many designers today still study as a brilliant example of UX-driven design.
Mario: A Global Pop Culture Icon
Since his first appearance in the early 1980s, Mario has grown into the most recognizable character in video game history. From consoles to movies, merchandise, and global tournaments, the character has become a true symbol of gaming culture and creativity.
For many people, Mario is also a nostalgic connection to the early days of gaming—one that continues to bring generations together.
Bringing Mario to the Office
Over the last couple of weeks, Super Mario Bros. has been making regular appearances in our office as part of our active pauses, creating a fun way for our teams to take a break, recharge, and connect.
What started as a quick game between colleagues quickly turned into a friendly competition across teams.
And, as expected, Mario continues to challenge even the most experienced players.
The Mario Day Leaderboard
Here are the highest scores achieved so far in our office challenge:| Player | Team | Score |
| Cristian Camilo Betancur | EyS | 109,250 |
| Diego Cifuentes | Globalgig | 77,200 |
| Camilo Peña | Finanzas | 64,000 |
| Sebastián Villarraga | MKT | 41,000 |
| Camilo Ruiz | Tier 3 | 38,750 |
| Yohan Casas | Mesa de Servicio | 31,500 |
| Santiago Palacios | Special Projects | 22,400 |
| Cristian Organista | EyS | 20,600 |
| Estefania Trivino | Special Projects | 18,000 |
| Edwin Castillo | Tier 1 – Smart Hands | 17,000 |
Ready to Beat the High Score?
Mario Day is the perfect excuse to celebrate creativity, innovation, and a piece of gaming history that continues to inspire designers, developers, and players around the world.
And of course, the challenge is still open.
We invite everyone in the team to grab the controller, test their skills, and see if they can climb to the top of the leaderboard.
Who knows? The next high score could be yours.
Game on.