Mario Teaches Words

Expanding vocabulary with Mario

Mario Teaches Words was part of Nintendo’s educational push in the early 1990s, bringing the famous plumber into classrooms and homes as a learning companion. Released in the UK in 1994 for DOS, this title aimed to help children build their vocabulary through engaging word-based activities. Developed by The Software Toolworks and published by Mindscape, it followed the same edutainment philosophy as other Mario’s Early Years games, using familiar characters to make learning fun.

Interactive wordplay

The game provided a variety of interactive exercises designed to introduce and reinforce word recognition, spelling, and language comprehension. Players guided Mario through different themed environments, where they had to identify objects, match words, and complete simple sentence-building tasks. With bright visuals and a gentle learning curve, it was accessible to young learners while maintaining an engaging experience.

A forgotten educational adventure

While Mario Teaches Words never reached the same level of recognition as Mario’s platforming games, it remains an interesting piece of his history in edutainment. The UK release, in particular, is a lesser-seen version, making it of interest to collectors and those exploring the full breadth of Mario’s non-traditional gaming appearances. Though largely overshadowed by other educational software, it remains a nostalgic memory for those who encountered it during their early computing years.

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