Mario Is Missing! is an educational game developed by The Software Toolworks, released in 1993 for MS-DOS, NES, SNES and other platforms. Starring Luigi, it marks his first lead role in a video game after the 1990 Game & Watch title *Luigi's Hammer Toss*.
In the game, Bowser plans to use a device called PORTALS to send his Koopa Troop around the world to steal precious artifacts, raising funds to buy massive hairdryers to melt Antarctica's ice. To stop Bowser's scheme, Mario, Luigi and Yoshi head to Bowser's Castle, but Mario is captured. Players control Luigi, traveling through PORTALS to various cities to find and return stolen artifacts while rescuing Mario.
Gameplay varies by platform: the MS-DOS version uses a point-and-click adventure format, while NES and SNES versions add platform-jumping elements. Players talk to local residents in each city for clues, identify stolen artifacts, and return them to their original locations. Each city has multiple tourist information centers where players must answer questions about artifacts to verify their authenticity.
Mario Is Missing! was released to capitalize on the popular educational game market at the time. While its educational nature received mixed reactions from traditional Mario fans, it generated over $7 million in profit for The Software Toolworks in the second quarter of 1993.
Overall, Mario Is Missing! is a game that combines education and entertainment, designed to let players learn geography through interactive gameplay while experiencing Luigi's adventure.
