Today in Nerd History | March 13

March 13 brings us the rise of Mario’s mischievous rival in his own adventure and the continuation of a legendary survival horror franchise. Let’s explore some Nerdy Facts about Super Mario Land 3: Wario Land and Resident Evil 5!

Inclusion on this list does not imply that the entry is family friendly, only that it was a nerd culture milestone. Parents should, of course, use discernment.

On March 13, 1994, Super Mario Land 3: Wario Land gave Mario’s greedy rival his first starring role, kicking off a new spin-off series focused on treasure hunting and mischief.

Nerdy Facts:

• No More Mario: Despite being part of the Super Mario Land series, Wario completely took over, with Mario only appearing at the very end to steal back the treasure.
• Power-Up Madness: Instead of classic Mario-style power-ups, Wario gained different hats that gave him abilities like charging through enemies or breathing fire.
• The Start of Something Bigger: The game was so successful that it launched the Wario Land series, leading to multiple sequels and even Wario’s own microgame series, WarioWare.

On March 13, 2009, Resident Evil 5 continued the action-heavy evolution of the franchise, bringing Chris Redfield back to take on a new bioterror threat in Africa.

Nerdy Facts:

• Co-Op Chaos: Unlike previous entries, Resident Evil 5 was built around co-op gameplay, with players controlling Chris and his new partner, Sheva Alomar.
• Biggest Launch in the Franchise (at the Time): The game became the best-selling Resident Evil title upon release, eventually surpassed by later entries.
• Wesker’s Grand Finale: Resident Evil 5 marked the end of long-time villain Albert Wesker, who finally met his fiery demise after years of scheming.

March 13 celebrates treasure-hunting antiheroes and intense survival horror action. Happy Nerd History Day!