The Mushroom Kingdom and other locales in the Mario franchise of games are packed full of carefully designed enemies. From the wide range of Koopas to the creatures based on real-life animals, they're all vibrant and unique.
While many can be rather menacing, some of the foes that Mario faces are so ideally suited to their adorable cartoon world that gamers have considered whether or not they could befriend them. If that were the case, many entries on the endearing enemy roster would be well-suited to life as domesticated house pets due to their behaviors, habitats, and physical appearances.
10 Bloopers Are Adorable Aquatic Friends
Bloopers are squid-like creatures with white bodies and a small black area around their eyes, found in the oceans of the Mario universe. Named for the sounds bubbles make when they break on the surface, Bloopers communicate with warbling noises and 'bloop' sounds.
They can rush upward out of the water to reach the land, and in some games, they've also been able to fly. A Blooper would be a lovely pet to keep in a large tank or a cultivated outdoor body of water where the owner could talk to them and listen to them warble back.
9 Chain Chomps Can Protect The Home
Though it isn't a Mario title, Nintendo fans have seen the appeal of Chain Chomps as household pets in the Nintendo Switch remake of The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening. In that game, the Chain Chomps behave like dogs, and the characters around them treat them as such.
Despite their aggressive and dangerous appearance, they're actually quite enthusiastic and sweet. However, their large, sharp teeth make them excellent protectors, and their chains allow them to be left outside securely so long as they're attached to something solid.
8 Wigglers Are A Little Big, But Worth The Space
Compared to the human characters of Mario's world, Wigglers are quite large. However, that's no reason not to have them as a pet. Wigglers are caterpillar-adjacent creatures with yellow-segmented bodies covered in circular patterns. In addition, they have a large number of shoed-feet shoes, bulbous noses, cartoony eyes, and flowers on their foreheads.
When Wigglers are unbothered, they move in a slow, bouncy manner, but if they're disturbed, they turn red with anger and sprint forward. So long as the Wigglers are treated respectfully, they will be gentle, friendly pets.
7 Cheep Cheeps Are Perfect For Aquariums
Another aquatic citizen of the Mushroom Kingdom is the Cheep Cheep. This round, colorful fish has a small back fin, a tall ridge along the top of its body, and side fins that both resemble and work as wings. Their wide, curious eyes and permanently surprised expressions contribute to how cute they are.
These marine friends would fit perfectly in larger-sized aquariums or water features, though any owner would need to be wary of their jumping behavior, as they can reach quite significant heights with their wing fins.
6 Barney Bubbles Are An Immediate Mood Boost
Barney Bubbles are spherical creatures with large feet and pursed lips from the Yoshi's Island series of games. Their name refers to their typical activity of blowing bubbles out of their mouths. Though their presence is quite rare, typically only appearing in each game in pairs, they're still quite memorable for those who've encountered them.
As pets, they would be low-maintenance and hearty since they're only defeatable by throwing an egg at them. Their sweet design and bubble-blowing tendencies will surely bring a smile to anyone's face.
5 Goombas Are Unobtrusive And Intelligent
One of the Goombas' most unique qualities is their hidden intelligence. They have their own society in Goomba village, and certain figures, like Captain Goomba, show significant competence in their professions.
As pets, Goombas would be unobtrusive since they're visibly happy to wander around on their own and stay in the same general area for most of the day. This would be ideal for pet owners seeking an animal that can be a combination of indoor-outdoor pet safely, though they would have to watch out for Mario stomping on their little friends.
4 Dino Rhinos Are A Return To The Past
Most children have wished to keep a dinosaur as a pet at one point or another. In the Mario universe, they could! While there have been many dinos throughout the franchise's history, including the beloved Plessie and, debatably, Yoshi, the Dino Rhino would likely be the best pet.
They're abundant in their environments and come in multiple colors, which would make them more accessible to those seeking to care for them. Their size is variable through their different appearances so space may be an issue for some, but the reward of having a dinosaur pet would be worth it.
3 Lakitu Are Mischievous, And Aerial
While a pet that can fly and drop things on its human companions may seem like a questionable choice, it's a day-to-day reality for people who care for birds. In the realm of Mario's enemies, their interests may move instead to the Lakitu. These cloud-bound Koopas like to throw projectiles at Mario and his compatriots from their elevated positions.
Though the Mario Party and sports-oriented titles refer to Lakitu as a singular entity, alternate versions have appeared in other games, indicating that they're also a species.
2 Draglets Are A Compact Option For Fantasy Fans
Along a similar line to the desire for a pet dinosaur is the desire for a pet dragon. Dragons, however, can be extremely difficult to deal with due to their dispositions and size. The world of the Mushroom Kingdom presents an alternative option: the Draglet.
These flying orbs are dragon heads and mouths with wings, protruding noses, and sharp teeth. The most significant risk to keeping Draglets as pets would be their habit of spitting fireballs when displeased, which could risk an owner's body and property if the Draglet is untrained.
1 Crazee Dayzees Are For Those Who Typically Stick To Plants
Many modern homeowners prefer to keep houseplants rather than pets. In the Mario world, the middle-ground between these two options would be owning Crazee Dayzees. Crazee Dayzees are plantlike creatures with blushing, smiling faces surrounded by flower petals.
Their bodies are composed of the leaves behind the flower and minuscule feet that look like seeds. Their songs put characters to sleep for a short time in some games, which would greatly benefit anyone struggling with sleep difficulties. However, the Crazee Dayzees can be somewhat shy and will run away if they are injured or threatened.