Princess Daisy

The tomboyish ruler of Sarasaland who trades the damsel role for athletic dominance in sports and spin-off games.

Princess Daisy is the ruler of Sarasaland, first debuting in the 1989 Game Boy launch title Super Mario Land. Created by Gunpei Yokoi and Satoru Okada without Shigeru Miyamoto's input, she was designed specifically as a damsel in distress for Mario to rescue from the alien Tatanga. Depicted as a tomboy with an energetic personality, she contrasts sharply with Princess Peach and is often portrayed as Luigi's love interest. While initially exclusive to spin-off titles like Mario Tennis (2000) due to her body shape being suited for real-life sports, she has become a staple playable character in franchises such as Mario Kart, Mario Party, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. After being voiced by Deanna Mustard from 2003 until 2022, she was succeeded by Giselle Fernandez starting with Super Mario Bros. Wonder.

Quick Facts

Series: Mario
First game: Super Mario Land (1989)
Home: Sarasaland

Lore & Background

Daisy hails from Sarasaland, a world distinct from the Mushroom Kingdom, named after a floral design concept created by the development team. Her origin is rooted in the 1989 Game Boy launch of Super Mario Land, where she served as the primary character for Mario to save. Unlike Peach, whose storylines often revolve around waiting for rescue, Daisy's characterization evolved significantly when developer Camelot Software Planning introduced her to Mario Tennis on the Nintendo 64, selecting her because her body shape was appropriate for sports.

Her return to mainline games in Super Mario Run and Super Mario Bros. Wonder was driven by director Shiro Mouri, who noticed his daughters fighting over playing as Peach and wanted to offer fans another option. In the 1993 live-action film, she is reimagined as a New York University archaeology student kidnapped by President Koopa's henchmen in Dinohattan. Her presence expanded further with the introduction of Baby Daisy in Mario Kart Wii and her inclusion as an Amiibo figure for both Super Mario (November 4, 2016) and Super Smash Bros. (February 13, 2019).

Reader's Guide

Princess Daisy is a versatile playable character appearing across sports and racing titles. In Mario Kart games, she first appeared in Double Dash!! with her signature course, Daisy Cruiser. She is also available in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, where her gameplay is largely identical to Princess Peach's. For players seeking specific visual representations, she appears as a skin in Super Mario Maker and Minecraft, and was added to Dr. Mario World via post-launch update in 2019.

Her inclusion in Super Mario Bros. Wonder marked a significant return to the mainline series after years of being limited to spin-offs. Critics have noted her distinctive personality in games like Mario Strikers, describing her as more energetic and athletic compared to Peach's reserved style. When selecting characters for competitive play, Daisy offers a tomboyish alternative with high energy, making her a favorite for players who prefer aggressive or spirited gameplay styles.

Did You Know?

Her Amiibo for Super Smash Bros. was released on February 13, 2019, while her Super Mario franchise Amiibo came out on November 4, 2016.
In the live-action Super Mario Bros. film, she is portrayed by Samantha Mathis as an archaeology student at New York University.