The most revealing moment in this game comes when somebody else tries your level. You know exactly how to reach that floating ledge. Your little brother is staring at the gap and asking whether his paper explorer can fly. Time for a play test.
What is Mario Day?
Mario Day is March 10, a playful celebration of Nintendo’s familiar game character. Written as MAR10, the date looks like Mario’s name—that visual joke is the reason it fits the calendar so neatly.
A date that spells out the celebration
Nintendo uses the MAR10 connection in its official celebrations. The appeal is easy to carry into a family activity: colorful worlds, clever obstacles, and a player trying again after a missed jump. Designing a small paper level gives children a chance to think like game creators. Nintendo’s explanation of MAR10 Day.
A simple way to enjoy the day
Build one path another person can complete, then hand over the pencil and watch the test. Ask where the rules were confusing. Improving a level after someone plays it is part of the creative fun.
Holiday dates for planning
| Observance | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mario Day | Tuesday, March 10, 2026 | Wednesday, March 10, 2027 | Friday, March 10, 2028 | Saturday, March 10, 2029 | Sunday, March 10, 2030 |
Give the explorer three moves
Use a coin as your explorer and draw a start and a finish on the grid. It may walk one square sideways along a platform, climb one square on a ladder, or jump up to two columns sideways and one row up or down to another platform. Agree on the same moves before building. This is a tabletop game, so a finger can hold a jump in midair while you count.
Build one good path first
Cut out the ledges, ladders and treasure pieces. Pencil in a simple route and place the pieces loosely until you know the jumps work. Give your world a story: a moon gardener rescuing seeds makes a splendid excuse to scatter crystals. Add one optional treasure detour for players who want a trickier route.
Pass the pencil to a tester
Let the tester try it without coaching. Ask where they hesitated and which jump they would like to try again. Move just one piece, hand back the coin, and watch what changes. Glue the pieces down when the designer and tester can both reach the finish. Name the level and sign the test card together.
Get the free printable set
Paper Platform Game Design Kit includes these three US Letter activity sheets: Draw your level. Cutout game pieces. Play-tester report.