Mario is one of gaming's greatest and most famous heroes. Yet, he's certainly better at rescuing his loved ones than protecting them. After all, he never manages to stop Princess Peach from getting kidnapped, but he's always there to get her back. In fairness to the plumber, it shouldn't really be his job to protect her. She is the princess of an entire kingdom, so she shouldn't have to rely on a plumber for safety. Where is her royal guard?
Anyone would struggle to keep her from getting captured, though, since the individual doing it is the intimidating Bowser. He has taken her many times throughout the main Super Mario series. But exactly how many times has he or his goons kidnapped the Princess?
Bowser Kidnaps Peach 22 Times During The Super Mario Games
Starting from her original appearance in Super Mario Bros, the Princess has fallen victim to Bowser's kidnapping efforts a whopping 22 times.
His technique to get her has varied over the years. For instance, in Super Mario Galaxy, he cuts into the Earth around her castle before using a fleet of airships to lift the entire ground it stands on into the air in a move that will baffle scientists. In contrast, on other occasions, Bowser Jr. simply runs up to her and throws her over his shoulder.
Bowser usually only needs to kidnap her once per game. Yet, he - with the help of Goombas - does it four times in Super Mario Maker. However, as that game doesn't have a true narrative, it's debatable whether they should count.
Another instance where she gets kidnapped more than once is in Super Mario Sunshine. This time Bowser Jr. is running the operation with help from Shadow Mario. After getting her once, they have to re-capture her because Mario makes the save.
Bowser Kidnaps Peach In 14 Other Games
Peach doesn't just appear in the Super Mario series. The Princess also makes her presence felt in a lot of the spin-offs, party games, and side games.
Unfortunately, while she is generally safer in these titles, Bowser has still kidnapped her 14 times in these games.
There are a few contentious ones, however. For instance, her kidnappings in Paper Mario: Color Splash and Mario And Luigi: Superstar Saga were done by someone possessing or inhabiting Bowser's body, so he didn't actively capture her.
Also, in Mario And Luigi: Partners In Time, it's Baby Bowser who captures Baby Peach. In the overall franchise, the babies are technically seen as different characters from their adult counterparts. Yet, it still counts as a Bowser kidnapping.
What doesn't count, however, is what happens during Mario And Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. In that game, Bowser consumes a Vacuum Shroom and sucks several characters, including peach, into his mouth. That is more like eating somebody than kidnapping them.