This year, Mario finally joined the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in balloon form. On the surface it feels like a fun nostalgia moment, but it also says a lot about how far gaming has come. When a character that started out as just a few colors and pixels on a CRT TV screen floats above Manhattan on one of the biggest cultural stages in the world, it’s a reminder that video games aren’t a niche interest anymore, they’re part of the shared language most of us grew up with.
The balloon itself is huge: over 50 feet long and modeled after Mario’s classic flying pose. It’s a symbol of how the character has moved from a side-scrolling screen into real-world pop culture. Super Mario Bros. turned 40 this year, and bringing him into the parade feels like marking that legacy in a way that’s bigger than fans or franchises. It’s acknowledging how iconic gaming characters are woven into everyday life now.
Seeing Mario drift between skyscrapers next to long-running parade staples makes it clear that games sit right alongside movies, sports, and fashion in shaping what people care about. Gaming isn’t just entertainment, it’s part of our culture, and it keeps showing up in more and more places like this.
