Mari0

Mari0 is a fan-made side-scrolling platformer that fuses classic Super Mario Bros.-style running and jumping with Portal-inspired mechanics, letting you reshape how levels work by placing linked portals on surfaces.

It is for Mac players who enjoy puzzle-platformers, playful mash-ups, and cooperative sessions, plus anyone who likes experimenting with custom levels and community-made content.

A familiar platformer base with a clever new tool

At its core, Mari0 plays like a traditional Mario-style platform game: you move through side-scrolling stages, jump on or avoid enemies, and collect coins for points. The big change is the portal gun. By placing a pair of portals on suitable surfaces, you can move yourself, enemies, and other objects between them, turning straightforward obstacles into physics-driven problems and opportunities. Momentum tricks, like dropping into one portal and launching out of another, become part of the game’s language.

Two flavors of levels, from classic runs to Portal-like puzzles

Mari0 includes stages based on the original Super Mario Bros. layout, alongside a separate set of puzzle-focused rooms inspired by Portal’s test chamber style. That split gives the game a nice rhythm: one side feels like a faithful platformer recreation with portals as an optional complication, while the other is built around solving situations where portals are the main point.

Co-op chaos and light customization

When you bring friends, cooperative play adds another layer to the portal idea, since multiple players can interact with the same spaces and hazards. Mari0 also leans into personality with cosmetic touches, including hats and the ability to change the character’s look, which fits the game’s playful tone without changing the underlying rules.

Editor, modifiers, and mappacks for long-term variety

Mari0 does not stop at its built-in stages. An included level editor (the same tool used to create the game’s own levels) invites experimentation, and the game supports additional mappacks, including fan-made level packs. There are also gameplay modifiers that can tweak how runs feel, helping the same levels play differently when you want a change of pace.

Verdict

Mari0 succeeds because it does not treat portals as a gimmick, it makes them a practical tool that changes how you read a classic platformer space. On Mac, it is a memorable pick if you want something recognizable, but willing to surprise you with puzzle logic, community creativity, and co-op-friendly experimentation.