The Minus World is a coding error in Super Mario Bros that occurs in World 1 level 2, known as “World 1-2”. After Mario glides through a wall and down a pipe, the screen displays “World -1” instead of the correct world number.
- This coding error occurred in World 1 level 2.
- The glitch resulted in "World -1" appearing on screen.
- Nintendo Power reported on it in 1988.
- Shigeru Miyamoto denied it was a deliberate feature.
- The Minus World was discovered by mistake.
- Secrets were sometimes placed deliberately in the game.
Rumours of the phenomenon spread through word of mouth after the game’s release, and Nintendo Power reported on it in 1988, inviting players to “explore the mysterious minus world.” Many questions arose about its origin and whether it was a deliberate feature.
Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto denied that the Minus World was intentional. The glitch contributed to the game’s appeal, showcasing an unpredictable world. Some secrets were intentionally designed, but the Minus World was discovered accidentally.
“I remember finding [Super Mario Bros] kind of mind-blowing,”
— Dr Brendan Keogh, Author and Video Games Scholar
Originally reported by www.bbc.com as “The glitch in Super Mario Bros that obsessed gamers” on 2025-09-24 15:00:00.
