Drake, the rap artist formerly known as Jimmy from Degrassi: The Next Generation, has made his way into plenty of memes over the years. But now, he’s specifically paired up with the iconic Nintendo character Mario. Judging by the natural law of the internet, it was only a matter of time before they joined forces to everyone’s delight.
Mario as Drake memes have become a regular occurrence around the internet and we’ve taken the time to look for the best. Do yourself a favor and take a few moments today to enjoy some meme crossover magic Nintendo-style that isn’t related to Bernie sitting in a chair with those cozy mittens.
10 Boo Knows When to Attack
One of the most creative uses of the Mario as Drake format flips the script using Boo (which oddly enough are based on a Super Mario designer’s wife). As anyone who has played the classic platformer knows, Boo has no interest in Mario when he’s facing the ghost, but he’s ready to attack the moment his back is turned.
While most memes place Mario in the role of Drake, it’s nice to see a different take on the format. Hopefully, some creative meme-makers will decide to flip the script in more creative ways in the future.
9 Princess Peach Vs. Pauline
Even if you’re a fan of Princess Peach, you have to admit that Pauline’s enjoying high favorability thanks to Mario Odyssey. The mayor of New Donk City also sings the feature song that has become an earworm few can get out of their heads.
Since making her appearance in the 1981 Donkey Kong arcade game, she didn’t see much action in the Mario universe until 2017. Her “breakthrough performance” certainly means that we will see more of this original Mario character (including in Mario Kart Tour) soon.
8 Always Choose Mario
Nothing says “Mario as Drake” meme like Mario himself choosing to use the format. Nintendo fans who discover this meme may never use the original again. The artwork and background colors for this template work beautifully and match the look of the original, as well.
While the original meme does fine work, nothing gets the job done quite like the Italian plumber himself. Something about the playfulness of using the Nintendo mascot makes a gamer’s heart feel warm and cozy.
7 March 10th Drake Format
In the same tradition as May the Fourth, the perfect day to use the Mario as Drake meme is undeniably March 10th. Why not celebrate the Mario franchise by using him in one of the internet’s most popular meme formats?
While this meme isn’t as sharp as others, it has the right spirit and effort. Nobody asks for perfections with Mario memes – only a good reason to laugh out loud (or play For Honor again with lightsabers).
6 Pauline Vs. Bowsette
A meme that temporarily took over the internet after the trailer for New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe was released has found its way back to us. For this use of the Mario as Drake format, the beloved plumber approves of Bowsette over Pauline.
It’s fair to say that while Pauline is the girl you bring home to mother, Bowsette is the wild child Nintendo does not want anyone to recognize (especially when she invades Breath of the Wild). While the Japanese video game giant can try to eliminate the fan creation from the internet, it won’t stop some from making Mario fall in love with her anyway.
5 Why Not Both Mario and Drake?
If you’re given a choice between using a Drake meme or a Mario as Drake meme, why not split the difference and use both? One works well enough, but having both makes approving of things all the more enjoyable.
Choosing the appropriate format for your comedic needs doesn’t have to be a choice between one of the most iconic mascots in the world or Drake. Sometimes only both can get the job done the right way.
4 Why Use What Exists When You Can Create Something Unnecessary?
Using memes that already exist is an old and boring technique. Creating something unnecessary, cheeky, and fun is obviously better. Why not use the titular plumber from Nintendo for those meme-creating needs?
Memes themselves are unnecessary but welcome in our lives as something to lighten the mood. In fact, memes have become their own language over a very quick time period. It’s weird to think of internet jokes using visuals as a means of communication. But that’s clearly what Mario is doing in this very meme.
3 Amiibo Format for Mario as Drake
Meme formats tend to self-reference a great deal and ones that do so go"meta" more quickly than the movie Inception. As such, the Mario as Drake trend is no exception. This meme gives us Mario as Drake as an Amiibo for our collective enjoyment.
Choosing these two Amiibo figures mocks the original format nicely and can put on a smile on any fan’s face. Whether you’re wondering what’s going on with Amiibo these days or love all things Nintendo, this meme has something for everyone to enjoy.
2 Daisy Can Be A Drake Meme, Too
Many Mario fans have wanted an entry into the series that features a female protagonist. After all, there are so many awesome options among Peach, Rosalina, Pauline, and Daisy (of course). But Daisy fans want a bit more than the “princess” version of the character it seems.
Inverting fan expectations by featuring a Princess in the Mario/Drake meme format is one thing. But this meme takes it further by featuring artwork by DeviantArt user Jay-Phenrix. Imagine a hack and slash with Princess Daisy bopping around, hammering foes across their heads. Of course, she’d still be using her iconic, high-pitched, and blissful voice for contrast.
1 Nintendo Fans Know What They Want It Seems
Nintendo “nipplegate” has happened a few times and not just with the Italian plumber. As we saw with Bowsette, Nintendo fans will always be vocal about what they prefer from character designs. Despite the popularity of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, shirtless Link was NOT what they wanted.
The Drake meme makes a perfect platform to portray the disapproval, as well as the preferred character for this particular fashion choice.
