Dry Bowser

Dry Bowser is the undead and skeletal version of Bowser featured within the Mario franchise. He made his first appearance in New Super Mario Bros. as a boss. Although Dry Bowser is not technically a Dry Bones, he shares several traits with them and is often closely associated with them. In subsequent appearances, Dry Bowser has generally appeared as a separate character from Bowser, such as in the Mario & Sonic series.

Dry Bowser made his first Sega-related appearance in both the Wii version and Nintendo DS version of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games. Both games are Dry Bowser's second appearance within a Mario spinoff title, as both versions were released the same day in most regions, with Mario Kart Wii being Dry Bowser's first overall spinoff appearance.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (Wii)
In the Wii version of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games, Dry Bowser appears as the last rival character in the Festival Mode. Here he challenges the player to the Ice Hockey event, where he is the captain of a team of three Dry Bones while he participates as his team's goalkeeper. There is also a purchasable Dry Bowser costume that the Miis can wear.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (Nintendo DS)
In the Nintendo DS version of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games, Dry Bowser is seen working for Bowser and Dr. Eggman, who are trying to kidnap the snow spirits in the Adventure Tours mode. He appears as the boss of the Supersonic Downhill event (where he is found at the end of Sparkleton, keeping Pola hostage in a cage), as well as in the Curling Bowling event, where he is encountered just before the player reaches Bowser and Dr. Eggman in Blizland, where he is keeping Frosty in a cage.

Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games (Wii)
Dry Bowser returns as a rival in the London Party Mode of the Wii version of Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games. He is faced in the Dream Long Jump Event. After the player beats him, they receive a sticker. Also, the music that plays when playing against him is the same as in the previous title. The player can once again unlock a Dry Bowser suit for their Miis.

Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games (Nintendo 3DS)
In the Nintendo 3DS version, a badge of Dry Bowser can be obtained from the badge machine, and he also appears in the Story Mode. Dry Bowser only appears in Foggy Foes, in which he and a Dry Bones appear protecting the Fog machine in the Main Stadium, and after being confronted by Toad and Omochao, challenge Mario and Luigi to Sailing - 470 (Pair). After being defeated in the event, Mario and Luigi destroy the fog machine and Dry Bones and Dry Bowser leave before they can be questioned.

Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games
Dry Bowser appears as a boss in the Legends Showdown mode of Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games. As all of the playable characters are about to claim the Legend Trophy, Dry Bowser ambushes them along with Eggman Nega and Rouge the Bat. The player must then face all three of them in the Winter Sports Champion Race event.

Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games
Dry Bowser made his first playable appearance in the Mario & Sonic series in Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. In both the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U versions, he only participates in the Javelin Throw event. During this appearance, he briefly mentions he has discarded everything unnecessary for the power of a heavyweight and the speed of a lightweight.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Dry Bowser has made an appearance as a spirit in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Like the other spirits, Dry Bowser can be applied to any playable fighter, including Sonic and Joker.

Physical description
Dry Bowser is simply Bowser's skeletal form, though there are some significant changes to his overall appearance. His snout is slightly morphed into a beak-like shape, while his chest and stomach are hollow due to consisting of five ribs. Dry Bowser's shell is a charcoal gray with dark red spike-rings and scarlet spaces (that can are glowing in appearances since Mario Kart 8) between its plates, as opposed to his counterpart's standard green, red, and black coloration. His horns are longer and more curved, his eye sockets are more triangular, and he sports a bony brow mimicking the characteristically angry position of his living counterpart's eyebrows. Like Dry Bones, Dry Bowser's eyes are black and empty holes with glowing yellow pupils.

In some appearances, Dry Bowser's roar is different from Bowser's, as his bones rattle when he roars. This can especially be heard in the Wii version of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games when he is faced in Ice Hockey.

Dry Bowser's artwork from Mario Kart Wii has been reused on several occasions, such as in Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games and subsequent Mario & Sonic titles.

Speech
Dry Bowser has always had voice acting, though it comprises grunts, yells, and roars, as opposed to the Dry Bones' clacking sounds. Dry Bowser's roar is significantly different from Bowser's, and his voice clips sound more menacing. Games like the Mario & Sonic series give Dry Bowser in-game text so players can understand what he is saying.