Dry Bowser

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Dry Bowser
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games artwork
Franchise	Mario
First appearance	New Super Mario Bros. (2006, overall) Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (Wii) (2009, Sega-related media)
Latest appearance	Dr. Mario World (2019, overall) Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018, Sega-related media)
Latest portrayal	Kenny James (2008-present)
Species	Koopa

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.

History

Mario & Sonic series

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (Wii)

Dry Bowser and three Dry Bones in Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games's Wii version

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. In Team Festival Mode, Dry Bowser is replaced by a fourth Dry Bones. There is also a purchasable Dry Bowser costume that the Miis can wear.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (Nintendo DS)

Dry Bowser's appearance in Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games's Nintendo DS version

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)

Dry Bowser and Dry Bones harass Toad and Omochao in the Story Mode episode Foggy Foes

In the Nintendo 3DS version of Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games, 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.

General information

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.

List of appearances

Sega-related appearances

Title	Role	Original release date	Release medium
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games	Boss	North America: October 13, 2009	Nintendo DS
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games	Rival	North America: October 13, 2009	Wii
Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games	Rival	North America: November 15, 2011	Wii
Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games	Boss	Australia: February 9, 2012	Nintendo 3DS
Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games	Rival	Europe: November 9, 2013	Wii U
Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games	Unlockable playable character	Japan: February 18, 2016	Nintendo 3DS
Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games	Unlockable playable character	Japan: June 23, 2016	Wii U
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate	Spirit	Japan: December 7, 2018	Nintendo Switch

Non-Sega appearances

Title	Role	Original release date	Release medium
New Super Mario Bros.	Boss	North America: May 15, 2006	Nintendo DS
Mario Kart Wii	Unlockable playable character	Japan: April 10, 2008	Wii
Super Mario 3D Land	Boss	Japan: November 3, 2011	Nintendo 3DS
Mario Tennis Open	Unlockable playable character	North America: May 20, 2012	Nintendo 3DS
New Super Mario Bros. 2	Boss	Japan: July 28, 2012	Nintendo 3DS
Mario Party: Island Tour	Boss	North America: November 22, 2013	Nintendo 3DS
Mario Kart Arcade GP DX	Downloadable playable character	Japan: July 25, 2013	Arcade
Mario Party 10	Boss	Japan: March 12, 2015	Wii U
Animal Crossing × Mario Kart 8 (Mario Kart 8 DLC)	Downloadable playable character	Worldwide: April 23, 2015	Wii U
Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition	Boss	Japan: April 29, 2015	Nintendo 3DS
Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash	Unlockable playable character	Europe: November 20, 2015	Wii U
Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam	Secret boss	Japan: December 3, 2015	Nintendo 3DS
Mario Sports Superstars	Mentioned	Europe: March 10, 2017	Nintendo 3DS
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe	Playable character	Japan: April 28, 2017	Nintendo Switch
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey	Non-playable character	Japan: December 27, 2018	Nintendo 3DS
Mario Tennis Aces (version 3.1.0)	Playable character	Japan: July 1, 2019	Nintendo Switch
Mario Kart Tour	Unlockable playable character	Japan: September 25, 2019	iOS, Android
Dr. Mario World	Unlockable playable character (requires update)	Japan: December 26, 2019	iOS, Android