Universe

A character's universe refers is the series of games (the franchise) he or she is tied to. For instance, Link is the main hero in games from the Legend of Zelda^TM series; thus, he belongs to the Hyrule universe. Falco is a supporting character in the StarFox^TM series; thus, he belongs to the StarFox universe.

The following are lists of the various game universes that have thus far been represented in the Super Smash Bros. series in addition to the Smash Bros. universe:

Main universes

These are the universes whose characters have had starring roles as fighters in Smash Bros. games.

• The Marioverse: Encompasses characters, items, worlds and storylines from Mario and Yoshi video games. This is Nintendo's biggest universe, so big that there are sub-universes found within here: The Donkey Kong universe and the Wario universe.

• The Hyrule universe: Encompasses characters, items, worlds and storylines from The Legend of Zelda video games.

• The Metroid universe: Encompasses characters, items, worlds and storylines from Metroid video games.

• The Dreamland universe: Encompasses characters, items, worlds and storylines from Kirby video games.

• The Star Fox universe: Encompasses characters, items, worlds and storylines from Star Fox video games.

• The Pokémon universe: Encompasses characters, items, worlds and storylines from Pokémon video games.

• The F-Zero universe: Encompasses characters, worlds and storylines from F-Zero video games.

• Eagleland: Encompasses characters, item, world and storyline from the Earthbound/Mother 2 video game.

• Ice Climber: Encompasses characters, world and storyline from the Ice Climber video game.

• The Fire Emblem universe: Encompasses characters, worlds and storylines from Fire Emblem video games.

• Superflat World: Encompasses character, world and storylines from Game & Watch game systems.

• Angel Land: Encompasses characters, items, worlds and storylines from Kid Icarus video games.

• The Metal Gear universe: Encompasses characters, items, worlds and storylines from the third-party Metal Gear video games.

Minor universes

These are the various franchises who have not had characters starring as fighters in Smash Bros. games.

• Animal Crossing series: A Gamecume game in the style of the PC game The Sims. Three trophies - Tom Nook, Totakeke, and Mr.Resetti - are of characters in the game, and these serve as a "preview" to the game because Melee was released before Animal Crossing on Gamecube.
• Card Hero: A trading card game based on a Game Boy Color game; both were not released outside Japan. One of its characters, Maruo Maruhidge, cameos as a collectible trophy in Melee.
• Cubivore: A simulation Gamecube game released in 2002. The Alpha trophy represents a denizen of this game world.
• Famicom Disk System: A disc-based add-on for the Famicom, the japanese NES. Its simplistic mascot, Diskun, cameos as a collectible trophy in Melee.
• Mach Rider: A driving game that was one of the launch titles for the original NES. The titular character, Mach Rider, is a collectible trophy.
• Pikmin series: A real-time strategy game series for Gamecube and an original creation of Nintendo president Shigery Miyamoto. The main character, Captain Olimar, and the titular creatures, the Pikmin, cameo as separate, collectible trophies. In fact, the former is acquired by starting Melee with a memory card containing a Pikmin save on it inserted into the Gamecube.
• Sheriff: A 1979 arcade game whose main character and enemy sprites cameo together in a collectible trophy for Melee.
• Shin Oni Ga Shima: A game retelling of a Japanese folktale. The main characters, Donbe & Hikari, cameo together as a collectible trophy in Melee.