This page explains in detail the interactions between the Crash Bandicoot series and the Mario series.
Crash Bandicoot[]
August 31, 1996
Crash Bandicoot
Mario
Some enemies in Crash Bandicoot are believed by some people to be refernces to the Mario series. Specifically the carnivorous plant enemies, called Venus Fly Trap, that look similar to Piranha Plants from Mario games, and turtle enemies that retreat in their shells once stomped on, similarly to Mario's Koopa Troopas. Unlike the Koopa Shells, though, the shell is not launched if Crash jumps on it, but instead works as a platform. Still unlike Koopas, these turtles slie on their back when retired in their shells, a trait more similar to Shellcreepers from Mario Bros.
Note that it's highly likely that these similarities are just coincidences due to the game's natural themes.
Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back[]
A Lumberjack Lab Assistant.
October 31, 1997
Crash Bandicoot
Mario
In the levels "Diggin' It" and "Bee-Having", there are enemies called Lumberjack Lab Assistants. They wear blue overalls, red cap and shirt, brown boots, and have a moustache, which is clearly a reference to Mario.
Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped[]
Artwork of Crash riding Baby T.
October 31, 1998
Crash Bandicoot
Mario
Baby T, found in the levels Dino Might! and Eggipus Rex, is an infant Tyrannosaurus Rex that Crash can ride and is believed by many to be based on Yoshi from the Mario series. Like Yoshi, he's found in an egg and runs away when he touches an enemy. Unlike Yoshi, tough, he cannot be chased back after running away. His appearance and the way Crash rides him are very similar to Yoshi.
Crash of the Titans[]
October 04, 2007
Crash Bandicoot
Mario
The Ratnicians can be heard sometimes saying "You thought he was an Italian plumber or something?" when they notice Crash.
Crash: Mind Over Mutant[]
October 07, 2008
Crash Bandicoot
Mario
The animated cutscene after defeating the brainwashed Crunch Bandicoot is named "Crunch Get!" in the cutscene viewer, possibly after the phrase "Shine Get!" in the Japanese version of Super Mario Sunshine.
Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled[]
June 20, 2019
Crash Bandicoot
Mario
A Lumberjack Lab Assistant, who resembles Mario, returns as a skin for the Lab Assistant. However, his clothes colors' have been inverted (the shirt and cap are now blue and the overalls are red, which makes him look like Ice Mario and Mario's alternate blue color in the first three Super Smash Bros. games), likely made to avoid copyright issues with his similar appearance.
A few Lumerjack Lab Assistants with their original colors appear in the background of some race tracks.
Crash Bandicoot: On the Run![]
April 22, 2020
Crash Bandicoot
Mario
The Mini Robot mid-bosses shoot missiles with face that resemble the Bullet Bill and Banzai Bill enemies from Mario.
License[]
Crash Bandicoot's former company Sony didn't have any right over Nintendo's properties, but they only included minor references to the Mario series.