The game became one of the best-selling arcade machines of the early 1980s alongside Pac-Man and Galaga. The gameplay itself was a large improvement over other games of its time, and with the growing base of arcades to sell to, it was able to gain huge distribution. In the game, Jumpman (renamed Mario) must ascend a construction site while avoiding obstacles such as barrels and fireballs to rescue his girlfriend Pauline from Donkey Kong.