Mario Bros Level Up Retrospective

Mario Bros Level Up retrospective format

Coins Collected

What wins and achievements did we collect this round?

Coins are the wins and small victories the team earned this sprint or project. Ask everyone to celebrate both big milestones and the everyday achievements that add up. It's a good opening column because it starts the session on a positive note and recognizes contributions across the team.

Goombas in the Way

What blockers, obstacles or enemies slowed us down?

Goombas are the obstacles, blockers and frustrations that got in the team's way. Treating problems as enemies to beat keeps the discussion about the issue, not the person. Ask for specifics so these can become actions later.

Power-Ups

What gave us a boost or helped us perform better?

Power-ups are the tools, practices, people or habits that gave the team a noticeable boost, like the mushroom, fire flower or star in the game. Naming them helps the team do more of what's working next round.

Next Level Goals

What do we want to achieve in the level ahead?

This column looks ahead to the next sprint or cycle: the next level. Ask for concrete, achievable goals that build on this round's wins and lessons, and end on a forward-looking note.

When to use this retrospective

• When your retrospectives feel repetitive and you want a themed format to get people involved again.
• After a sprint or project milestone with clear wins to celebrate and obstacles to learn from.
• When you want quieter team members to share more openly.
• For team-building sessions or end-of-quarter reviews where a lighter, game-themed tone fits.

Suggested icebreaker questions

• If you could have one Mario power-up at work this week, would it be the super mushroom, fire flower, or invincibility star, and why?
• Which video game character best represents how your sprint went, and what would they say about it?

Want a warm-up your team plays, not just answers out loud? Browse free icebreakers →

Ideas and tips for your retrospective meeting

• Introduce the theme at the start. A quick nod to the Mario games gets everyone into a playful mindset.
• Keep the metaphor consistent: coins are wins, Goombas are blockers, power-ups are boosts. That makes it easy to know where each idea goes.
• Timebox each column so the game keeps moving and you don't get stuck on one level.
• Make sure the Goombas turn into concrete actions, so the theme doesn't replace real follow-through.
• Ask everyone to add at least one coin, so recognition comes from the whole team instead of a few voices.
• Watch for the loudest voices taking over. Anonymous ideas and grouping in TeamRetro help balance participation.

Frequently asked questions