Super Mario Bros. 3

SMB3 is Nintendo turning platforming into a world tour of ideas: world maps, inventory, themed worlds, secrets, and power-ups that are new verbs, not just buffs. Honesty time: some old-school hazards surprise modern players, and completionism can become “inventory management simulator,” but it’s delightful. Verdict: a platformer masterpiece and a design clinic.

SMB3 is Nintendo turning platforming into a world tour of ideas: world maps, inventory, themed worlds, secrets, and power-ups that are new verbs, not just buffs. Honesty time: some old-school hazards surprise modern players, and completionism can become “inventory management simulator,” but it’s delightful. Verdict: a platformer masterpiece and a design clinic.