Super Mario World - MarioX World 4th is one of those SNES romhacks that tweaks the original just enough to feel fresh without losing what made it great. You still get the same tight platforming and colorful worlds, but the level layouts throw some surprises at you—expect a few new enemy placements and hidden paths that’ll trip you up if you’re on autopilot.

First thing you’ll notice? The difficulty’s a bit spicier than vanilla Mario World. Not brutal, but those first few jumps feel tighter, and some of the secrets are sneakier. I died more than I’d like to admit figuring out where the devs hid the new exits. Still has that classic Yoshi-riding, cape-gliding goodness though.

If you’ve played the original to death but want something that feels familiar yet slightly unpredictable, this one’s a solid pick.