Super Mario World - The 2nd Try is one of those fan-made ROM hacks that actually feels like a proper sequel. It takes the original SMW engine and cranks up the challenge—think tighter jumps, trickier enemy placements, and some brutal new levels that’ll test even seasoned players. The first few stages lull you into a false sense of security, but by the third world, you’ll be sweating over pixel-perfect platforming.

What’s cool is how it remixes familiar elements—Yoshi handles a little differently, some power-ups are tweaked, and there are even a few new secrets tucked away. I got stuck on one of the ghost house puzzles for way too long before realizing the exit wasn’t where I expected. If you’ve rinsed the original game dry, this’ll give your thumbs a fresh workout.

Just don’t go in expecting a casual replay—this one’s for the masochists who thought the vanilla game needed more spikes.