Super Mario World - The After Years (Ultra) is one of those fan-made ROM hacks that actually feels like a proper sequel. It takes everything you loved about the original—Yoshi, secret exits, those satisfying cape spins—and cranks it up. New levels, tougher enemies, and some wild power-ups (ever seen Mario with a boomerang?).

The first few levels trick you into thinking it’s just a nostalgia trip, but then the difficulty spikes hard. You’ll hit a ghost house that makes the vanilla game’s puzzles look like child’s play. And the music? Somehow even catchier remixes of the classic tunes.

If you’ve rinsed the original SMW and need something fresh but familiar, this is the one. Just don’t blame me when you get stuck on the third world’s boss fight.