Super Mario World - The Lost Adventure Episode 1 is one of those fan-made ROM hacks that actually feels like it could've been a legit SNES sequel. It’s got all the classic Mario World vibes—Yoshi, secret exits, those satisfying cape spins—but with new levels that somehow nail the original’s charm. The first few stages ease you in with familiar greens and pipes, then suddenly you’re bouncing off weird new enemies or finding hidden paths that weren’t in the vanilla game.

Some of the platforming gets surprisingly tricky, especially if you’re hunting for all the secret exits. I got stuck for way too long on one level where you have to ride a shell across spikes—classic Mario torture. But it never feels unfair, just… creative. The music’s all remixed from the original too, so it still has that nostalgic SNES hum.

If you’ve rinsed the original Super Mario World and want something fresh but faithful, this is a solid pick. Just don’t blame me when you lose an hour to that one jump you swear you can make.