Yoshi's Island is one of those SNES gems that still holds up today. You're not playing as Mario this time—instead, you're riding Yoshi through these bright, hand-drawn-looking levels full of secrets and weird little enemies. The controls feel floaty at first, but once you get used to Yoshi's flutter jump and egg-throwing, it clicks.

What I love is how creative the levels are. One minute you're bouncing off shy guys in a grassy field, the next you're inside a giant whale or running from a rolling boulder. And that crying baby Mario strapped to Yoshi's back? Annoying at first, but you get weirdly protective of the little guy after a while.

It's got that perfect Nintendo balance—easy to pick up, but some of those hidden flowers and red coins will test your patience. The music's cheerful in that slightly off-kilter way only SNES games pull off. Still one of the best platformers ever made.