6. Super Mario 3D World (Wii U)

Move aside, New Super Mario Bros.. Despite the 3D in its title and the fact that, yes, the gameplay takes place in three dimensions, it’s actually here in Super Mario 3D World that the spirit of early Super Mario’s tightly designed obstacle courses is most apparent, and most thrillingly iterated upon. The new Cat Mario power-up belongs directly in the lineage of all of Super Mario Bros. 3’s classic animal costumes, and the flagpoles at each level’s end hearken back to the game that started it all.

But it’s much more than just a tribute to those classics. The 3D environments open up a slew of new possibilities that the level designers make the most of, four-player co-op makes for delightful chaos, and the game’s difficulty teeters brilliantly between accessible (for players who want a breezy but satisfying experience) and nail-biting (for those who want to test their skills and tackle every challenge the game has to offer). While other 3D Mario games like Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Odyssey have focused on more expansive environments for us to explore, Super Mario 3D World’s narrower, more propulsive stages chart a categorically different course, one that keeps the spirit of early Super Mario alive while also investing it with wonderful new ideas. — Carolyn Petit

Read More: Super Mario 3D World: The Kotaku Review