Super Mario World review

Super Mario World is the best entry point for an SNES collection. Nintendo describes it as Mario and Luigi's first Super NES adventure and an all-time best-seller, set in Dinosaur Land, where the brothers meet Yoshi and fight Bowser across dozens of levels packed with secrets. Riding Yoshi to swallow enemies and flying with the Cape Feather are the two ideas that set it apart from earlier Mario games. Two players can share it, but they take turns, per Nintendo's Classic Mini listing. It is the cheapest cartridge here at $34.99 used at DKOldies before sales, and it is rated PEGI 3, so it suits children. It is also in the Nintendo Switch Online Super NES library. The limits are that two players never play at the same time and it has less depth than the RPGs below. For a household that wants one game everyone can pick up, this is it.

Who it is for

Families and first-time collectors on a budget

Price

Used SNES cartridge from $34.99 at DKOldies (regular price, before sales).

Original price: $34.99
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 12, 2026.

Key features

• Dozens of levels packed with secrets, per Nintendo
• Ride Yoshi and swallow enemies
• Cape Feather lets Mario fly
• 1 to 2 players, alternating
• Included in the Super NES library for Nintendo Switch Online members

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: The cheapest cartridge on this list at $34.99 used
• Strength: Rated PEGI 3 on Nintendo UK
• Strength: Nintendo calls it an all-time best-seller
• Weakness: Two players take turns rather than playing at once
• Weakness: Many players already own it through Super Mario All-Stars bundles or Switch Online
• Weakness: Less depth than the RPGs on this list

Key facts

• Publisher: Nintendo
• Genre: Platformer
• US release: April 1992 (Nintendo)
• Players: 1 to 2 (alternating)
• PEGI rating (Nintendo UK): PEGI 3

Where it ranks

Super Mario World is No. 2 in our Best SNES Games of All Time verdict.