Play New Super Mario Bros. Online

I first played New Super Mario Bros. on the Nintendo DS back in 2006, a game developed and published by Nintendo. It arrived during a time when the DS was full of experimental titles, but this one felt like a confident return to Mario's 2D roots, just with a fresh coat of paint and some clever new ideas built for the hardware.

You control Mario through a world map, moving screen by screen across themed levels filled with enemies and obstacles. The main goal is to rescue Princess Peach from Bowser Jr., which involves running, jumping, and stomping on foes across eight different worlds. Signature mechanics include using the touch screen to store an extra power-up, like a Fire Flower or a Shell, for quick access later. You can also become Mega Mario by grabbing a special mushroom, letting you smash through entire rows of bricks and enemies. The pacing is brisk, and the difficulty starts gentle but offers some genuinely challenging secret exits and later levels. It feels responsive and satisfying, especially when you nail a tricky jump or discover a well-hidden path.