Play Super Mario 3 – Around the World Online

Okay, so Super Mario 3 – Around the World is this weird, unofficial Sega Genesis take on Mario that somehow works way better than it should. At first I was skeptical—Mario on a Genesis? But the second you start jumping around, it just clicks. It’s got that same tight platforming feel as the original, but with these globe-trotting levels that throw you into deserts, neon-lit cities, even pirate ships. And yeah, the Tanooki Suit’s still here, because some things are sacred.

The pixel art’s got that slightly chunkier Sega vibe, and the music? Surprisingly catchy. Not Koji Kondo-level, but there’s a track in the carnival stage I’ve hummed for days. It’s tough but fair—you’ll die a few times figuring out the quirks, but never in that cheap way some bootlegs pull. Honestly, it feels like stumbling on some alternate universe where Sega licensed Mario for a spin-off. Weirdly charming.