Play Super Mario RPG - Legend of the Axem Rangers Online

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Axem Rangers is one of those weird, wonderful SNES games that shouldn’t work—but totally does. Mario in an RPG? With turn-based battles? And Bowser as a party member? Somehow, it all clicks. The Axem Rangers are these ridiculous robot villains that feel like someone tossed Power Rangers into a blender with Mario’s usual enemies, and the whole thing has this offbeat humor that still holds up.

What really makes it special is how alive the world feels. The isometric view lets you explore little nooks full of secrets, and the timed-hit combat (press the button at just the right moment!) keeps battles from feeling stale. There’s a surprising amount of depth, too—figuring out which weirdo party combo works best (spoiler: Bowser’s raw power is hard to ignore) is half the fun.

It’s got that classic 90s charm—bright colors, goofy dialogue, and mini-games that pop up when you least expect them. If you missed this one back in the day, it’s worth digging up. Even now, there’s nothing quite like it.