Super Mario Bros 2

Super Mario Bros 2 throws out the run-and-stomp formula of the original almost entirely. Instead of squashing enemies underfoot, you grab them — or turnips, or bombs, or whatever else is sticking out of the ground — and hurl them at threats or straight off the bottom of the screen. It's famously a reskin of the Japanese game Doki Doki Panic, retooled with Mario characters for the western release after Nintendo decided the true Japanese sequel (Super Mario Bros: The Lost Levels) was too punishing to ship abroad.

The trade-off is one of the most interesting character rosters in the franchise: Mario is balanced, Luigi jumps higher but skids on landing, Toad pulls items fastest but has the weakest jump, and Princess Peach can float for a few seconds after any jump — a huge mobility edge once you learn to abuse it. All four play through the same seven worlds of the dream realm Subcon, ending in a boss rematch against the frog-like Wart.

This page hosts the verified Super Mario Bros 2 ROM, built for Delta Emulator's NES core on iPhone — load it directly with no BIOS file or extra setup required.