Mario vs. Donkey Kong

A safe, solid remake squarely aimed at younger players, with a slick revamped art style, orchestral soundtrack, and a genuinely worthwhile new two-player co-op mode. The puzzle-platforming never pushes Mario's revived skill set far enough, leaving much of the campaign feeling easy and inessential until the tougher postgame plus-worlds and expert challenges arrive.

A faithful, high-polish remake whose tight, clever puzzle-platforming level design holds up remarkably well two decades on, with that signature Nintendo charm. The 2.5D visuals and audio are a bright, vibrant improvement, and new worlds, a casual mode, and local co-op (requiring two keys per door) enhance the original. The main gripes are the lack of an option to switch to the original art style or include gallery/Easter-egg nods to the source, plus potential repetitiveness in long sessions.

A throwback in the best ways, recapturing the clever aha moments of puzzle-platforming that made its predecessors memorable while adding distinct visual upgrades and quality-of-life tweaks. Two new worlds fit right in and a Zelda-like, mini-focused second quest adds depth, though the antiquated lives system serves little purpose.