Super Mario Bros 2

Pluck vegetables from the ground, hurl them at enemies, and discover why this sequel went somewhere completely different.

Super Mario Bros 2 feels like a fever dream in the best way. You're still jumping on platforms and dodging enemies, but instead of stomping on Goombas, you'll yank turnips, radishes, and even mushrooms out of the dirt and lob them at Shy Guys, Snifits, and those weird bird things. It's a strange departure from the usual Mario formula, and that's exactly why I kept coming back to it as a kid. The game lets you pick from four characters before each level, and they actually play differently. Mario is the all-rounder, Luigi has a ridiculous high jump with a bit of flutter, Toad is super fast but jumps like a brick, and the Princess can float for a moment after jumping — which makes her the secret easy mode for tricky gaps. You'll need to experiment because some levels are built around specific abilities. There are also hidden potions that open doors to a mirrored dream world where you can grab extra coins or hit a slot machine for power-ups. Some levels have you riding a rocket or tossing bombs at walls, so it never gets boring. It might not have the fire flowers or flagpoles you expect, but that's the point. The weirdness is what makes it memorable. If you've only played the original or Super Mario World, give this one a shot. It's still tight platforming with a fresh coat of weird paint, and the vegetable tossing never stops being satisfying.

Controls: arrow keys

Pick the Princess if you struggle with bottomless pits — her float makes recovery way easier. Luigi's jump is best for reaching high platforms but be careful with his slippery landing, he slides a bit. Throw vegetables at enemies instead of jumping on them; most enemies can't be stomped here. Look for red potions in jars; throw them to create a door to the dream world full of coins. Toad can run fast enough to skip over small pits if you build up speed on flat ground. Save the stopwatch item for rooms with lots of shy guys — freezing them lets you pick them off safely.

Q: Is Super Mario Bros 2 free to play? A: Yes, it's completely free on this site, no hidden charges. Q: Can I play Super Mario Bros 2 on my phone? A: Yes, the HTML5 version works on mobile browsers with touch controls. Q: Do I need to download anything? A: No, it runs directly in your browser, no download or install needed. Q: What are the controls? A: Use arrow keys to move and jump. On mobile, on-screen buttons appear. Q: Is Super Mario Bros 2 safe for kids? A: Absolutely, the cartoon violence is mild and there's no gore. Q: Does the game save my progress? A: It may save automatically in your browser, but clearing data resets it.