Mario vs. Donkey Kong

Our analysis

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.

Our analysis

The Switch remake retains clever puzzles and tight level design, enhanced by vibrant graphics, new worlds and local multiplayer. It remains a great game, though long sessions can feel repetitive and options celebrating the original are lacking.

Our analysis

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.