Super Mario Bros. 3

Super Mario Bros. 3 is the most ambitious game ever made for the NES. Eight worlds with navigable maps, dozens of power-ups (Tanooki, Frog, Hammer, Goomba Shoe), secret levels and variety making every screen a surprise. Universal's film The Wizard was essentially an infomercial for the game's launch. Miyamoto surpassed himself: each world had a unique visual and mechanical theme, from World 4's giants to World 8's airships. It was the NES's all-time best-seller at 18 million copies and remains 8-bit gaming's highest point.