10 Best No.3's In Gaming History

Speaking of GOATs, Super Mario Bros. 3 still holds up as a pinnacle of platforming perfection to this day.

Much of what we said about Link to the Past applies here - after a charmingly straightforward first game, and a bizarre mis-step of a sequel, Nintendo struck gold with the third entry of an iconic franchise.

Again, much of what would come to define said franchise was introduced in its third iteration - in this case, the overworld map, Bowser's nieces and nephews and some of gaming's greatest power-ups. (There's a reason Nintendo chose Tanooki Mario to be the game's cover star).

Obviously, the animation isn't as tight as today's pixel art wonders but the chunky, cartoony graphics still retain their charm, and Nintendo's signature blend of playful level design - where every level feels like a playground built specifically for Mario himself - and challenging gameplay remains as gripping as ever.

There's a reason every mainline Mario game feels like an event, and that tradition arguably started here. If you're looking for a gateway into retro gaming, then Mario Bros. 3 really is as good as it gets.