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Super Mario World

24 Games with a fantasy setting like Super Mario World that you should try

Games like Super Mario World · Find similar →

We filtered the 49 games similar to Super Mario World down to the 24 that fit the “Fantasy” category. Ghosts 'n Goblins, Kirby & the Amazing Mirror and Rayman Origins top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Super Mario World.

NextGameLike96/ 100

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GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer
Tags
SoloMultiplayer
Year 1990Dev Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development

Quick answer

Within the “Fantasy” category, the closest game to Super Mario World is Ghosts 'n Goblins — scoring 78/100 on our similarity scale. Kirby & the Amazing Mirror and Rayman Origins follow close behind.

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The best games with a fantasy setting like Super Mario World

24 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Super Mario World. Each one has been evaluated across 6 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.

1

Ghosts 'n Goblins

78
NGL90
Ghosts 'n Goblins
Closest overall match
Platformer2D Platformer
SoloMultiplayerFantasy2D
Year 1985Dev CapcomOn PC

What brings it close to Super Mario World is fantasy world, single-player focus and 2D presentation, and the two track each other on genre, game mode and setting. It sets itself apart with shooting mechanics.

Genre100Game mode100Setting100Visuals100
2

Kirby & the Amazing Mirror

72
Kirby & the Amazing Mirror
Platformer2D Platformer
SoloMultiplayerFantasy2DOffline
Year 2004Dev Dimps · Nintendo

With Super Mario World it shares fantasy world, single-player focus and 2D presentation. Where the two diverge is game mode: offline play.

Released 14 years after Super Mario World.

Genre100Setting100Visuals100Game mode65
3

Rayman Origins

71
NGL93
Rayman Origins
Platformer2D Platformer
SoloMultiplayerFantasy2DCo-op
Year 2011Dev Ubisoft Montpellier · Ubisoft EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3 · PC · Mac

The thread back to Super Mario World runs through fantasy world, single-player focus and 2D presentation. They part company on game mode: this one brings co-op play.

Released 21 years after Super Mario World.

Genre100Setting100Visuals100Game mode55
4

Spiritfarer

70
NGL91
Spiritfarer
Platformer2D Platformer
SoloMultiplayerFantasy2DCo-op
Year 2020Dev Thunder LotusOn PS4 · Linux · PC

It meets Super Mario World on fantasy world, single-player focus and 2D presentation. They part company on game mode: this one brings co-op play.

Released 30 years after Super Mario World.

Genre100Setting100Visuals100Game mode52
5

Kirby: Triple Deluxe

70
NGL80
Kirby: Triple Deluxe
Platformer2D Platformer
SoloMultiplayerFantasy2DOffline
Year 2014Dev HAL Laboratory · Nintendo

What carries over from Super Mario World is fantasy world, single-player focus and 2D presentation. Where the two diverge is game mode: offline play.

Released 24 years after Super Mario World.

Genre100Setting100Visuals100Game mode51
6

Metal Slug 2

70
NGL89
Metal Slug 2
Platformer2D Platformer
MultiplayerSoloFantasy2DCo-op
Year 1998Dev DotEmu · SNK PlaymoreOn PlayStation 3 · Android · PC

The genre is the same as Super Mario World’s, and with it fantasy world, multiplayer gameplay and 2D presentation. The distance is in setting and game mode — its own ground is historical setting and co-op play.

Released 8 years after Super Mario World.

Genre100Visuals86Game mode63Setting58
7

Sonic Forces

70
NGL58
Sonic Forces
Platformer2D Platformer
SoloMultiplayerFantasy2DCo-op
Year 2017Dev Sonic Team · Sega GamesOn PS4 · PC · Xbox

Same family as Super Mario World: fantasy world, single-player focus and 2D presentation. Where the two diverge is setting and visuals: a sci-fi setting and a third-person camera.

Released 27 years after Super Mario World.

Genre100Game mode71Visuals62Setting31
8

Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse

64
NGL83
Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse
Platformer2D Platformer
SoloFantasy2DCasualThird Person
Year 2013Dev Sega Studios Australia · Disney InteractiveOn PlayStation 3 · PC · Android

Same family as Super Mario World: fantasy world, single-player focus and 2D presentation. The distance is in game mode and visuals — its own ground is a third-person camera.

Released 23 years after Super Mario World.

Genre100Setting100Visuals69Game mode55
9

Kid Icarus

64
Kid Icarus
Platformer2D Platformer
SoloFantasy2DRanged
Year 1986Dev Nintendo R&D1 · Nintendo

What carries over from Super Mario World is fantasy world, single-player focus and 2D presentation. They part company on game mode: this one brings shooting mechanics and ranged combat.

Genre100Setting100Visuals100Game mode54
10

Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment

64
NGL89
Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment
Platformer2D Platformer
SoloFantasy2DMeleePixel Art
Year 2017Dev Yacht Club GamesOn PlayStation 3 · PS4 · Linux

Genre puts it alongside Super Mario World, and so does fantasy world, single-player focus and 2D presentation. They part company on game mode and visuals: this one brings pixel art.

Released 27 years after Super Mario World.

Genre100Setting100Visuals66Game mode55
11

Super Paper Mario

64
NGL78
Super Paper Mario
Platformer2D Platformer
SoloFantasy2DDarkLoot
Year 2007Dev Intelligent Systems · Nintendo

Same family as Super Mario World: fantasy world, single-player focus and 2D presentation. Where the two diverge is game mode and visuals: a third-person camera.

Released 17 years after Super Mario World.

Genre100Setting100Visuals69Game mode54
12

Super Mario Bros. 2

64
Super Mario Bros. 2
Platformer2D Platformer
SoloFantasy2DMeleePixel Art
Year 1988Dev Nintendo R&D4 · Nintendo

What carries over from Super Mario World is fantasy world, single-player focus and 2D presentation. They part company on game mode: this one brings melee combat and pixel art.

Genre100Setting100Visuals72Game mode54
13

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island

62
NGL100
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Platformer2D Platformer
SoloMultiplayerFantasy2D
Year 1995Dev Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development · Nintendo

If Super Mario World worked for you because of fantasy world, single-player focus and 2D presentation, the same is here.

Same studio: Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development.

Genre100Game mode100Setting100Visuals100
14

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest

62
NGL70
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
Platformer2D Platformer
SoloMultiplayerFantasy2D
Year 1995Dev Rare · Nintendo

It shares the essentials of what Super Mario World does: fantasy world, single-player focus and 2D presentation.

Released 5 years after Super Mario World.

Genre100Game mode100Setting100Visuals100
15

Super Mario Bros. 3

62
Super Mario Bros. 3
Platformer2D Platformer
SoloMultiplayerFantasy2DDark
Year 1988Dev Nintendo R&D4 · Nintendo

What brings it close to Super Mario World is fantasy world, single-player focus and 2D presentation, and the two track each other on genre, game mode and setting. It sets itself apart with dark, oppressive atmosphere.

Genre100Game mode100Setting100Visuals100

Explore games similar to Super Mario World by category

If Super Mario World left you wanting more, this is where you narrow it down. Was it the adventure or the fantasy that hooked you? There is a list of just that. And if you play on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox and Mobile, filter by platform and skip the games you could not play anyway.

Rankings in the same genre

Sometimes what you want is not a Super Mario World look-alike but simply the best 2D Platformer Games there are. That is what these rankings are for: no comparison to anything, just the highest-rated games. And if you feel like widening the net, the Platformer Games ranking is a good way to run into something you were not expecting.