"But Necro, I'd like to try out rom hacks too! They just seem impossible to get into and way too hard..."
My news, to everyone, is that SMW rom hacks can be very very easy to get into. They range from anywhere between childishly easy (compliment) to absurdly difficult and it hurts me (positive). But!, sadly, it can be
very difficult to figure out which one is which. As always I highly recommend looking through
SMWCentral for your various SMW-related needs. But I do think it helps to get a list of places to start, and I'll give my usual recommends.
For starters, these are hacks that require
zero, and I DO MEAN ZERO, Super Mario World experience. Great for anyone who wants something new/unique without having to have practiced SMW beforehand.
- A Plumber For All Seasons
An absolute all-timer. A decade or so in the making, completely redrawn by hand, with lots of new things to SMW pulled from other Mario games. Very smooth sailing, while having a enough push-back to not let you be bored. Any to 100% is perfectly good for any player
- Super Mario Bros. 1X
Another, albeit lesser known, all-timer. SMB1X is a SMW hack styled after All-Stars but focused around Mario 1-3, while using SMW's base movement. It works so well, and is a great time. This one will possibly push a little harder than Plumber For All Seasons does, but by no means do you need any experience with Mario to enjoy this one
- Super Mario Bros. Peach's Adventure
Peach's Adventure! What a hack. I feel it scoots under the radar a touch more than other hacks of its difficulty. But Peach's Adventure is a wonderful rom hack full of completely redone graphics, cutscenes, cameos, and starring Thick Peach™ herself. This is on the much easier end of the spectrum, between being able to purchase powerups and very smooth level design, this is a hack perfect for anyone who wants to play a good platformer.
- Reverie
Changing gears, Reverie is a puzzle hack- and not one like the other puzzle hacks either. Confusing and long form puzzles spread across exploring a timed game space. Easily accessible for someone without any SMW experience, although still quite difficult in its puzzles. Definitely something for the fans of games with wild and out there things to solve.
- Mario & Friends in: Volcanic Panic
A very interesting inclusion (by my book anyway). A look at what it would be like if Kaizo creators switched lanes to Standard design and kept it pretty chill. While possibly on the harder end of this block, it by no means is terribly difficult and quite approachable. Made unique by the character swapping aspect, with each of the lot having their own platforming and powers.
- Seek the Discrepancy
Another puzzle hack, but of a different tune- and much to what it says on the tin. The levels ask you to find the differences amongst the litter to proceed. And much to the way it sounds will require little of your SMW skills and much of your deduction abilities; which makes it great for an experienced or completely green player looking for something different.
Secondly, this is a list of hacks for people who've had some time with difficult platformers, and specifically, have had some experience with SMW. Notably! These are still entry point hacks- however these actually expect you've played and understand SMW at a level deeper than "It Has Mario In It". But I would still encourage anyone to give these a shot!
- Super Mario Bros - Merry Mountain Christmas Adventure
Another hack featuring multiple characters, all with their own playstyles, tied up in a Christmas bow. This is very much on the easier end and has a good exit count for a one or two sit downs play time. The vibes are very strong with this one so I definitely recommend it during a winter season if you want something for a break.
- Same Sprites, Different Levels
A wonderfully interesting hack; Same Sprites, Different Levels takes the original vanilla boards of SMW and removes the tiles (blocks) but leaves the sprites (enemies/entities) alone. Building a whole new level around them. Essentially forming a remix of sorts of Super Mario World. With a few custom new things tossed in for spice.
- Of Jumps and Platforms
A shorter hack, but given the category, its possible it may still take a little time given it's on the slightly harder side of Beginner territory. But it pushes a platforming focused design with some extra non-vanilla aspects to keep it unique. This is a hack that will for sure help you on your way into breaking into SMW-Hacks across the board.
- Love Yourself
Love Yourself is essentially the Kaizo counterpart to Of Jumps and Platforms to me. Taking a kaizo focus direction; that being specific purpose built challenges that are meant to be more of an obstacle course. This too will ask a fair bit of a new player but it is fully surmountable and a great time.
- Slurdgery
Something I would suggest to a player pushing further into rom hacks is Slurdgery. It's on the shorter end but ramps its difficulty well and by the end it will give a beginner a good test to get a hang of the ropes. A big A+ recommend to someone starting out and wanting to grow.
- JUMP and JUMP½
This is a special entry of two related, but separate, hacks. JUMP and JUMP half are incredible games with tons of levels and lots of secrets and things to find- however, I strongly recommend for a beginner to only do the ANY% completion of each. They may feel as if they're on the easier end at the start, but some of the hardest levels you can find in SMW Hacks lie within these two. Mostly in the 100% routes of beating it. But these are literally hacking history, must sees- even if just in part. They play much more like a typical Mario game, and have a lot of irreverence to them. For anyone wanting to dig deeper you can't really pass at least one of these up.
- 
That ends my list of suggestions for now. This alone is a ton of video game- and there's an ocean of hacks to dig your teeth into past these. As always- I remind that it's okay to use save states, unique button mappings, whatever else if it improves your fun! Just because I play without save states doesn't mean you have to! There's no wrong way to get into these, don't let anyone tell you otherwise- as long as you're having a good time then you're doing it right!
(would) to 
(fine) to 
(wouldn't). 
So 2 Mice Walk Into a Bar... 
