The number of influential and beloved titles in the Super Nintendo catalog can exceed the library of games from other consoles. Nintendo revived the video game industry with the NES, but it wouldn’t be until the introduction of 16-bit graphics that the company would create some of its greatest and most influential adventures.
Nintendo Switch owners can access various SNES titles through the Nintendo Switch Online service. While new games are added every month, the number of games already on the platform can often be overwhelming. Whether you’re looking for some nostalgia or a new adventure, these Super Nintendo games offer timeless experiences that are just as fun to play today as they were in the early 90s.
10 F-Zero
Launched alongside the SNES, F-Zero excellently showcased the console’s new sound chip and graphics with its diverse tracks and breakneck speed. The futuristic setting makes F-Zero one of the most visually distinctive racing games on the SNES and creates the perfect atmosphere for a deadly race to the finish.
One of the biggest hurdles for new F-Zero players is mastering the controls. It takes time to figure out how to avoid collisions and obstacles during high-speed races, but using the rewind feature on Nintendo Switch makes it a much less frustrating process. It also lacks a multiplayer mode, but you can always play F-Zero X with friends via the N64 service.
9 Mario’s Super Picross
The Super Nintendo is known for its excellent library of platform games, JRPGs and action games, but there are certainly a few puzzle games that deserve some attention as well. Mario’s Super Picross was never originally released outside of Japan, but has now made its western debut via Nintendo Switch Online.
You might not spend hours playing Mario’s Super Picross on your TV like other games on this list, but it’s still a great puzzle game to play on short commutes or before falling asleep. The tutorial levels are great for anyone unfamiliar with Picross, while the Wario levels offer more difficult puzzles for veterans of the series.
8 Kirby Super Star
Kirby Super Star is one of the most exciting releases for the SNES. Instead of following the little hero through one adventure, as in previous installments, Super Star features a variety of journeys, mini-games, and battles to play through. Each mode offers a variety of fun iterations of the classic Kirby formula, while also offering new ideas that would later become staples of the franchise.
Super Star is packed with games, including a semi-remake of Kirby’s Dream Land, the Metroidvania-inspired Great Cave Offensive, and much more. Many of the modes also offer co-op play, so you can fight the Dyna Blade with a friend or go head-to-head in Megaton Punch.
7 Super punch out
Super Punch-Out may not be remembered as well as its predecessor, but its enhanced visuals and inspiring soundtrack still make it a contender for one of the best SNES games. The gameplay that made the original so successful has been kept intact, but everything else – from the animation to the variety of opponents – has been improved.
Once again you play as Little Mac as he tries to fight his way to a championship title. Super Punch-Out will test your reflexes and patience as you make your way through the gauntlets of tough enemies, but it could be a little easier now with the Switch’s rewind and breakpoint features.
6 Donkey Kong Country
Rarely surprised audiences when they released Donkey Kong Country, one of the first home console games to use pre-rendered graphics. This technology allowed the developers to use 3D models on the Super Nintendo, which allowed Donkey Kong Country to stand out – not only for its challenging gameplay, but also for its revolutionary visuals.
The Donkey Kong Country series is perfect for anyone who found Super Mario World too easy. The tight platforming can be frustrating at times, but it’s hard to match the feeling of conquering a difficult minecart stage. All three Donkey Kong Country games are available on Nintendo Switch Online, and while the original is arguably the best, each one offers exciting gameplay and some of the best soundtracks on the hardware.
5 earthbound
Not only is Earthbound one of the few JRPGs currently available via Nintendo Switch Online, but it’s also the funniest game on the service. Earthbound follows Ness as he travels through an abstract representation of Western culture, defeating cults, piles of vomit and the powerful alien known as Giygas to save the planet.
Earthbound has become a cult classic over the years. Although it sold poorly on its initial release, Ness’ inclusion in the original Super Smash Bros. significantly increased his popularity and introduced many players to the series. Its predecessor – Earthbound Beginnings – is also available on the Switch, through the NES service, but it’s not nearly as iconic or fun as Earthbound itself.
4 Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island
Super Mario World introduced us to Yoshi, a dinosaur that Mario could use to turn enemies into mushrooms or reach new heights. As popular as Yoshi was after his debut, it was still mind-boggling when Nintendo announced that they would be the stars of the Super Mario World sequel. First Mario saved Bowser’s Yoshis, but now it’s their time to become heroes.
While Donkey Kong Country was praised for its realistic and immersive graphics a year earlier, Nintendo decided to hand-draw it Yoshi’s Island to differentiate it from other SNES titles. It was the first game to feature the colorful dinosaurs, introducing their infamous flutter-jumping and egg-throwing skills.
3 Super Mario World
Super Mario World launched alongside the SNES, setting the bar for what audiences could expect for the rest of the console’s lifespan. The stunning visuals were a huge leap from the Super Mario Bros. games of the NES era, and the gameplay had never felt so good. Each level is full of secrets and surprises that are still being discovered decades later.
Super Mario World not only introduced us to Yoshi, but it also includes powerful new abilities, such as the Cape Feather, which allows Mario to fly or glide across a stage with ease. The soundtrack features recognizable tracks from previous games, but with new and improved rearrangements that take advantage of the SNES’ powerful sound chip.
2 Super Metroid
Many of the games Nintendo has developed for the Super Nintendo are full of vibrant colors, fascinating characters and euphoric background music. Super Metroid is one of the rare exceptions, instead you are thrown into a desolate and surrounding planet full of danger and tension. It’s a terrifying experience at times, but Super Metroid is one of the most influential and timeless games ever created.
After rescuing the last known Metroid in her previous adventure, Samus drops the baby off at a colony of scientists so they can research his unique abilities. Before long, Ridley ruins everything by stealing the Metroid and taking it to a distant planet. It’s up to Samus to navigate the bleak planet of Zebes to prevent the resurrection of the deadly species.
1 The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
While the original Legend of Zelda titles for the NES offered some of the best experiences on the hardware, they are full of stupid puzzles and secrets that make it hard to enjoy by today’s standards. Like many SNES games, A Link to the Past feels timeless and is just as fun to play as when it launched in 1992.
A Link to the Past not only introduced elements that would become staples of the franchise, such as parallel worlds, but it also features some of the best dungeons and boss battles in the series’ nearly four decades of history. It’s a surprisingly long game, but almost every moment is surrounded by a whimsical look that draws you in with stunning visuals and a beautiful soundtrack. It won’t let go until you finally save Hyrule from Ganon’s reign of terror.
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