In recent years, the retrogaming phenomenon has literally exploded around the world. Among the consoles that had a new hour of glory, we can’t miss the Super Nintendo, called SNES by the players. In this article, we propose you to find the best games of the console if you ever want to go back to the nostalgia!
How to play the Snes games?
To this question, we will have three answers to give you. The first one is simply to be lucky enough to have an Snes lying around somewhere, either at home or at one of your parents’. In that case, feel free to pull it out and play a few games. If you don’t have one or no more, you can try the second hand market, even if the prices have increased recently .
The other solution is going to be to go through his Nintendo Switch system. Indeed, over the years, popular Super Nintendo games have been added to the system. Not all of them are there, but you’ll still have some choice. Finally, the last solution is simply to go through an emulator of the console, even if it is not necessarily a legal solution! Now that we have seen how to play these Snes games, let’s have a look at the best titles available!
1. Super Mario World, a classic of the Snes
How can you not mention a game from the Mario license first when talking about the Super Nintendo? Indeed, the plumber is the mascot of the Japanese firm and he was necessarily entitled to games on Snes. Among these, we find Super Mario World, which was a great success with fans of the license .
As you can imagine, this opus does not shine by its scenario. Mario and Luigi go to explore the island of Dinosaur Land to save Princess Peach who has been kidnapped once again. However, with its colorful graphics, lively music and well-designed levels, Super Mario World has become one of the most popular games on the console!
2. Super Metroid : Relive the adventures of Samus
Did we tell you that the Snes had the right to one of the most emblematic catalogs in the history of video games? You want a proof, let’s take a look at this second game, Super Metroid. As its name suggests, it is from the series of iconic Metroid games. To be precise, this is the third opus.
This time, we will follow Samus Aran as she explores the planet Zebes and braves its many dangers to recover a Metroid larva that has been stolen by the Space Pirates and especially Ridley. As always, the game shines with its mechanics and atmosphere, and fans have given it a great critical reception!
3. Chrono Trigger: a Snes nugget from Square!
When you hear the name Square, you inevitably think of the Final Fantasy license, which had some excellent opuses on the Snes. But the Japanese publisher has also released some nuggets that have forever marked the fans of the console. Among these, we have to tell you about Chrono Trigger, a great game with a huge replayability (more than 10 endings are possible)!
As far as gameplay mechanics go, we’re on a classic RPG where we follow a group of heroes as they travel through time to save the world. However, the innovative gameplay mechanics, such as the ability to combine attacks, were very much appreciated. The story is well done, even if we are used to it with Square.
4. Final Fantasy 6 : An often forgotten wonder
We told you that Square had released very good Final Fantasy games on Snes, well here is the proof! Indeed, Final Fantasy 6 is often a little forgotten and for good reason. A few years later, the seventh opus of the series will be released and will propel it into another dimension. However, this sixth opus is excellent and we advise you to test it if you are a fan of the license.
One of the things that struck the players was the game’s mature storyline. Indeed, in the world of this Final Fantasy 6, a great war opposed the humans to magic beings. Since then, the two have lived apart, with the humans focusing more on technology than magic. In addition to this nice scenario, the soundtrack is still as good as ever and the game mechanics are perfectly oiled.
5. Zelda: A Link to the Past, the Snes’ Zelda episode
We told you at the very beginning of this article that all Nintendo systems and therefore the Snes were a must for Mario and his friends. However, there is another license that is also present on these consoles exclusively for many years, Zelda. For the Super Nintendo, players were treated to A Link to the Past.
As you are used to, in this game we will follow Link as he fights to save Hyrule and Princess Zelda from the evil Ganon. But what struck the players was the innovative game mechanics. We will obviously mention the travels between the parallel universes which are particularly successful and have marked many players!
6. Donkey Kong Country: Help the most famous gorilla in the video game world
We can say that in the last few years, Donkey Kong has lost a lot of popularity. Indeed, he is no longer the Nintendo icon he was during the Snes era. Moreover, if he had reached this status, it was due to anything but chance! Indeed, the Nintendo gorilla had the right to excellent games including the famous Donkey Kong Country.
This platform game follows Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong as they battle the Kremlings to get their stolen banana back. The game soon received a huge response from the public. In fact, the success was so great that several games were released in a row with this label Donkey Kong Country.
7. Mega Man X : One of the best games of the Snes
We were talking about forgotten licenses with Donkey Kong Country just before. Well, let’s continue by talking about what was one of the biggest licenses of the moment at the time of the Snes, Mega Man. Indeed, each release of the hero was a small event and Super Nintendo players were treated to the excellent Mega Man X.
As usual, you will follow the adventures of Mega Man who will have to explore several levels and conclude them by defeating bosses. Like the previous games of the license, what struck me was the gameplay that is more than nice. Moreover, the parallel series of Mega Man X logically continued in the years that followed.
8. Street Fighter 2, it’s time to fight!
For the moment, we’ve talked about platform games and RPGs, but as you can imagine, that’s not the only thing on the Snes. That’s why we’re going to tell you about the best fighting game of the Super Nintendo. If you had the chance to play it back then, you know we’re going to talk about Street Fighter 2!
The first opus of the license was released on arcade, so you had to pay a lot of money to play it. So, to see Street Fighter 2 land on a console like the Super Nintendo, it was bound to make an impression. Add to that an already cult roster of characters like Ryu or Chun-Li and you’ll quickly understand the success of the game!
9. Super Castlevania 4 : Fight Dracula again on Snes
Let’s continue our tour of the licenses that have disappeared from the radar with Castlevania. Just like Donkey Kong or Mega Man, it is necessary to realize that at the time of the Snes, this license was at the top of its form and that we can’t imagine it disappearing little by little in the years that will follow. It is in this context that Super Castlevania 4 arrives!
As far as the lore is concerned, it’s a bit complicated. In Japan it was presented as a remake of the first game, while in the West it is considered a continuation of the story. But in a Castlevania, the story remains a bit secondary and what we are looking for is the gameplay. Well, with this opus we are served and the game has quickly become a classic of the console!
10. Super Mario Kart, the first opus of a legendary license!
When we mentioned Street Fighter 2, we told you that the game had succeeded in bringing the fighting genre back to the home console. But the Snes also had the right to another game just as emblematic. This game is Super Mario Kart, it is simply the first opus of the Mario Kart game series that is still so popular today.
So, at the time, there was no question of adding circuits in DLC or a long list of playable characters. You have 8 playable characters that compete on 20 tracks that have been divided into 4 cups. However, players quickly fell in love with Super Mario Kart, which had a legendary sequel a few years later, Mario Kart 64, this time on Nintendo 64!
11. Super Punch-Out!, become a boxing champion with this Snes game
Finally, let’s conclude this article by telling you about a sports game. Unfortunately, most of them have not really aged well as far as game mechanics are concerned. However, as you know, there is always an exception that proves the rule and on Snes, this example is Super Punch-Out!
In this game, you play as a boxer who has to climb the ladder one by one to become a champion. The graphic style and game mechanics were then praised by the critics. That’s why we really advise you to test it!
12. Secret of Mana
Secret of Mana is an action-RPG developed by Square that takes place in a fantasy universe. The player takes on the role of a young boy who must save the world using the power of the Mana sword. The game features a real-time combat system and allows two other characters to join the adventure along the way. Secret of Mana is also famous for its multiplayer mode, allowing three players to cooperate simultaneously, which was revolutionary for its time.
13. EarthBound
EarthBound, also known as Mother 2 in Japan, is an atypical RPG developed by HAL Laboratory. The game features Ness, a young boy with psychic powers who must save the Earth from an alien invasion. EarthBound stands out for its offbeat atmosphere, its humor and its critique of American culture. Despite a mixed reception at its release, EarthBound has become a cult game over the years and is now considered a must-have for the Super Nintendo.
The Super Nintendo marked a generation of gamers with its impressive catalog of quality games. These ten titles are just a taste of the treasures this console has to offer. Whether it’s for their innovative gameplay, their captivating story or their memorable graphics, these games have survived the years and continue to be appreciated by retro-gaming fans.
Rediscovering these classics makes us realize that the magic of video games lies not only in technological advances, but also in their ability to provide unforgettable experiences and create lasting memories. So, don’t hesitate to dust off your Super Nintendo or get these titles on retro gaming platforms to relive these adventures and share these moments with the new generation of gamers.
