Now updated with the four new additions coming 12th December 2019.
Just like the NES games already available on the console, the Super NES library is available exclusively to Nintendo Switch Online members. The games benefit from special online features such as the Rewind function, and currently boasts 20 titles, with four more arriving very soon on 12th December.
While there are plenty of solid-gold classics here that you’ll have heard of, we thought it might be a good idea to run down the full list so you can pick and choose what to play first. In case you’re in a rush, we’ve put them in the order we personally think you should play them.
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo EAD
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is rightly considered a 16-bit classic and offers hours of engrossing entertainment and tantalising challenge. Not many games from over two decades ago still feel as fresh and tightly constructed as this; it represents Nintendo at its very best. Everything is so focused and finely-tuned that it’s genuinely hard to see how it could possibly be improved upon. What we have here isn’t just one of the finest games in the SNES library, it’s one of the most engaging and captivating classics in the history of video gaming.
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo EAD
Super Mario World is the apex of 16-bit platforming, a cornerstone of the gaming canon, and – most importantly – just as much fun to play today as it was all those years ago. If you’re yet to experience the thrill of discovering a secret exit, the joy of soaring through a level with your super-cape, or the unique tragicomedy of accidentally running off a cliff while trying to catch up to a runaway Yoshi, you’re in for some of gaming’s best-loved and most iconic moments. This is one of the best games of all time; clear your weekend, call over a Player Two, and enjoy!
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo R&D1
Super Metroid is a science-fiction masterpiece that not only redefined everything that was great about the Metroid series up until that point, but it also showcased a world striking enough to prove for the makings of a long-lasting franchise. Engrossing atmosphere, tight controls, pure exploration, and gnarly bosses are just a few of the things that make this an unforgettable experience from front-to-back. It honestly hasn’t aged a day, like many of its SNES brethren, which is a testament as to why the system is often regarded as one of the best home consoles of all time.
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo EAD
Yoshi’s Island isn’t just a great platformer: it’s a reminder of why this silly little hobby of ours is so wonderful. Sure, the game contains no political satire, no poetic justice, no character development. But if what Miyamoto and Tezuka crafted isn’t a work of art, then the definition of “art” needs to be amended.
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo EAD
With controls, track design and item balance meticulously structured, the mechanics over twenty tracks and four cups sketched-out the foundations of the franchise. Alongside a stern 150cc class and Special Cup challenge, boisterously cheap AI rivals can’t dampen the urge to rocket start, hop and power slide your way to a smooth, perfect lap run. Eight characters with handling based upon weight add replay value for approaching Time Trials, or two-player GP and Battle Mode showdowns. Super Mario Kart propelled the series forward from the starting line as a pacesetter, not only amongst karting games, but as a leader of the pack in the retro racing genre.
Publisher: Capcom / Developer: Capcom
It’s hard to find anything not to like about Demon’s Crest, despite its difficulty. The ability to play the levels in different orders, not to mention the free-roaming feel of the game make it seem like an RPG at times. The fact that it’s also chock-full of gameplay elements just further makes the title endearing and enjoyable. It’s fairly safe to say that if you loved the Ghosts ‘n Goblins franchise, you’re going to love this spin-off, and even if you’re not a big fan, you may find that the added playability of Demon’s Crest might be enough to make a fan out of you.
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo EAD
The release of Star Fox and its integration of the Super FX chip successfully distinguished the SNES from the competition, at least until Sega cunningly placed its own nifty processor into the Mega Drive Virtua Racing cart a year later. However, a year is an eternity in gaming and even Sega was not that cunning a fox in this instance. Argonaut and Nintendo created a magical team for this project. The sparks flew from the screen in a genuine mix of European and Japanese talent. Aurally, visually and in its character design and presentation, it was phenomenal in 1993 and will be rightly remembered as a classic.
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Tokyo Shoseki
Easily one of the best sports games on any console, Super Tennis is an utterly fantastic replication of the sport which, despite its cute visuals, is arguably more authentic than many modern takes on tennis. With four shot types to master and loads of little skills and tactics to learn, it has the kind of depth that only the very best sports sims can boast. A challenging campaign mode is also present, but it’s the two-player mode which is perhaps the star of the show.
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo EAD
F-Zero might lack the embellishments of its N64 successor and could really benefit from a two-player mode, but that doesn’t detract from the overall experience. This is a classic racer which has a level of purity and playability that rival titles have been struggling to emulate ever since. From the tight controls to the impeccable course design and timeless presentation, F-Zero is a joy to behold.
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo
Featuring the same gameplay you know and love from the original arcade game and the NES port, the SNES entry in Little Mac’s timing-based boxing series benefits from some lovely big sprites which inject even more character, colour and energy into the same basic premise. Super Punch-Out!! still stands up as a fun experience and is definitely worth investigating in the Super Nintendo Switch Online collection.
https://www.sickgaming.net/blog/2019/12/...ked-by-us/