Charge up your Pro Controllers and get ready to play the 15 best SNES Games On Switch right now!
Or you can play them handheld… we won’t judge either way…
Yes folks, thanks to Nintendo Switch Online platform, there are a whole host of classic games just waiting for you to play from the SNES glory years.
Relive epic quests, race classic characters, and take a trip down memory lane with some epic adventures that are still as brain-ticklingly tough as they were back in the 90s.
So, without further ado, let’s crack on and check out which SNES games on Switch made the cut!
Table of Contents
1. The Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past (1991)
The Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past is officially the best SNES game on Switch!
Ok, so if you look at our collection of favourite SNES games, you’ll see that Donkey Kong Country is in the top spot. There’s just something about playing A Link To The Past in handheld mode on my OLED Switch that you just cannot beat, however, so I’m putting it in the top spot.
And hey, it’s good to mix things up a little, right?
Zelda games are everything to me, and this entry in the Hero of Time failure timeline is one of the greatest adventure games I’ve ever played.
For non-Zelda nerds (which should be none of you if you’ve made it this far), Ganondorf has all the Triforce pieces but is trapped in the Sacred Realm with them and is in his beast form.
That’s the big pig from BOTW…
Also, this is the first title where the Master Sword is shown for the first time, which is a huge deal if you’re as obsessed with these games as I am.
If this isn’t a reason to get the free trial for Nintendo Switch Online, then I don’t know what is. Give it a try; you won’t be disappointed!
2. Super Mario Kart (1992)
I’m going to go ahead and assume that you’ve all played Super Mario Kart at one stage in your lives; it’s the game that spawned pretty much every karting game ever made and kickstarted the epic series that we all play far too much these days.
I’ve been playing Super Mario Kart with my family for as long as I can remember. It’s one of the first games that my Uncle Mimmo showed me as a kid, the game that started my lifelong love of Nintendo.
I don’t care if you solely play The Witcher or have never turned on any other game than Rocket League in your life, there’s no way that you won’t enjoy Super Mazza Kart.
It’s bright, it’s easy to play, and it’s an absolute classic.
Yeah, the cars don’t fly or go upside down, but it’s good old-fashioned simple fun and a game that ANYONE can play.
And now you can play it in handheld mode… which is amazing!
3. Donkey Kong Country (1994)
I always find it a shock that Shigeru Miyamoto wasn’t the biggest fan of the graphics in Donkey Kong Country. I guess maybe just because it holds a special place in my heart doesn’t mean that it had to a hold a place in his.
Though as the 3rd best-selling SNES game of all time with over 9-million sales under its belt, I think he’s probably changed his mind since…
Join Donkey and Diddy as they move through side-scrolling levels trying to defeat King K.Rool’s forces.
Finally, a game that stops us thinking of Donkey as that dude who threw barrels at Mario; he’s changed!
I still don’t know to this day why a Crocodile would want to steal an apes bananas. Do they even eat bananas? And if they do, how do they open them?
Either way, they’re Donkey’s, and he wants them back. Collect them all as well as KONG letters on each stage, riding in barrels and charging on the back of Rambi the Rhino.
Yeah, this game is everything!
4. F-Zero (1990)
Captain Falcon is about to FALCON PUUUUUNCH his way into our list. It’s the move that brought him into a lot of our lives, but his career began way before on the mean tracks of the F-Zero universe.
Don’t be thinking that all Nintendo racers are the same, however… this is like Mario Kart on super galactic steroids with more dangerous corners and supersonic speeds than you’ve ever experienced before…
… lots of ‘super’ words in that last sentence… though I guess this is the Super Nintendo!
Seriously, for an early SNES game this title still packs a punch. In many ways, it looks and plays like F-Zero: Maximum Velocity, one of the greatest GBA titles of all time… or that looks like this… you get the idea.
Try to keep your nerve as you contend with danger around every bend, on every straight, above, below, to the side of you… basically, it’s a dangerous game.
Hit the sides of the track and you’ll soon be on a slippery slope to explosion town. Drive over the green strips to replenish your shields and get to the front of the pack without dying.
It’s that simple!
5. Super Metroid (1994)
Fans of Metroid Dread need to go back and check out the epic game that skyrocketed Samus into a global sensation. Super Metroid was and still is a force to be reckoned with and features some of the best gameplay on any SNES game.
Let’s be honest; Samus Aran is the best Bounty Hunter of all time. Ok, both Jango and Django are pretty good, but Samus and her Varia Suit win hands down every time.
In Super Metroid, players travel to the planet of Zebes in order to carry a young Metroid away from the clutches of the Space Pirate Ridley.
Just look at that ship – Samus is so badass that her main mode of transport looks like her helmet!
Use epic abilities such as Samus’ grappling hook to reach new heights and fire in multiple directions including diagonally as you move between areas.
And yes, you can pop down into a morph ball and roll around too. That trick never gets old.
When you’re done playing, don’t forget to check out some alternative versions of Metroid in ROM hack form and relive all the action in a brand-new light!
6. Star Fox (1993)
We all know the universe’s most daring Fox by now, but did you know that this 3D forward-facing shooter was pretty revolutionary for its time?
If you worked for Sega, then you will definitely have known and been pretty miffed about it too! Pretty much every game on the SNES has ‘Super’ as a prefix, and it’s thanks to the Super FX cup that this scrolling shooter looks so damn good.
Join Fox McCloud, Peppy Hare, Slippy Toad, and the unflappable Falco Lombardi as they battle Andross through the Lylat System. I love space-age shooters, and for a long time, this game would fill a Rogue Squadron-shaped void in my life.
Adjust speed dramatically to avoid enemies, fire torpedos, and pray your shield isn’t going to conk out on you before the end of the level… I don’t think burnt fox will smell that nice…
7. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island (1995)
If there’s one other game that makes me think of the SNES other than the title at Number 1 in this list, it’s Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island.
So we first became acquainted with Yoshi back in Super Mario World, but he’d long been in development before this game even dropped. When SMW sold so many copies, however, Yoshi went on to get his own game. Yoshi’s Island is still considered one of the greatest games of all time even to this day. Still, with Shigeru Miyamoto at the helm, there’s no real surprise is there?
If you’ve played Yoshi’s Story before, then you won’t be surprised to see that this is where the cartoony scribble-style art came from. Work through side-scrolling levels as Yoshi jumps, flutters, and munches his way through exciting worlds, completing puzzles and grabbing nifty items along the way.
And the premise this time; reuniting Baby Mario with Baby Luigi and rescuing him from the Koopalings. It’s my favourite Mario game on the console by a long shot; give it a go and let me know your thoughts!
8. Super Mario All-Stars (1993)
Super Mario All-Stars takes the 8th spot in this list of the best SNES games on Switch, giving gamers four titles for the price of one. If you loved Toys ‘R Us because it had everything under one roof, then you’ll love this game cart. All the best Mario titles in one without the need to get up and change games every time.
It’s the stuff that dreams are made of. Play as Mario, Luigi, Toad, Peach as you play through remastered versions of Super Mario Bros 1, 2, 3, and the Lost Levels.
And with 10.5 million sales under its belt, it certainly proved a hit with audiences all over the globe, another reason why Nintendo have kept it alive through their Nintendo Switch Online platform.
Whether you’ve loved Mario since the dawn of time or have just discovered Super Mario Odyssey, this is one title that you need in your life, especially now it’s available to play handheld on the Switch!
9. Pilotwings (1990)
Pilotwings is one of those games that, for a while, I wondered what all the fuss was about. What could be so exciting about a flying a virtual plane? God, how naive was I!
This amateur flying game is so blooming addictive that it should come with a warning message. Plus, it’s not just about flying planes either. No; players get to try out skydiving and a super-cool rocket belt as well as getting a license to fly a plane.
What do you think the devs named the training area for this game? ‘Flight Club’. How ace is that. I suppose the second rule of Flight Club is that you can’t talk about the devs that named it or something, so I best move on. Rack up points for ticking off tasks and completing stages, and then just soar around and enjoy the scenery!
10. Super Mario World (1990)
Let’s talk Mario for a second. If you ask anyone about the gaming character with the red hat, pretty much everyone will know it’s Mario. He and his epic SNES adventures are known the world over, and you’ve got to be pretty miserable not to enjoy the excitingly simple gameplay in Super Mario World. It’s so simple that my grandma could play it!
How many copies do you think this game sold in its lifetime? 20 million! Now that’s some impressive figures right there. It’s the best selling SNES game ever made, but it’ll still take more than that to impress the Retro Dodo team.
Save Peach from Bowser; you know the drill. Play as Luigi and request Yoshi’s help as you save Peach and Dinosaur Island. It’s a classic SNES game and one that you need to check out if you’re new to the SNES.
11. Super Punch-Out!! (1994)
And keeping to tradition, here’s another Super game – Super Punch-Out!! Remember Little Mac from Super Smash Bros? Well, he made his name in the Punch-Out series and is the main fighter in this game.
He might be little by name, but his fists certainly pack a powerful punch. Players fight to become the World Video Boxing Champion, which is obviously a made up title but sounds cool nonetheless. We see every fight from behind Mac’s back, pulling off uppercuts, jabs, and hooks in order to knock out opponents before heading into the next round.
Dodge and weave as your opponent attacks, and don’t forget to watch their fists! This is a visually striking game if ever I saw one. It’s colourful, cartoony style helps to soften the blow (literally) of the sport and make it more family-friendly. If you liked Wii Sports Boxing but found it too energetic… then this is the game for you.
12. Super Puyo Puyo 2 (1995)
Next up in our list is Super Puyo Puyo 2, yet another game that Ninty have squashed Super onto the beginning of…
If you’ve played Puyo Puyo before, then there isn’t much different in this game to the previous title. And if you haven’t played it, then the concept is still incredibly simple for me to explain. Falling blobs, connect them up, clear the screen. Job done.
Match up four Puyos and the vanish in the blink of an eye. Send garbage Puyos to your opponent to make it tougher for them, and try not to let the little blighters block your entire screen.
The SNES version has a four player mode accessed vie the Super Multitap that other games don’t have as well as an endless mode. So essentially, it’s the best version of the game and the only one you need to buy!
13. Breath of Fire II (1994)
Breath of Fire II is up next, a role-playing game of epic proportions that sees friends Ryu and Bow training to be apprentice rangers.
When Bow is wrongly accused of a crime, Ryu must clear Bow’s name while finding who he truly is… yes, it’s a sort of magical coming-of-age story, which instantly makes it an incredible game. It worked for Harry Potter, after all…
Gameplay swaps between top-down for the explorative elements and a 2.5D isometric view whenever battles occur. Build parties from the different characters you meet and utilise their different skillsets in order to achieve victory against all manner of foes.
Will you find the truth to Ryu’s past and unlock his memories, or will Bow be imprisoned forever? Spoiler Alert – I reckon it’ll be the first one…
14. Super Tennis (1991)
Super Tennis has the most energetic sporting soundtrack ever made. Ok, so that could have been a little bit of an exaggeration… This game is so retro that it hurts. Everything from the names of the players to their get-ups and cheesy shades screams early 90s.
Each player actually represents a famous tennis player that Nintendo couldn’t name for licensing reasons. So, if you know your Becker from your McEnroe, try to guess who is who! Whether playing solo, going against a friend, or teaming up to show the computer who’s boss, this game was super fun and incredibly tough to put down.
What am I talking about ‘was’; I still play this all the time today.
Play through tournaments, have a bash at free play in the solo mode, and pull off incredible (mediocre) jumps and lunges as you try not to hit those identical triplets in the back there. Seriously, where did Ninty find those guys from?
15. Super Ghouls’n Ghosts (1991)
Super Ghouls’n Ghosts is up next, a game where King Arthur is celebrating after rescuing his love from the demon Loki.
Yeah, you just know something bad is about to go down…
Just when the couple are having a loving cuddle, another demon snatches her and dashes off into the night, protected by a horde of undead cretins left in its wake.
Move through lusciously textured side-scrolling levels as you chase after your beloved, slaying evil monsters, ghouls and ghosts alike while bringing peace back to your kingdom.
Hey, this story certainly makes for a more interesting read than that stuff about the round table!
