And the SNES gave rise to all kinds of amazing video games—many of which are still classic favorites to this day—and launched a handful of franchises that are still alive and kicking now. If you have a Nintendo Switch, you can actually play a bunch of those legendary video games. All you need a subscription to Nintendo Switch Online, and that’ll grant access to 40+ SNES games that you can play directly on your Switch. Not sure which ones are worth checking out? Here are our favorite SNES games you can play on Nintendo Switch Online.
10. Super Puyo Puyo 2
You probably missed out on Super Puyo Puyo 2 during the SNES era—because it never came to the West. Japan kept it all to themselves on the Super Famicom, and we could only play the Puyo Puyo series in arcades. The franchise was revived with the surge in popularity of Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 for the Nintendo Switch, which you may have played. But if you want to experience what Puyo Puyo was like back in the 90s, then you should absolutely play Super Puyo Puyo 2.
9. Breath of Fire 2
Both Breath of Fire and Breath of Fire 2 are available in the Nintendo Switch Online library of SNES games—and both are great, but if you only play one, play the second one. The sequel takes place 500 years after the first game, so you don’t need to play the first to understand it. The sequel’s story is more fleshed out, and the battle system has greater strategic depth. Is Breath of Fire 2 the best SNES RPG ever? Not by a long shot. But it’s definitely the best SNES RPG on Nintendo Switch Online!
8. Pop’n TwinBee
The Nintendo Switch Online library of retro games doesn’t have many great shoot ’em up games, which helps Pop’n TwinBee stick out like a sore thumb with its greatness. Unfortunately, not many people know about this game even to this day. The colorful graphics may put you off, but this is no kiddie affair—Pop’n TwinBee is challenging, fun, and addictive.
7. Super Metroid
There’s a reason why the Metroidvania game genre is named that way: Super Metroid pioneered a lot of the great gameplay elements that are featured in all the later games it inspired—most notably, the auto-mapping feature while exploring. Super Metroid earns its legendary status, and you have to play it if you never have. It’s extremely refined and well-designed, with so much going on that you’ll be glued to it for hours.
6. Panel de Pon
Never heard of Panel de Pon? You wouldn’t be the first one, and we wouldn’t blame you. Most people actually know this game by the more popular Tetris Attack. It actually has nothing to do with Tetris beyond borrowing the name—hence why Nintendo went with its Japanese title on Nintendo Switch Online—but if you like puzzle games, you’ll love this one all the same.
5. Demon’s Crest
Demon’s Crest isn’t just a spin-off of the classic Ghosts ’n Goblins series, but actually the third entry in that series of spin-offs. As you’d expect from any title related to Ghosts ’n Goblins, Demon’s Crest has plenty of moments where you’ll curse its brutal difficulty—but the introduction of RPG elements soften the blow and give you somewhat more of a chance to succeed.
4. Kirby Super Star
Kirby Super Star was my most-played non-RPG game from the SNES era. It’s actually a collection of eight different games, each built on Kirby’s classic sidescrolling platformer action but with their own unique twists on gameplay. From the simple “Spring Breeze” mode to the Metroidvania-esque “Great Cave Offensive” mode to the intense story-driven “Revenge of Meta Knight” mode, there’s so much fun packed into this one.
3. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island
A lot of people would say that Super Mario World was more important as a video game than Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island—and I’d agree with them. In fact, Super Mario World is the first video game I ever played! But between the two, Yoshi’s Island is way more fun. The art style is immensely more playful, the sound design is more refined, and the gameplay is just more interesting. Don’t miss this one!
2. Donkey Kong Country
Donkey Kong Country revolutionized the sidescrolling platformer game genre with its pre-rendered 3D graphics and simple but fast-paced action. The smart level design kept you in the flow, and the numerous secrets and collectibles kept you trying again. It’s a shame that this franchise never got a true revival, save for the Wii and Wii U attempts that never went anywhere. Donkey Kong Country remains as one of the most memorable SNES games of all time, and you should play it if you haven’t yet.
1. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is a landmark video game in many ways: its beautiful graphics, its sprawling overworld, its engaging dungeons and puzzle designs, its various gameplay mechanics between weapons and items… And all of that earns The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past its place as one of the greatest video games ever made. You can still go back to it today and be blown away. It’s rich, it’s deep, and it’s tons of fun. It’s one of the best-selling SNES game of all time! Read next: The best modern retro games on Nintendo Switch
