Last week, Nintendo Switch Online subscribers were treated to a whole new bunch of retro delights in the form of the new SNES app. Available to download as we speak, the new collection lets players jump into 20 classic games on the go, and we're sure plenty of you have been enjoying your time with them.
As such, we thought it'd be a good idea to see which games are the most popular amongst our lovely community. Are you all replaying the big name games like Super Mario World and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past for the umpteenth time, or are you perhaps using this as an opportunity to check out games you might not be quite as familiar with like Joe & Mac 2: Lost in the Tropics and Demon's Crest?
Have your say below.
If you're not sure where to begin, why not check out our ranked list of all 20 games? Hopefully you'll find the perfect game for you somewhere in the bunch.
Comments (129)
Stunt Race FX. Love me them googly eyes.
Pilotwings for 45 minutes (roughly), F-ZERO for about 5 minutes, same for Super Mario World and Link to the Past.
I tried Super Tennis, remembered it differently Hasn't aged as well as I thought. Super Mario World is still such a gem though
Tried them all but the only ones that have kept my attention are SMW and Zelda. I did beat Earth Defense Force though, loved it as a kid first time playing it in decades!
Breath of Fire! )))
What SNES games do you want to appear in NSO?
Breath of Fire has been the big one. I have a soft spot for those types of games.
F-Zero and Puyo Puyo, Mario Kart has also had some playtime. Pilot Wings and and Yoshi's Island next for me....
Same one's I always play. Super Mario World, F-Zero and Link to the Past.
I should play any game that isn't Super Puyo Puyo 2.
I'm going to try and finish Super Mario World just to be able to say I did.
Super Tennis is one of the finest tennis games ever created. It really benefits from a lack of clutter in it's presentation and controls. 2 player is brill!
Breath of Fire, an amazing RPG. I also want them to add BoF2 soon.
Playing SMW2 : Yoshi's Island legally for the first time. It's amazing how gorgeous this game is and how enjoyable it is to play it on TV rather than on a small laptop screen. Also played Zelda and went as far as the 4th dungeon over the weekend.
Yoshi's Island. It came out late in the lifespan of the SNES, so I'd already moved onto other things when it was released. Great to be able to play it now.
Kirby 3 and Stunt Race. Most of the others I have recently played to death on the SNES Classic.
Definitely SMW. SethBling already got a credits warp (0 exit) on it!
EDF for me, I missed it back in SNES days so wanted to see what the fuss was about. Really good, but I think I like R Type better. Lol. Also looking forward to replaying LttP, SMW, and SMRPG
Beat Link to the Past, Super Mario World, all tracks of F-Zero on beginner, unlocked special cup on Mario Kart, beat Star Fox on easy got crushed on other paths, got to hang gliding on Pilotwings, and got to level 3 on EDF.
Gave the rest about 5-20 mins each, just didn't hook me.
I own most of these on the original snes...
Lots of pilotwings. Not about to admit to using that rewind feature, mind (okay, just a little bit)
I've been playing Super Mario World and Yoshi's Island mostly, the 2 greatest and most timeless platformers ever made. I've been playing a few others quite a bit too. F-Zero, Pilot Wings, Demons Crest, Ghouls n Ghosts, Joe and Mac 2 as well as Super Mario Kart...........for the first time. I've seen mates play it in the 90's and came close to buying it in VC a few times but I never did as I just assumed it hadn't aged too well. How wrong I was. I had a great time with it last night, it runs so smoothly and the Kart feels great to control, very challenging with a different feel.
I'm well chuffed with the collection we've got and I'll be spending a lot of time in the app. I look forward to playing Breath of Fire 2 for the first time and finally completing Link to the Past.
I wish there was an option to disable the rewind feature. It's too tempting to use, especially on games like Super Mario World.
Im loving Demons crest.
I beat Super Metroid at 76% over the weekend. Now I’m playing with Kirby
Demon's Crest, it's still a shame that we never got a remastered or sequel of this wonderful series/game.
@sanderev I'd be happy to see BoF2
I'd also be happy to see lufia and lufia 2. RPG genre often goes under appreciated by virtual consoles. Sadly, I'm not holding breath of any more rpgs like this appearing. getting even one was probably a miracle and probably only because it's one of the most underrated ones so the licensing fees were probably low.
As someone who has always loved Star Fox 64 and enjoyed Star Fox Zero and Starlink I've always wanted to try the original Star Fox. It was the first game I booted up and........ It didn't age well. I'll go back to Starlink
I am playing A Link to the Past because it was a favorite. Trying Breath of Fire but pacing myself due to the lack of a run button. There is only so much old (and bad) design that I can tolerate in a single play.
A Link to the Past is the only acceptable option.
Cheers to Nintendo, but why did they have to release this app in September? I've got too many other options...
Puyo Puyo 2 lol. Timeless classic even if the menus are in japanese.
I wish there was a "None/I have Nintendo Switch Online" option.
Should be a
"None / and have the 1 free year from Amazon Prime"
Option... Just for those trying to make a point 😉
@Agramonte
What point? That they hate video games?
Super ghouls and ghosts has had about 30 mins of my time. Purely for the rewind feature. My dad completed that game back in the day. Respect to anyone who has managed to do it without rewind.
Played most of these back in the day, at least the ones I cared to play.
I turned on "Demon's Crest" based on the NL review - I just died over and over again before leaving the first room, definitely not for me.
I played ~30 minutes of Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts and LOVED the ability to rewind time. It makes that game enjoyable instead of uber frustrating.
I tried tennis for a few seconds, but quickly lost interest.
I may go back for Zelda or Mario, but I'd rather play a modern Zelda or SM Maker 2. The NES and SNES offerings aren't quite doing it for me.
...but then if they choose some of the cult favorites like Rygar and Baseball Stars on NES, or ActRaiser on SNES, my opinion would change greatly.
As it is, I've played these games in their original form, on the Wii, on the 3DS, on the WiiU... They are great games, don't get me wrong, but I wish there was more variety or that they'd pull in more forgotten favorites. I mean, why hasn't Contra NES ever been on VC? It was a HUGE game back in the day, but never on VC.
Demon's Crest is such a gem! How had this game flown under the radar all this time?
Had a Megadrive growing up, so a fair few of these games are completely new to me and will be getting some love!
The wonderful Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island! Love it.
@cyrus_zuo For Demon's Crest, there's a 'hover' button, which puts you at a height where you can shoot the dragon in the face. Took me a few deaths to realize that XD
I turned on SMW to briefly give the service a go, but I haven’t really dived into anything yet. As soon as I finish Owlboy, it’s either Yoshi’s Island, Link to the Past or Breath of Fire. Haven’t quite decided yet.
Can only choose 5??!! I initially selected 11. Stunt Race FX - Once you get used to the 10FPS there’s a great racing game in there. Also it’s punishing. Love it
Finished SMW at weekend 100%. Remembered all but 2 of the level exits without cheating. Not bad for it being 27 years since I first played it.
Most I played is Link to the Past, made it into the Dark World. Memory of the game is definitely still there. Tried out Brawl Brothers for an hour since I never played that before, it's an okay game. Stunt Race FX for a few minutes since I vaguely remember renting it and playing with my cousin back in the day. Mario Kart for one circuit.
Stunt Race FX, Demon's Crest, Super E.D.F. (y'know, games not already on the SNES Classic). I might start up Breath of Fire, but I owned it in the past and already beat it so that's a maybe. I'd love to see 7th Saga and Paladin's Quest show up on service at some point.
Kirby's Dream Course...then I remembered I had Pool Panic and fell in love with that.
Pilotwings. Most of the SNES games I want are already on the SNES Classic or my VC for Wii/Wii U.
I got a bit engrossed in Breath of Fire. It's been so long since I played it, and while it's very simplistic by today's RPG standards, it's not a bad game by any stretch. Also played a bit of EDF, Brawl Brothers and Joe & Mac.
I'm also playing Secret of Mana from the Collection
Most of my hour have been put into A Link to the Past and Breath of Fire, but I also spent some time playing Kirby's dreamland, Super Mario World or Metroid.
I found A Link to the Past boring and so much backtracking had to be done, along with it being explained poorly. An example being where it tells you to get a certain item bu tyou don't actually need that item for the moment or you need to do something else to get said item to unlock said item. I honestly don't get how this game is praised so much.
Breath of Fire was another game I put a fair amount of time into.
At first I was loving the game but then the combat didn't change at all and it eventually became very repetitive and boring. It doesn't help that the boss fights drag on for so long with not exactly difficulty spikes but large gaps in stats. I found myself just spamming healing items and waiting for the boss to finally die.
The final game I spent a while playing was Kirby's Dream Land 3.
I played this with a friend but that didn't make it that much better. It's fun laughing at each other mistakes but the gameplay and the same formula and not that challenging.
As for the other SNES games I haven't put that much time into them but hopefully they won' be as repetitive or boring.
@cyrus_zuo Contra is available in the Contra bundle that released a few months ago.
You people need to start playing Super Puyo Puyo 2.
Cleared SMW with max points and lives, probably moving to LttP next. But Breath of Fire is getting the bulk of my SNES time! Finally able to play that baby on the TV again (this time without the rental fee)
@Kintypoo121 See, this is why I wished they would include a manual. I hate going into a game blind.
I haven't had time to play a bunch, but I did start Yoshi's Island and dang that game is good so far.
Pilotwings. I like the 3d effects.
@Iacobus Yep, if any game needed one out of these releases, that'd be top of my list! A bit of frantic button-mashing in the face of a boss did add that extra dose of raging tension, though XD
The two Mario World games, Link to the Past and Super Metroid are all AMAZING but since I’ve played them to death I’ve actually now been enjoying Star Fox and Kirby’s Dream Course both of which I haven’t played in at least 15 years.
Playing lots of Demon's Crest, and thank god for the rewind feature making some of those bosses a bit easier to try to re-dodge their mechanics.
@GrailUK @molkom and everyone else who likes Super Tennis.
If you think that's good, you should download the Super Famicom app (also included with your subscription) and try their one exclusive at the moment, Super Family Tennis. (known as Smash Tennis in the UK) From what little I've played, it feels like it's got all the polish and improvements that Super Tennis didn't quite get.
Super Tennis is still as good as I remember. Playing doubles is still great fun. A good clean tennis game unlike the flufftastic mario tennis games of now.
None. Nintendo didn't include any RPGs and I don't like Breath of Fire. So there's nothing of interest to me here; just like the NES list
Loving the puyo puyo game, even without a translation
Kirby's Dream Land 3 because I've always wanted to play this and I've also always wanted to play platformers - especially Kirby ones - with my co-op buddy. It's been such a delight so far, I can't wait to continue <3
@BlackenedHalo I'd definitely love to see Kirby's Fun Pak(/Super Star) sometime, Final Fantasy, Secret of Mana, Super Bomberman 1 (would love to see 3 as well)... basically whatever would offer online co-op because there aren't many options if you're a Nintendo nerd who doesn't do PvP, doesn't play shooters, and basically sticks to first/second party games. And since my childhood gem number 2 is already there (Yoshi's Island), having gem number 1 as well would be amazing; this being: Terranigma.
Finally getting through Super Metroid and OF COURSE I’m already stuck lol
I loved Link to the Past, but after playing it again after playing Breath of the Wild, I just don't like it nearly as much as I once did.
My first time playing Super Metroid after all these years. Only about 30 minutes in, and compared to Metroid Fusion and Metroid Zero, I’m not enjoying it quite so much.
I’ve also kicked off Yoshi’s Island which seems harder than the GBA release for some reason.
Hopefully those who haven’t played Yoshi’s Island give it a go as it really is fantastic and very imaginative.
Super Tennis!!!!! Career Mode
Super Tennis a lot, Pilotwings and Super Mario World with my kids. Demon's Crest and ALttP because I want to complete them for the first time.
Mainly Zelda and Joe & Mac 2. Rented Lost in the Tropics when I was a kid and beat it. I loved it and haven’t played it since.
Bring on the Soul Blazer trilogy and Actraisers. I’ll stop myself there.
Stunt Race FX, it's been aaaages. I feel like it's got better over time. Aren't early 3D graphics supposed to look bad?
There are only four games I never had: Joe & Mac 2, Breath of Fire, Super EDF, and Brawl Brothers. Will try them later, I just have to get my nostalgia kick from Stunt Race FX first and unlock the bike.
I have the other games on SNES or Virtual Console, and I completed most of them - well, everything except Super Tennis. And... Super Puyo Puyo 2 is a special case. I completed Kirby's Ghost Trap on Wii VC which is supposedly a different skin, I guess. Kinda weird that Nintendo's not putting the Western pink puffball version on here but the Japanese original.
Anyone else notice a little slow down or stuttering with SMW? I may be wrong, but the emulation for SMW seems a little off compared to the SNES Classic Mini or the Wii U VC version.
Maybe the smoothness of Super Mario Maker 2 has distorted my memories of SMW.
I've started up most of them, but played some of them a bit more with a friend online. Joe & Mac is pretty fun. Brawl Brothers feels like a poor man's Street of Rage. Super Mario Kart wasn't as fun as I remembered it. Super Metroid is awesome! So is of course Zelda, SMW and Yoshi's Island. Star Fox is kinda good, but Lylat Wars is so much better (esp. on 3DS).
I'm much more interested in N64 and GC games
I've come to realise that growing up loving Stunt Race FX is the reason frame rate has never bothered me. I've never understood the hate for 30fps. Saying that, I'd love to play a remastered Stunt Race. Just an improved frame rate and draw distance, with everything else left as it is.
I am starting with the one I didn't played much before: Super Metroid, then Yoshi Island that I don't remember finishing.
Surelly I will return to finish Zelda again, and keep playing SMW for short bursts.
I'm intrigued by Demon Crest, seems nice.
I haven't even downloaded the app. I probably won't even touch it until December honestly.
I beat Super Metroid over the weekend with a 68% item collection rate.
More or less substantially, just Super Mario Kart for now - but I'm taking a bite here and there out of most stuff. Another thing romsets do to your humanity.😏
Breath of Fire is a big highlight but has to wait lest I should start losing count of RPGs I've started across all my platforms by now.😅 But as far as franchise backlogs go, I'm ripe for SMW games so I hope to get down to them in the visible future.
Been playing super Mario world with my son who is 8. Rewind coming in handy for him. He asked me how many secrets there were in the game. I just said a lot, and I know where most of them are. I finally got to tell him he needs to git gud lol
A Link to the Past and Super Metroid are what I've been playing the most. Never played them before and am eally enjoying them.
I’ve opened the app. Played Mario kart. I’ll get back to it one day. Too many games and still finishing Wii u games
@SmaMan Is that the Namco one?
@Dodger First time playing Yoshi's Island? It just keeps getting better and better as you progress. Best platformer ever made in my opinion and still looks incredible to this day.
With bundle collections becoming more and more a thing, there are a good chunk of SNES games that will never make it to this service such as Contra III, Final Fantasy III, Secret of Mana, Mega Man X, Super Castlevania IV, Street Fighter II Turbo. Donkey Kong Country might have issues with the Rare ownership, but it has been on Wii/Wii U VC as well as SNES Classic, so it likely will be there at some point. Chrono Trigger likely will be remastered by Square.
I've played most of the games on there with my most played being the usual suspects of Metroid, Mario World, Yoshis Island- but I've really taken a serious liking to Joe &Mac 2 and Stubt Race FX, never played either before and they're fantastic imo
Joe and Mac for me at the moment. Never played it before and it seems so far to be a competent platformer.
@Kintypoo121 I agree about Demon’s Crest. A really great discovery. Fantastic soundtrack as well. It really made great use of the SNES’s audio capabilities and has a real choral and orchestral sound to it.
Demon's crest, I was barely aware of it and it's far better than super ghouls and ghosts imo. Most of the other celebrated ones I've played before on VC or the SNES classic. Will get round to Yoshi's Island soon though.
Now that we've moved beyond two buttons, these games really need built in instruction manuals.
That aside, I played Mario and Zelda on the Classic recently so I tried out Brawl Brothers. It's good enough for what it is but that sewer level is a little obtuse.
Brawl Brothers is awful, it ticks most of the boxes of what should be in a 90s scrolling beat'em up but feels just that, like a cobbled together Frankenstein's monster of a game. And the music sucks.
Yay! I am the one guy getting hardcore with BRAWL BROTHERS!!!!
@GrailUK
Yep! Or "namcot" to be exact.
Nothing, rather burned out on NES and SNES from last gen. N64 would be very welcome.
Owned many of this back on the day! I will be playing them all... this is a serious upgrade on last years NES app... thank you Nintendo! Defo worth £20 golden nuggets!!! Super Mario World, A Link to the Past and Super Metroid - epic!
@ryancraddock could we please get a guide for Pyuo Puyo? It's all Japanese...
Was playing some Super Mario World last night and was up to the Valley of Bowser when I accidentally loaded a suspend point from all the way back in Donut Plains...
I know the game like the back of my hand, so it won't take me long to get back, but I really wish there was a way to delete old suspend points when they're no longer useful. That's a very minor complaint, though, I've been having a blast with SNES Online and am excited to finally beat Yoshi's Island, Link to the Past, and Super Metroid for the first time. Kirby Super Star and Donkey Kong Country when? I need them...
I’ve dabbled in all of them. I’ve mostly been playing Link to the Past, Super Mario Kart, Yoshi’s Island, and Puyo Puyo 2 though.
It’s cutting into my Fire Emblem time pretty brutally, haha. Oh well.
@Dodger
It gets better and better. Absolutely magnificent game.
Super Tennis and Yoshis Island. Both still great.
@SalvorHardin More like "Not worth the time even for free"
Old SNES games have nothing to do if someone "likes" or "hates" video games in 2019 🙄
I became a S"uper Mario Kart expert" at 7000feet flying to Portugal, never would have imagined that as a kid!
Now chilling on a beach playing Zelda.... little Patendo would never believe this life lol
@Patendo these games have been on Nintendo handhelds before..
I rarely play just one game upon opening the NES/SNES apps. It's fun bouncing between such a great catalog of nostalgic games. I've mostly been playing SMW, ALttP, SM, and YI. I still hope we get regular new releases, but what we have now will keep me occupied for quite a while. I can't wait to get my hands on the official SNES controllers.
Did a 100% play through of Super Metroid over the weekend. Lonnnnnng time since I've played it through, first time 100%. Was the first game's release I ever obsessed over.
Stunt Race FX needs a reboot, Nintendo!
Also, add Uniracers to the SNES online library, please.
@Lordplops Stunt Race FX is totally underrated IMO
I’ve been playing Metroid mainly. Never played it back in the day.
Also been playing ghouls and ghosts. Yet to clear the first level lol.
Really want to see Castlevania IV and Contra/Probotector come across next
(When I’m not rewatching the Steven Universe movie,) Trying to finally beat Zelda, as I usually start it, get to the Dark World and then play a couple dungeons before feeling overwhelmed. I don’t think I’ve completed it in 8-10 years now. I really hate the Swamp/Sewers dungeon (it’s actually pretty poorly designed). It’s still a great game otherwise, but I do put Breath of the Wild a bit ahead of it now. Also the overworld theme gets really repetitive in the Light World.
Also, holy crap is Star Fox bad now! The framerate is atrocious and completely hinders the gameplay on certain levels. They need to finally remake that one, because honestly it makes Nintendo look bad to release in this state. I don’t know how we ever put up with it back then.
Super Mario World is still a masterpiece. Though it’s shorter than 3, it probably is the best of the sidescroller Marios (other than Mario Maker(s)).
E.D.F. is a pleasant surprise. The gameplay is paced well and the strategy between selecting weapons and formation feels a lot like R-Type.
Super Ghouls ‘n’ Ghosts has very creative level design but it’s physics are too clunky. I do recommend playing it, but be prepared to use the emulator’s rewind feature A LOT
I haven't played any yet. But only because I've not had the time. I've been trying to push through my backlog before replaying games.
But despite that, I am glad the content is there for when I want it.
Looking forward to obtain Switch Online in October, due to having purchased other games. Nevertheless, I am glad that we can play SNES games on Switch, with more coming in the future.
@Tandy255 Yes. Definitely slow down in certain parts of SMW with multiple enemies. SNES mini never had this issue.
I really want to finish Fire Emblem before Link's Awakening comes out...and here I am playing Yoshi's Island for the millionth time. A game I already own on the SNES, GBA and SNES mini and have played on all of those multiple times!
@SalvorHardin I can’t believe any “gamer” couldn’t find a couple games out of this list he/she would like.
Mostly Stunt Race FX, which is really fun! I did dabble in almost everything else though, mainly Kirby
I flipped out when I saw Brawl Brothers on there! I love that game! I’ve only played the SNES app once,I played Brawl Brothers mainly;a little EDF since I love that game too,and maybe 5 minutes of the caveman one because I’ve been curious since I saw the ads in game pro back in the day. It sucked.
Beat Demon's Crest recently on the SNES Online and it was really fun! Definitely check that one out!
I've surprisingly been playing Breath of Fire. I even started playing some of SUper Puyo Puyo 2 which i love...i just wish the game was in english.
@WhiteTrashGuy brawl brothers for life
This was my first time playing Stunt Race FX. I enjoy technology advanced relics of the past.
@Antraxx777 I just beat Lttp last night, and yeah some of those dungeons are pretty intimidating from a mechanical standpoint. The last three in particular and that ice one where you are sliding all around can get frustrating. But they are well designed I think. The point is that every dungeon is supposed to feel like a test of endurance, and it’s a fair challenge for the most part.
Oddly enough Breath of Fire and Joe and Mac.
I only played through Breath of Fire once on Snes and another time on Wii. I rented Joe and Mac on Snes but something was wrong with the cart so I never got to play it till now.
My actual favorites on there are Super Metroid and Demons Crest. I must have played through both at least 10 times. I was one of the few who had Demons Crest on Snes, one of the systems best games. The one game that really proves sales don't indicate quality.
@BlackenedHalo I could really go for some Illusion of Gaia/Time and Chrono trigger
@NotTelevision Yeah, the music in the game really sticks in your head! It appears that a lot of love went into making it.
So far I've been playing Super Mario World, Super Mario Kart, and Super Puyo Puyo 2
Stunt Race FX is great!!
Also played Pilotwings and Mario Kart. Just playing through Yoshi's Island on an off whilst playing Spiro
The ones that have caught my attention for the longest are Super Mario World, Yoshi's Island, Kirby's Dreamland 3, A Link to the Past and Super Metroid.
I've ventured to Super Puyo Puyo 2 and F-Zero as well.
@sanderev what is your point? Try getting into the spirit of the articles old chap
I dont have the online subscription
To me mostly Mario then yoshi next to me..
I’ve not played a SNES game in over 25 years, so was looking forward to retro-bliss. Even grabbed an annual subscription in anticipation! And so far ... underwhelmed. The games I’d played before didn’t age well, and those I’m playing for the first time are pretty poor too. I haven’t yet played Zelda, Metroid or Yoshi’s Island, so hopefully they’ll be more fun
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