Skip to main content

20 iconic SNES games have arrived on the Nintendo Switch

Nintendo announced that it will be bringing some of the most iconic games of the Super Nintendo era to the Switch for Switch Online subscribers — at no additional cost.

Games like Super Mario Kart, Super Metroid, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, and the classic Super Mario World — which are all on our list of the best SNES games — will all be available on Thursday. There are 20 games in all, and Nintendo promises that more SNES classics are on the way.

The virtual console will allow online multiplayer play with friends for some games, as well as a rewind feature. Nintendo also announced that it will sell a custom SNES controller for Switch that will be compatible with the games. The wireless controller will retail for $30 and charges with a USB-C cable, Nintendo said — just like the NES controller that was released when NES games came to the Switch last year.

https://twitter.com/NintendoAmerica/status/1169376428158115841

You’ll need to have a Switch Online membership to play the SNES games, just like you do for the existing library of NES games available on the Switch. Pricing for Nintendo’s online service ranges from $4 a month to $20 a year — which is less than you’d pay for a SNES Classic. Members of Amazon’s Twitch Prime service — which is included with Amazon Prime — can also get up to a year of Switch Online for free.

The full list of SNES games coming to the Nintendo Switch:

  • Brawl Brothers
  • Demon’s Crest
  • Joe & Mac 2: Lost in the Tropics
  • Kirby’s Dream Land 3
  • Star Fox
  • Super Earth Defense Force
  • Super Mario Kart
  • Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island
  • Super Puyo Puyo 2
  • Super Tennis
  • Breath of Fire
  • F-ZERO
  • Kirby’s Dream Course
  • Pilotwings
  • Stunt Race FX
  • Super Ghouls’n Ghosts
  • Super Mario World
  • Super Metroid
  • Super Soccer
  • The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

With the exception of A Link to the Past, the current list is lacking in some of the most memorable RPGs of the 16-bit era, including Chrono Trigger, Secret of Mana, and Final Fantasy VI. We’re hoping the next wave of games coming to the Switch includes some of those classics.

Mathew Katz
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Mathew is a news editor at Digital Trends, specializing in covering all kinds of tech news — from video games to policy. He…
All upcoming Switch games: 2024, 2025, and beyond
Profile shot of Samus in the first Metroid Prime 4 Beyond trailer.

The Nintendo Switch is one of the most popular consoles Nintendo has ever produced, with a wide variety of games to choose from and plenty of unique features. We’ve already gotten to play new entries across the Zelda, Super Mario, and Pokémon series on Nintendo Switch, but there are still plenty of great games on the way for the hybrid console. These include exclusive games developed internally by Nintendo, as well as third-party titles and ports of games that are also available on other platforms.

Here's our list of the best upcoming Nintendo Switch games for 2024 and beyond. Of course, some titles without release windows could skip the Switch entirely and wind up on the Nintendo Switch 2 (or whatever it ends up being called). And if you're looking at future releases on multiple consoles, don't forget to check out what's upcoming on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC this year.
Upcoming Switch games 2024
The games listed below either have 100% confirmed release dates or solid release windows that we expect them to hit this year. Anything that's up in the air due to more vague launch predictions or previous delays will be listed below confirmed launches.

Read more
New report discovers one culprit behind Nintendo game leaks: Google
Zelda holding the decayed Master Sword in Tears of the Kingdom.

Some recent Nintendo leaks may have come from inside the house. According to 404 Media, a Google employee with access to private YouTube videos leaked the information ahead of official reveals.

The outlet reported Monday that it received a copy of an internal Google database used to track security issues dating back six years. One of the many incidents listed involved a Google employee who had apparently "accessed private videos in Nintendo’s YouTube account, and leaked information ahead of Nintendo’s planned announcements."

Read more
5 video game reveals we’re dying to see this summer
Samus Aran stands tall in Metroid Prime Remastered.

It’s the most exciting time of year to be a video game fan, as almost every notable video game publisher is getting ready to drop new showcases highlighting upcoming games. Across Summer Game Fest, Xbox Games Showcase, and the next Nintendo Direct, we’ll have a ton of new video games to be excited about. Although titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 have already been confirmed for some of these shows, the fun part of this summer gaming marathon is predicting what’s going to show up.

There are five announcements in particular that I’m hoping to see during this summer’s showcases. From games that have leaked, but not been officially confirmed to titles announced years ago that have gone dark since, each of these will likely jump to the top of my personal most anticipated list if they are shown off during a showcase this summer. With some luck, they’ll be out not long after.
The reemergence of Metroid Prime 4

Read more