The 10 Best SNES Games to Play on Nintendo Switch Online

Nintendo's Super Nintendo Entertainment System boasts an impressive catalog of games, with 77 titles available on Nintendo Switch Online. While some renowned third-party games like Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy 6, or Street Fighter 2 Turbo are not part of the service, Nintendo's own creations make up for it. These games represent a golden age for the studio, showcasing their innovation and mastery.

Among the top SNES games on Nintendo Classics are oddball bundles like the SNES Art Pen, a drawing, animation, and music creation suite. The game also features humorous minigames and brilliant tunes, along with Nintendo's authentic sprites and various drawing and music tools.

Smash Bros. director Masahiro Sakurai's imaginative platformer, Kirby Super Star, comprises a compilation of compressed ideas and stories. Kirby can copy abilities, explore Metroidvania levels, engage in boss rushes, and enjoy various platformer challenges. The game's unique approach to the classic platformer formula makes it a delightful and entertaining experience.

Rare's SNES platform game trilogy is visually striking, with its unique rendering techniques and large sprites still appearing fresh today. Diddy's Kong Quest, the best of the three games, is a slick, secret-filled, and musically impressive match-three puzzle adventure.

Although there are many great RPGs on the SNES, a cult classic by Shigesato Itoi and Satoru Iwata stands out. This bizarre game uses a traditional RPG framework to explore a satirical, child's-eye-view world filled with Americana, alien invasions, and murderous taxi cabs.

The legendary racing game Super Mario Kart invented and perfected a genre, offering tight track layouts, grippy handling, and precise, technical gameplay. As a supposed sequel to Super Mario World, it deviates from the series' standard formula, presenting players with unique challenges and experiences.

Super Metroid, considered the definitive Metroid game, showcases the series' signature lonely, obscurely threatening sci-fi futurism. Its atmospheric, labyrinthine design and superb level design truly capture the essence of the Metroid franchise.