The 25 best NES and SNES games on Nintendo Switch Online

Old School Let’s-a-go! by Robin Bea Updated: Feb. 20, 2024 Originally Published: July 15, 2021 Nintendo

Nintendo It’s easy to get caught in the endless flood of new game releases, but you’ll miss out on some of the best games of all time if you never take a look back.

Nintendo Nintendo Switch Online makes it easy to delve into some of the greatest hits from the NES and SNES for the most fun history lesson you’ll ever have.

Nintendo Here are 25 classic games you need to play on Nintendo Switch Online

Shutterstock The Video Games Issue 2021 is an Inverse celebration of retro favorites, forgotten gems, and the latest and greatest in interactive entertainment.

25. Ninja Gaiden You may have heard the phrase “Nintendo hard” in reference to extremely difficult games. Give Ninja Gaiden a shot and you’ll learn exactly what it means. (NES) Nintendo

24. River City Ransom Just about every beat ‘em up since 1989 owes something to River City Ransom . It adds light RPG elements to its button-mashing action to keep things fresh as you punch your way across the city. (NES) Nintendo

23. Pro Wrestling Pro Wrestling is notable for its colorful characters and varied moves in chaotic matches that could burst out of the ring. Despite all that, it’s probably best remembered for the awkwardly translated post-match celebration: “A winner is you.” (NES) Nintendo

22. The Legend of Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link

Nintendo The Adventure of Link probably won’t be your favorite Legend of Zelda game, but it’s still worth playing. It threw out everything that worked in the first game, bringing a spirit of reinvention that still makes the series exciting today. (NES)

21. Panel de Pon Panel de Pon was originally called Tetris Attack in the U.S., despite having nothing to do with Tetris . This incredibly addictive match-3 puzzle game is a perfect fit for Nintendo’s handheld. (SNES)

20. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island Yoshi’s Island is a sequel to Super Mario World , but it sure doesn’t feel like one. It puts players in the shoes of Yoshi, who’s tasked with babysitting Baby Mario on a decidedly not kid-friendly island full of piranha plants. ( SNES ) Nintendo

19. Excitebike Side-scrolling racing games aren’t too common, but the format somehow works for Excitebike . Dodging obstacles while keeping your bike from overheating is still a fun challenge that doesn’t feel like any other racing game. (NES) Nintendo

18. Wild Guns The rootin-tootinest shooter on the SNES, Wild Guns is a Wild West-themed shooting gallery that inexplicably pits you against giant robots as well as cattle rustlers. (SNES) Nintendo

There’s nothing else quite like Pilotwings on the SNES. Flight sims have always been somewhat of a PC niche, but Pilotwings makes things simple and fun enough to make flying around in planes and on jet packs a thrill. (SNES)

Nintendo 17. Pilotwings

16. Punch-Out!! Despite or maybe because of its simplicity, Punch-Out!! is still one of the best boxing games ever. By putting you in the shoes of the underdog, it makes patience and timing more important than raw power. ( NES ) Nintendo

Released in Japan as Super Mario Bros. 2, The Lost Levels was deemed too hard for Western audiences. It’s worth a look for a more sadistic take on Mario. (NES)

Nintendo 15. Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels

14. The Legend of Zelda

Super Mario Bros. 2 isn’t the best Mario game, but it may be the strangest. If it feels like a totally different game, that’s because it’s a reskin of a Japanese game called Doki Doki Panic. (NES)

giphy 13. Super Mario Bros. 2

Kirby may be best known as a Smash Bros. fighter these days, but his platformers are where he really shines. The inventive ability to steal enemy attacks and one of the catchiest soundtracks on the NES makes Kirby’s Adventure worth revisiting. (NES)

Nintendo 12. Kirby’s Adventure

11. Breath of Fire 2

10. Crystalis An underappreciated gem, Crystalis is a top-down action RPG much like the more popular Mana series. It doesn’t have nearly the same name recognition, but it’s a must-play for fans of the genre. (NES) SNK

9. F-Zero

8. Super Mario Bros. 3 Super Mario Bros. 3 is such a step up from the original, it’s hard to believe they launched just a few years apart. Great music, incredible levels, and some of the best powerups in Mario history make it an all-time classic. (NES) Nintendo

7. Donkey Kong Country The entire Donkey Kong Country trilogy is worth checking out on Switch Online. Its funky soundtrack, tough platforming, and (for the time) mind-blowing graphics make it one of the best SNES series. (SNES) giphy

6. Star Fox Before the barrel roll memes and action spinoffs, Star Fox was just a relatable story about a group of woodland animals fighting a giant floating head in space. It feels simplistic now, but its space combat was revolutionary when it was released. (SNES) giphy

5. Kirby Super Star Kirby Super Star is a compilation of mini-games, plus a version of the Game Boy platformer Kirby’s Dream Land . Even if the other games don’t hold your attention, the Dream Land remake is a blast. (SNES) Nintendo

Mario Kart is hands-down one of the best multiplayer franchises ever. Super Mario Kart feels pretty tame compared to its modern iterations, but it’s still an absolute blast (especially since those damn blue shells hadn’t been added yet). (SNES)

giphy 4. Super Mario Kart

3. Super Mario World Consoles rarely launch alongside their best games, but Super Mario World is an exception. It’s packed with secrets and alternate paths on top of its already spectacular platforming and level design. (SNES) giphy

2. Super Metroid Long-suffering Metroid fans are often stuck waiting years between new adventures for Samus. Fortunately, one of the series’ high points is on Switch Online to ease the pain before the next installment. ( SNES ) giphy

1. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Until Breath of the Wild came along, A Link to the Past was a strong contender for the best Legend of Zelda game ever . It feels like a new starting point for the series, with better graphics and gameplay made possible by the SNES. (SNES) giphy

Future Publishing/Future/Getty Images Now read Nintendo Switch Online needs to add these 9 classic games