The 8 best games for an SNES Classic Edition launch
Even though an SNES Classic Edition hasn't been officially announced, one has to imagine that Nintendo is planning to release one. The eye-watering success of the NES Classic Edition (it's still sold out everywhere, by the way) proves there's a market for this kind of product, and suggests that an SNES Classic would be another money printer for Nintendo. What games would feature, though? There's a treasure trove of great titles on the SNES, so here are eight I'd like to see on the SNES Classic Edition should it ever arrive.
1. Super Mario World
Let's be real here: if Nintendo is going to put all three Super Mario Bros. titles from the 8-bit era on the NES Classic, then the SNES Classic has to have Super Mario World with it. One of the defining games of the Super Nintendo, Super Mario World also happens to be one of the best Mario games ever created. I happen to think it's the best 2D Mario game ever made, so its inclusion is a no-brainer.
2. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
This is the only other game I would consider "necessary" for an SNES Classic. A Link to the Past is held in such high esteem by so many Zelda fans that excluding it would be insulting. The series, in my opinion, hit its stride with A Link to the Past, and it's a game so close to perfect that Nintendo should consider all of the things it did right whenever it sets out to make a new Zelda game.
3. F-Zero
F-Zero has not received a lot of love from Nintendo in recent years. The last F-Zero release on a home Nintendo console was F-Zero GX on the GameCube way back in 2003. There were a couple F-Zero releases on GBA shortly after, but only one of them was released worldwide. It would be nice to see the original F-Zero featured on the SNES Classic, if only because Nintendo hasn't been giving the excellent series the attention it deserves over the past decade.
4. Final Fantasy VI (aka Final Fantasy III)
A lot of Final Fantasy fans out there will tell you that Final Fantasy VII is the best of the series, but Final Fantasy VI is my personal favorite. Initially released as Final Fantasy III in North America, Final Fantasy VI is easily one of the best RPGs ever made and arguably the best RPG available for the SNES. In fact, the only thing preventing Final Fantasy VI from unquestionably claiming that title is the next entry on the list.
5. Chrono Trigger
If we're talking about RPGs that deserve a spot on the SNES Classic Edition roster, Chrono Trigger is absolutely one of them. Regarded by many (including me) as the best RPG ever made, Chrono Trigger takes you on a time travelling adventure that features an excellent story and is packed with wonderful characters. If Nintendo is looking for the best of the best to feature on the SNES Classic Edition, it's going to be hard to overlook Chrono Trigger.
6. Super Mario RPG
In 1996, Nintendo teamed up with Square to bring us Super Mario RPG. It struck many as an odd decision at the time, but upon playing the game, it became clear that the two companies had created something special. Super Mario RPG blends Square's famous RPG gameplay with Nintendo's roster of famous characters, and the result is a game that's a blast to play from start to finish and endlessly charming. Mario's RPG efforts live on through the Paper Mario series and, more recently, the Mario and Luigi series, but Super Mario RPG absolutely deserves an encore on the SNES Classic Edition.
7. Mega Man X
I don't know if it's a good idea for me to admit this, but I could never really get into the older Mega Man games on the NES. That all changed when Mega Man X came along. Featuring fast-paced gameplay and a level of polish that's still hard to come by, Mega Man X remains a fan-favorite to this day, and including it on the SNES Classic would be a move welcomed by many.
8. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time
This may seem like a weird entry to have on the list, especially considering all of the excellent games available for the SNES. When I think back on my time with my Super Nintendo, however, I realize that I spent an absurd amount of it playing Turtles in Time. It was one of those games that perfectly emulated that arcade feel on a home console, and the I think the SNES Classic Edition would benefit greatly from its presence.
Wrap-Up
Of course, there are so many titles that deserve to be featured on the SNES Classic Edition. Super Metroid, Star Fox, Donkey Kong Country, Yoshi's Island – all of these games come to mind and would serve as great additions to a SNES Classic lineup, and they would all likely make the cut should such a product ever see the light of day.
However, before we can debate which games deserve a spot and which don't, Nintendo has to actually announce the SNES Classic Edition. Here's hoping that happens a some point in the not-too-distant future (though not before it sorts out its NES Classic stock woes). Which games would you like to see on the SNES Classic Edition? Let us know in the comments section.