5 SNES Games On Nintendo Switch Online That Are 10/10 Masterpieces

Published Aug 25, 2026, 10:00 AM EDT Carrie is a Senior Writer at ScreenRant who previously managed Geek to Geek Media and wrote for SwitchRPG. She is particularly knowledgeable when it comes to WoW, Diablo, and cozy games. She has a passion for supporting the indies and always enjoys sharing her passions with others through her writing. Despite the fact that the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) was released in 1991, many of the games released for that console remain some of the most memorable and iconic games of their time. They laid the groundwork for many titles to come, and solidified that many series like Super Mario Bros and The Legend of Zelda were permanent favorites for any Nintendo lover. These days, not everyone has access to a classic SNES console, but Nintendo Switch Online's subscription service makes sure that any of its members can easily load up one of the masterpieces of that generation, at no additional cost. As many Switch and Switch 2 owners already have the service for easy online multiplayer access, this makes access to these beloved games feel like a free benefit. And, thanks to the classic graphics and easy controls, titles such as the ones below still hold up well today. Mario Paint I realize that Mario Paint is a love-it-or-hate-it game, but really it was an innovative game that brought art and creativity to the hands of gamers in their own homes, and even laid the groundwork for what would eventually become games like Super Mario Maker. The groundbreaking game of 1992 allowed its players to draw, use stamps, color, and even design custom sprites. Using the special SNES Mouse and plastic pad, it gave many kids of the era their first PC-like experience of using a mouse in that way. Its tools provided us the chance to make our own animations, and even offered a music composer. Plus, from personal experience, I can attest that its ridiculous minigame, "Gnat Attack", was much more fun than it had any right to be, and is something that will forever live in my brain. Right now, you can play Mario Paint with Nintendo Switch Online, although the game does still require the use of a mouse. If you're playing on a Switch 1, this can be achieved by plugging a USB mouse into the system, or on Switch 2 you can use your Joy-Con 2 controller as the mouse. Super Mario Kart The Super Mario Kart franchise is a common staple in the multiplayer gaming community today. Whether playing couch co-op with family, online with friends, at an organized event in your community, or even just by yourself, Mario Kart is a familiar experience that nearly everyone knows. However, in 1992, the idea of having Mario and his friends (and enemies) racing each other in go-karts was still a novelty. The SNES's Super Mario Kart was the very first time this now-famous franchise debuted in the world. It quickly became the fourth best-selling SNES game of all time, with rave reviews. Super Mario Kart only has eight playable characters, but even then it gave each their own stats. Players can try single-player mode against computer-controlled drivers, or play multiplayer mode with two players competing against each other on one system with a split-screen gameplay. This game also introduced the Battle Mode Mario Kart style, where players destroy balloons surrounding their opponents' kart. Now, with a Nintendo Switch Online membership, you can play this original Mario Kart experience using your Joy-Cons, and if you have the retro SNES controller for the Switch, you can easily imagine yourself back in 1992. Super Metroid One of the most beloved games in the Metroid series, Super Metroid has long held its place as being the best Metroid game. The third title in the series, Super Metroid continued with the established gameplay that the first two games established, but added many helpful elements like an automatically charting mini-map, the very cool ability to fire in eight directions, and even an inventory screen. It was, and is, a fairly difficult game, giving players a good amount of challenge without being overly frustrating. Its storyline is a classic, as Samus Aran chases after space pirates who have kidnapped the last remaining baby Metroid. She uses abilities like Grapple Beam and X-ray Scope while exploring Planet Zebes in this 2D platforming experience. Along the way, players can find plenty of hidden secrets while fighting off enemies and bosses. Super Metroid is actually one of the games, alongside Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, that the Metroidvania genre draws from. The game still holds up incredibly well, especially considering it was made in 1994, and is available at no additional cost on the Nintendo Switch Online SNES Classics collection. The Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past The Legend of Zelda series has had a lot of impressive games over its four decades, many of which still hold up today regardless of which system they initially released on. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is perhaps one of the most iconic titles of the series. Not only is it one of the most frequently chosen for speed-running, but the game itself continues to hold its title as one of the best video games of all time. A Link to the Past's pacing is perfect, with a story-driven adventure featuring a short tutorial and a colorful top-down view of an open world where you can head wherever you want. This is the game where the legendary Master Sword makes its first appearance. It introduced the mechanic of shifting between worlds and parallel dimensions. And, its puzzles and dungeons remain some of the best in the series, which is saying a lot. It's actually surprising that there's no official remake or remaster of A Link to the Past yet, although fans have tried to take up the reins to create a remastered version for the PC. Super Mario World Still commonly regarded as one of the best 2D Super Mario platforming experiences, Super Mario World was a launch title for the SNES and quickly became a beloved favorite for the entire series. This was the first time Yoshi debuted in the series, as well as now-familiar elements like flying or floating with the Feather, and the Spin Jump move. While vacationing with Princess Toadstool in Dinosaur Land, the princess is, once again, captured by Bowser. Mario and Luigi meet Yoshi who tells them that his friends have also been kidnapped and imprisoned in eggs by the Koopalings. Thus, the now-classic adventure of rescuing different colored Yoshis and the Princess began. Super Mario World was the inspiration for an animated television series, as well as the game Yoshi's Island. It has been re-released multiple times throughout the years in several game collections on various Nintendo systems, and is available on the Nintendo Switch Online service today. Brand Nintendo Original Release Date March 3, 2017 Original MSRP (USD) $299.99, ¥29,980, £279.99, €329.99 Operating System Proprietary, codenamed Horizon Storage 32 - 64 GB, expandable via microSD VR Support No