10 Essential SNES Games to Kickstart Your Retro Game Collection

The Super Nintendo (SNES to the cool kids) has a total library of around 1,700 games. Over 300 million cartridges were sold worldwide. For someone looking to add to their library, that means you have plenty of opportunities to scoop up inexpensive SNES games. 

We are going to look at 10 SNES games to start your retro game collection. With that focus in mind, this list is going to look at games that are fun to play, reasonably priced, and have some significance to the system as a whole. In other words, they’re SNES games that you’ll want to play and have the chance to become more valuable as time goes on.

1. Street Fighter II: Turbo

When Street Fighter II: Turbo showed up at my house, I was blown away by it. The arcade experience was now in my living room, and my father and older brothers used the increased playing speed to beat me to dust. I still had fun zipping around as Vega and throwing some Hadokens across the map. 

Aside from being a fun fighting game, it was an important entry that solidified the Street Fighter franchise. A loose copy won’t set you back much, and, like the other games on this list, it’s one that you can still enjoy. 

2. Donkey Kong Country

Giving that plumber a run for his money, Donkey Kong Country is a side-scolling platformer that lets you play as the titular Donkey Kong or Diddy Kong, collecting bananas as you go. The gameplay is a lot of fun, especially smacking enemies with a barrel. The levels are well-planned, and the game is long enough to get your money’s worth. Oh, did we mention the soundtrack is downright amazing?

Sure, this game is accessible since it sold north of 9 million copies, so it’s one that you can easily add to your retro collection. You can also pick one up for a relatively low price. It’s certainly a fun way to spend an afternoon. 

3. Mega Man X

With a surprisingly deep story and updated movement leading to more engaging platforming, it’s no surprise that Mega Man X was such a popular entry. Players enjoyed the numerous power-ups the game included, but some thought it was a bit too easy. 

Regardless, it sold a million copies, making it one of the best-sellers for the SNES. Some of the other games from the Mega Man series are hundreds of dollars, but this one is less expensive and not as hard to track down. So it’s a good game to add to your shelf. 

4. F-Zero 

Before Captain Falcon was Falcon-Punching people’s faces off in Super Smash Bros., he had humble beginnings as a pilot in F-Zero. In this futuristic racing game, you take control of a hover car and race against others for the entertainment of billionaires who made their fortune through intergalactic trade. 

The super-fast speeds, turn-on-a-dime gameplay, and integration of Mode 7 for a simulated 3D environment made this game a standout on the system. More importantly, it brought a lot of attention to the racing genre, even though it was held back by lacking a multiplayer mode. 

5. Killer Instinct

Anyone who has played this game before already C-C-C-COMBO BREAKER! Killer Instinct on the SNES is certainly one of the essentials needed to get your retro collection going. While it’s affordable as a loose cartridge, it can quickly gain value if you find one CIB. 

The fights are fast-paced and intuitive with simple combo inputs and rapid matches. The character selection wasn’t huge, but it was still diverse enough. You could pick from T.J. Combo, a human boxer, or Riptor, a velociraptor, and even Cinder, a living flame. This arcade port had a distinctive 90s aesthetic about it that dates the title a bit, but if you’re a retro fan, you’ll probably like it. Also, you won’t be pressed to find people who enjoy the game to this day. 

6. Super Mario World

I feel silly even trying to justify adding this one to the list. It’s Super Mario World, people! Side-scrolling action with fun gameplay, jettisoned Yoshis, and a bunch of secrets waiting to be found. If you’re a fan of old-school side-scrollers, this is a must-have. 

While the chances of you buying this and it suddenly becoming worth a ton of money are practically zero since it sold 20 million copies, you’ll have a game that belongs in every collection. Not to mention that it’s a great introduction to the series and genre for younger video game fans!

7. Final Fantasy III 

I know, I know. It’s Final Fantasy VI. Well, Mog is standing next to Final Fantasy III on the cover, so that’s what I’m calling it. I think every RPG fan can agree that this is a seminal work in the genre. Personally, I think it’s the best SNES RPG for many reasons, including its story, cast, villains, and music. If turn-based RPGs are something you enjoy, then this game needs to be in your collection. 

Even as a loose cartridge, it is going to run you a bit of money. In fact, it’s probably the most expensive one on this list. Trust me; it’s worth it. If retro game prices keep exploding, it could make for a good investment piece. 

8. NBA Jam

NBA Jam is a basketball game that leaves realism out of the equation so you can focus on having fun. Increased running speed, slam dunks from 20 feet in the air, and a flaming ball are all fair play. Rather than giving you a team of five to play with, it’s just you and one other character. You’ll choose from famous duos like Karl Malone and John Stockton or Tim Hardaway and Chris Mullin. You could also roll out pre-impeachment Bill Clinton. 

As one of the best-selling sports games on the console, finding a copy of this game is easy and it’s inexpensive. Once you buy it, don’t just let it sit on the shelf. Give it a shot and bask in its ridiculousness. 

9. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

The action-adventure genre owes so much to The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. The combat, puzzles, and progression of items obtained throughout the story really made it stand out and gave gamers a hunger for titles with more depth to them. Perhaps the most impressive part about this game is how well it stands up to the test of time. 

I’ll never forget the excitement I felt going into the Dark World for the first time. This game sold nearly 5 million copies, so it’s easy enough to come across. As just a cartridge, it has a pretty moderate price tag. 

10. Super Mario Kart

By selling almost 9 million copies, Super Mario Kart became one of the most popular games released on the Super Nintendo. Similarly to F-Zero, this racing game used Mode 7 graphics to make your competitions look 3D. This title brought familiar faces from the Mario franchise, including Bowser, Mario, Donkey Kong, and Princess Peach, putting them behind the wheel for some not-so-friendly competition. 

The multiplayer aspect made this a popular game for siblings everywhere, and it’s not very expensive as of the time of this article’s publishing. Get your hands on this one and take a trip back in time to see where the series started. 

With these titles in hand, you’ll have plenty of great SNES titles from a player’s and collector’s perspective. Don’t forget to look at our current SNES stock if you’re trying to add more games to your collection!