Rumors are swirling around that a mini SNES is on the way. After the success of the NES Classic (or mini) it makes sense for Nintendo to put out a SNES version. Coupled with the NES Classic being discontinued recently, there is now room for new hardware production. The chipset for the NES was overpowered and could easily work for a SNES emulation, meaning very little change in the internal hardware for a new version. With all of this lining up it seems likely that come this holiday season we will have a brand new SNES Classic that not only miniaturizes the system, but gives us up to 30 incredible games to play.
If it is all true, which games should Nintendo put out for the SNES? We are going to break it down into a couple of lists. The first is the likely Nintendo-owned games. These games are no-brainers for Nintendo to put on any SNES version as they own the rights to these properties. The second will be made up of companies that Nintendo has partnered with in the past, specifically on the NES Classic. Finally, we will branch out into the dream games that are unlikely to be included based on company and space.
Nintendo-Owned Games:
- Super Mario World
- Super Metroid
- Super Mario RPG
- Super Mario Kart
- Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past
- Yoshi’s Island
- Super Punch Out
- Kirby Dream Land 3
- Kirby Super Star
- Pilot Wings
- F-Zero
- Donkey Kong Country 1
- Donkey Kong Country 2
- Donkey Kong Country 3
- Star Fox
Getting the rights to publish a game can be a trick. Which companies has Nintendo been able to coordinate/partner with in the past? The primary third-parties found on the NES and the Virtual Console are Konami, Capcom, and Tecmo. These three companies and Nintendo provided the bulk of the games available. Taito, Acclaim, Bandai, and Square also contributed one game each to the NES Classic. With this baseline in mind we can create a realistic wish list.
- Super Castlevania IV (Konami)
- Super Ghouls n’ Ghosts (Capcom)
- Mega Man X (Capcom)
- Earthbound (Nintendo)
- Chrono Trigger (Square)
- Street Fighter II (Capcom)
- Super Contra (Konami)
- Bust-a-Movie (Taito)
- NBA JAM TE (Midway/Acclaim)
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV (Konami)
Unfortunately, Nintendo will likely get a game or two from Bandai. There are not many good choices so we will likely see a Power Rangers game in the final set. My guess is it would replace TMNT IV, as none of the Turtle games made it onto the NES Classic. While these games, and Nintendo’s are incredible, there are a few more on my wish list.
The two biggest shoes to drop are Square and Enix (two birds with one stone now!). The success of an SNES classic will likely ride on the inclusion of many of their landmark RPGs. Realistically, Nintendo will probably get only one of their games. The choice there would be a stand-alone game for the system: Chrono Trigger. If a deal can be struck then Nintendo could add a boatload of groundbreaking RPGs that defined the system.
- Final Fantasy VI (Square)
- Secret of Mana (Square)
- Actraiser (Enix)
- Illusion of Gaia (Enix)
The other company to try and draw in would be Natsume. They produced some of the lesser known gems on the SNES. Retro game collecting-wise these games are super expensive and few have had the pleasure of playing them on the original console. Each would be a great inclusion on a SNES Classic.
- Wild Guns (Natsume)
- Harvest Moon (Natsume)
This overall list puts us at 31 games. One over the maximum Nintendo would presumably include. If this list is even close to a final game set for an SNES Classic then you can count me in for whatever Nintendo charges. I have been itching to play several of these games. Now, with tons of money, and a lot of luck, we could get the SNES Classic of our dreams.
Game on!
I’m guessing the reason there were no Turtles games on the NES Classic, and the reason there will likely be no Turtles or Power Rangers games on the SNES Classic, is due to licensing issues as those are currently utilized brands. If they included a Power Rangers game, it would likely infringe on Saban’s merchandising deals with the new movie.
I love the NES but I had zero interest in the NES Classic. If they do make an SNES Classic though, and we aren’t just making a mountain out of then changing production over to making more Switches, I’d be a lot more interested. This game list you made would be amazing. In a dream world, I’d also add a couple of my own, even though they will never happen.
1) an English port of Tales of Phantasia/Star Ocean
2) Breath of Fire 1 & 2
3) Gradius 3
4) Ogre Battle
5) Super Bomberman (this one seems possible)
6) Star Fox 2 (THIS IS MY DREAM!)
7) Lufia 2
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Lufia 2, Gradius, and Super Bomberman are all very likely. Lufia 2 was the one I was tempted to include because it owned by Taito (if I am remembering my research correctly). I came to the same conclusion with Bandai and the TMNT and Power Ranger games. That said, Bandai has little to nothing to offer so if they can work it out that would be cool. Your adds seem a lot more likely than my SquareEnix and Natsume dreams. 🙂
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You think so? I’d be surprised to see ActRaiser or FFVI (only because they’d want sales from other devices/platforms) but the others seem fairly probable to me, Wild Guns, in particular, would be a great one. And far more likely than us getting an English port of a game that’s only been unofficially translated or a game that wasn’t even finished. Then again, if StarTropics was important enough to add, I suppose Lufia 2 has a chance. I would actually put money on Chrono Trigger being included for all the reasons you said it would work. It would be perfect for a platform like that.
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I liked your list of ideas for games. I think that many games from Square Enix is a dream (one I have too)… more likely to get more shoveware. I am almost willing to bet no Actraiser
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