Released in the early 1990s and discontinued in 2003, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System had an amazing run of games ranging from forgettable shovelware to classics that find remakes on handheld systems today. Its long run of production means that finding a working system even today, two decades later, is cheap and easy. The console is also very well understood, and games can be emulated even if the system can’t be found. This makes it an excellent choice for retro entertainment at any college party. What games should you hunt down before planning retro game night? Here are seven ideas.
#1: Star Fox
Perhaps not as widely known as Star Fox 64, the originator of the barrel roll meme and home of some ridiculous voice acting, Star Fox for the SNES is a solid all-around game. The game is easy to pick up and hand over each time a life ends, allowing everyone their turn to play.
#2: Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3
Who doesn’t love a good fighting game? Mortal Kombat is fast, brutal and intense, but short-lived enough to be a hit at parties. It also has one of the largest rosters of the old-school MK games, giving your guests plenty of choice when it comes to who they want to see torn apart.
#3: Donkey Kong Country
Another game with not much to offer in terms of multiplayer, but a classic gameplay and oozing charm that no one can resist. It’s also incredibly easy to rack up extra lives, so you’ll be able to keep going all night long.
#4: Earthworm Jim
This game doesn’t have a co-op mode, but what it does have is an astounding sense of humor. If you played it as a kid but haven’t picked it up as an adult, you definitely need to. Most of the jokes it runs with are funny for a kid, but absolutely hilarious for an adult. It’s game writing at its finest.
#5: Super Smash TV
One order of TV game show setting, one helping of frantic Contra-like action, a constant spray of bullets, rockets and lasers from all sides and hordes of enemies to mow down, combine well and you have Super Smash TV. Two players compete to rack up the highest score while avoiding death in this frantic bullet storm.
#6: Super Mario Kart
While there are other racers for the system — F-Zero among them — nothing beats the charm of old school Mario Kart. Kart racing got its start more or less through this game, and very few games have been as popular in the genre before or since.
#7: Super Bomberman
Bomberman is a simple concept. Drop bombs, try to trap the enemy players in the explosion and be the last one standing. What makes it unique, and an excellent part game, is the fact that it’s one of the first four-player competitive games to appear on the SNES. If you have plenty of friends coming over and a few extra controllers, you can’t go wrong with Bomberman.
