Nintendo's Switch Online service has steadily expanded its library of Super Nintendo Entertainment System classics, offering subscribers access to a curated selection of 16-bit gems. However, despite these additions, several essential SNES titles are still conspicuously absent from the service. This leaves a gap in the virtual library for fans eager to relive or discover some of the console's most significant contributions.
Axelay
Released in September 1992, Axelay was a standout title in the SNES shooter genre. It uniquely blended side-scrolling and vertical stages, offering players strategic depth by allowing weapon selection between missions. The game was praised for its impressive visuals, which featured effects that gave a sense of 3D depth within a 2D plane. Kazuhiko Ishida, who worked on Axelay, later co-founded Treasure, known for the Genesis classic Gunstar Heroes.
Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest
Arriving in October 1992, Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest was Squaresoft's attempt to make the JRPG genre more accessible to Western audiences. The game simplified many established Final Fantasy conventions, such as allowing players to use gear to interact with dungeon environments and featuring a two-character party limit. Enemies visibly deteriorated upon taking damage, and dungeons included visible enemies and save points. Despite some initial disappointment from fans hoping for Final Fantasy 5, Mystic Quest offered a charming adventure with a vibrant soundtrack.
Super Off Road
Based on Leland Corporation's arcade hit, Super Off Road launched on SNES in December 1991. The game features four trucks competing in mud-soaked arenas viewed from a single screen. Players race, collect nitro boosts and cash, and invest their winnings into vehicle upgrades between races. While the track variety might be limited, the core gameplay loop of repetitive yet fun racing, especially in two-player mode, made it a popular rental and a lasting retro favorite.
The Legend of the Mystical Ninja
Released in July 1991, The Legend of the Mystical Ninja was a robust adventure for two players that showcased the SNES's early capabilities. The game featured imaginative stages, numerous mini-games, and a mix of overhead exploration and challenging side-scrolling action. Its engaging gameplay, which remains fun over three decades later, makes its absence from Switch Online notable. While a related compilation was released in Japan, a US release for that collection has yet to be confirmed.
SimCity
SimCity, ported to the SNES by Nintendo in April 1991, ran exceptionally well on the hardware. It provided a deep and engaging city-building experience that allowed players to transform landscapes into thriving metropolises. The game offered a practical introduction to civics and urban planning. Licensing issues may complicate its inclusion on Switch Online, but its past availability on Virtual Console offers a glimmer of hope.
Robotrek
Quintet and Enix collaborated on Robotrek, an RPG released in July 1994 that focused on players building and customizing robots to battle for them. This futuristic adventure offered gameplay similar to Pokémon in that the player character did not directly engage in combat. Instead, the focus was on tweaking and improving a few robot designs to meet escalating challenges. Despite its modest visuals and effective soundtrack by Yuzo Koshiro, the game was overshadowed by more prominent titles at launch but remains a potential discovery for modern players.
Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen
Launched in March 1993, Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen offered significant replay value with its multiple endings, lengthy campaign, deep party customization, and alignment-based secret events. The game's strategic depth and deliberate pace might feel unintuitive or slow to some, and it could benefit from modern quality-of-life updates via a remake. Nevertheless, its potential to entertain for dozens or even hundreds of hours makes it a strong candidate for Switch Online.
Uniracers
Developed by DMA Design, the studio that would later create the Grand Theft Auto series, Uniracers was released in December 1994. This high-speed racing game featured unicycles navigating simple yet challenging courses. The game's potential for a franchise was cut short due to legal issues, reportedly involving Pixar, making its inclusion on Switch Online unlikely. However, if these rights issues could be resolved, it would offer modern players a unique classic experience.
Illusion of Gaia
Nintendo published Illusion of Gaia in North America in November 1993. This ambitious action-RPG, developed by Quintet, shared similarities with other titles like Soul Blazer and Terranigma. It presented a lengthy and memorable quest across spectacular, Earth-inspired locales, offering a polished, narrative-driven Zelda-like adventure. While some dungeons could become tedious, the game's overall polish and its potential inclusion following an update to Terranigma make it a desirable addition to the Switch Online library.
Chrono Trigger
