# SNES / Super Famicom > The Super Nintendo is Nintendo's 16-bit successor to the NES and the best-selling console of its generation. It is one of the most thoroughly emulated systems. Web page: https://emulationking.com/nintendo/snes/ Page updated: 2026-09-30 - Developer: Nintendo - Released: 1990 - Processor: Ricoh 5A22 (16-bit-Core) - Processor Speed: 3.58 MHz - RAM: 128 kB - Video RAM: 64 KB - Max Sprites: 128 - Max Sprite Size: 64 x 64 pixels - Max Background Size: 1024 x 1024 pixels - Resolution: Progressive - 256×224, 512×224, 256×239, 512×239 Interlaced - 512×448, 512×478 - Audio Processor: Sony SPC700, Sony DSP - Processor Speed: 1.024Mhz - Audio RAM: 64 KB - Audio Processor: ADPCM, 8-Channels - Audio Output: 32Khz 16-bit stero The Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES, Super Nintendo or Super NES), known in Japan as the Super Famicom, is a 16-bit video game console and Nintendo's successor to the NES. It offered more advanced graphics and sound than most consoles of its generation, and games that used the Super FX chip in their cartridges could show 3D graphics that were unusually smooth and detailed for a home console at the time. Despite a relatively late start and strong competition from Sega's Mega Drive (Genesis) in North America and Europe, the SNES became the best-selling console of the 16-bit era. It stayed popular into the 32-bit era and remains a favourite with collectors, retro gamers and emulation fans. The SNES is one of the most thoroughly emulated consoles, with several emulators able to run its entire library. Accuracy-focused emulators such as bsnes reproduce the original hardware very closely, down to its bugs and quirks, at the cost of higher system requirements. ## SNES / Super Famicom Emulators - [ares](https://emulationking.com/nintendo/snes/emulator/ares/index.md): ares is an open source multi-system emulator focused on accuracy and preservation, covering the NES, SNES, N64, Sega consoles and more. The successor to higan. - [Mednafen](https://emulationking.com/sega/saturn/emulator/mednafen/index.md): Mednafen is an open source multi-system emulator, controlled from the command line, known for accurate Sega Saturn and PlayStation emulation. - [Mesen](https://emulationking.com/nintendo/nes/emulator/mesen/index.md): Mesen is an open source multi-system emulator for the NES, SNES, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance and more, with a built-in debugger, for Windows, Linux and macOS. - [bsnes](https://emulationking.com/nintendo/snes/emulator/bsnes/index.md): bsnes is an open source Super Nintendo emulator originally developed by Near, focused on performance, features and ease of use, for Windows, macOS and Linux. - [Snes9x](https://emulationking.com/nintendo/snes/emulator/snes9x/index.md): Snes9x is a fast, portable and open source Super Nintendo emulator with high compatibility, available for Windows, macOS, Linux and many other systems. - [higan](https://emulationking.com/nintendo/nes/emulator/higan/index.md): higan is a multi-system emulator by Near (formerly byuu), best known for its highly accurate SNES emulation, which puts accuracy ahead of speed. - [ZSNES](https://emulationking.com/nintendo/snes/emulator/zsnes/index.md): ZSNES is a classic SNES emulator written largely in x86 assembly for speed. It is no longer developed and is less accurate than Snes9x or bsnes. ## SNES Games - [ActRaiser](https://emulationking.com/nintendo/snes/games/actraiser/index.md): ActRaiser is Quintet's 1990 SNES game that mixes side-scrolling action stages with a god game in which you guide the growth of towns. - [Donkey Kong Country](https://emulationking.com/nintendo/snes/games/donkeykongcountry/index.md): Donkey Kong Country is Rare's 1994 SNES platformer, in which Donkey and Diddy Kong chase King K. Rool across Donkey Kong Island to win back their banana hoard. - [Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest](https://emulationking.com/nintendo/snes/games/donkeykongcountry2diddyskongquest/index.md): Donkey Kong Country 2 is Rare's 1995 SNES platformer, in which Diddy and Dixie Kong travel to Crocodile Isle to rescue Donkey Kong from Kaptain K. Rool. - [Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!](https://emulationking.com/nintendo/snes/games/donkeykongcountry3dixiekongsdoubletrouble/index.md): Donkey Kong Country 3 is Rare's 1996 SNES platformer, in which Dixie Kong and baby Kiddy Kong search the Northern Kremisphere for Donkey and Diddy Kong. - [EarthBound](https://emulationking.com/nintendo/snes/games/earthbound/index.md): EarthBound is the 1994 SNES role-playing game known as Mother 2 in Japan, in which Ness and his friends stop the alien Giygas from destroying the world. - [F-Zero](https://emulationking.com/nintendo/snes/games/fzero/index.md): F-Zero is Nintendo's 1990 SNES futuristic racing game, with hovering machines racing at high speed on Mode 7 tracks in the year 2560. - [Gundam Wing: Endless Duel](https://emulationking.com/nintendo/snes/games/gundamwingendlessduel/index.md): Gundam Wing: Endless Duel is a 1996 Japan-only SNES fighting game, released as Shin Kidou Senki Gundam W: Endless Duel, with mobile suits from the anime. - [International Superstar Soccer Deluxe](https://emulationking.com/nintendo/snes/games/internationalsuperstarsoccerdeluxe/index.md): International Superstar Soccer Deluxe is Konami's 1995 SNES football game, with international teams, tournaments, scenarios and commentary. - [Jungle Strike](https://emulationking.com/nintendo/snes/games/junglestrike/index.md): Jungle Strike is the sequel to Desert Strike, an isometric helicopter shooter in which you fly a Comanche against terrorists and a drug lord. - [Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals](https://emulationking.com/nintendo/snes/games/lufiaiiriseofthesinistrals/index.md): Lufia II is Neverland's 1995 SNES role-playing game, a prequel in which the swordsman Maxim fights the godlike Sinistrals. - [Mega Man X](https://emulationking.com/nintendo/snes/games/megamanx/index.md): Mega Man X is Capcom's 1993 SNES action game, in which the android X fights Sigma and his rebel Mavericks, a new series set a century after Mega Man. - [Mega Man X2](https://emulationking.com/nintendo/snes/games/megamanx2/index.md): Mega Man X2 is Capcom's 1994 SNES sequel, in which X fights eight new Mavericks and the X-Hunters, who hold the parts of the fallen Zero. - [Mega Man X3](https://emulationking.com/nintendo/snes/games/megamanx3/index.md): Mega Man X3 is Capcom's 1995 SNES action game, in which X and Zero fight the Mavericks of Dr. Doppler's Doppler Town. - [Rock n' Roll Racing](https://emulationking.com/nintendo/snes/games/rocknrollracing/index.md): Rock n' Roll Racing is a 1993 SNES combat racing game from Silicon & Synapse, later Blizzard, with armed cars and rock songs on the soundtrack. - [Sid Meier's Civilization](https://emulationking.com/nintendo/snes/games/sidmeierscivilization/index.md): Sid Meier's Civilization for the SNES is a version of the 1991 PC turn-based strategy game about building a civilisation from 4000 BC to the space age. - [Star Fox](https://emulationking.com/nintendo/snes/games/starfox/index.md): Star Fox is Nintendo's 1993 SNES rail shooter, the first game to use the Super FX chip, in which Fox McCloud's team flies through the Lylat system to stop Andross. - [Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars](https://emulationking.com/nintendo/snes/games/supermariorpglegendofthesevenstars/index.md): Super Mario RPG is Square's 1996 SNES role-playing game, in which Mario, Bowser and new friends recover the seven Star Pieces from the Smithy Gang. - [Super Mario World](https://emulationking.com/nintendo/snes/games/supermarioworld/index.md): Super Mario World is Nintendo's 1990 SNES launch platformer, in which Mario and Luigi ride Yoshi across Dinosaur Land to rescue Princess Peach from Bowser. - [Super Metroid](https://emulationking.com/nintendo/snes/games/supermetroid/index.md): Super Metroid is Nintendo's 1994 SNES action adventure, in which Samus Aran returns to the planet Zebes to recover the last Metroid from the Space Pirates. - [The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past](https://emulationking.com/nintendo/snes/games/legendofzeldaalinktothepast/index.md): A Link to the Past is Nintendo's 1991 SNES Zelda, a top-down adventure in which Link crosses a Light World and a Dark World to stop the wizard Agahnim.