The Best Super Nintendo (SNES) Games Under $20
When you add a console to your collection, the first thing you want to do is get a handful of games to keep you busy with your new toy. However, most of us can’t spend afford to spend fat pile of cash for a few games. This budget-friendly list should help you quickly find which games will start you off well without emptying your wallet.  Since the SNES is quickly growing with nostolgic collectors, it’s getting harder to find real values in the SNES market.  However, as long as you don’t mind skipping the harder-to-find cardboard boxes for the games, you can find these classics for $10 or less.  (Prices listed are an average eBay price for US cartridge-only games, including shipping)
Check Out The Rest of the Best Cheap Retro Games
Values Current as of May 2020
Cheap Classics
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Super Mario World: $17 The massive follow-up to the Super Mario Bros series on the NES is not only the most popular SNES games, but is also one of the greatest platforming games of all time. With numerous levels full of color and creativity, Super Mario World is well worth its low price of admission. Shop for Super Mario World on eBay Shop for Super Mario World on Amazon.com |
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F-Zero: $12 Serving as an early showcase of the Super Nintendo’s superior graphical power, F-Zero remained one of the best 2D racing games of all time. Some old-school gamers still prefer it to its newer siblings on the N64 and Gamecube due to its great course designs and balanced gameplay. Shop for F-Zero on eBay Shop for F-Zero on Amazon.com |
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Uniracers: $13 Uniracers takes the speed and competitive nature of traditional racing games and mix in the tricks and showmanship that was eventually made popular in the Tony Hawk series. The result is one of the most unique and underrated games of the 16-bit era. Shop for Uniracers on eBay Shop for Uniracers on Amazon.com |
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Pilotwings: $10 If you are looking to take flight, why not take a look at Pilotwings. In classic Nintendo fashion, Pilotwings takes a previously complicated genre (flight simulators) and make them more accessible to the casual player while enhancing the fun. Pilotwings features a variety of aircrafts and will teach you how to lots of cool tricks. The original SNES version holds up quite well and is a great showpiece for the Super Nintendo console. Shop for Pilotwings on eBay Shop for Pilotwings on Amazon.com |
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Star Fox: $13 The original in the shoot-em-up series is still a classic showpiece for the SNES. Star Fox’s combination of dramatic shooting action and quirky characters served as a winning formula for a treasured franchise. Of course, the SNES original shows its age more than it’s N64 sibling, but its dirt cheap and a great piece of gaming nostolgia. If only the Gamecube Star Fox games had as much shooting action as the original. Shop for Star Fox on eBay Shop for Star Fox on Amazon.com |
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Killer Instinct: $11 In the midst of Street Fighter-mania, Nintendo and Rare created a new fighting franchise that had a 3D in order to give it a cutting-edge look. Killer Instinct had some unique elements and a great deal of character that made it a fan favorite in the Nintendo crowd. As one of the cheapest Nintendo-published classics, it is worth a small handful of dollars to add solid piece to a Super Nintendo library. Shop for Killer Instinct on eBay Shop for Killer Instinct on Amazon.com |
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Super Ghouls ‘N Ghosts: $20 If you like a lot of fast action and frustratingly challenging gameplay that somehow beckons you to keep playing, you won’t find a better value on the SNES than Super Ghouls ‘N Ghosts. Super Ghouls n Ghosts has stood the test of time in every respect and is a genre-defining piece of work to boot. Shop for Super Ghouls n Ghosts on eBay Shop for Super Ghouls n Ghosts on Amazon.com |
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Plok: $17 As one of the best exclusive SNES platformers not from Nintendo, Plok definately is worth the investment if you like running and jumping. It’s a great representation of 16-bit gaming and is a title that is often overlooked. Shop for Plok on eBay Shop for Plok on Amazon.com |
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Super Game Boy: $19 This isn’t actually a game, but the Super Gameboy is an add-on to your Super Nintendo that lets you play your original Gameboy and Gameboy Color games on your SNES. There are still a number of great Gameboy games out there that can expand your library. I’ll be developing a list of good-n-cheap Gameboy games as well, so you can stock up. Shop for Super Gameboy on eBay Shop for Super Gameboy on Amazon.com |
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Tetris Attack: $14 Tetris Attack doesn’t really have much to do with Tetris other than it is a block-based puzzle game. However, I must say it is just as addicting and fulfilling as the original. While you may find some cheaper puzzle games (like Kirby’s Avalanche – see below), Tetris Attack remains the best value. Shop for Tetris Attack on eBay Shop for Tetris Attack on Amazon.com |
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The Lion King: $11 The 16-bit actually had a good handful of well-made licensed Disney platforming games and The Lion King is one of the best on the Super Nintendo. Â It’s solid platforming and wonderful animation make it one of the most enjoyable Disney-based games of all time. Â It’s hard for gamers of all ages not to love this one. Shop for The Lion King on eBay Shop for The Lion King on Amazon.com |
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Out of This World (Another World): $14 This cinematic platformer was one of the most innovative and influencial games of its day and remains a solid classic.  Originally released on the Amiga and other personal computer platforms, Out of This World has a fresh style compared to most SNES games.  Weighing in at only $5, this gem is one of the best values on the SNES. Shop for Out of This World on eBay Shop for Out of This World on Amazon.com |
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Flashback: The Quest for Identity: $13 Touted as a “CD-ROM Game on a Cartridgeâ€, Flashback: The Quest for Identity was one of the most graphically impressive console games in its day (it was ported from the Amiga). The game features fully hand-drawn backdrops and for its time remarkably fluid rotoscoped animation of walking, running and jumping movements, reminiscent of the earlier Prince of Persia.   It’s also worth mentioning that although very similar in a number of ways to Out of This World, Flashback isn’t really a sequel. Shop for Flashback: The Quest for Identity on eBay Shop for Flashback: The Quest for Identity on Amazon.com |
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Phantom 2040: $13 With prices of high-profile SNES games on the rise, it can be quite a challenge to find the amazing Super Metroid for under $10.  However, if you would like some Metroid-like action (without the high production values and depth) for a fraction of the price (or just want an under-appreciated action title), Phantom 2040 is a wonderful choice. Shop for Phantom 2040 on eBay Shop for Phantom 2040 on Amazon.com |
Other Cheap Favorites
- Street Fighter 2 Turbo: $16 – eBay / Amazon.com
- Mario Paint: $7  – eBay / Amazon.com
- Aladdin: $16 – eBay / Amazon.com
- Mortal Kombat II: $13 – eBay / Amazon.com
- Final Fight: $13 – eBay / Amazon.com
- Super Star Wars: $10 – eBay / Amazon.com
- NBA Jam TE: $12 – eBay / Amazon.com
- SimCity: $9 – eBay / Amazon.com
- Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back: $13  – eBay / Amazon.com
- Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi: $13 – eBay / Amazon.com
- Metal Combat: Falcon’s Revenge : $6 – eBay / Amazon.com
- Kirby’s Avalanche: $13 – eBay / Amazon.com
- Jungle Book: $8 – eBay / Amazon.com
- Desert Strike: $9Â – eBay / Amazon.com
- Jungle Strike: $9 – eBay / Amazon.com
- Urban Strike: $8 – eBay / Amazon.com
- Firepower 2000: $19 – eBay / Amazon.com
- Super Earth Defense Force: $15 – eBay / Amazon.com
- Gradius III: $13 – eBay / Amazon.com
- Super R-Type: $10 – eBay / Amazon.com
- Thunder Spirits: $18 – eBay / Amazon.com
- Darius Twin: $16 – eBay / Amazon.com
- Tetris 2: $8 – eBay / Amazon.com
- Wario’s Woods: $13 – eBay / Amazon.com
- MechWarrior 3050: $10 – eBay / Amazon.com
- Batman Returns: $16 – eBay / Amazon.com
- Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster Busts Loose: $9 – eBay / Amazon.com
- X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse: $14 – eBay / Amazon.com
- King Arthur’s World: $11 – eBay / Amazon.com
- Claymates: $13 – eBay / Amazon.com
- Cool World: $11 – eBay / Amazon.com
- Zoop: $4 – eBay / Amazon.com
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Great list with nice games. Good gaming doesn’t have to be expensive!.
Cool article. One issue though: Super Game Boy can’t play GBC-only games like Shantae or SMB Deluxe. It can play GBC-enhanced like Link’s Awakening DX and the Pokemon series though.
Awesome article, now I know what to look for at my local shop.
Oh god… you gave me quite a few more games to buy… Dear oh dear!!!
I’m very glad to see Plok on the list, but where’s Aero the Acro-bat?
Pretty great list, RB. So many good games on here, if you had them all, you’d forget about the current gen. Haha.
Really, really nice to see PLOK and Tet Attack get some recognition.
PLOK:Best Soundtrack on SNES.
Hey Matt — yeah, not sure what happened with Aero… I’ll have to add that on.
This really makes me miss my SNES. I traded my in for a N64 and I had such bad seller’s remorse that I’ve pretty much held onto every single game I’ve bought since then.
Another fantastic guide from Racketboy, you are the reason I have no money for food each week!
Nice list, you should add the prices of consoles. And of course, Super Mario RPG!!
There are just too many good games for the SNES that aren’t too expensive. Too many to list. Seriously, I could live the rest of my days with only my SNES and never run out of fun games to play.
It’s a very short game, but Operation: Logic Bomb is a lot of fun, and I picked it up for $5 the other day.
Too bad most of the best of the best SNES games will run you more than the best of the best Genesis games but I guess that’s what happens with demand. Still a lot of fun to have here in this list. Mario and Star Fox are obvious choices. Cybernator is one of the best action games on the console.
You can also probably find the original Mega Man X for under ten bucks. One of the greatest action games EVER.
Ikari no Yousai is a cool one from Japan. Sequel to Fortified Zone on Game Boy.
Hell yeah…King Arthur’s World & Zoop! Two games I didn’t think anybody knew about!
EDF! Earth Defense Force!
My local game jacked up the price of Super Mario World. Costs like $29.
Hey Racketboy, don’t know if you’ve checked eBay recently, but the prices for most of these games have skyrocketed since this article was written. Is there any chance that you will update it and remove/add games? I know that you have for some other consoles.
Yup, this is on my to-do list to update soon. The Genesis guide needs to be done first though