List of notable SNES ports and remakes
Some SNES games suffered from slowdown which may be fixed in ports.
Many SNES games were ported to the GBA. These versions may have extra features, but at the cost of poorer video and audio quality. The resolution is significantly lower at 240 x 160 as opposed to the usual 256 x 224 of SNES games. This leads to a smaller visible playing area, which can be devastating in some cases. The audio is much lower quality than the SNES and almost always uses inferior instrument samples for whatever reason (designated as "worse audio"). Also, most GBA games use much brighter colors to compensate for the lack of contrast in the original GBA display. To have these games display as intended, a shader or a palette patch is needed. Additionally, the GBA has two fewer buttons, leading to compromised control layouts.
Several SNES games were ported to the PlayStation. More often than not the PS1 ports offer more features. However, the CD format creates loading times. Contrary to popular belief, most of these ports are not emulations. They simply take the text and graphical assets from the SNES game ROM image on the disc, with the rest of the programming being original work.
Name | PS1 | GC | PS2 | GBA | NDS | PSP | Notes |
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Chrono Trigger | ✓ | ✓ |
PS1: Extra content including FMV & bestiary, longer load times
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Clock Tower | ✓ | PS1/PC: Titled Clock Tower: The First Fear. FMV, minor graphical changes; additional new weapon, enemy, & location
Wonderswan: greyscale colors, poorer audio, lower graphical quality, slightly reduced screen size | |||||
Contra III: The Alien Wars | ✓ | Titled Contra Advance: The Alien Wars EX. Removed dual wielding and mega bombs, added lock aim, Mode 7 levels replaced with levels from Contra: Hard Corps, worse audio. | |||||
Donkey Kong Country | ✓ | GBC: Weaker graphics & audio, new stage, longer version of "Winky's Walkway", mini-games, time trial. GBA: Increased brightness, worse contrast, color saturation, and audio; mini-games, time trial. | |||||
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest | ✓ | GBA: Titled Donkey Kong Country 2. Increased brightness, worse contrast, color saturation, and audio; mini-games, time trial. | |||||
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie's Double Trouble | ✓ | GBA: Titled Donkey Kong Country 3. Increased brightness, worse contrast, color saturation; new soundtrack by David Wise; mini-games, time trial. | |||||
Dragon Quest V | ✓ (R) | ✓ (R) |
PS2: Full 3D remake with party enhancements. Only released in Japan.
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Dragon Quest VI | ✓ (R) |
DS: Remake done in a similar vein to the remakes of the previous two games. Features some core gameplay changes. | |||||
EarthBound | ✓ | Worse audio. Japan only. | |||||
Final Fantasy IV | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ (R) | ✓ |
Original Version
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Final Fantasy V | ✓ | ✓ |
PS1: First official English release of the game.
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Final Fantasy VI | ✓ | ✓ |
GBA: Titled Final Fantasy VI Advance. New translation. Extra content, worse audio.
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Front Mission | ✓ | ✓ (R) | DS: Only official English release of the game. | ||||
Ganbare Goemon 1 Yuki-Hime's Disappearance US: The Legend of the Mystical Ninja |
✓ | GBA: Worse audio, no multiplayer/co-op, more save slots than the Super Famicom release, can change character any time. Japan only. Bundled with Ganbare Goemon 1. | |||||
Ganbare Goemon 2 General McGuiness Japan-only |
✓ | GBA: Worse audio, no multiplayer/co-op, more save slots, can change character any time. Japan only. Bundled with Ganbare Goemon 2. | |||||
Kirby Super Star | ✓ | Titled Kirby Super Star Ultra. Extra games, enhanced graphics. | |||||
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past | ✓ | GBA: Extra dungeon reliant on Four Swords game. More accurate translation, more shops, new enemies. Link voice clips from Ocarina of Time. Simplified difficulty (20 digs like PAL SNES version instead of 25 in digging minigame, Ice Dungeon layout) | |||||
Mega Man & Bass JP: Rockman & Forte |
✓ | GBA: Only official English release. Worse audio. No dash button. Smaller screen resolution makes the game borderline unplayable. | |||||
Mega Man X | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ (R) |
DOS: Different aspect ratio, worse audio, buggy wall climbing.
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Mega Man X2 | ✓ | ✓ |
GC/PS2: Included in Mega Man X Collection. The collection also includes extra content like music player and art gallery. PS4/PC/Switch/XB1: SNES and SFC versions are included in Mega Man X Legacy Collection with extra content including achievements, music player, art gallery, challenges, and more. | ||||
Mega Man X3 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
PS1/Saturn: Remixed soundtrack.
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Metal Max 2: Kai | ✓ | ✓ (R) |
GBA: Average port with a better font and worse music. You'll want to get the 1.1 revision because the initial one is so bugged and unplayable it had to be recalled. DS: Full 3D remake with animated NPC sprites and much better graphics. Improved in every aspect and filled to the brim with new content. Based on the engine of Metal Max 3 for the Nintendo DS. | ||||
Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen | ✓ | Titled Ogre Battle: Limited Edition. Slightly enhanced graphics and sound. | |||||
Romancing SaGa | ✓ | Wonderswan: Enhanced graphics, new story scenario & side quest (Japan only)
PS2: Enhanced 3D graphics | |||||
Secret of Mana |
Android/iOS: Partially enhanced graphics, enhanced fonts & menus, touch controls
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Super Mario World | ✓ |
The version in Super Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World has unique sprites for Luigi.
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Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island | ✓ | GBA: Titled Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3. New levels, worse audio. | |||||
Star Ocean | ✓ (R) | PSP: Titled Star Ocean: First Departure. Only official English release. | |||||
Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts | ✓ | ✓ |
PS1: Slowdown removed.
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Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together | ✓ | ✓ |
PS1: First English release. Slightly enhanced music.
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Tales of Phantasia | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ (R) |
PS1: Cleaner graphics, different sprites, new effects, partial voice acting, food system, skits.
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Trials of Mana JP: Seiken Densetsu 3 |
Switch (remake): Titled Trials of Mana. Full 3D remake with animated cutscenes and remixed soundtrack. | ||||||
Umihara Kawase | ✓ |
DS: As part of the JP-only Umihara Kawase SE Kanzenban compilation. Both games in the compilation were ported from scratch with minor enhancements and slightly differently-sounding MIDI music, with the physics properly implemented unlike all other ports.
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