Super Nintendo (SNES) Classic Mini

Retro Games Console: The Best SNES Classic Mini Deals

The SNES Classic Mini is a much smaller version of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), a games console released by Nintendo in the early 1990s. It comes with two period controllers and a library of 21 classic games. Easy to install and play, it offers a step back in time to a different gaming era.

If you want to explore the world of the SNES, this little system is the way to do so, and this hotukdeals buyer's guide will explain everything you need to know.

SNES: Nintendo's Entertainment for the Whole Family

The Super Nintendo Entertainment System first appeared in 1990 in Japan and South Korea, where the ripples were felt across the world. Soon, imported systems were appearing in the UK and America, and gamers could see that Nintendo had come up with a winner – and a worthy successor to the incredibly successful NES.

In the early 1990s, the SNES conquered all comers, becoming easily the biggest selling 16-bit console and trumping the SEGA Megadrive. With titles like Super Mario Kart, Super Mario World and the Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, the SNES accumulated a seemingly endless library of classics that still play beautifully over 20 years later.

As with most older consoles, SNES games were largely forgotten when the N64 and GameCube arrived, but they weren't gone for good. In the 2000s, something amazing happened. As games became more lifelike, and users started to complain about costs and “downloadable content”, demand re-appeared for more simple gaming experiences. Retro-gaming filled the gap, and companies like Nintendo took notice.

After releasing many older games via the Virtual Console, Nintendo launched the NES Classic Mini in 2016 and then followed this up with the SNES Classic Mini in 2017. A tiny version of the original masterpiece, it's been one of the sensations of 2017 and is a wonderful way to resurrect one of the greatest of all games consoles.

How Does the SNES Classic Mini Work?

The SNES Classic Mini is basically a pint-sized recreation of the Super Nintendo just without a cartridge port. Instead of having to juggle carts, players can simply pick the games they want to try from a menu which boots up as soon as you turn on the console.

The whole thing comes in a period-style Nintendo-branded box, which is a neat touch, and the console unit is an almost exact replica of the original system as well as the classic controller, so anyone who owned a SNES back in the day will instantly feel right at home.

As for the software, gamers will be delighted to find 21 different titles that Nintendo have curated as the best of the 1990s, and the collection includes some bona fide classics. Here's the complete list:

• Super Mario Kart

• Starfox and Starfox 2 (a previously unreleased sequel)

• Super Mario World

• The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

• F-Zero

• Donkey Kong Country

• Super Metroid

• Super Street Fighter 2

• Super Punch Out

• Castlevania IV

• Mega Man X

• Kirby Super Star and Kirby's Dream Course

• Final Fantasy III

• Yoshi's Island

• Contra III

• The Secret of Mana

• Earthbound

• Super Ghouls and Ghosts

• Super Mario RPG: The Legend of the Seven Stars

That's a pretty good spread of games from a classic era, with racers, platformers, shoot 'em ups, fighters and RPGs to enjoy. The only blank spot might be sports, although boxing is included. But if you remember titles like Super Tennis, you'll have to find another way to relive them.

Controlling the games has changed a little, too. Instead of analog ports, the twin controllers bundled with the SNES Classic Mini connect via USB ports, and the controllers have four-foot-long cords that allow players to sit a comfortable distance away from the screen. You can just plug the console into standard HDMI ports on flat screen TVs, by the way, so there's no need to source a period cathode ray tube to get playing.

During gameplay, the SNES Mini offers four save points for every game – something that was never available for players on the original SNES and a godsend during epic bouts of Zelda. If you abandoned a title twenty years ago after finding it too tough, these save states might allow you to finally reach the end.

Visually, the SNES Classic Mini doesn't just emulate the hardware of the SNES. It also emulates a cathode ray tube display, creating a real burst of nostalgia as the scan lines start to form. But you can also switch to more modern, high-resolution options if that's what you're used to.

All of this fits into the palm of your hand – a strange experience for anyone who actually played a 1990s console, and a great way to introduce younger players to a golden era of gaming pleasure.

What Have People Been Saying About the SNES Classic Mini?

Since being announced in mid 2017, the SNES Classic Mini has generally attracted rave reviews. Industry publications and newspapers alike seem to appreciate the work Nintendo have done in recreating the authentic SNES gaming experience for a new generation.

For instance, the Daily Telegraph noted that, “Fun for all the family was always the SNES’s mantra” and added that, “oh, how it holds up today.” Tech Radar judged that it was, “packed with almost every one of the best games produced for the system” and that, “with the SNES Classic Mini, Nintendo has really hit its retro console stride.” While Tech Crunch found that, “hundreds of hours of amazing gaming here for just about every taste.”

Negative comments have emerged, but comparatively few. For example, Wired complained about the lack of a reset button on the controller and the inability to expand the limited software library. Ars Technica also noted that Starfox 2 couldn't be accessed without beating a tough level on the original Starfox, which seemed a little strange. But even so, both publications were basically positive about the SNES Mini as a product.

Another thing that some commentators have noted is that the SNES Classic Mini has possibly been too successful. Almost as soon as it was announced, pre-orders outstripped supply, making it hard to get hold of one after the first rush. Ebay and Amazon have taken up the slack, to an extent, and Nintendo will be shipping more units, but some buyers may still have difficulties getting hold of one quickly.

SNES Classic Mini: Buying Options

Nintendo have launched the SNES Classic Mini in a single package, with the 21 games listed above, although it's worth noting that there is also a Japanese edition which features some additional games.

The European version comes with the SNES Classic Mini console and two original style controllers, which connect to the console via a 6-foot cable and USB ports. It also comes with an HDMI cable to link up the system with your television as well as a USB power cable to make it easy to charge your device on the move (or at home). An AC adapter for the cable will also be needed, but Nintendo haven't included one with the SNES Classic, so be sure to get hold of one before your system arrives, to avoid any disappointment. Brands like Gioteck manufacture USB adapters tailored specifically for Nintendo consoles and are not very expensive. You should also be able to find them available for less at the hotukdeals SNES Classic listings. There's also a Nintendo branded adapter which may be slightly more expensive but might also be bundled in with the console, so check for combination deals as well.

And what about the Japanese version? Well, Japanese gamers will be able to play the following games that European players cannot: Legend of the Mystical Ninja, Panel de Pon, Tetris Attack, Super Formation Soccer and Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem. It's listed at around the same price ($70/£60) but comes in a different box. So, if you really want to assemble a complete collection of Super Nintendo classics, you'll want to get both editions.

Then there's the American version, which is a little bit different again. The original Super Famicom had a different look in the USA than Europe and Japan, with a chunkier design, and Nintendo have followed these original lines to create the Classic version. Many people prefer the looks of the European and Japanese version, but collectors will definitely want to get hold of the American unit too. The games are the same on the American and European models, by the way.

Is Buying the SNES Classic Mini Better Than Purchasing an Actual SNES?

Some people will be wondering whether it's worth buying a slimmed down version of an original console which has a restricted palette of titles? Whether you used to enjoy gaming on the SNES or you're exploring what the 1990s had to offer, it's definitely worth considering getting hold of an actual SNES console, but the SNES Classic Mini has plenty of appeal as well (and with the discounts available at hotukdeals, it might be possible to buy both).

For real gaming history fans, the main advantage of the original hardware is the ability to use any of the over 1,500 games made for the SNES. With just 21 titles included with the SNES Classic Mini, you'll surely miss out on some memorable experiences if you stick to the updated version. But having said that, the new Mini console has a collection of sure-fire winners that are absolute classics. If you'd purchased them separately, the cost would have amounted to hundreds of pounds, making the SNES Classic Mini an excellent way to sample what the SNES has to offer at a bargain price.

Another thing counting against original consoles is price. It might be possible to track down a SNES for less than £50, but don't count on it. Many vintage systems sell them second hand for over £100, making the SNES Classic Mini much more appealing.

SNES Classic Mini: Massive Comeback for a Mini Console

Are There Any Other Ways to Enjoy SNES Games Besides the Original Hardware or the SNES Classic Mini?

Over the years, various options have emerged for people who want to find out more about SNES gaming, and there are still a few alternatives to Nintendo's official products. But beware, these systems tend to be cheaper and less reliable than the licensed products.

For instance, you can buy something called the Hamy Trio Console, which has slots for SNES, SEGA Megadrive and Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) cartridges. Or there's the Retroduo console from Retro-Bit, which also caters for classic NES and SNES cartridges and comes with a couple of authentic controllers.

Reviewers have been mixed in their reception of these systems. Some have pointed to the poor quality of their controllers, while others have noted that they aren't all that reliable at detecting original cartridges. And at around the same price as the SNES Classic Mini, they might not be great value for money.

However, what they do have in their favour is their ability to accept old cartridges that you might have in the loft – something that the SNES Classic Mini simply cannot do. So they have their place.

There's another way to play SNES games without buying a physical console: the Virtual Console on the 3DS, Nintendo's handheld system. The range of Virtual Console games is slightly larger than the SNES Classic Mini and includes classics like Pilotwings, Final Fight, Breath of Fire, Mega Man 7, Demon's Crest and Donkey Kong Country 2 and 3 which aren't present on the smaller console.

Each title costs a few pounds from the Nintendo eShop, so if you want to try them one at a time (and you have a 3DS, a Wii, a Wii U or Nintendo Switch to play them on), it's a good choice.

What Are Some of the Classic Games On the SNES Classic Mini?

If you've never played a single SNES game before, you're in for a treat. Every single one of the titles included with the SNES Classic Mini is a briliantly designed game with hours of gaming to be had. Here are some of the most iconic of them all:

• Super Mario World – When the SNES was first launched in 1990, this was the game that sold a million then ten million consoles. Mario's first SNES outing was an instant classic, with superb cartoon graphics challenging gameplay and the kind of jaunty music, humour and gradual difficulty increase that Nintendo pulled off so well in the 1990s. It hasn't aged a day.

• F-Zero – Another early SNES game, F-Zero looked incredible when gamers first saw it, with its futuristic, high-speed racing action. Compared to the NES or even the Megadrive, these graphics wowed players, offering a taste of the adrenaline-filled racing games that the 90s would specialise in.

• Super Mario Kart – However, while F-Zero was exciting and beautiful, Mario Kart took the crown in the multiplayer stakes, and for many people it still does. If ever a racing game could be described as “timeless”, it's Super Mario Kart. With its amusing characters and sound effects, it's huge range of courses, weapons and power ups and the sheer joy of defeating your mates with a skillfully placed banana skin, Mario Kart is a gem and will always offer a magical gaming experience.

• The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past – By the time the SNES came out, Zelda was established as the world's most popular role playing game, and Nintendo knew that their fans expected something special from Link's first outing on the new console. They delivered, with A Link to the Past offering one of the biggest game worlds ever created. Since 1991, millions of people have sought to save Hyrule from the evil Ganon, and with the launch of the SNES Classic Mini, millions more probably will too.

• Star Fox – By 1993, Nintendo needed something extra special to galvanise the SNES. New systems like the PlayStation were on the horizon, and the SNES graphics were starting to seem less impressive. But they had an ace up their sleeves, and its name was Star Fox. This 3D vector-based shooter was breath-taking when it appeared in February 1993, with fast-paced, accessible space-based action. As an added bonus, SNES Classic Mini owners get to try Star Fox 2, which never saw the light of day in the 1990s but takes the action to another level.

• Super Metroid – Another classic Nintendo franchise, it was inevitable that Metroid would appear on the SNES, and when it did the results were spectacular. One of the greatest platform shooters ever made, Super Metroid looks fantastic and manages to create a truly dark, almost gothic Sci-Fi world. It's still a winner, even today.

That's just a small sample of the 21 titles bundled in with the SNES Classic Mini. Much more than just an injection of nostalgia, these are all-time gaming classics that still inspire modern games and still play brilliantly.

Are There Any Other Systems in the Nintendo Mini Range?

Yep. Gamers can also purchase the NES Classic Mini, which appeared in November 2016. It comes with 30 games, including classics like Dr Mario, Ghosts and Goblins, Mario Bros, Super Mario Bros, and Ninja Gaiden – all of which are great fun and most of which are completely family friendly as well (like most SNES games).

However, buyers need to be aware that Nintendo discontinued the NES Classic in mid 2017, with a view to re-releasing it in 2018. So, in the meantime the only versions you'll be able to purchase are those that remain in stock at UK merchants or second-hand devices. That won't stop you buying one, but it does drive their price up a little.

How to Purchase a SNES Classic Mini at the Best Price

If you want to relive the golden era of gaming, or introduce your kids to the games you loved when you were young, now is the perfect time to do so. Nintendo's SNES Classic Mini offers a wonderful portal into a different time, one where games were more family oriented and more accessible but no less challenging.

As an officially licensed Nintendo product, the SNES Classic Mini isn't that cheap, but it's not prohibitively expensive either. Although the official release date is listed as 29th September 2017, it has been available for pre-order for months, and much of the first production run has sold out – making it really important to know where to get the best deal.

If you want to delve into the world of SNES gaming for less, head over to the SNES Classic Mini hotukdeals listings. You'll come across reductions from leading UK games merchants like Smyths, Argos, Asda, Amazon, ShopTo, Very and GAME. You can also see at a glance when stock arrives at UK retailers, helping to work around the bottleneck caused by the pre-order rush.

If you want to save even more money, be sure to check out the hotukdeals listings as Black Friday approaches. Nintendo will surely ensure that enough stock arrives for the Christmas rush, and short-term flash deals will appear around mid-November. Being a member of Amazon Prime also doesn't hurt, with special deals for members on all sorts of gaming products.

Return to Gaming's Roots By Purchasing a SNES Classic Mini From hotukdeals

Whether you're tired of today's soulless first-person shooters or you want to show your children what real games were like, getting hold of a SNES Classic Mini will be one of the year's gaming highlights. Full of classic titles, this is a magical little product. You can get one for less and relive the glory days by shopping at the SNES Classic Mini hotukdeals listings.