Top 20 Best SNES Multiplayer and Co-Op Games of All Time

With the rise of online play in home consoles so came the fall of co-op couch multiplayer. Yes, playing over the internet with buddies is fun, convenient, and has come a long way. Unfortunately it’s just not the same as getting a group of people together in the same room duking it out or working together on a single television screen. I miss those days, and at this rate I’m sure the concept is going to completely die out eventually. That doesn’t mean we can’t still enjoy the classics however. The Super Nintendo amassed a huge library of titles, and many of them offered either co-op and competitive play. That’s why today I’ve decided to highlight the best SNES multiplayer games of all time. I’m ranking them solely on how much fun playing with a buddy (or in some cases, ‘buddies’) is. Let’s get started! Here’s my top 20 picks!

#20. – Final Fight 3

Final Fight was a huge hit in the arcades. The arcade port at the SNES launch however, was awful. It lacked multiplayer entirely, and for this genre that’s often the kiss of death. Fortunately the series continued with home console sequels. Final Fight 3 was the final mainline installment. The gameplay had some issues, but multiplayer is still a lot of fun. This is mostly because of the diversity of moves that you have. Each of the three characters has more differences than ever before with Street Fighter style input moves on top of the typical three hit combos, super moves, and throws. Having two players with so many different moves at their disposal keeps things very refreshing. Final Fight 3 may not be the best beat ’em up around, but it’s a fantastic co-op experience.

#19. – Pocky & Rocky

Now here’s something straight out of Japan that looks it! Pocky & Rocky is an overhead shooter where you play as one of two (or both if you have a friend) characters. It’s a fast and frantic adventure where you defeat all enemies on-screen before it scrolls either horizontally or vertically automatically. The two characters are pretty similar as far as attacks go; both use different manner of projectiles and melee strikes. They also have slide attacks that vary in speed and distance. Where Pocky & Rocky excels is in it’s level designs. The developers throw a lot of mayhem your way, and it’s fun to fight through it with a friend. Pocky & Rocky is pretty unknown in these parts but very much worth playing even today.

#18. – Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest

Not all of the games on this list allow for simultaneous play. Donkey Kong Country 2 is the first of these that doesn’t. It’s a traditional 2D platformer that was renowned for it’s digitized graphics at the time of release. DKC2 also offers a limited multiplayer mode. You have the option to take turns playing. When one completes a stage, or dies, the other player gets a turn. It’s a pretty basic SNES era Nintendo mode, but there’s more. You can opt to play co-operatively where each player controls a different character. You can switch between them freely by pressing the select button within a stage. This is a really neat feature and is a clear step above what most platformers offered at the time.

#17. – Contra III: The Alien Wars

Contra was an institution on the NES. Even now, you can get the party started with any era of gamer by starting that one up. Unfortunately I had a bit of a falling out with the series during the 16-bit era. Something was lost in the translation to more powerful hardware in my opinion. Contra III is the best one of the bunch, but it still has its fair share of problems. Someday I’ll cover those in a separate review because for now I’m just focusing on the multiplayer elements. Contra III is actually a lot of fun to tackle with a friend. It’s chaotic enough that it’ll leave both players frantically mashing buttons trying to survive the onslaught of action. If you want more co-op Contra then this one is your best bet.

#16. – Mortal Kombat II

2D fighters were a dime a dozen during the 16-bit era, and Mortal Kombat II is one of the best of them. To be honest this one doesn’t do anything special with its multiplayer mode. It’s a simple vs option. The reason MK2 makes this list is because the base game is really that good. It’s a real joy to memorize the special moves, combos, and then to execute them against a human player in the room. It’s one thing to face the CPU opponents, but it’s entirely different to go up against a well conditioned human player. This is where the finely tuned nuances come in to play. Mortal Kombat II is definitely one of the best overall multiplayer games for the SNES.

#15. – Final Fantasy III

This choice might seem completely out of left field but bear with me here. Final Fantasy III (or VI as we now know it) was at the time the biggest RPG in the history of the genre. The sprawling story has earned it a special place in history. That’s all fine and well, but what’s it doing on a list of the best SNES multiplayer games you may ask? Well buried in the options you will actually find a co-op mode. Here you select which player controls specific characters. It’s actually more fun than it sounds. One of my best childhood friends and I played through the entire main quest in this manner when we were kids. Let me tell you it’s an absolute blast, and actually alters the strategy in playing. You have to coordinate with the other player and it’s a load of fun.

#14. – Kirby Super Star

Kirby Super Star is hands down one of the best platformers on the SNES. It’s also the single greatest installment in the franchise. Multiplayer was an after thought however. That doesn’t mean it isn’t fantastic however. In some of the modes Kirby is given a helper character that follows him around and attacks nearby enemies. Normally this is controlled by the CPU, but if you plug in a second controller another player can take the reigns. The reason this works so well is because the base game is so incredible. The vast number of powers you can collect from enemies is staggering, and they all have their uses. Tackling these sequences with another player is pure unadultered joy. Kirby Super Star is fantastic by yourself, but it’s absolutely amazing to play with a friend.

#13. – Goof Troop

Capcom and Disney put in serious work in the 80s and 90s. Normally licensed titles range from bad to awful, but when you saw Capcom’s name on a Disney game you knew you were in for a fun time. Goof Troops continues this tradition. For those that don’t know at some point Disney tried to modernize the character Goofy. Along with a few movies was a television show, and this game is based on the latter. Unlike most of Capcom’s other titles this is an overhead adventure puzzle title. You and a friend work together to fight off enemies and get past various obstacles. This is where the puzzle elements come in to play. There’s nothing mind bending, but solving these is very rewarding. Goof Troop is one of the most relaxing games to play on this list, and the multiplayer is fantastic.

#12. – Final Fight 2

After the spectacular blunder that was the SNES port of the original Final Fight Capcom gave it another go. Final Fight 2 is largely more of the same, but it’s decidedly less inspired. That matters little because multiplayer is well balanced and a ton of fun. The new characters are based very closely on the previous ones but with new faces. Of course Haggar returns (he is the face of the franchise after all) but the new guys are pretty forgettable. I absolutely loved tackling this one with a friend. It may be nostalgia talking, but Final Fight 2 is my favorite game in the franchise on the SNES to play through with a friend.

#11. – Street Fighter II: Turbo

The original Street Fighter II is often cited as one of the most influential video games of all time. It popularized the fighting genre after all. The game took arcades by storm, and the home port to the Super Nintendo was just about perfect. This enhanced versions adds in a few key features. You can now play as all of the boss characters, and staying true to the ‘turbo’ moniker the gameplay can now be sped up. It makes the original release all but obsolete in my eyes. The game itself is one of the very best of its era. You will get the most of it however by playing against human players. Don’t get me wrong. The CPU foes are fine, but it is against an opponent that can think and learn that you’ll truly get the best experience. Gameplay is fine tuned but with a lot of nuance.

#10. – Super Bomberman 3

It may be hard to believe, but having more than two players at a time in the 16-bit era was truly rare. All of the consoles released in this time had just two controller ports after all. So when Super Bomberman hit the scene it was a pretty impressive endeavor. This game used the multi-tap allowing for up to four different characters to compete against each other in the classic Bomberman format. A few sequels later and we arrive at Super Bomberman 3 which in my opinion is the best one of the 16-bit era. Now you get up to five other players to compete against, and anyone at all familiar with the franchise will say this is pure chaos. I mean that in the best way possible. What’s more is this game uses the Louis which offer you additional abilities. Super Bomberman 3 is a real hoot.

#9. – NBA Jam: Tournament Edition

I’m really not a fan of sports games. Never have been, and probably never will be. Because of that I need some kind of compelling gimmick for them to hold my interest. NBA Jam: Tournament Edition has one of these. It’s based entirely on the concept of pick up and play. Gameplay isn’t particularly deep. As a matter of fact it’s the opposite. NBA Jam: Tournament Edition has a simple premise with no deep nuances. It’s a simple two on two basketball game with over-the-top elements. Passing, stealing, shooting and dunking are all very easy to pull off. What’s more is that you can use cheat codes to make the action even crazier. This game is one of the few titles on the SNES that uses the multi-tap allowing for four player simultaneous action. Even for someone that hates basketball games I can fully recommend NBA Jam: Tournament Edition.

#8. – Ganbare Goemon 2

The Ganbare Goemon franchise has long been renowned for it’s multiplayer capabilities. It is after all an action adventure platformer, and being able to play with a friend is not something commonplace in any of those genres. Ganbare Goemon 2 continues the tradition. It’s a little more straightfoward in structure than the first 16-bit outing, but fun nonetheless. The big change here is that you can choose from three different characters and they all have their strengths. Level designs are seriously on-point, and the boss battles in particular are great fun to tackle with a friend. The new mecha battles are a little over the top, and I wish the multiplayer integration for them was a bit better. Regardless this is still one of the best SNES multiplayer games.

#7. – Secret of Mana

Here’s another grand RPG on this list that allows for co-op multiplayer. Secret of Mana was one of Squaresoft’s first action role playing adventures, and it’s a great one at that. In a surprising move the developers included the option to play with not one, but two other friends (the latter requiring the multi-tap of course). It’s surprising that this wasn’t advertised more. It’s kind of a hidden feature you might say. The quest begins with just one protagonist but eventually two others join. At this point the players can press the Start button on the controller and take over. I loved this, and the fact that they can jump in and leave at their leisure. The game is really solid, but as always, it’s much better to tackle the adventure with friends.

#6. – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were an institution in the 90s. There were no kids on the playground when I was in Elementary school that didn’t both know of them, and adore the franchise. They were almost as popular in video games as they were on the television. One of the first great beat ’em ups on the SNES was a port of TMNT 4 from the arcades. It was perfect, down to the last minute details, as they say. You and a friend could tackle the foot clan and eventually face off against Shredder. Basic gameplay is fast and furious. You can really feel the hits you’re dishing out against foes, and the fact that you can throw them into the screen is a great touch. You can’t do much better when it comes to SNES co-op games than this.

#5. – Super Ninja Boy

Okay this is the last RPG on the list. I promise. Super Ninja Boy is a really weird game brought to us by the fine folks at Culture Brain. Never heard of them? Yeah, they never made big waves in the West. This is a sequel in the Super Chinese series which caught on in Japan, but nowhere else. Super Ninja Boy is an action RPG that at first glance looks something like classic Dragon Quest. You wander a world map from an overhead perspective, explore towns and dungeons, and get in random encounters with enemies. These bring you to a separate battlefield but the action is all in real-time. You can punch, kick, and use special items. Defeating foes grants experience points, and you get stronger with each level gained. The fact that you can play this simultaneously with another player is truly amazing.

#4. – Faceball 2000

Faceball 2000 is a first person shooter for the Super Nintendo. Yes, you read that correctly. As rare as it was the SNES was capable of rendering games in this genre to a fair degree. Faceball 2000 is based on an old PC game called Midi maze. This game has you moving through 3D arenas shooting balls at enemies which are all shapes with faces. Your goal is to defeat all foes and open the exit to the next stage. It sounds basic, and it really is. As you can probably guess by now this one supports multiplayer with up to two different players. Split screen you can either compete against one another, or play through the main game working together in co-op mode. The framerate isn’t amazing by any means, but the game is playable. Faceball 2000 was truly ahead of its time.

#3. – Super Mario Kart

There’s no way one could make a list of the best multiplayer games for the platform without including Super Mario Kart. This game single handedly invented the kart racing genre, and influenced hundreds of titles that followed. Using the mode 7 graphic engine SMK was able to render its visuals smoothly at a time when 3D gaming was struggling. The base game is absolutely fun by yourself, but it gets much better with another player. What’s more is the fact that there are a ton of options. You can compete against just each other, with CPU opponents, and even compete in battle within closed arenas. By SNES standards it’s highly polished, and has enough content to last a lifetime. Super Mario Kart is, without a doubt, one of the best SNES multiplayer games of all time.

#2. – Zombies Ate My Neighbors

For the longest time this one was a cult hit. Only in the days of social media has it caught on with the masses. Zombies Ate My Neighbors is a horror themed action game. From an overhead perspective you guide a character (or two, again in multiplayer) through a series of suburban environments battle against undead creatures and monsters while trying to save innocent survivors. The stages are incredible in design. What’s more is that they are dynamic, and have multiple ways forward that take some real thinking to get past. There are an absolute ton of interesting weapons at your disposal. They are all over the top too. You have everything from squirt guns, to blow up clown dolls, to bazookas. If I’m going to play one 16-bit game with a friend odds are it will be Zombies Ate My Neighbors.

#1. – Legend of the Mystical Ninja

The first game in the Ganbare Goemon franchise released in North America is probably the best one. In my opinion, of course. This game mixes genres, and it’s all to it’s strength. You explore towns in a beat ’em up side view. Here you can fight enemies, buy items, stay at hotels, or even compete in mini-games. This is one of the high points actually. The sheer number of mini-games is astounding and includes things like the lottery, dice games, a snake clone, breakout, and even the first whole stage of the original Gradius! Aside from these the main quest is a ton of fun, and it’s a true joy to play through it with a friend. With some of the best boss encounters of all time, amazing level designs, and incredible mini-games Legend of the Mystical Ninja is the best co-op multiplayer SNES game of all time.