The SNES (Super Nintendo Entertainment System) gaming console, also known as the Super Famicom was a legendary 16-bit gaming console. It was first launched in Japan on and took over as the direct successor to the original NES (Famicom) console.
The SNES gaming console went head-to-head with the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive during the console war era and delivered many memorable games that locked our childhood in many timeless moments. As of now, the SNES console is almost 35 years old and is not under active production. However, its undisputed legacy still has the power to make any 90s gamer nostalgic with deep emotions.
What made the SNES so popular?
The SNES console was a gem of the 90s era when we didn't have super fast internet, lots of gaming content and patches to download or troubleshooting gaming issues for no reason. Gaming was so simple, stress free and more enjoyable back then. Almost all SNES games were under only 2 MB of size and yet being so small, they delivered ultimate fun at gaming.
I still can't forget my favorite SNES games such as Contra 3: The Alien Wars, Super Mario World, Super Bomberman series, WWF Wrestlemania: The Arcade Game, Disney's Aladdin, Street Fighter 2: The New Challengers, Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster Busts Loose, Whirlo, Mega Man X, Disney's Lion King, X Men: Mutant Apocalypse, Swat Kats game and many more. 16-bit graphics, unforgettable SNES games music and the games themselves made SNES so popular.
Can you play SNES games today?
Nearly 22 years have already passed since Nintendo ceased the production line for SNES. So, technically you can't own this legendary console brand-new from Nintendo anymore.
However, you can still enjoy SNES classics on your Android, Windows PC, Mac and Linux. All you need is a reliable SNES emulator and a bunch of SNES ROMS that you own and paid for.
In 2017, Nintendo released SNES Classic Mini which came preloaded with 20 SNES games. It wasn't the original SNES console but a hardware emulator, that lets you play some of the most popular SNES games on a TV screen with HDMI.
It has been discontinued since December 2018 and is no longer available to purchase. So, stay engaged as throughout this article you will learn to play SNES games on every device you've got: Android, Windows, Mac and Linux.
SNES Game ROMs Disclaimer
Using SNES emulators such as Snes9x, Mesen, Higan, BSNES, or ZSNES is completely legal. The trouble begins when you download ROMs from the internet — that’s almost always copyright infringement, even for 35-year-old games offered for “free.”
Nintendo has never authorized any website to distribute their SNES games library. The only unquestionably legal way to get ROMs is to dump the games yourself from cartridges you actually own, using a hardware dumper like the Retrode 2, INLRetro, or Sanni Cart Reader.
Most sites offering “free SNES ROMs” are packed with malware, spyware, fake download buttons, and crypto miners. Tools or sites that promise to “generate” or instantly provide SNES ROMs are both illegal and highly dangerous.
If you still decide to download ROMs anyway, first check your country’s copyright laws — downloading games you don’t own is still piracy in most places. At the very least, always scan every downloaded file with up-to-date antivirus software (Avast Free antivirus is a good extra step) before opening or using it.
In short: rip your own cartridges to stay 100% legal and safe. Anything else carries real legal and security risks.
Play responsibly.
SNES Emulator Setup Guide: How to Play SNES Games on Android, Windows, Mac & Linux
In this two part series you will learn to play SNES games on Android, Windows, Mac and Linux. The SNES emulator setup guide for Android comes first followed by a dedicated tutorial for playing SNES games on Windows 11 and Windows. If you wish to try these tutorials on Mac, Linux and iOS then you can give it a go because I'm using a cross-platform SNES emulator (Mesen).
How to Play SNES Games on Android With SNES9X EX+ SNES Emulator
SNES9x is a solid SNES emulator for Android. The reason I'm using SNES9x is that it is free, open source, supports .sfc, .smc and .zip SNES ROMs, even works on low-end Android smartphones and supports Bluetooth and USB gamepads. So, let's start this tutorial and learn how to use Snes9x on Android.
- Make a new folder on your Android phone's internal storage and name it 'SNES.'
- Move or copy SNES ROM files (.sfc, .smc or .zip) to this folder.
- From Google Play Store Download SNES9x Android and install it.
- Once installation is finished, open the SNES9x EX+ emulator and tap 'Open Content.'
- Now tap 'Select File Location' and then tap 'Browse For Folder.'
- Now locate the 'SNES' folder on your phone's internal storage and tap 'USE THIS FOLDER.' The emulator will ask for file storage access permission, tap 'ALLOW' to proceed.
- You will now be able to see all the games from the SNES folder in the SNES9x EX+ emulator. This is how to load games on Snes9X.
- Tap any game to start playing it. By default, the games run in portrait mode. However, you can rotate your phone to enjoy SNES games in landscape mode on your Android phone.
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| WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Game |
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| X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse |
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| Disney's Lion King |
How to Save/Load SNES Games States On SNES9x EX+
Saving your game states in SNES9x EX+ is quite easy. You can save your game states anytime and load them later to resume gaming from where you left. You can follow the steps below to save/load game states in SNES9x EX+
Note: By default, the auto save feature is enabled in SNES9x EX+. So, whenever you close a game at any point the emulator will save its state automatically. The next time you open the game, the last auto saved state will be loaded.
- While the game is still running, tap the three vertical dots in the top right corner and then tap 'Manual Save States.'
- Tap the desired save state slot (0-9) and then tap 'Save State' to save your game state.
- To load this saved state anytime, again tap the three vertical dots in the top right corner and then tap 'Manual Save States.'
- Select the desired save state slot then finally, tap 'Load State' to load the game state. A popup will open for confirmation, tap 'Yes' to proceed.
How to use cheats in SNES9x EX+
Cheats in games are used to unlock hidden game content such as unlimited player lives, unlock stages, making the player invincible etc. The good news is that you can use game genie/action replay/gold finger cheat codes in SNES9x EX+. Follow the steps given below to apply cheats.
- Get game genie/action replay/gold finger cheat codes of your favorite SNES games online.
- While the game is running, tap the three vertical dots in the top right corner and then tap 'Cheats.'
- Now tap 'Add/Edit' and then tap 'Add Game Genie/Action Replay/Gold Finger' and then enter the cheat code and tap 'Done' on your Android phone's keyboard.
- Now add the cheat's name in 'Input description' and again tap 'Done' on your phone's keyboard.
- Tap the back button and you will see 'Off' just next to the cheat. Tap the cheat's name to switch it 'On.'
- You can add multiple cheats this way but only one at a time. But make sure to tap them 'On' else they won't work.
- You can simply return to your game to see the cheat is working.
So, this is how you play SNES games on your Android. If you face any issue while configuring the emulator then feel free to post a comment and we will provide you the resolution.
How to play SNES games on Windows, Mac and Linux with Mesen SNES emulator
Playing classic SNES games on modern computers is easier than ever thanks to the Mesen SNES emulator. Whether you're on Windows, macOS, or Linux, you can enjoy smooth performance, accurate gameplay, and a hassle-free setup. With just a few quick steps, you’ll be ready to dive back into your favorite retro adventures.
Mesen is a multi-platform and multi-system emulator that can also let you play NES, GBA, GBC, PC/Engine, WonderSwan games. So, let's see how to play SNES games on Windows 10/11 with Mesen.
- Download and install Mesen emulator on your PC - Download Mesen Emulator.
- Mesen is a multi-platform emulator, so, you will find the download links for Mac, Linux and Windows on the same page.
- After downloading Mesen, double click to open it.
- On opening Mesen for the first time, a configuration window will open. Select 'Store the data in the same folder as the application' and then tap 'CONFIRM.'
- Now click 'File' and then click 'Open' and load your favorite SNES game ROM to start playing.
- Once the game starts running in Mesen, click 'Settings' and select 'Input.'
- In the right of the emulator window click the 'SNES' button.
- In 'Port 1' make sure 'SNES Controller' is selected. Click the 'Setup' button just next to it.
- A controller configuration window will open. Here you can assign desired keyboard buttons to play SNES games.
- Click any button in the emulator and then press the desired button on your keyboard. Use arrow keys for 'up', 'down', 'left' and 'right.' Use A, S, X, Z (keyboard) for Y, X, A, B (SNES controller) respectively. Use Q for L and W for R and C for 'Select' and V for 'Start.'
- Now click 'Key Set #2' and then click the 'Clear Key Bindings.' Finally, click 'OK' twice to close the controller configuration window. You now have setup your keyboard for playing.
- In 'Settings' click 'Video' option and on the right in 'Aspect Ratio' select 'Widescreen (16:9)' and then click 'OK'
- To save a game state in Mesen anytime press Shift + F1 and to load the same state simply press F1.
- We have now configured Mesen properly to run SNES games.
Note: If two players wish to play together then you can use the same keyboard or connect a another keyboard and configure the 'Port 2' in 'Settings > Input.' This way two players can enjoy SNES games on Mesen emulator which support co-op play such as Contra 3: The Alien Wars, WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Game, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles etc.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions on SNES Emulator for Android and PC
Q1. Is Snes9x the best SNES emulator?
Snes9x was the first emulator to run SNES games in 1998. It is almost 27 years old now with a great compatibility for SNES games library. The emulator is known to run even on low-end devices without performance bottlenecks. The emulator is also very easy to use and configure. Within a few clicks or taps it can be configured by the user. So, when it comes to performance, reliability and game compatibility then definitely Snes9x is the best SNES emulator for Android and PC.
Q2. Has anyone gone to jail for ROMs?
Yes, individuals have been jailed for distributing ROMs, such as a Japanese man arrested in 2009 for selling NES ROMs, and a 2025 Italian YouTuber facing prison for promoting preloaded ROMs on handhelds. Downloaders rarely face jail. Nintendo has historically focused on distributors rather than individual downloaders, though downloading ROMs you don’t own is still illegal in most regions.
Q3. What does Nintendo say about ROMs?
Nintendo declares ROMs to be illegal pirate copies. They state that uploading or downloading them is piracy, even if you own the original game. Unauthorized emulators encourage this, harm developers, and some break security laws. However, Nintendo is not known to go after individual downloaders who are simply trying to relive childhood nostalgia. It is still technically piracy, but it is generally ignored in practice.
Q4. What is the most popular game on the SNES?
Super Mario World is the most popular SNES game of all time, selling 20.61 million copies worldwide—far more than any other title like Super Mario All-Stars (10.55 million copies). Its flawless platforming and secrets keep it beloved still today.
Conclusion
The SNES was pure magic: tiny cartridges, massive memories. Today, a quick emulator install on your phone or PC brings it all back. Grab Snes9x or Mesen, load the games you loved (best if you dumped them yourself), and suddenly you’re ten years old again. No patches, no updates, just instant 90s joy. Fire it up, hit Start, and keep that childhood feeling alive.
🙏💛 If this brought back even a single childhood memory — that warm spark from the 90s — I humbly request you to please share this with someone who might feel the same nostalgia. Your small gesture can help another person relive those golden, innocent days 🎮✨ Thank you from the heart for supporting this little piece of hard-worked content ❤️😊
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