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Console encyclopedia

Nintendo · 1990

Super Nintendo / Super Famicom

SNES Emulator Online

Home consoleGeneration 4

Nintendo’s 16-bit home console combined layered 2D graphics, sample-based sound and a six-button controller.[1]

Game CapsulePlanned
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Super Nintendo / Super Famicom hardware artwork
Super Nintendo / Super Famicom · Nintendo
First launch
1990
Manufacturer
Nintendo
Category
Home console
Generation
4
Hardware sales
49.10M[6]

Worldwide Super Famicom / SNES hardware.[6]

01

The console story

Super Famicom launched in Japan in 1990; the SNES followed in North America in 1991 and Europe in 1992. Regional cases differed, while the core platform remained closely related.[1]

Mode 7 could rotate and scale a background layer. Some cartridges added their own processors, such as the Super FX hardware used by Star Fox.[1]

02

A history in milestones

  1. 1990
    Japan

    [1]

  2. 1991
    North America

    [1]

  3. 1991
    North American SNES

    Different external design.[1]

  4. 1992
    Europe

    [1]

  5. 1997
    New-Style SNES

    Smaller later revision.[1]

03

Technical profile

Processor
Ricoh 5A22 · 65C816-derived[2]
Memory
128 KB work RAM + 64 KB video RAM[2]
Display & graphics
Dual PPU · Mode 7 rotation/scaling[2]
Media
ROM cartridges[2]
Audio
SPC700 + DSP · eight voices[2]
Power
External AC adapter[1]
Input & connectivity
Two controller ports; D-pad and six gameplay buttons[2]
05

Why it mattered

Beyond the base hardware

Cartridge enhancements and a separate sound subsystem gave developers several ways to expand visual and musical expression.[1]

49.10M

Worldwide Super Famicom / SNES hardware.[6]

06

Defining games

Years refer to the earliest release of the named version. Games are historical references; GameCapsule does not distribute them.

01

Super Mario World

A 16-bit Mario adventure introducing Yoshi.[3]

02

Super Metroid

A large interconnected 2D exploration game.[4]

03

Chrono Trigger

A time-travel role-playing adventure.[5]

07

Hardware variants

Super Famicom

Japanese casing.[1]

North American SNES

Different external design.[1]

New-Style SNES

Smaller later revision.[1]

08

Accessories & ecosystem

Super Scope
Light-gun accessory.[1]
SNES Mouse
Mouse input, notably with Mario Paint.[1]
Super Game Boy
Adapter containing Game Boy hardware.[1]
09

System family

Related systems in the collection. These links do not imply technical compatibility.

Nintendo Entertainment System / Famicom hardware artwork

1983 · Related platform

Nintendo Entertainment System / Famicom

PlannedNintendo 64 hardware artwork

1996 · Related platform

Nintendo 64

Planned
10

Hardware gallery

Super Nintendo / Super Famicom hardware artwork

Super Nintendo / Super Famicom

Super Nintendo / Super Famicom

Photo: JCD1981NL; transparency: Aurora Romes; CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. CC BY 3.0

Console artwork from the Game Capsule collection. No gameplay screenshot is shown.

11

GameCapsule support

Planned

This system is represented in the catalog. Its emulator, file import and gameplay are not available today. There is no announced release date.

Expand beyond Game Boy while preserving a coherent collection. Other consoles remain catalog-only.

Bring your own compatible game files. Game Capsule does not include commercial games.

Explore the roadmap

Sources & further reading

  1. Historical overview and model chronology ↗

    Historical narrative, regional release precision, model chronology, commercial context and accessories

    Reviewed 2026-09-30
  2. Rodrigo Copetti · hardware architecture research ↗

    Processor, memory, graphics, audio and hardware interfaces

    Reviewed 2026-09-30
  3. Super Mario World · release history ↗

    Named game/version release year; descriptive context

    Reviewed 2026-09-30
  4. Super Metroid · release history ↗

    Named game/version release year; descriptive context

    Reviewed 2026-09-30
  5. Chrono Trigger · release history ↗

    Named game/version release year; descriptive context

    Reviewed 2026-09-30
  6. Nintendo investor relations · lifetime hardware sales ↗

    Worldwide consolidated lifetime hardware units; report as of June 30, 2026

    Reviewed 2026-09-30