How Many Super Famicom Games Are There? Unveiling the Japanese Library
The Super Famicom, known as the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in the West, boasts an impressive library of titles. The answer to the question, “How many Super Famicom games are there?” is quite substantial, though, and may surprise some. Officially, there were 1,448 Super Famicom games released in Japan. This number highlights a key difference between the Japanese and Western gaming markets during the 16-bit era, with Japan enjoying a vastly larger library of titles. This number also excludes 231 games released on the Satellaview and 13 on the Sufami Turbo. So in total, there were 1692 unique Super Famicom releases in total, or 1,448 games on physical cartridges.
This abundance of games isn’t just about quantity; it reflects the unique culture, tastes, and development focus of the Japanese gaming industry. Many of these games remain exclusive to Japan and are sought after by collectors and retro gamers worldwide.
Understanding the Super Famicom’s Library
The sheer size of the Super Famicom library is due to several factors. Firstly, Japanese developers produced a huge volume of titles, capitalizing on the immense popularity of the console in its home market. Secondly, many games were designed specifically for the Japanese audience, addressing cultural preferences and gaming styles not necessarily mirrored in the West. Finally, the Super Famicom continued to receive new releases for years longer than the SNES in the West.
The Regional Divide
It’s crucial to understand the regional differences when discussing the Super Famicom. While the hardware is largely the same (with minor aesthetic differences), the game libraries vary considerably between Japan, North America, and Europe. This is not just a matter of language translation; many games were designed and released exclusively in one region. For example, the North American SNES saw 717 releases (plus 4 championship cartridges), and Europe got 521 games, which is far smaller than the 1,448 unique games available in Japan.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Super Famicom
To further clarify and enhance your understanding of the Super Famicom’s game library and related topics, here are 15 Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Is the Super Famicom the same as the SNES?
Yes, the Super Famicom is the Japanese name for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). It’s the same console, but with a different design, color scheme, and, most importantly, a different game library. The Super Famicom Classic mini console also has a different design than the US SNES Classic, most notably with its colorful face buttons.
2. How many SNES games were released in North America?
There were 717 official SNES games released in North America, in addition to 4 championship cartridges. This is significantly less than the number of games available for the Super Famicom in Japan.
3. How many SNES games were released in Europe?
There were 521 official SNES games released in Europe. Again, this is a considerably smaller number compared to the Japanese library. Some games were only released in either the US, or Europe, and some were released in both.
4. How many games are included with the SNES Classic?
The SNES Classic Edition comes with 21 games pre-installed. 16 of these are common between all regions, while the five remaining ones are exclusive to either Japan’s Super Famicom Mini or the Western SNES Mini.
5. How many SNES PAL games are there?
The estimated number of PAL SNES games is around 725. This can vary depending on the inclusion of unlicensed titles and specific region-specific releases.
6. What is the largest SNES game?
The largest SNES games, in terms of ROM size, are Tales of Phantasia and Star Ocean, both containing 48 Megabits of ROM data. The smallest games typically contained 2 Megabits.
7. How big is the entire SNES library?
The entire SNES library, across all regions, consists of around 1,750 official releases. This includes the 717 in North America, 522 in Europe, 1,448 in Japan, 231 on Satellaview, and 13 on SuFami Turbo. The regional differences are significant however.
8. Can Super Famicom games play on an SNES?
Yes, with the use of an adapter. The My Arcade Super Cartridge Converter allows you to play Super Famicom games on an original SNES system. This adapter allows you to leave it plugged into the system while you play both Super Famicom and SNES games.
9. Why is the Famicom called Famicom in Japan, instead of NES?
The codename for the console was “GameCom,” but the name “Famicom,” short for “Family Computer,” was suggested by Masayuki Uemura’s wife to better appeal to the Japanese market. Nintendo also wanted to distance themselves from the 1983 video game crash in the US market, so they rebranded it as the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES).
10. Why was the Famicom changed to NES?
Nintendo rebranded the Famicom as the NES in North America to avoid the generally poor reputation that game consoles had following the video game crash of 1983. It was also to make their product seem different than their competitors’ products.
11. Are Famicom and NES controllers interchangeable?
While the Famicom controllers are fixed and cannot be unplugged, the NES controllers are designed to be removable. Because of this difference, they are not directly interchangeable, although you can use the second port to plug in a third controller on the Famicom.
12. Is the Super Famicom AC or DC powered?
The Super Famicom is powered by a DC output voltage, which is different from the AC output used by the NES. Both the Super Famicom and SNES systems are purely DC output.
13. What was the last official SNES game?
The last official game on physical cartridge was Fire Emblem: Thracia 776, released in Japan on January 21, 2000. The last Nintendo-published game was Metal Slader Glory: Director’s Cut via the Nintendo Power downloadable cartridge system, released on November 29, 2000.
14. What is the largest SNES ROM?
The largest SNES ROMs are Tales of Phantasia and Star Ocean, both containing 48 Megabits of ROM data. Many smaller games only contained 2 Megabits.
15. How much RAM did the SNES have?
The SNES contains 128 KB of general-purpose RAM, alongside 64 KB VRAM for video, and 64 KB ARAM for the audio subsystems.
Conclusion
The Super Famicom’s rich and diverse library of 1,448 games is a testament to its popularity in Japan and the creativity of the Japanese game development industry. Understanding the regional differences and the vastness of the Super Famicom catalog is essential for any retro gaming enthusiast. While many fantastic titles were released worldwide, the Japanese library offers a wealth of exclusive gaming experiences waiting to be explored.