SNES titles that Nintendo should add to its Nintendo Switch Online service

SimCity

Original North American Release Date: August 23rd, 1991
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Maxis/Nintendo EAD

Maxis originally launched SimCity in 1989 for the home computer gaming market. The game’s success and overall mass appeal made Nintendo take notice.

Nintendo took advantage of the opportunity to port SimCity as a possible launch title for the SNES, which led to Nintendo’s decision to have its primary in-house development team, Nintendo EAD, develop and code the game directly. It was an unusual practice that still isn’t seen much in the gaming industry to this day.

In addition to sprucing up the visuals, music, and gameplay, Nintendo also included a lot of additional content containing that familiar Nintendo “charm.” For example, one aspect features unique properties, including casinos or amusement parks that can be obtained when certain gameplay conditions are met. Another Nintendo addition was the cartoonish characterization of SimCity creator Will Wright, referred to as Dr. Wright, who acts a virtual guide for players.

Nintendo’s many little touches featured the use of Nintendo’s main mascot himself. For example, players can earn a coveted Mario statue once they attain a population of 500,000 residents, a task that can take a long time to complete. SimCity’s notable soundtrack was composed by Soyo Oka, the composer for other SNES games like Pilotwings, Mario Kart, and Super Mario All-Stars. The SNES version of SimCity deserves attention today not just because it isn’t a simple port, but rather it’s the best version of the original game ever made. It stood out in a sea of SNES titles many years later, which is an incredible feat for a launch title.