While Tetris on the Game Boy showed that players were hungry for these types of games, it’s the Super Nintendo that showed this hunger wasn’t limited to on-the-go gaming. Especially as multiplayer on the glorious handheld was just wonky, but the SNES brought multiplayer to a whole new level. And I should clarify that SNES puzzle games didn’t just stop at copying the Tetris formula. A lot of them went the extra mile to provide innovative experiences that truly moved the genre forward. Some have stood the test of time, providing sheer brain-teasing fun to this day.
15. Zoop
Released: September 15, 1995 Zoop the zoops to get them zooped. What a tongue twister! Zoop is definitely among the most unique Super Nintendo puzzle games ever, cleverly combining visuals with gameplay to create a pleasing yet challenging experience. In the game you control a triangle placed at the center of the screen(easy right?) You have to prevent lines of differently-colored objects from getting into a central area, only by shooting pieces of the same color, “zooping them” in the process. Trust me, when you play it you pick it up fast. The experience starts simple, but once you’ve racked up enough points, the game will speed up making it difficult to make out the colors. This creates a wild, unpredictable kaleidoscope where you might be the one to end up getting zooped!
14. Yoshi’s Cookie
Released: April 1, 1993 Have you ever wondered how a Rubik’s Cube made of cookies would taste? Delicious, I’m sure. Well Yoshi’s Cookie kinda answers that question. It’s an incredibly simple puzzle game that sees players clear lines of cookies by moving entire rows up and down, or left and right. Match the cookies, get a prize! Like a Rubik’s Cube, the cookies wrap around. So you’ll have to be careful moving things because it might mess up your entire strategy. Yoshi’s Cookie is definitely on the simple side, as it doesn’t feature any complicated mechanics. This was designed for younger kids in the early 90s, after all. But it can still offer straightforward fun even for adults that might need to decompress after a long day. Now, if only we could eat those cookies…
13. Kirby’s Avalanche
Released: April 25, 1995 Kirby is a master copycat. In Kirby’s Avalanche, he brought things to the next level by copying an entire game! To be completely honest, there is nothing that Kirby’s Avalanche does differently from its main inspiration. Like in the classic Puyo Puyo, you have to clear the screen of the gumdrops falling down by matching three or more of the same color. If you match ‘em up you can unleash chains by matching multiple drops in a row, basically forcing your opponent(AI or person) to eventually cap out and lose. While the experience is way too familiar(keeping true to Kirby’s unique copycat ability), it is very solid and addictive. I actually like it more than a generic Tetris game, mostly for the Kirby aesthetics. Not to mention the inclusion of a few remixes from the classic Kirby soundtrack. Another game that really works great for all ages, and can help you kinda “turn your brain off” and just have some mindless fun for a while.
12. WildSnake
Released: September 1994 (unknown date) As this game proves, it’s a dog eat dog world. Or in this case a snake eat snake world. WildSnake twists the Tetris experience in a very interesting way. And I mean it literally, as you’ll be dealing with falling snakes in place of the usual blocks. These snakes come in different colors and shapes, and they’ll fight your controller as much as they can while you try to make them eat similarly-colored snakes, or avoid filling the pits with them. These pits come in different shapes and with different obstacles too, so you’re really doing a lot here! If this is enough to already make your skin crawl, you definitely do not want to take on King Cobra mode: a sudden-death mode where you have to clear a set of premade challenges. But you know what they say: go big or go home. A home free of snakes, ideally.
11. Krusty’s Super Fun House
Released: June 1, 1992 The onslaught of The Simpsons licensed titles in the early 90s was filled with mediocre titles. Krusty’s Super Fun House is definitely not one of them. Krusty’s Super Fun House is a unique take on the Lemmings formula, combined with light platforming to make for something rather unusual. Controlling Krusty the Clown, you’will have to guide groups of rats towards an extermination machine by removing all obstacles, defeating enemies, and placing blocks correctly along the path. The gameplay can turn a little frustrating due to the weird progression system that forces you to discover & complete secret rooms to clear a stage… who wants to go searching for secret hidden rooms? Bonus rooms, people. But Krusty’s Super Fun House is a weirdly fun experience that is best suited for the most sadistic puzzle game fans. It’s something you have to try to really appreciate for yourself. And just remember: you’re not leading these rats to safety, Krusty wouldn’t want that.
10. Pieces
Released: December 1994 (unknown date) If you think putting together a digital jigsaw puzzle must be the most boring activity ever… Pieces will make you see things differently. Pieces is as straightforward as a puzzle game can get. You’re tasked with completing jigsaw puzzles by placing pieces correctly before your opponent does. While single-player mode is nothing to write home about(it’s just really easy), the multiplayer modes are where the game truly shines. This is thanks to a selection of powerups that can make life easier for you, and much harder for your brother/sister/mom/dad/neighbor kid. Don’t you just hate when your carefully-placed pieces get swiped away by a random broom? Welcome to Pieces.
9. Pac-Attack
Released: October 1993 (unknown date) Pac-Man is done with dark mazes and repetitive music. He’s now a master of Tetris! Pac-Attack adapts the classic Tetris formula by taking advantage of Pac-Man’s insatiable appetite for ghosts. Like in the classic puzzle game, here you’ll have to place blocks on the screen and create rows so they can be cleared. But here’s the twist: blocks may also contain ghosts that’ll prevent the row from being completed. But Pac-Man is here to save the day, as he’ll sometimes appear as part of a block and eat anything in his path. This really adds another level to the gameplay. Whether you enjoy that extra level is up for debate. Pac-Man’s appetite in Pac-Attack cannot be satiated, even with the multiple play modes in the game. So there’s only one way to go: let him get his fill, over, and over, and over again.
8. Mario’s Super Picross
Released: September 14, 1995 Like all those weird people you knew growing up, games can be misunderstood. As is the case with Picross. But Mario made it so that this game on the SNES could get its well-deserved dues. Mario’s Super Picross improves on the experience of the original Picross and its direct sequel in every possible way. The game is still all about chiseling squares inside grids to form pictures, with numbers placed on the side providing hints. But if you think that hints make everything too easy, try your hand at the Wario Mode puzzles. These provide no hint whatsoever. Good luck buddy. And don’t cheat by searching online: Wario is not going to have any of that!
7. Tetris & Dr. Mario
Released: December 1994 (unknown date) What happens when you combine two of the best puzzle games ever? You get double the fun for the price of one. Tetris & Dr. Mario features both Tetris and Dr. Mario in their most classic incarnations. So you’ll be clearing lines using Tetrimonoes and Viruses using pills like there’s no tomorrow. The two games, which are both very simple to understand but way harder to master, remain separate until you hop into Versus Mode. Here two players go together while transitioning from one game to another. You may not need a medical degree to play Dr. Mario, but a certain level of mastery will be needed if you want to be the last one standing.
6. Troddlers
Released: October 1993 If you see a “DO NOT TOUCH” warning on an ancient book, you know what you’re supposed to do. Open it up and let the Troddlers out! Troddlers is a game that very few Super Nintendo owners have heard of. And it’s a shame, as it twists the Lemmings experience in a lot of new ways… like adding light platforming elements and three different mission objectives, which are often combined in later stages to provide the ultimate challenge. Like in Lemmings, here you’ll have to create a path towards the goal. And the variety of different blocks that can be conjured out of thin air allow for a level of creativity that’s not found in the classic game. Now this feels like pure magic. And necromancy as well, judging from the Zombie Troddlers.
5. Tetris 2
Released: August 1994 (unknown date) Tetris strikes back. Or maybe not, as Tetris 2 plays nothing like the original we all know and love. And that’s what makes it shine so bright. Not resting on the laurels of the amazing success of the original, Tetris 2 revolutionizes the formula of the Game Boy game in a very clever way on the SNES. While still having to clear the screen of Tetriminoes, you’ll now have to match the colors of blocks pre-placed on the screen. Making Tetris 2 a puzzle game within a puzzle game. Level design is amazing here, easing you into the experience in the very first few stages only to challenge your mind with later ones. And the fun does not end once you’ve completed the 100 stages, thanks to the Versus mode that allows you to challenge either the AI or another human player. With such an engaging experience, it’s a real mystery how Tetris 2 hasn’t become as popular as its predecessor.
4. Bust-A-Move
Released: March 1, 1995 No matter what you call it, Bust-A-Move is a timeless classic. Also known as Puzzle Bobble, Bust-A-Move on the Super Nintendo comes with the great advantage of not requiring quarters to play. Not something to make light of, considering how addictive the game is. The experience basically consists of shooting differently colored bubbles towards the upper part of the screen to match three or more of the same color to pop them, and then move to the next stage. The inclusion of a Versus mode makes the experience even better than in the arcade version. And a few additional stages give you all the excuses to stay home to play this for hours on end. This alone is a good enough reason to dust off that old SNES.
3. Lemmings 2: The Tribes
Released: November 1, 1994 There are as many Lemmings as stars in the night sky. Thankfully, the stars don’t die as often. Lemmings 2: The Tribes is the sequel that all games should strive to be. While the basics of the experience have been left mostly untouched, Lemmings 2 ups the ante with improved level design & a huge number of new wacky skills. Such as the Attractor skill, which makes any selected Lemming pull out a musical instrument and start an explosive impromptu performance that results in some of the weirdest dance moves ever seen. The ranking system is another great includion that adds even more depth to the experience, forcing you to come up with the most effective way to save these poor creatures. If you liked the original Lemmings on SNES, but never got the chance to try the sequel, I have to highly recommend it.
2. The Lost Vikings
Released: April 29, 1993 Erik, Baleog, and Olaf surely must have gone to Valhalla. I mean, how many vikings have managed to survive an alien abduction? The Lost Vikings masterfully combines puzzle game elements with light platforming mechanics to offer a very unique experience. Controlling the three lost vikings, you have to explore a variety of locations filled with traps and enemies, using the unique ability of each viking to make it out of the game’s 32 stages alive. Abilities like as Erik’s jump, Baleog’s sword/bow, and Olaf’s shield. Each with their own unique talents at helping you solve puzzles along the way. While the experience relies a little to much on trial and error, the excellent level and puzzle design will always keep you on your toes, forcing you to make split-second decisions that’ll be the difference between success and game over.
1. Tetris Attack
Released: August 4, 1996 Contrary to what you might believe, Tetris Attack has got nothing to do with Tetris. Oh, the joys of marketing. Having been released at the end of the Super Nintendo’s era, this game fully adopted the Yoshi’s Island design to attract players both young and old. The cute sprites, however, are very deceiving. As this isn’t just a kid’s game, but an addictive puzzle game for all ages. To clear stages you align groups of three or more blocks & maybe complete some chains…until you realize the chain ended way too soon. In this title you’ll find a whole plethora of play modes ranging from a challenging Endless mode to a great Versus mode that comes with an odd story(surprise, surprise). You may end up so hooked on Tetris Attack that classic Tetris will feel like a thing of the past. Even more than it actually is!
