The short answer: the SNES Mini has not been manufactured since the end of 2018. To legally replay Super Nintendo and Mega Drive games in 2026, there are three routes: the Nintendo Switch Online subscription on a Switch, your own cartridges copied to a retro handheld console, or an official console from another publisher if it's arcade or Atari games you miss. The “SNES Mini 600 games” consoles sold online are not an alternative: they are not Nintendo products.
Article updated on 11 September 2026.
Where Nintendo's and SEGA's mini consoles stand
| Console | European release | Built-in games | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Classic Mini: Super Nintendo | 29 September 2017 | 21 | Production ended in December 2018 |
| SEGA Mega Drive Mini | 4 October 2019 | 42 | Availability as new varies |
| SEGA Mega Drive Mini 2 | 27 October 2022 | 60 (Mega Drive and Mega-CD) | Availability as new varies |
Sources: the Wikipedia pages of all three consoles. In 2021, Nintendo said it was continuing to “examine the possibility” of new products of this kind, with no announcement since. We don't sell these consoles: the data above is here to help you understand why people are looking for them.
Alternative 1: the Nintendo Switch Online subscription
It's the only official way to replay vintage Nintendo games on a device sold today. You need a Nintendo Switch or Switch 2 and a subscription:
- Basic subscription: NES, Super NES and Game Boy / Game Boy Color libraries.
- Subscription with Expansion Pack: adds Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, GameCube, Virtual Boy and a collection of SEGA Mega Drive games.
The limits: it's a subscription, the games stay available only as long as it's active, and the catalogue is chosen by Nintendo. It only works on Switch: not on a retro handheld console.
The controller to go with it
Replaying Super Nintendo games with Joy-Con is possible but uncomfortable. The 8BitDo SN30 Pro copies the layout of the Super Nintendo controller and connects to the Switch via Bluetooth. For Mega Drive games, the Retro-Bit BIG6, licensed by SEGA, works on Switch thanks to its USB receiver. And for the Nintendo 64 library, the 8BitDo 64 recreates the original controller.
Alternative 2: your own cartridges
Have you kept your Super Nintendo or Mega Drive cartridges? A cartridge reader connected via USB copies the game and your save to a computer, then you transfer it to a retro handheld console. Copying your own cartridge yourself for private use is a regulated case and should be done with care; downloading the same game from the internet remains prohibited, even if you own the cartridge. The legal framework is explained on our where to play legally page.
- The method: copying your Super Nintendo cartridges, step by step and copying your Nintendo 64 and Mega Drive cartridges.
- The hardware: which cartridge reader to choose.
- The console: all our retro handheld consoles run Super Nintendo and Mega Drive games; see our Super Nintendo and Mega Drive selections.
This is the route that gives you back your entire game library, with no subscription. It's also the most technical: allow an evening to get to grips with it.
Alternative 3: an official console from another publisher
Let's be clear: apart from the Switch, no console on sale today contains licensed Nintendo games. But if what you miss is the idea of a small console you just plug in and switch on, with licensed vintage games, several publishers offer one:
| Console | Games | Who it's for |
|---|---|---|
| Evercade VS-R | Official cartridges, up to 4 players via HDMI | Those who want a game library that keeps growing |
| Neo Geo Mini / MVS Mini | 40 or 45 built-in SNK games | Fans of arcade and fighting games |
| Astro City Mini V | 22 arcade games from SEGA and partner publishers, mostly shoot 'em ups | Fans of vertical arcade games |
| Atari 2600+ | Atari 2600 and 7800 cartridges | Those who have Atari cartridges |
They are all gathered in our licensed home consoles and mini arcade cabinets sections.
Already have a Mega Drive Mini?
It plays very well with a wireless controller. The Retro-Bit BIG6 and the Retro-Bit Saturn-style Pro, both licensed by SEGA, are stated to be compatible with the Mega Drive Mini thanks to their USB receiver.
Which solution for which need
| You want… | The solution |
|---|---|
| Vintage Nintendo games, without tinkering | Switch + Nintendo Switch Online |
| Mega Drive games, without tinkering | Switch + Expansion Pack, or a Mega Drive Mini if you can find one |
| To replay YOUR games, with no subscription | Cartridge reader + retro handheld console |
| A small licensed console to plug into your TV | Evercade VS-R (cartridges), Neo Geo Mini (built-in games), Atari 2600+ (original cartridges) |
Frequently asked questions
Is the SNES Mini still sold?
Nintendo stopped production in December 2018. You can still find it second-hand. Be wary of listings for new units at rock-bottom prices or advertising hundreds of games: these are not Nintendo consoles.
Are “SNES Mini 600 games” consoles legal?
No. They are not Nintendo products, and the games they contain are copied without a licence. Buying or selling a console supplied with hundreds of commercial games is prohibited.
Can you play Mega Drive games on Switch?
Yes, with the Nintendo Switch Online subscription and its Expansion Pack, which includes a collection of SEGA Mega Drive games.
Do my Super Nintendo cartridges work on a handheld console?
Not directly: a handheld console has no Super Nintendo cartridge slot. You first need to copy the cartridge with a USB reader, then transfer the file to the console's microSD card.
Can a retro handheld console replace a SNES Mini?
In terms of gaming comfort, yes: they all run Super Nintendo games. But they are supplied without games: it's up to you to add your own copies, homebrew games or legally purchased games.
Conclusion
The SNES Mini probably won't be back on the shelves, but the games themselves remain accessible. For Nintendo classics, the Switch and its subscription are the official route. For your own collection, a cartridge reader and a handheld console. And for a small console you just plug in with nothing to install, our official retro gaming selection brings together the licensed machines.