Super Nintendo Entertainment System
A 16-bit console released in Japan on November 21, 1990 and in North America on August 23, 1991.
Nintendo released the system as the Super Famicom in Japan on November 21, 1990, and as the Super NES in North America on August 23, 1991. It reached international markets throughout 1992.
Masayuki Uemura, a Nintendo engineer, designed the 16-bit machine in response to the Genesis and NEC's TurboGrafx-16. Its Mode 7 feature simulated 3D perspective, and it had eight-channel audio.
Why it matters
The Super NES was Nintendo's second programmable home console, after the NES. It mainly competed with the Sega Genesis in the console war, a fierce fight for market share in the United States and Europe.
Key facts
- Released in Japan on November 21, 1990.
- Released in North America on August 23, 1991.
- Designed by Masayuki Uemura.
- Mode 7 simulated 3D perspective.
- Competed with the Sega Genesis.
Sources
- Wikipedia, "Super Nintendo Entertainment System", en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Nintendo_Entertainment_System, accessed October 14, 2026.
- Wikipedia, "Nintendo", en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo, background reading, accessed October 14, 2026.