is a labor of love for arcade historians. It’s expensive per title, stubbornly accurate, and indifferent to modern QoL features. It belongs on the “top” of the eShop only for players who remember feeding quarters into a dimly lit cabinet.
| Feature | Arcade Archives | NSO NES App | |---------|----------------|----------------| | | Yes (one slot + high score save) | Yes (four suspend points per game) | | Rewind | No | Yes (NES app has rewind) | | Screen filters / aspect | Multiple (scanlines, cabinet, CRT) | Basic pixel perfect / CRT filter | | Control remapping | Full | Limited (system‑level only) | | Dip switch settings | Yes (lives, difficulty, coin settings) | No (fixed to home defaults) | | Online leaderboards | Yes (per game, per region) | No | | High score save | Yes (with initials) | No (only save states) |
When it comes to value, Arcade Archives offers an incredible amount of content for a relatively low price. The service offers a free trial, and then it's just $0.99 per game or $9.99 for a 10-game bundle. Super Mario Bros on NSPeshop Top, on the other hand, costs $4.99.
Arcade Archives: Vs. Super Mario Bros. Review for Nintendo Switch
If you want to relive the arcade, buy Arcade Archives. If you want to replay a classic, subscribe to NSO and play Super Mario Bros. with rewind. On the Switch eShop top charts, accessibility always beats archaeology.
The Arcade Archives edition, published by HAMSTER Corporation , is more than just a port; it is a celebration of the version players found in 1980s arcades.