The Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) launched in the United States in 1991 with a suggested retail price of $199.95. That price was for a bundle, not just the console: contemporary coverage said it included two controllers, a Super Mario game and a $50 coupon for another game.
What the $199.95 SNES package included
The Los Angeles Times reported the $199.95 suggested retail price on September 11, 1991. TIME’s prelaunch account of the package described the basic system, two controllers, a Super Mario game and a $50 coupon for another game.
The coupon was not cash; the available account does not establish its redemption terms. The $199.95 figure is a U.S. suggested retail price, not a record of what every store charged or a price that applies worldwide.
How much SNES games cost
Games were an additional cost to consider beyond the bundle. The September 11 Los Angeles Times report listed a game at $49.95. A September 20 report put game prices in a broader range of $50 to $60. Those contemporary figures describe reported U.S. prices, not a single universal price for every game or retailer.
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![Nintendo Super Entertainment System SNES Classic Edition with Two 6-ft. Extension Cable [video game]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/517MdbK-cqL._SL160_.jpg)
- Comes with 21 games pre-installed.
- Mini, classic edition. Will not play original SNES cartridges. Games come pre-installed on console.
How the price changed after launch
The $199.95 figure was not permanent. The Los Angeles Times reported two later suggested-price cuts: to $179.95 in January 1992 and then to $149.95 in May 1992. Those are later prices and should not be confused with the 1991 launch-era price.
Putting the 1991 price in today’s dollars
An inflation adjustment can help compare purchasing power, but it does not tell you what an equivalent console costs today. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics explains that its inflation calculator uses the CPI-U for all items in U.S. cities, comparing the average index for a completed calendar year with the latest monthly index for the current year. Without specifying the comparison period and calculating from the relevant CPI figures, a precise current-dollar equivalent should not be inferred from the launch price alone.
Comparing the SNES launch price with another console
For a meaningful comparison, use U.S. launch suggested retail prices and account for what each package included. The SNES’s $199.95 price included a game and a coupon as well as two controllers; comparing it directly with a bare-console price would obscure that difference. Suggested retail prices also do not necessarily match what shoppers paid at individual stores.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.A later way to revisit SNES games
The Super NES Classic Edition is a later, small replica rather than the 1991 console. TIME described it as including 21 built-in games and two controllers. That product is distinct from the original SNES launch bundle and does not change its historical price.
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Quick Recap
Best Value
- Includes everything needed to play
Rank #4
- 16-bit Core Video Game Console
- Stereo sound
- For up to 2 players
Rank #3
- Includes 1 controller and required cables.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
