Accessory guide · NexWave Games
Which games support the SNES Multitap?
A Super Nintendo has two controller ports. To play simultaneously with more people, supported games need a multiplayer adapter, often called a Multitap. The adapter does not turn every two-player game into a group game, though. The software must recognise and use additional controllers. Start with the game you want to enjoy with friends, then choose the matching adapter and controllers.
Bomberman and Secret of Mana as starting points
The Super Bomberman series is a familiar starting point for SNES multiplayer. Super Bomberman, Super Bomberman 2 and Super Bomberman 3 support a Multitap for multiplayer battles. You share an arena, place bombs and try to stay out of explosions. Maximum player counts and available modes differ between instalments. Check the exact game rather than borrowing the numbers from another Bomberman title.
Secret of Mana shows that a Multitap is useful beyond party games. A multiplayer adapter allows up to three people to share the adventure simultaneously. Without the adapter, the maximum is two. You must also have found enough party members in the story before everyone can control a character. A third controller not providing another playable character at the beginning of a new save is therefore not necessarily a fault.
The game decides how many ports you use
The number of ports on an adapter is not a promise about the player count in every game. A game may support fewer participants than the hardware has connections. A multiplayer label also does not always mean simultaneous play; players may take turns. Read the game manual for the correct number, supported mode and where to connect the adapter. Some adapters also have a switch that must be set correctly.
When using online lists, check the system and edition. A modern collection of old games may have different controller options from the original SNES cartridge. The SNES Classic Mini is not a regular Super Nintendo with identical ports either. An NES or PlayStation adapter is not an SNES Multitap. Identify your adapter model and use information for the original game when playing on original hardware.
Putting together a useful set
Turn off the console before changing connections and follow the adapter manual. Start with controllers known to work individually. Connect the adapter and the required controllers, then start a supported multiplayer mode. Check movement and buttons for every player. This separates a wrong menu or connection from a faulty controller. Repeatedly swapping cables without a consistent test makes that distinction harder.
If buying a used set, ask for a photograph of the adapter label and plugs, plus a demonstration with a named game. Confirm which controllers are actually included. Bomberman is a natural choice for short competitive rounds; Secret of Mana offers a different experience for sharing a longer adventure. In either case, a deliberate combination works better than buying an adapter and hoping the entire games shelf suddenly supports extra players.