When it was announced that Super Play – a magazine dedicated to Nintendo’s 16-bit SNES console, games, and culture – would see a one-off special release, seasoned Nintendo players rejoiced. Many of the new generation of players turned to the internet for more information about this long-gone British publication.
Super Play magazine was published from 1992 to 1996, releasing 47 dynamic, colourful, and entertaining issues in total. In particular, the magazine gained attention for the cover art of Wil Overton, a well-known British artist whose work was heavily inspired by manga. The magazine’s content focused on new releases, reviews, playing tips, and limited-run games. In an era before the internet went mainstream, Super Play was integral in nurturing a community of like-minded video-game players.
Video games are a fickle business. The release of the Nintendo 64 meant the 16-bit SNES system fell out of favour, and sales of Super Play stagnated. The last issue hit the shelves September 1996. The magazine’s revival was announced in September 2017, the same month Nintendo released their SNES Classic console. Issue 48 is available bundled with fellow gaming magazine Retro Gamer #172.
Digitized Back issues of the magazine can be found on Retromags.
