F-Zero is a futuristic racing game that Nintendo EAD made as a launch title for the Super Famicom, released in Japan on 21 November 1990. Kazunobu Shimizu directed it, Shigeru Miyamoto produced it, and Yumiko Kanki and Naoto Ishida wrote the music. North America got the game in 1991 and Europe in 1992.
Its Mode 7 pseudo-3D tracks made it one of the showcase titles for the new console. There are 15 tracks in three leagues (Knight, Queen and King) and four difficulty levels, but only one player.
The game had a longer life in Japan: the Satellaview service broadcast BS F-Zero Grand Prix and BS F-Zero Grand Prix 2 with new tracks and vehicles, and a jazz arrangement album of the soundtrack came out on 25 March 1992. Its machines and tracks returned in F-Zero 99, a free online battle royale for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers released in September 2023.1
Names and releases
| Region | Title on the box | Platform | Date | Publisher | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NA | F-ZeroSources disagree: shipments from 23 August 1991, official launch date given as 9 September 1991 | SNES | 1991 | Nintendo | 1 |
| JP | エフゼロSuper Famicom launch title | SNES | Nov 21, 1990 | Nintendo | 1 |
| EU | F-Zero | SNES | 1992 | Nintendo | 1 |
| WW | F-ZeroVirtual Console, late 2006 | Wii | 2006 | Nintendo | 1 |
| WW | F-ZeroVirtual Console; trial campaign in February 2013, regular release in April 2013 | Wii U | 2013 | Nintendo | 1 |
| WW | F-ZeroNew Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console | Nintendo 3DS | March 2016 | Nintendo | 1 |
| WW | F-ZeroPreinstalled on the Super NES Classic Edition | Other | September 2017 | Nintendo | 1 |
| WW | F-ZeroNintendo Switch Online (SNES library), one of the initial 20 titles | Switch | Sep 5, 2019 | Nintendo | 2 |
Also known as: エフゼロ JP1Efu Zero JP1
Box art by region
NA F-Zero 
EU F-Zero 
JP エフゼロ
Box art © its publishers, shown to identify each release. Scans: libretro-thumbnails.
Translations
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English Official
Nintendo1991SNES · Japanese versionReleased · complete
Nintendo released it in English in North America in 1991 and in Europe in 1992.1
Where to play legally today
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Nintendo Switch Online Subscription
Reception
Critics called F-Zero the fastest and most fluid pseudo-3D racer on home systems at the time, praising its Mode 7 graphics, track variety and soundtrack while faulting the lack of multiplayer. It is credited with setting the template for futuristic racing games.1
Sources
Checked: 2026-10-13Text reviewed: 2026-10-13
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