While theNESmay have opened the floodgates of video game goodness, the Super Nintendo made sure they stayed open. Nintendo’s second home console was heavily supported by first-party titles likeSuper Mario World, Super Metroid, andThe Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.
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However, a plethora third-party developers made many of their best and most legendary games for the console as well. Ask any old school gamer to recall their fonder memories of the SNES, and they are likely to reminisce about the following ten games below. Fortunately, most of these are playable on more modern consoles for newer generations of gamers to enjoy.
10Final Fantasy VI
Initially known asFinal Fantasy IIIin North America,Final Fantasy VIis the last two-dimensional mainline entry in the long-running franchise. It is often considered one of the bestFinal Fantasygames, and is notable for a major twist halfway through the game which significantly changes the way one progresses through the latter portion of the adventure. Kefka is also one of the finest villains of the generation, setting a precedent for antagonists who actually get away with their misdeeds.
9Super Star Wars
Star Warsvideo games are hit and miss, though in recent years they have been having better luck. On the SNES, fans were able to play the threeSuper Star Warstitles, side scrolling action titles with various flight sequences taking advantage of the console’s mode 7 capabilities. While the movies are easy to watch,Super Star Warsis notably difficult, taking extreme skills just to pass the first level.
8Super Castlevania IV
TheCastlevaniaseries eventually expanded beyond Nintendo, but many still associate the series with the NES and SNES.Super Castlevania IVretains similar gameplay to its predecessors, only with better graphics and refined mechanics.Super Castlevania IVwas the pinnacle of this era, refining a formula which was expanded upon withCastlevania: Symphony of the Night, which included more exploration.
7Turtles In Time
TheTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesgame on the NES was notorious for its difficulty, which includes an infamous jump that is nearly impossible to accomplish.Turtles In Timetakes cues from the best beat ‘em upsof the time to craft a cooperative adventure where the iconic characters travel through the ages to stop shredder. Going through the campaign with a friend makes for one of the most memorable multiplayer experiences on the SNES.
6Secret Of Mana
Turn-based JRPGs were all the rage in the ’90s, butSecret of Manastands out from the pack by putting the action into realtime. Players cannot rest for one second during combat and they must take movement into account when facing certain enemies.
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Also a rarity for the genre, another player can jump into the fray for some cooperative action. A remake came out in 2018, though some may prefer the retro 2D graphics and original soundtrack.
5Super Ghouls ‘N Ghosts
In the 2D age, side scrolling was the method of traversing most games chose to employ. TheGhosts ‘n Goblinsseries is known as one of the hardest platformers of the era, andSuper Ghouls ‘n Ghostsfor the SNES loyally continued this trend. Like many other games of the era, one has to beatSGnGtwice in order to unlock the true ending, which feels like a cheap and artificial way to extend a game’s runtime.
4Super Street Fighter II Turbo
During the SNES’s life,arcades were still immensely popularand offered a fidelity most consoles could not match. However, it was still a big deal when a popular arcade game made its way to a system like the SNES, even if it took a graphical downgrade.Super Street Fighter II Turbowas a dream come true for many fighting game fans, who now no longer needed to travel to a public space and use all their quarters to face off against friends.
3The Lion King
Even back then, adaptations of popular movies had a bad reputation for being cheap cash-ins. Certain video game versions of popular Disney movies got it right on the SNES and Genesis, however, crafting addictive side scrolling platformers using the popular characters. As great asTheLion Kingis, most never saw every level thanks to its extremely uneven difficulty. This was the result of the publisher wanting people to purchase the full game and not beat it after renting it once.
2Super Bomberman
TheBombermanformula is easy to understand just by looking at it. Plant bombs in a field to blow up blocks and other opponents while constantly dodging explosives.
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Super Bombermanwas the prettiest 16-bit game at the time, and one could even play with up to three other friends with a multitap. The ability to go through the adventure mode cooperatively also makesSuper Bombermanone of the best ways to experience the Super Nintendo with a friend.
1Chrono Trigger
While Square was pumping outFinal Fantasygames at a steady pace during this era, their most legendary entry on the console was probablyChrono Trigger. The time travel narrative is deeper and more nuanced than almost anything else on the console, and the game eschews random encounters in favor of overworld encounters. Despite its legendary status,Chrono Triggeronly received one sequel and a couple of re-releases.
Next:10 Ridiculously Long SNES Games (And How Long They Take To Beat)
