Top 50 All-Time SNES (Super Nintendo) Games That You Must Play

The 90s were a truly transformative decade for gaming. We were witnessing the emergence of 32-bit consoles, 3-D graphics, entirely new game genres, and a complete reimagining of what games can be. Now, games weren’t just simple side-scrollers or platformers. They could be a large mesh of interconnected worlds, with complex (for the time) cutscenes and audio effects that made you feel like you were inside a movie.

And Nintendo is one of the companies you should thank for heralding this new age of gaming. Their rivalry with Sega gave birth to the original console wars and propelled us into a new age of gaming. It also created the SNES (Super Nintendo Entertainment System), Nintendo’s successor to the extremely popular 8-bit NES console.

The SNES was designed to compete against the Sega Genesis, and what a battle it was. Sega branded itself as the “cool” console with aggressive marketing and better pricing, whereas Nintendo used its 1^st party developer muscle to push sales.

Some say the SNES and Sega Genesis are what pulled us out of the video game crash that happened in the 80s. And that may very well be true. This video game crash single-handedly ended the popularity of the booming arcade market. When Nintendo designed the SNES they specifically wanted it to recreate a high-end arcade experience on home TVs. This is why they put more focus on the aesthetic and audio instead of just making a really fast processor.

No console is complete without its games and boy, does the SNES have an extensive catalog of games. Some of the more popular ones are Super Mario World, Donkey Kong Country, F-Zero, Super Metroid, Chrono Trigger, The Legend of Zelda, and Final Fantasy VI. 

You can bet some of the developers for your favorite AAA games of today took their inspiration for storytelling and level design from these old SNES games. And why wouldn’t they? After all, the SNES has such a diverse range- platformers, RPGs, fighting, racing, flight sim, adventure, etc.

These days, we’re witnessing a revival of retro gaming. You can play SNES games on Switch Online and various emulators on PC. There are entire forums, Youtube channels, and subreddits dedicated to helping people run these old 8 and 16-bit games on their modern devices. 

Even Nintendo and Sony are cashing in on the trend by releasing miniature recreations of their popular consoles like the SNES Classic and PlayStation Classic. Because of this renewed interest in the old stuff, I have created a list of the 50 best SNES games that you should check out. Let’s check them out, shall we? 

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

• Developer: Nintendo EAD
• Release Date: April 1992

The Legend of Zelda was a breakthrough moment in video game storytelling. It showcased a gripping narrative complete with a grand open world and memorable characters. 

However, it was A Link to the Past that truly perfected the Zelda formula. Managing to strike a perfect balance between progression rate, storytelling, and gameplay, this is the definitive Zelda experience on SNES. 

There are tons of dungeons to explore, each with diverse and richly populated environments. The soundtrack and graphics in this game are leagues ahead of anything else released during that time. 

Chrono Trigger

• Developer: Square
• Release Date: August 1995

For my top choice, I was conflicted between Chrono Trigger and A Link to the Past. Both are worthy of the crown since they are the peak of SNES RPG gaming.

But there can be only one winner, so Chrono Trigger takes a respectable 2^nd place on my list. The plot revolves around a kid who looks a lot like Goku from Dragon Ball Z. Just a regular boy, until his friend Marle falls into a time portal and he jumps in to rescue her.

From this point, he travels into the future, past, and everywhere in between to rescue her. Chrono Trigger was created with a joint effort from the teams of Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy. It was meant to be the ultimate JRPG. And even to this day, it’s one of the best RPGs you can play. 

Super Metroid

• Developer: Nintendo R&D1
• Release Date: April 1994

In the first Metroid game, Samus Aran captures the final Metroid and brings it to her base for analysis. However, the station gets attacked and this Metroid falls into the hands of Ridley.

You start the game alone on planet Zebes, but enemies and traps are eventually introduced as you make your way through familiar locations from the previous game. You beat enemies, gather power-ups, and progress towards each level’s boss. 

There are dozens of powerups and enhancements you can make to Samus’ Power Suit. Plus, some of these power-ups are essential to unlock various play zones within Zebes. 

Final Fantasy VI

• Developer: Square
• Release Date: October 1994

While previous Final Fantasy games had a more straightforward story about good vanquishing evil, the 6^th game experiments with personal sacrifice and struggle themes.

It is more mature, visceral, and engaging than the older titles. Both in terms of storytelling and gameplay. There is no single main character, and side characters have excellent quests that teach you more about their back story.

And while classes are fixed for each character, you can build them in different ways. 

Mega Man X

• Developer: Capcom
• Release Date: January 1994

Often considered by many to be the best version of Mega Man, Mega Man X for SNES is a huge upgrade over the regular Mega Man NES games.

You control a brand new Mega Man, a different robot wearing the same iconic suit. Mega Man X is darker, grittier, and harder than regular Mega Man. Inspired by sci-fi greats such as Bladerunner and Terminator, Mega Man X oozes with aesthetic.

The all-new Mega Man can do moves the old one couldn’t- dashes, wall climbing, etc. Plus he can use upgrades to boost his abilities. 

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island

• Developer: Nintendo
• Release Date: October 1995

Sometimes, a console gets its best titles towards the end of its lifespan. And Yoshi’s Island is the perfect example.

It is the 2D platformer game taken to its logical extreme, the ultimate platforming experience on SNES. In the game you play as Yoshi, carrying a baby Mario on your back as you make your way through various obstacles and enemies. 

You don’t lose lives upon being hit. Instead, you lose baby Mario and a timer starts. If you don’t collect him within the given time, you will lose a life. This is one of the first implementations of time-based life, which is now commonplace in all shooters such as CoD, Halo, etc. 

Star Fox

• Developer: Nintendo and Argonaut Software
• Release Date: March 1993

This one’s a pretty controversial pick, but I will stand by it. Star Fox was a revolutionary title back when it was released, simply ahead of its time.

The game was a huge gamble since it featured real 3D graphics. On a 16-bit home console, this shouldn’t even have been possible. And the game stresses SNES to its limits, even with the custom processors built into each Star Fox cartridge.

Performance drops hard in some of the more complicated levels, turning the game into a choppy mess. And the visuals seem extremely dated today. But back when 99.9% of games had 2D sprites jumping around on your TV screen, Star Fox pushed the limits of technology. 

Super Mario Kart

• Developer: Nintendo EAD
• Release Date: September 1992

These days you see all kinds of memes about the so-called “friendship ending games”. Many a friendship has been broken by banana peels in Mario Kart multiplayer sessions. Or so the internet tells me.

But one thing I know is that it all started here, with the original. This game isn’t as fast-paced as the new ones, nor does it have all the special gimmicks. The concept is simple. It’s Mario and his friends on custom racing vehicles, blazing around a track.

This game is so pure. There are no shells, anti-gravity segments, or banana peels. Just you, and a vehicle. It still holds up after all these years, which is a testament to the talent of people who made this game back in 1992.

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

• Developer: Square
• Release Date: May 1996

Super Mario RPG isn’t as deep as Final Fantasy, nor is it as exciting as Chrono Trigger. But you can’t deny the fact that it was revolutionary for its time. 

Even though the plot and characters are pretty basic, the way they are executed guarantees a fun experience. Plus, Super Mario RPG introduced a system called timed hits which are still used in modern RPGs these days. Basically, if you time it right, pressing the A button will reduce incoming damage while enemy units attack you. 

This is a turn-based game, and adding a simple timed button press makes both defending and attacking so much more satisfying. It also works when you cast spells or attacks, pressing “A” at the right time will boost damage.  

Super Mario All-Stars

• Developer: Nintendo
• Release Date: August 1993

As the name indicates, this is a collection of all Super Mario games.

Namely, Super Mario Bros, Super Mario Bros 2, and Super Mario Bros 3. You even get access to the Japanese Super Mario Bros 2 game which is included in All-Stars as “Super Mario Bros: The Lost Levels”.

The compilation of games in All-Stars isn’t just a copy and paste job, they’ve all been remade with improved visuals and better audio. 

F-Zero

• Developer: Nintendo EAD
• Release Date: August 1991

A futuristic racing game in which you drive exotic jet-powered racers at terrifyingly high speeds, F-Zero is one of the most stylistic racers on SNES.

Pseudo-3D graphics tricks and innovative art design helped this game a lot, as it gathered rave reviews from games journalists. Vehicle handling feels smooth, there is no jerkiness or awkward control layout.

The massive selection of tracks and vehicles will keep you coming back for more.

ActRaiser

• Developer: Quintet
• Release Date: November 1991

Have you ever thought about what would happen if a game blended action with simulation? Wonder no more, because ActRaiser is the game you’ve been thinking about.

You play the role of a fallen deity whose throne has been taken over by evil forces. Now it’s your job to take your world back from these invasive forces. You do it in 2 steps- first, you beat them up with your weapons in action sequences.

Then, you go into simulation mode to rebuild your civilization in areas that have been cleared of monsters. It’s like a combination of the Witcher with City Skylines, and it’s awesome.

The Magical Quest Starring Mickey Mouse

• Developer: Capcom
• Release Date: December 1992

For the kid in all of us, this is a game you play whenever you want to revisit that experience of reading a fantasy book or watching old cartoons.

The level design is straight out of a Disney movie, with you riding giant vegetables and talking animals guiding you through a magical world. There are secret areas hidden in each level, and you can buy stuff from merchants using coins rewarded for progression. 

The boss designs still hold up, and you’ll love some of the puzzle-solving elements.  

Mortal Kombat II

• Developer: Midway
• Release Date: September 1994

A lot of people consider Street Fighter to be the better fighting game on SNES because at the time Mortal Kombat 1 didn’t really catch.

It was thought to be a gimmicky title, relying on its blood and gore to appear more “Edgy”. And while the fatalities were indeed brutal, there was an excellent game lying underneath all the fancy gore effects.

Not to mention, an actual storyline that extends beyond “strong people traveled here to fight”. Mortal Kombat II has no censorship on blood and gore, unlike its predecessor. And it’s better balanced than Street Fighter. 

Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi

• Developer: LucasArts
• Release Date: June 1994

Definitely, the best-looking Star Wars game on SNES, Return of the Jedi loosely follows the movie plot. Han, Luke, Leia, Chewbacca, etc. are all playable characters while Jabba the Hutt, Vader, Palpatine, etc. are the bosses. 

The visuals in this game are amazing if you consider the time when it was released. LucasArts even used digitized images from the actual movie in cutscenes to give this game an authentic feel.  

Tetris & Dr. Mario

• Developer: Intelligent Systems
• Release Date: December 1994

It is essentially a modified version of Tetris with Mario added in for that extra style. The rules are similar but different from basic Tetris.

You do have to line up blocks/ tiles, but Dr. Mario throws a curveball by letting you throw your own tiles in there to line up horizontally with existing blocks. The existing tiles are viruses, inside a bottle. And Dr. Mario throws pills at them. 

Both the viruses and pills come in 3 colors- red, blue, and yellow. Line up 4 pills and viruses of the same color, and they will all disappear. 

Wario’s Woods

• Developer: Nintendo R&D1
• Release Date: December 1994

This is a falling block puzzle game, similar to Yoshi’s Cookie in which you control the positions of various tiles/ blocks within a screen to make them disappear.

Wario is a mere spectator since most of the work is done by a little toad who carries the stuff falling down. There are bombs, animals, and other things falling. To make them disappear, you have to align objects of the same color or type in a vertical/ horizontal/ diagonal way.  

The Lost Vikings

• Developer: Silicon & Synapse
• Release Date: April 1993

This isn’t the kind of Viking game you think it is. You run around plundering and looting in a normal Viking game while stopping occasionally to sharpen your axe.

But in The Lost Vikings, you play as a group of 3 Vikings who got abducted by aliens while they were hunting for dinner. And they must go through different timelines to eventually return home. Each timeline is a level, and there are obstacles + enemies.

You can control 3 Vikings and each one of them has unique abilities. All 3 must make it to the end for the level to be completed.

Secret of Mana

• Developer: Square
• Release Date: October 1993

While most JRPGs back then used turn-based combat, Secret of Mana had active-time combat. 

Meaning battles took place in real-time, much like Legend of Zelda. Another thing that really makes Secret of Mana stand out is its simplicity. There are no convoluted plot points or characters who are weird for the sake of being weird. 

This game tells a simple fairy tale story and executes it well. When combined with fun gameplay, it results in an all-time great SNES RPG.

Super Castlevania IV

• Developer: Konami
• Release Date: December 1991

Fan of gothic structures with mythical monsters inside them? Well, Super Castlevania IV lets you jump right into a world filled with things such as vampires, werewolves, goblins, etc. You slay hordes of these monsters as you clear different levels of a haunted castle.

What makes this game so good is its art design, soundtrack, and aesthetic. Ballrooms filled with creepy paintings, hallways lined with old statues that look like they are watching you, secret underground rooms, and more- this game is dripping with style.

Final Fantasy II

• Developer: Square
• Release Date: November 1991

With its new Active-Time battle system and improved graphics, Final Fantasy II is a proper successor that improves on the first game. 

You have an excellent soundtrack composed by Nobuo Uematsu, and a set of memorable characters to match. Overall, Final Fantasy II is a fun experience for anyone looking to enjoy early JRPGs on the SNES.

Square also tightened up the controls to make movement feel smoother and more intuitive.  

Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers

• Developer: Capcom
• Release Date: July 1994

In this game, you have the usual Street Fighter II roster, along with 4 newcomers. There’s a British secret agent called Cammy, a Jamaican dude called DeeJay, Bruce Lee inspired Fei Long and T-Hawk who’s a native American.

Some new moves have been added to existing characters, like Ryu’s new fireball ability. Plus, balance changes have tweaked damage output on various moves to make the game more enjoyable. 

Contra III: The Alien Wars

• Developer: Konami
• Release Date: March 1992

A true classic, Contra III: The Alien Wars is one of the best games on SNES.

It is a simple run and gun affair in which you mow through endless hordes of disposable enemies with giant guns. You play as a tough military guy who seems to be inspired by 80s action flicks.

Big muscles, cool costumes, and an affinity for blowing things up are what define your character. You have access to shotguns, machine guns, flamethrowers, and everything in between. 

Sunset Riders

• Developer: Konami
• Release Date: June 1993

A fun cowboy action game packed into a SNES cartridge; it has all the usual set-pieces. 

Cowboys looting trains while riding on horseback fights with law enforcement, bar brawls, herding cattle, etc. Sunset Riders also has some really funny cowboy designs that are definitely not period-correct.

You have characters with names like Steve and Bob wearing bright yellow pants with giant pink hats.  

Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong’s Double Trouble!

• Developer: Rare
• Release Date: November 1996

A game that arrived very late, deep into the SNES life cycle. Donkey Kong Country 3 arrived at a time when people were already playing 32 and 64-bit games.

Think Super Mario 64, Wave Racer 64, etc. On top of that, Donkey Kong is absent from his own game. Instead, you play as Dixie and Kiddie Kong. All this meant Donkey Kong Country 3 suffered from lackluster sales initially.

However, the excellent level design and deeply engaging gameplay have made this a retro classic worth playing for any Nintendo fan. 

Mega Man X2

• Developer: Capcom
• Release Date: January 1995

This game doesn’t deviate too much from the tried and true Mega Man X formula. Its story has you chasing 8 Maverick Hunters, similar to the previous game. The weapon you get by beating each one of these bosses is of great importance since subsequent bosses are weak against them. 

In Mega Man X2 you can dash and jump off walls, plus there are extensions and armor upgrades to unlock. Extensions give you new abilities like being able to dash mid-air. Hidden rooms let you fight special bosses called X-Hunters, and these fights can affect how the ending plays out.  

Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals

• Developer: Neverland
• Release Date: February 1995

Another in the long list of excellent RPGs available on the Super Nintendo, Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals is a prequel to the first game. 

It explains how the Sinistrals appeared on Earth and challenged the strongest warriors to beat them. Lufia II has vastly superior graphics compared to its predecessor and introduces more action elements. 

Lufia II has the IP gauge that fills up as you fight, and if you have weapons with special abilities you can use the gauge to inflict insane amounts of damage.

EVO: Search for Eden

• Developer: Almanic
• Release Date: July 1993

A game about the evolution of life on Earth, EVO: Search for Eden lets you choose from a wide variety of characters. Fish, dinosaurs, giraffes, insects- you can play as any lifeform you want and influence its evolution. 

Want your fish to grow antennae? You can do that. Want your frog to have scales? That’s possible too. How about your very own dragon made with a mix of lizard and bird characteristics? And the changes affect how your creation plays, these evolutionary changes aren’t just for looks. 

The Legend of the Mystical Ninja

• Developer: Konami
• Release Date: February 1992

A fun game about going on an adventure in a fantasy land with ninjas. You have all the usual stuff- enemy mobs, quirky bosses, and lots of armor/ weapons. Weapons can be upgraded by using coins which you get by defeating enemies.

There is a great variety in the level design, from plain grasslands to mountainous terrain. All the while, you listen to an amazing soundtrack. Interestingly, this game has arcades hidden inside in the form of mini-games. You can play Gradius, Whack-A-Mole, Breakout!, and other mini-games by depositing coins that you get by rescuing villagers.  

Zombies Ate My Neighbors

• Developer: LucasArts
• Release Date: September 1993

It’s a game in which you are armed with all sorts of firearms, and shoot up everything from zombies to mummies. Zombies Ate My Neighbors is basically an 80s action B-movie in video game form with lots of explosions. 

You fight in the malls, backyard, streets, and try to save civilians from getting eaten by zombies. You can choose between 2 different characters, and make your way through 2D levels with corridors. Taking cover and dashing around, you dispatch waves of enemies while picking up random weapons dropped around the map. 

NBA Jam

• Developer: Midway
• Release Date: March 1994

During the 90s, NBA was surging in popularity and a lot of game studios wanted to take advantage of this.

NBA Jam stole the show with its life-like character animations and sound effects, plus the game had a really catchy soundtrack. The in-game caster does some really good commentary that matches the flow of the game and gameplay feels fast. Going on the offensive is favored in NBA Jam since most of the court is open.

There’s also some extreme stuff- like punching players in the back of the head, making impossible jumps, and setting the ball on fire.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time

• Developer: Konami
• Release Date: August 1992

Genuinely, one of the best TMNT games ever made. TMNT IV: Turtles in Time takes you on a ride as you play as the 4 ninja turtles trying to stop Shredder and his evil thugs. Plotwise, it’s exactly what you’d expect from a 90s TMNT action side-scroller. The gameplay is crisp and satisfying, with graphics that resemble the cartoon series on TV.  

Earthworm Jim 2

• Developer: Shiny Entertainment
• Release Date: November 1995

Earthworm Jim 2 doesn’t play like any other action platformer. Each level feels like its own standalone thing, with unique gimmicks and scenery.

Costume changes and altered perspectives make it feel like you’re playing several different games in one. Some levels have you tunneling through the ground while in others, you’re bouncing puppies off a giant marshmallow. 

You even have a shooter level with an isometric perspective.  

Breath of Fire

• Developer: Capcom
• Release Date: August 1994

Breath of Fire is what many kids played as their introduction to the RPG genre. Like many other Japanese RPGs of the era, it has turn-based combat with your squad going up against enemy units of various kinds.

The lore and characters are all introduced at the start. Progression through the game world feels pretty linear. The dungeon design in this game is spectacular, better than some RPGs of today. And the storytelling is excellent too. 

Demon’s Crest

• Developer: Capcom
• Release Date: November 1994

Firebrand from the annoyingly tough SNES game Ghosts ‘n Goblins has now got his own game. He has his usual powers, like being able to fly and spit out fireballs. You can also jump and hover in the air to navigate across obstacles.

All things considered, you have a lot more mobility and freedom to explore each level compared to Arthur from Ghosts n’ Goblins. 

Harvest Moon

• Developer: Amccus
• Release Date: June 1997

In most role-playing games, you are either a “chosen one” or some kind of legendary hero tasked with saving the planet or something like that. 

You fight countless monsters while recruiting a team of side characters, each with their unique backstory. However, Harvest Moon is nothing like that. Instead of defeating monsters and upgrading your gear, you’re instead a farmer. And you’re growing crops. 

Think of this as the original Farming Simulator, and it’s not nearly as boring as you think it would be. 

Kirby Super Star

• Developer: HAL Laboratory
• Release Date: September 1996

According to lore, Kirby the magical little pink puffball can hold entire galaxies inside his belly. And that explains why this game plays out like one of those matryoshka dolls. t is essentially 8 games packed into one title.

There’s spring breeze which is like a remake of Kirby’s Land. Then, you’ve got Dyna Blade in which you take on a giant robot bird. You can also play Gourmet Race in which Kirby and King Dedede race to see who can eat the most food. And on the list goes, with more mini-games packed inside Kirby Super Star. 

Illusion of Gaia

• Developer: Quintet
• Release Date: September 1994

A spiritual sequel to Soul Blazer with certain gameplay and storytelling elements carried over from the preceding title, Illusion of Gaia is one of the best SNES RPGs.

This time, you aren’t running around freeing souls. Instead, you are a regular boy from a small town whose father got killed while exploring some ancient ruins. And now his spirit communicates with you through an enchanted flute.

Your job is to save the Earth from impending doom by working with Gaia, the source of all life. 

SimCity

• Developer: Nintendo
• Release Date: August 1991

Probably the best console port of this game, SimCity for SNES puts you in charge of overseeing the development of a new city. 

You’re the mayor, contractor, foreman, and construction worker- all at the same time. You start out with a patch of land and you can choose which types of buildings you want to add. Seaports, fire stations, police stations, malls, residential buildings, etc. are all available. However, you don’t just build stuff like a Lego kit.

You have to deal with citizens complaining about theft, unemployment, housing shortages, and more. The way you plan and build these towns is going to affect the poverty rates, employment, crime, etc. 

The Adventures of Batman & Robin

• Developer: Konami
• Release Date: November 1994

The Arkham series of games has seen great success, showing that lots of people want to play Batman games. 

The Adventures of Batman & Robin tried to do the same, only in the 90s and with a fraction of the budget. Back then, superhero movies weren’t as popular and most video games based on comic book characters were nothing more than cheap cash-in attempts by studios. This one however had controls that actually worked and graphics that weren’t terrible. 

The biggest asset of this game is an excellent aesthetic and soundtrack that stays true to the animated series. 

Shadowrun

• Developer: Beam Software
• Release Date: May 1993

It’s a cyberpunk RPG set in futuristic 2050s Seattle. 

Your protagonist wakes up on the streets, having been shot and unaware of who’s trying to kill him. From this point, the game unfolds its narrative as your race to various places trying to finish quests that give you information on your attackers.

Along the way, you do all the usual cyberpunk RPG stuff- hacking, hiring mercenaries, shooting up bandits, etc. 

U.N. Squadron

• Developer: Capcom
• Release Date: September 1991

This game is based on a manga called Area 88 in which a Japanese ace pilot is tricked into joining a foreign mercenary squadron in a war-torn country.

He has to gather enough money to buy his way out and commits many horrible deeds along the way. The game was renamed to U.N Squadron instead of Area 88, and you can choose from different pilots.

It’s loosely based on the manga, and a lot of the violent stuff is toned down. 

Soul Blazer

• Developer: Quintet
• Release Date: November 1992

Developing on the concepts explored in Actraiser, Soul Blazer is a game that feels more like a traditional RPG. With more action, swordplay, and fantasy tropes.

You take on lairs of enemies to free a captive being’s soul, and gain levels. Along the way, you can upgrade your skills and armor. Freeing souls also provides you with the information needed for your next quest. 

Super Bomberman

• Developer: Produce
• Release Date: September 1993

An action maze game akin to titles such as Pacman, Super Bomberman is the SNES upgrade for Bomberman. And it’s a lot of fun, especially in multiplayer. If you had the Super Multitap accessory, you could increase the number of controller input ports on the SNES from 2 to 5. 

Super Bomberman has 6 worlds to explore, with 8 levels in each world. And the last level is always a boss fight.  

Yoshi’s Cookie

• Developer: Bullet-Proof Software
• Release Date: June 1993

In this tile-matching game starring Mario’s green-colored dinosaur friend, you are tasked with matching falling pieces of varying shapes into neat little blocks.

Basically, it’s a Tetris game with a Mario theme. Mechanics are different from normal Tetris; your goal is to make blocks of cookies disappear by aligning them correctly. You can rotate rows/ columns of cookies like a Rubik’s cube. And no, Yoshi doesn’t stack the puzzle pieces. Mario pulls the lever, while Yoshi counts the pieces in his own spinoff. 

Super Ghouls n’ Ghosts

• Developer: Capcom
• Release Date: November 1991

When people brag about beating Dark Souls, you should challenge them to get past the first level of this SNES game from a few decades ago. 

It is so annoyingly hard; you’ll toss your controller and rip out your hair after the first 50 tries. However, if you memorize the enemy’s attack patterns and are good with your platforming skills, you will have a blast with this game. 

Street Fighter Alpha 2

• Developer: Capcom
• Release Date: November 1996

Capcom’s Street Fighter series is legendary. However, these guys didn’t want to create a proper sequel to their 2^nd Street Fighter game. In fact, there are so many variations and spin-offs for Street Fighter 2 you could make an entire franchise just out of that.

Street Fighter Alpha 2 is a spin-off for Street Fighter 2. It introduces the Super Combo system along with several balance tweaks that make the game more fun no matter which fighter you choose. And a few characters are borrowed from Capcom’s own beat ‘em up series, Final Fight. 

Killer Instinct

• Developer: Rare
• Release Date: August 1995

One versus one fighting games were all the rage back in the early 90s before Doom and Wolfenstein kickstarted the 3D first-person shooter era. And Killer Instinct is one of those games that leaves you wondering “why isn’t it still here today?”.

After all, the mechanics and combos are deeper compared to games such as Street Fighter. Killer Instinct also has a pretty killer soundtrack. And a paper-thin plot to go with it.

But you don’t play fighting games for the plot. And Killer Instinct’s gameplay is excellent. Hard to master, but very rewarding once you understand it. An extremely underrated fighting game in my opinion. 

Breath of Fire II

• Developer: Capcom
• Release Date: December 1995

These days, when you think of Capcom, their fighting games and action hack n’ slash are what come to mind.

That, or the Resident Evil series. However, there was a time when Capcom made RPGs. Breath of Fire is a game that started many a kid’s love for the genre. Elves, dragons, dwarves, loot, inventories, quests, party members- this game had everything you take for granted in an RPG today.

The only real issue with this game is its poor localization job which butchers a lot of the translations for dialogue and items. 

Mega Man X3

• Developer: Capcom
• Release Date: January 1996 

The third entry in the Mega Man X series of games, X3 is often considered the weakest of all X games. 

Not because of the story, because it is similar to the previous two. It’s the level design that let this game down. Don’t get me wrong, it isn’t bad. However, it doesn’t live up to the standards of Mega Man X and Mega Man X2. 

Obstacles and hazards are placed lazily, requiring little to no strategy. And the most annoying thing is the instant death traps that require extensive memorization of their locations. Mega Man X3 has a few aces up its sleeve. For one, it lets you play as Zero right from the start. And it’s the best-looking Mega Man X game on SNES. 

That’s because it arrived so late in the console’s lifecycle and had additional chips in the cartridge to process new visual effects.

Conclusion

Did you like my list of the 50 all-time best SNES games? Perhaps you’re a Nintendo fan who grew up with the SNES. 

If there are other awesome Super Nintendo games I should have included on this list, you can let me know. My top 3 SNES games are Super Metroid, Chrono Trigger, and A Link to the Past.

The SNES really is an amazing console with a vast and extremely diverse game library.

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