SNES is one of the best gaming console ever made. Upon its release, it took all the gamers by surprise. It was a great console with great gaming titles of all time. SNES was release when the gaming industry was realizing the potential of gaming consoles. It had an arcade feel but was a home console. Without a doubt, the original NES produced some of the legendary gaming titles. But its successor took it to a different league altogether. Today we will be looking towards some of the best SNES games ever made.
1) The Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past
There are not a lot of game franchises that are recognized, in the gaming industry, same as The Legend Of Zelda. There is not a single gaming series which can stand against The Legend Of Zelda which has produced great games consistently for three decades. Many would believe that with the new release of “The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild” on Nintendo Switch would become the best game in the series so far. That might be the case but no one can argue that A Link To The Past was the best of this series and of all the SNES games.
The gameplay of ‘A Link To The Past’ is something no one else was able to provide. It was based on a fictional character and introduced things like Sages and the Dark World which are explored and expanded in the following releases. A Link To The Past took us on a journey to the lands of Hyrule and the Dark World, packed with secrets to be unveiled. Coming across a hidden cave gave us a lot of excitement and an urge to play more.
U.S Release Date: April 13, 1992
Developer: Nintendo EAD
Publisher: Nintendo
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2) Super Metroid
One of the most selling games for SNES is Super Metroid. This game was successful not just for its precise controls, seamless world or confounding puzzles but because how the story and gameplay complemented each other. When dialogues and exposition were the primary ways to tell a story at that time, Super Metroid used the player’s interaction and the environment to tell the story. You won’t have to wander aimlessly to discover a secret path or item but instead, they will eventually appear as you progress in your story. Its level design was something never experienced before. All the small things it offered summed up to provide a highly optimized and polished gameplay. There is no matching Super Metroid as it was around top spots for two decades. The success of this game can be easily seen by the number of speed runs that are being done till now. To summarize, Super Metroid is a joy experience altogether.
U.S. Release Date: April 18, 1994
Developer: Nintendo R&D1, Intelligent Systems
Publisher: Nintendo
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Also Read: Best SNES Emulators | Best N64 Emulators
3) Chrono Trigger
Squaresoft dominated the gaming industry for a very long time and it would be impossible to not have even a single game developed by them in this list. In the late 80s and early 90s, the studio produced some of the most memorable titles. The JRPG genre was their territory and Chrono Trigger was the absolute perfection they ever produced in that territory. A brilliant story, immersive music and a well-balanced gameplay which never got old for the players to play again. The advancement of graphics and gameplay in recent times still lacks the fun offered by this classic title. It is the perfect RPG game ever created. Some still can’t get over the fact that this same company make Final Fantasy Titles but could not touch the heights Chrono Trigger achieved.
U.S. Release Date: August 22, 1995
Developer: Square
Publisher: Square
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4) Super Mario World
The very first game that was released for SNES came from the Nintendo itself, named Super Mario World. It was one of the most diverse game at that time with 96 unique levels to play from. Mario upgraded from 8-bit to 16-bit and offered more vivid colors, better controls and improved level design. All the Mario games prior to Super Mario World were pretty much linear considering their gameplay. But Super Mario World turned things around a bit by housing secrets and paths which provided the user with a whole new experience for a Mario game. The controls didn’t just get better they got intense too, players have to keep an eye out not to miss any valuable item. This competitive feel made this game popular among the speed runners across the globe. Super Mario World has proven itself to be one of the most flawless games ever made.
U.S. Release Date: August 23, 1991
Developer: Nintendo EAD
Publisher: Nintendo
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5) Final Fantasy VI (Final Fantasy III)
Final Fantasy VI was released in the United States as Final Fantasy III. Why Final Fantasy is on this list is very easy to answer, because of its mature thoughtful tale. It has the best story for any game ever existed on the SNES platform. This memorable story makes it so special and one of the most important picks for this list. The game offers 14 playable characters which are the highest for any Final Fantasy game till date. Each character has his or her own backstory which relates to other characters as well. There are also many side characters who play a vital role in many memorable moments like the opera scene. Like there is a villain Kefka who is similar to Joker. Kefka’s action results in putting people in worst consequences which forces our heroes to face odds and bring him to justice.
Final Fantasy VI is not just a fantasy but a science fiction at the same time which was praised by the players a lot. This resulted in Final Fantasy VII to be more of Sci-Fi title disguised as an RPG game. It is true that Final Fantasy VII has more following, but there is no comparison when it comes to storytelling thus making Final Fantasy VI the best game in this series.
U.S. Release Date: October 11, 1994
Developer: Square
Publisher: Square
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6) Earthbound
Earthbound is a very unique game which is strange but yet very charming. It was among the most loved RPG games for SNES console. This classic title was this successful because of its unique settings which were never seen before on any role-playing game ever. The modern day life along with the creepy sci-fi elements made this game a gem. Not just this but Earthbound was also praised for its theme and storyline. The concept of this simple yet wonderful game revolved around four children and their adventure to save the world. But there is much more than that when you progress further into the story. You will experience a dark yet complex tale of abandonment. The dialogues used in the conversation reflects the theme very clearly but in a light-hearted manner. These features made Earthbound a very unique RPG game.
U.S. Release Date: June 5, 1995
Developer: Ape, Hal Laboratory
Publisher: Nintendo
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Also Read: Best Dreamcast Games
7) Street Fighter 2: Turbo
If you have ever visited an arcade you must be familiar with the name Street Fighter. Street Fighter 2 is a legend in the arcade world. It was because of this title that fighting games came into existence. Street Fighter is the reason for the birth of a new genre in the gaming industry. In the 90s, Street Fighter was more than just a game. It acted as a way to settle disputes and feuds. It even reached the competitive level where people challenged each other and tried to be crowned as the ultimate street fighter.
When this game was out for the home consoles, it was an instant hit because people were now able to play Street Fighter at their homes. This saved a lot of time for people who visited arcades just to play Street Fighter. But, Street Fighter 2 left an incomplete feeling inside its fans. This dissatisfaction among the players and desire for more made the developers come out with the all-new Street Fighter 2: Turbo.
This edition of Street Fighter brought changes like character’s moves and combos. It also added a whole lot of new characters to play with. The most important is that it is faster than the original Street Fighter thus it has that Turbo in its title. Although there is another title in this series with almost the same name, Super Street Fighter 2: Turbo but that is only available in Japan.
U.S. Release Date: February 23, 1994
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
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8) Super Castlevania IV
Castlevania IV was one of the most interesting games developed by the developers at Konami. This series was known for its action-oriented level design and was ranked at the top with many other classic titles. Castlevania, like any other game in the series, is based on a classic horror setting. The game looks super cool and creepy right from the intro which focuses on a headstone in a field while the sky turns purple and the lightening effect makes things scarier. While the player is trying to sort out what is going on, a lightning bolt suddenly strikes the headstone destroying it completely. After that, a glowing bat emerges out of the grave symbolizing the awakening of a vampire. Super Castlevania IV’s intro is a brilliant piece of art which engages the player right from the start.
Super Castlevania IV is different in a lot of aspects like the patience and precision that it demands from the player which none of its competitors did. It fulfills all your expectations from an action genre game. When it comes to the action part, the level design is still a benchmark for action games. The environment is dynamic and sometimes plays a very crucial role in the advancement of the character. These spooky little things make Super Castlevania IV a memorable game for SNES.
U.S. Release Date: October 31, 1991
Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami
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9) Mega Man X2
One more entry in this list is from the developers of Capcom. Mega Man X2 was the most advanced title of Mega Man series. Well, it was not just for the Mario but Mega Man also made a jump from 8-bit to 16-bit resulting in a whole new game visually. The colors were more profound than ever and the side-scrolling series took a new form. All thanks to Nintendo’s new hardware, Capcom’s Mega Man got a whole new avatar with Mega Man X.
Earlier in the series, Mega Man titles were pretty much straightforward and gave the user access to any level in any order they want. Although Capcom kept the free choice of levels to the user, it did significant changes to the level design by adding things like hidden areas and alternate paths. This was the reason people played it over and over again in order to explore and complete the game hundred per cent. Mega Man X was running alongside Mega Man series making it a different franchise. The sequel Mega Man X2 took all the changes done in Mega Man X, improved them in all aspects to result in a more enjoyable and fun game than Mega Man X. The internet still can’t decide whether Mega Man X is better or Mega Man X2, but one thing is for sure this series is one of the best SNES has to offer.
U.S. Release Date: December 17, 1993
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
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10) Super Mario Kart
Many people believe that the first Mario Kart you play is going to be your favorite one in the series. But many can contradict this because of other great titles in the series. Super Mario Kart is the first installment in the series and thus is very popular among the 90s gamers. The graphics of Super Mario Kart were one of the best graphics SNES has to offer. It also became series biggest selling point because of its multiplayer. Mario Kart is Nintendo’s most successful series out of all and it started with Super Mario Kart. Everyone has spent hours just to win a race and brag about how awesome it was in their childhood. You can still enjoy this game on your Android device using snes emulators.
U.S. Release Date: September 1, 1992
Developer: Nintendo EAD
Publisher: Nintendo
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That is our top 10 picks for the most amazing games that SNES offered us during our childhood days. That must have brought back memories, it sure did for me. Hope you play your favorite SNES title soon.
Also Read : Best PS2 Games | Best N64 Games
