The Super Nintendo was one the most influential consoles of its time, selling over 49 million units. While not being the first to introduce the 16-bit era of games, it made headway during the console war with Sega with its wide variety of games. There is one genre, however, that really excelled and advanced during this era.
The SNES provided several RPGs, all vastly different from one another. Many got overshadowed by games like Super Mario, but a majority of the games paved the way for the RPGs we see today. It's never too late to go back and play these games, however, and many of them still hold up to this day.
10 Shadowrun's Story Is Complex And Based On The TTRPG Of The Same Name
Based on the game's tabletop version, Shadowrun is set in a cyberpunk fantasy world and is entirely isometric. The gameplay itself suffers a bit because of how much needs to be learned, but once players get a grasp on how everything operates, it's very enjoyable.
From collecting a bank of words to get information out of people, or finding the hidden attackers that assault the main character, Jake, it becomes easier to understand as the game progresses. Even if the mechanics of the game aren't ideal, the story of Shadowrun is intense as Jake tries to uncover his lost memories after being fatally shot and waking up in a morgue.
9 Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War Follows The Story Of Stopping An Ancient God
The Japanese exclusive SNES Fire Emblem game, Genealogy of the Holy War is regarded as the best Fire Emblem game. While the game is only available in Japan, there have been fan translations of it to English to better show off this hidden gem to the West.
The game is divided into several chapters, each with multiple castles that need to be taken over. The tactical gameplay is among the best of the series, and the story of two generations of warriors integrates itself into the battle system. When one generation's stats change, it affects the next as well. Both storylines are compelling, and the overworld system is astounding even with the limitations of the console.
8 Tales of Phantasia Was A Brilliant Start To The Notorious Series
Initially a Japanese exclusive, the Tales series started with Phantasia on the SNES in 1995. Ports of the game have been made to other consoles, making it obvious just how good the story and gameplay are. The voice-acted version of the game on the PSP is especially worth playing, and, even without the ports, fan translations of the game have been available since 2001.
The battle system incorporates a string of commands that can be made into easy shortcuts and only controlling the central character with A.I. teammates. The story revolves around a string of events that unleash a powerful time-traveling sorcerer.
7 Secret of Mana Was One Of The Few Multiplayer-Capable RPGs
One of the most influential games of the SNES era, Secret of Mana is the sequel to Final Fantasy Adventure, Seiken Densetsu, or Mystic Quest depending on what part of the world the game was released.
Controlling three characters, each with different strengths and weaknesses, the game uses a real-time action system. Within this system, players can pause with the Ring Command to cast spells, change equipment, or check statuses. The story takes place in a world devoid of powerful energy called "Mana" as a result of a war with the gods. It follows the journey to collect the Mana Seeds to restore the world's Mana and the Mana Fortress.
6 Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen Is a Different Start Each Playthrough
Ogre Battle was a short-running series of tactical RPGs that was first released for the SNES in 1993. Side titles would move on to the GBA, but the mainline games were on the Super Famicom and the N64, at least in Japan. The game features a unique introduction as the player's abilities and starting units are determined by a series of questions posed by a tarot card reader.
Much like Fire Emblem, the game has the player build up a resistance force against the evil empire. This is done by attacking several kingdoms after training armies and defeating supernatural creatures. It's a unique fantasy game with multiple endings and tons of replayability.
5 Dragon Quest V And VI Were Japan Exclusives That Fans Begged To Have Ported Over
The Dragon Quest series has been regarded as one of the biggest rivals to Final Fantasy and for good reason. The trilogy of games IV, V, and VI have a lengthy storyline that all have parallels to each other, but are still independent of each other. V brought monster taming into the series for the first time, and VI improved upon the formula with many UI and quality of life changes. Both games weren't released outside of Japan until their respective 3DS and DS ports, but are both worth going back to and playing. Both games are very similar in terms of gameplay, but the stories separate the two with very unique narratives in similar worlds.
4 Earthbound Is The Most Unique RPG That Deserves A Replay
Mother 2 or Earthbound is one of the strangest RPGs ever created. Its diverse cast of playable characters are all children, and the creatures they fight range from inanimate objects to government agents. The game takes place in the modern day after a meteor crashes down in a small suburban town. The main character investigates and so his journey begins, as the alien Giygas begins to shift the world into a nightmarish form of its old self.
There are four party members in total who are met along the way as the main character, Ness, begins to stop this change and defeat Giygas with his psychic powers, everyday items, weapons, and the help of his very well-off father. Earthbound is a wild ride but its satirical content and parody of classic RPGs make it a classic worth playing today.
3 Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars Is The Perfect Marriage Of Square And Nintendo
Before Square went to Sony for FFVII, they released a good amount of games on the SNES, and one of the best was Super Mario RPG. This change from the normal platforming games included many RPG mechanics that would later be used in games like Paper Mario and the Mario+Luigi respective series.
The game's story involves a new enemy taking Bowser's role of not only kidnapping the princess but putting the entire Mushroom Kingdom in peril. Peach, Bowser, and some original characters make up the party over the course of the turn-based RPG, each with their own set of skills. The game is delightful and has many darker themes than expected from a Mario title.
2 Final Fantasy Is A Staple Classic For Any RPG Fan And The SNES Has Three Of Them
Final Fantasy IV, V, and VI on the SNES were originally released as I, II, and III in the West due to not having the first three games ported to the NES. These games feature some of the greatest stories in any JRPG, making improvements with each title in these self-contained stories. These stories with high fantasy and magic could easily be made into anime of their own.
The three games all have had their ports over the years, and just recently had their Pixel Remasters on PC and Mobile, so there's no better time to go back to play these games. IV, in particular, features some of the strongest characters in the series.
1 Chrono Trigger Has Multiple Endings And A Unique Combat System
One of the greatest RPGs of all time, as well as one of the greatest games of all time, Chrono Trigger is not only worth playing, but also worth playing multiple times. Combat mechanics involve a system in which party members can collaborate to use special attacks in coordination. This makes party-making much more interesting, thanks in part to a rich cast of characters.
The game's story involves the cast time traveling, often picking up people along the way, and trying to stop some of the greatest evils they encounter. There is much to be said about this amazing game, but nothing can compare to going through it and getting one of the game's several endings. It really is a must-play for any RPG fan.