Video games can tell incredible stories and it’s amazing to consider how much the medium has evolved in a reasonably short period of time. The newest video games continue to amaze audiences, but so much of what’s now foundational for the medium wouldn’t be possible without what games on older consoles, like the Super Nintendo, established.
Players have a healthy reverence for Nintendo’s formative 16-bit console and it’s the home for some of Nintendo’s most acclaimed games, especially games in the RPG genre. The Super Nintendo was an important console for RPG releases and these retro titles defined the many eclectic sensibilities of the popular genre.
10 Chrono Trigger Travels Through Time And Space With A Huge Cast Of Memorable Characters
Chrono Trigger is regarded as not only one of the very best '90s RPGs, but also a high mark for the Super Nintendo in general. A nuanced narrative spans a diverse cast of scrappy characters who travel through thousands of years as they fight for peace. Chrono Trigger's meticulous presentation will leave audiences stunned through their initial playthrough, but the groundbreaking RPG only becomes better when all 12 of its unique endings are experienced. There's more than enough content present in Chrono Trigger that it could be the only Super Nintendo game that player own and find it still keep them completely occupied.
9 Earthbound Is Unique In Its Modern Twist On RPG Staples
There was an abundance of RPGs during the Super Nintendo’s era. Most pulled from the fantasy genre and featured comparable storylines where ancient empires fight against dark forces. The Mother series is such a breath of fresh air because these are RPGs that are set in modern, urban settings where baseball bats and yo-yos are the weapons of choice instead of swords and maces. The second entry in the series, Earthbound, is an anomaly compared to the rest of the SNES’ content. The introspective journey that Ness and friends traverse is surprisingly emotional and highlights how RPGs need to make their audience feel something for the characters in addition to providing satisfying gameplay.
8 Super Mario RPG Pushes Nintendo’s Classic Characters Into Turn-Based Chaos
Super Mario remains one of Nintendo’s most popular gaming mascots, but his supremacy in the industry was at an even greater high during the Super Nintendo’s era in the 1990s. The majority of Super Mario games are defining installments for their respective consoles, but Super Mario RPG felt especially groundbreaking at the time.
The team effort from Nintendo and Square plays to both of their strengths and this turn-based RPG makeover of the Mushroom Kingdom is a triumph. It delivers the tight gameplay of Final Fantasy games while it also helps experiment with Mario outside of a platforming context, marking a crucial turning point for the franchise.
7 Final Fantasy VI Goes For Broke With The SNES’ Biggest Entry In The Franchise
Final Fantasy is still regarded as one of the most important RPG series, but its influence was even greater back during the days of the Super Nintendo. Final Fantasy IV and Final Fantasy VI are both iconic triumphs, but the latter benefits from being the last Final Fantasy on the Super Nintendo, and therefore the most advanced and ambitious for the platform. The game's steampunk world is a welcome change of pace and the story is arguably the best in the franchise, especially when it comes to the development of its major antagonist, Kefka. It's a testament to what could be accomplished in RPG storytelling on the Super Nintendo.
6 Harvest Moon Offers A More Relaxing RPG Experience
When gamers think about RPGs they typically envision fantasy worlds and turn-based battles against demonic tyrants. This style of RPG dominates the genre, but farm simulations provide a rich contrast in role-playing games and they've only risen in prominence in modern gaming. The success of these games would be impossible without Harvest Moon, a series that's been featured on many Nintendo consoles, but the Super Nintendo version nailed the formula. Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing wouldn't exist today without the pioneering work of Harvest Moon.
5 Ogre Battle: The March Of The Black Queen Is A Pivotal Tactical-RPG Title
The Ogre Battle tactical RPG series has struggled to make a name for itself outside of Japan, but each entry in the series offers an incredibly dense story and rewarding gameplay that emphasizes gaming fundamentals.
The Ogre Battle series was one of the more hardcore RPG experiences for more seasoned gamers and it combines fantasy and military aesthetics in creative ways. The Super Nintendo's Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen is a vital title for the 16-bit console that helped Nintendo embrace more tactical and strategic RPGs.
4 Secret Of Evermore Turns To A Unique World To Enhance Its Moving Story
The biggest RPGs from the 1990s are Japanese productions that were localized overseas. The growing popularity of RPGs on the Super Nintendo in North America led to Square allowing American developers to produce their own content, with the result being the iconoclastic Secret of Evermore. Secret of Evermore is set in a dark, sci-fi dystopia that feels closer to the future than some nebulous fantasy world of the past. Secret of Evermore stands out because of its creative alchemy system and the way its party of characters is restricted to its plucky protagonist and his dog.
3 Illusion Of Gaia Mixes Up The RPG Formula To Achieve Big Results
Illusion of Gaia continues to stand out among its Super Nintendo RPG peers due to its incorporation of roguelike mechanics over the more conventional leveling up approach that dominates '90s RPGs. The amount of freedom the player has when it comes to their health, attack, and defense helps turn each playthrough of Illusion of Gaia into radically different experiences. Illusion of Gaia isn't afraid to stray from the norm, whether it's in terms of its gameplay, graphics, and the locations players visit during this epic adventure.
2 Dragon Quest V Pushes The Franchise Forward With Crucial New Components
The Dragon Quest RPG series is still at the top of the genre. There are some pivotal Dragon Quest entries that were released on the Super Nintendo, but the influence of Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride, is still felt today. Dragon Quest V is significant because of its eclectic environments that cover everything from the inside of a volcano to an ice palace, but it's also the first entry in the RPG series where random monsters can join the hero's party. In addition, it's the first video game featuring a playable pregnancy, an innovation that shouldn't be overlooked.
1 Secret Of Mana Pushes Fast-Paced Combat In A Wonderful World
Secret of Mana is an acclaimed RPG from the 1990s that's recently received a fancy modern remake, but the Super Nintendo original holds up remarkably well and is just as satisfying to play today. Secret of Mana adheres to a stereotypical fantasy RPG storyline that concerns a magical war, but the precise and addicting gameplay is where the title truly stands out. The faster-paced nature of the action-RPG title helped introduce new players to the genre and create a more mainstream experience. Add to that a lush visual aesthetic and fantastic music and Secret of Mana is an RPG that delivers on every level.