Best rpg games for super nes

These details are what great games are made of — though the groovy soundtrack and creative dungeon design help a lot. Rather than epic medieval fantasy warriors, the game asks you to raise robots and power them up with scrap parts found throughout your adventure.

No, really. While not the first Legend of Zelda title, this game set the standard that the series would try to emulate for a long time. The gameplay has a nice balance between exploration, puzzle-solving, and challenging combat — and the graphics are to die for.

But by that point, the series already had a long history in Japan. The story follows two generations of warriors fighting to stop the revival of an ancient dragon god. Most long-time fans follow it since the incredible Tales of Destiny on the PlayStation, which was the first game released in the US — but it began with Tales of Phantasia for the SFC three years before.

This early title already had that high fantasy setting, a great story, and exciting combat — though partner AI was notoriously dumb. You may remember the Bahamut as the hardcore boss from Final Fantasy II, or the useful summon in Final Fantasy X — but did you know it has its own game? Square developed Secret of Evermore as a sort of American-made spiritual successor to Secret of Mana. But it remains a fantastic entry in the SNES roster.

Rather than learning magic or equipping items with assigned spells, players must brew magical potions through alchemy. Actually a very fun playthrough once you get the hang of it. You can enjoy it for the story and graphics, while slowly learning the ropes of role-playing adventures. Going lighter with the RPG elements also allowed devs to focus on making exploration more dynamic.

What developer Quintet started in Soul Blazer would continue in Illusion of Gaia, a spiritual successor with similar overtones and the same top-down RPG action.

Gaia tasks protagonist Will to put down monsters by beating them up with his flute — and occasionally morphing into different mighty warriors. Its RPG mechanics are not the deepest. But the bizarre storyline was unique on the Super Nintendo for touching on dark subjects like child labor, cannibalism, and yeah some weird stuff.

The game also introduced Captain Falcon, a talented driver and mysterious bounty hunter who came to be the poster boy for the series, and we'll never forget when he first showed us his moves 20 years ago. As awesome as it was fighting Mike Tyson, the more surreal and exaggerated characters of Super Punch-Out!! The gameplay of Super Punch-Out!! It's the same hooks, uppercuts and super punches as always.

However the precision-based action of each match is truly spectacular, boiling down to studying each outlandish opponent for weaknesses.

Best of all was finding a boxer's instant KO point. While it was certainly possible to wear an enemy down, even taking advantage of low defenses, most of your foes featured openings that would instantly take them down.

Bigger, badder, and more barrel-filled than the original, Donkey Kong Country 2 took the DKC recipe and pumped it up with gorilla steroids. Along the way they enlist a wacky cast of ride-able animal buddies like a spider and a rattlesnake to kollect koins, kill kreatures, kartwheel over kanyons and… do other things that inexplicably start with the letter K. Tetris Attack is an early entry in a series of puzzle games that began with the Japan-only Panel de Pon.

This game was localized by adding the cast and settings of Yoshi's Island in the US, and then remade again as Pokemon Puzzle League for the Nintendo If you've played any of these games, you know how addicting and clever the dual panel-switching mechanic is. What really makes Tetris Attack stand out is its competitive mode in which you can send evil blocks raining down on your opponent's game. Back in , the term "rage-quit" hadn't been coined yet, but many SNES controllers suffered, nonetheless.

Final Fantasy IV is all about character development, with copious amounts of dialogue and back stories for each of the wildly different fighters on your team: the young wizard twins, a kung-fu master, a girl who can summon crazy gods to kick butt.

Characters like Cecil, Rydia, and Kain are memorable not only for their varying ability to beat up dragons, but as tiny, pixelated actors on a digital stage.

However, its hilarious commentary on American culture, psychedelic premise, and unique take on the RPG genre instantly cemented it as a cult classic. The story follows Ness, a character who grew to know greater popularity than his game thanks to his inclusion in the Super Smash Bros. A prophetic alien bee named Buzz Buzz changes the course of the young boy's life, setting him on an adventure that those of us who have experienced it would never forget.

The evolution of the original series, Mega Man X changed the game by introducing new mechanics, new characters, and a new take on the Blue Bomber. The addition of wall jumping and dashing propelled X into a class of its own, allowing the player to interact with practically every square inch of the entire game.

Rousing rock tunes offset the frantic, fast-paced gameplay. Killer bosses like Chill Penguin and Sting Chameleon give you ample motivation to perfect your skills. X was the first — though certainly not the last — reinvention of Mega Man. It somehow managed to build upon the brilliant foundation of the original, and for that alone it more than deserves a spot on this list. This delightful action RPG shook up the genre with its fun and deep battle system, incorporating real-time action with a brilliant use of timed attacks.

Players are required to know just when to evade and when to go in for the kill, and the depth only increases as the story progresses. There are also plentiful characters and weapons to equip, making for a highly strategic, and highly satisfying, RPG experience. Secret of Mana, which is actually the sequel to Final Fantasy Adventure for the Game Boy, also allows for co-op gameplay, which was highly unique for an RPG at the time.

Throw in beautiful music and a timeless story and you have a delightful mash between Final Fantasy and The Legend of Zelda that shouldn't be missed. With just one entry, Square and Nintendo created a game that is not only noteworthy for its crisp gameplay and clever JRPG innovations, but also for its ability to let Mario work side-by-side with his nemesis Bowser.

That might seem fairly standard today, but back then Nintendo fans across the globe were blown away. Adding Mario or not, Nintendo and Square pulled out all the stops, creating an RPG that stands alongside some of the best products from either company.

Now if only we could get a true sequel…. Long before Fox McCloud barrel rolled into our lives, his father, James, was already facing off against Andross with his fellow furry flyers. In addition to fast-paced, frenetic gameplay, this action-packed flight simulation game was also distinguished as being the first Nintendo title to feature three-dimensional graphics, back when this was still incredibly rare.

Throw in some beyond memorable characters Falco, Slippy, and Peppy, for instance , and you have a title that is worthy of being remembered. Mario has visited many established genres and franchises, but with Super Mario Kart he started something new. Prior to Kart, racing games were fairly straightforward, leaning towards simulation or arcade, but rarely deviating too much from either path. Kart took racing through the jungle and off a cliff, imbuing players with power-ups and all sorts of crazy antics, including a highly addictive multiplayer mode.

It's impossible to calculate how many hours we spent chasing each other around maze-like battlegrounds or avoiding ricocheting shells in an effort to pop balloons. Regardless, Super Mario Kart quickly became one of the most addicting SNES experiences ever, long after all of the races had been won and the shortcuts had been discovered. The game defined Yoshi as a character, giving him some of his most iconic moves like the flutter kick and egg throw.

Another genre-defining masterpiece that is arguably still one of the best in its class. Super Street Fighter II Turbo was, for its time, the best fighting game available for a home console, and the pinnacle of evolution for this particular title.

While it couldn't quite match what was available in the arcades, if you wanted to pit Ryu against Ken in the comfort of your own home, you couldn't do much better than this. Street Fighter had a certain elegance and simplicity back in the early '90s, something that no doubt contributed to its lasting appeal.

To this day, it's hard to forget the first time we pulled off a Hadouken or when we fought M. Bison for the first time. Street Fighter was truly the beginning of a huge boom for the fighting game genre, and a trailblazer for dozens of other franchises.

How do you follow up a masterpiece like Super Mario Bros. That question no doubt lingered in the minds of many as the launch of the SNES approached. Super Mario World was given the impossible task of attempting to perfect platforming perfection -- finding power-ups, level designs, graphics, and music that would outdo or stand alongside what most consider to be the best NES game ever. Somehow, Nintendo managed to do just that. Mario World doesn't reinvent platform gaming, but it does find a way to make it seem fresh again, introducing ideas like Yoshi, expanding the Mushroom Kingdom's zany cast of characters and blowing our minds with some truly excellent visuals and audio.

Upon its debut, the SNES managed to make the impossible somehow possible. That's mighty impressive. Visually, acoustically, and mechanically, FFVI was leaps and bounds ahead of the competitors. The item customization and battle mechanics are tight and intuitive, and the game is one of the most well balanced RPGs to date. What makes the game stand out to this day are the characters and storyline.

FFVI touches on issues few games had the guts to, and presents a large casts of characters, all of whom are fleshed out and relatable. The opera scene is one of the most memorable moments in Final Fantasy history. With flawless action, impeccable level design, out-of-this-world atmosphere, a totally badass heroine, and an enormous overworld to explore, few games can hope to reach its rung on the ladder of pure gaming bliss.

From the moment you set foot on Zebes to the moment you leave it exploding in your wake, every moment of this game is unadulterated fun, and it only gets better the further you get. It certainly won't be the last. But it's arguable that Square's masterpiece is the best.

Remarkably, the action-packed story of a boy's quest through history stands the test of time, with almost flawless pacing and gameplay. Square's epic saga might have come towards the end of the SNES's life, but some things are best saved for last.

The original Legend of Zelda for NES set the basic structure the series would continue to follow for the next quarter century. A Link to the Past made that series a legend. From the very outset of the game the player is thrown in the middle of the action. From the first swing of your sword to the final confrontation with Ganondorf, the game embodies pure SNES perfection.

Perhaps it's the well-balanced enemies, the memorable bosses, or the brilliant light and dark world system that sets the game apart. Or maybe it's the tight controls, perfected item system, or the glorious soundtrack. Whatever the reason, A Link to the Past remains our choice for the greatest game of possibly the greatest system of all time. Start at Let's-a Go! Final Fight. Developer Capcom. Released Developer Konami. Developer DMA Design. Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3.

Developer Midway. Street Fighter Alpha 2. Top Gear 2. Developer Gremlin Interactive. Super Turrican 2. Developer Factor 5. Super Double Dragon. Developer Technos.

Developer LucasArts. Developer Blizzard. Super Bomberman 2. Developer Hudson. Sunset Riders. Stunt Race FX. Developer Nintendo EAD. Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage. Developer Software Creations. Super Tennis. Developer Tokyo Shoseki.

Super Star Wars. Killer Instinct. Developer Rare. The Death and Return of Superman. Flashback: The Quest for Identity.

Developer Tiertix. X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse. Developer Beam Software. Soul Blazer. Developer Quintet. Madden NFL ' Developer Tiburon. Illusion of Gaia. Developer Natsume.

Rock n' Roll Racing. Jungle Strike. Developer Electronic Arts. Developer Bullfrog. Out of this World. Developer Eric Chahi. Kirby's Avalanche. Mega Man X3. The Lion King. Developer Virgin Interactive. Developer Irem. International Superstar Soccer. Fatal Fury 2. Kirby's Dream Land 3. Developer HAL Laboratory.

Developer Data East. NHL ' Earthworm Jim. Developer Shiny Entertainment. Alien 3. Developer Probe. Developer Taito. Breath of Fire II. Ken Griffey, Jr. Super Ghouls n' Ghosts. Yoshi's Cookie. Super Bomberman. Zombies Ate My Neighbors.

Kirby Super Star. Harvest Moon. Developer Pack-in-Video. Gradius III. Demon's Crest. Breath of Fire. EVO: Search for Eden. Developer Almanic. Ogre Battle: March of the Black Queen. Developer Quest. Earthworm Jim 2. Kirby's Dream Course. UN Squadron. NBA Jam. Sim City. Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals. Developer Neverland. Metal Warriors. Legend of the Mystical Ninja. Mega Man X2. The Lost Vikings.

Wario's Woods. Donkey Kong Country. Developer Nintendo. Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. Mortal Kombat II. Mario Paint. Super Castlevania IV. Super Mario All-Stars. Super Punch-Out!! Tetris Attack. Developer Tetris Attack. Final Fantasy IV. Developer Square. Mega Man X. Secret of Mana. Star Fox. Robotrek didn't perform brilliantly open its release and the JRPG has been largely forgotten since then. While the game lacked the polish and mainstream appeal of some of its contemporaries, Robotrek 's customization options were ahead of the curve in many ways.

A few years following its debut, the RPG made its way to the SNES, being one of the console's few entries in the genre to not be developed by a Japanese studio. Eye of the Beholder is a first-person dungeon crawler predominantly set in a sewer system. With four main characters and the option to add NPCs to the team, the game's best asset is the variety it provides in terms of party creation and formation.

However, Brain Lord doubles down on RPG elements, including more quests, combat options, and an interesting system involving monsters that aid the protagonist, Remeer. Brain Lord plays well, has a lengthy campaign that doesn't lose momentum along the way, and features dragons. Nihon Falcom's Ys is one of the most decorated JRPG franchises of all time , even if the series had to wait decades to really catch on outside of Japan.

While three entries were released on the Super Famicom, only Ys 3: Wanderers from Ys made it to North America, and it wasn't a great representation of the franchise. It features a solid rendition of Ys 's polarizing early combat system along with an engaging story. Square's Japan-only Live A Live has an intriguing central concept; play through multiple scenarios featuring different heroes before assembling them for one last adventure. This freedom allows for a wide variety of settings and tones, although the scenarios vary considerably in terms of quality.

Consequently, Live A Live is an uneven experience that can also be frustrating. A solid grid-based battle system keeps things interesting in the combat department, adding an element of strategy to fights. Conversely, this also means Lagoon has aged poorly compared to quite a few other SNES RPGs , particularly when it comes to its visuals and melee combat. Lagoon 's lackluster story and unsatisfying swordplay hold it down, but the game delivers in terms of exploration, music, and progression.

While a basic game that shows its age, Lagoon was a solid release for its era. As the release of Nintendo's bit console approached, publishers grew less interested in localizing games, particularly a niche genre like JRPGs. Developed and published by Square, Bahamut Lagoon wears its Final Fantasy influence on its sleeve, especially when it comes to its story. Narratively, the game is surprisingly complex and engaging, with strong characters who develop well throughout the campaign.

The combat system combines turn-based and tactical elements, with the latter largely taking the form of trainable dragons that have to be carefully evolved. Released towards the end of the SNES's lifespan, the original Star Ocean shares similarities with Tales of Phantasia , although the former has more than enough distinct features to stand on its own.

Beyond its refreshing sci-fi theme, Star Ocean boasts a combat system that bridges the gap between action and turn-based battles.