Asking me to pick the best SNES Games of all time is like asking me what my favourite type of pasta is. The answer normally takes a long time and most people end up drifting off to sleep, but fortunately for you, you can skip out my thinking process.
Some of my best gaming memories are playing on Duck Hunt on the NES using a massive bazooka controller that my Uncle had in his collection. I think that’s where my love of Nintendo consoles first started, and since then I’ve owned every single one that they’ve produced. GameBoys, N64, Wii’s; you name it and I’ve got it.
Seeing Zelda up on the big screen for the first time and trying your hand at Mario Kart all in glorious colour; those memories just don’t go away!
I found it incredibly hard to pick the Best SNES Games of all time from the vast list of titles in my collection and out there in the world, I’ve tried to whittle it down to 50 for you to look through and reminisce.
Table of Contents
50. Uniracers (1994)
Uniracers takes the 50th spot on this list of the best SNES games list of all time.
And before you wonder ‘is this game as weird as it looks’, I’m going to let you know that it’s 100% the strangest game on the console.
What would happen if you mixed Dave Mirra’s Freestyle BMXing with Iggy’s Reckin’ Balls and Sonic The Hedgehog?
That’s Uniracers for you!
Zoom along different courses at ridiculous speeds, landing amazing tricks to keep that speed creeping up.
The more tricks you pull off, the faster you’ll go, and the more chance you’ll have of getting across the line before the clock hits 0 and in front of your opponent too!
It’s definitely a different style of racing game to the one you’re used to and it’s certainly not everyone’s cup of tea, but it never fails to provide a good laugh!
49. Yoshi’s Safari (1993)
Yoshi’s Safari is a game i missed the first time around.
It’s a little weird heading around Jewellery Land instead of the Mushroom Kingdom, and it’s even weirder that this is a shooting game with Mario riding around on the back of Yoshi.
Although I’ve got to admit, it’s something I never thought would happen and man is it addictive!
Mario isn’t seen while you’re playing, just the back of Yoshi’s head (or the side when he’s dizzy like above!).
Grab the SuperScope, your best CRT TVs for retro gaming, and smash Mario villains into the dust.
There are no bells and whistles on this game, it’s just a fun and cutesy shooter and unapologetically so.
The SuperScope is pretty big though, so maybe train the dog to sit real still in front of you so you can rest it on its head!
48. Super Ghouls & Ghosts (1991)
Super Ghouls & Ghosts sees the legendary King Arthur working to save his beloved lady from the hands of the demon Loki.
Yes, these games just keep getting weirder and weirder, don’t they!
The main aim is to snatch your beloved back from the hordes of undead that are swarming the levels. The game looks swish, and while the gameplay is pretty simple, it’s still fin to sink your teeth into.
Which is probably how the undead cretins are thinking about you too!
Just look at the textures on that grass, all in a game from 1991. And Arthur’s got some slick moves too. I wouldn’t want to be on the other end of his sword, that’s for sure!
One thing’s for sure; when Arthur gets back to his round table, he’s going to have a few crazy stories to tell the lads!
47. Breath Of Fire II (1994)
Breath Of Fire II is up next, two apprentice rangers trying to make their way in the world.
But when one of them is sent down for a crime they didn’t commit (yeah, stuff’s about to get real), you must clear their name and discover who you really are at the same time.
I know it sounds a little ‘young adult coming of age’, and I suppose it is, which is why fantasy fans are going to love it!
Switch between top-down views when moving around the Zelda-esque world and 2.5D gameplay ala Final Fantasy when getting into battles.
Create the ultimate party, hone the skills of your members, and unlock your memories as you move through the game. The fate of your friend depends on you, so what are you waiting for?
46. Top Gear (1992)
Top Gear takes the 46th slot in this list of the best SNES games. There might be two other sequels to this game, but the first title will always be the best.
And you know what, the graphics still impress me for a game that came out when I was two years old. It’s not exactly advanced, but the 32 courses look fantastic.
Look after your fuel gauge, steer clear of obstacles on the track, and try to avoid ploughing into the scenery as you gaze at it while driving.
Annoyingly, the computer always drives a little faster than you, so beating them isn’t going to be a walk in the park. Every second counts, so make sure you hug those corners!
With only 4 cars to choose from with varying stats, there’s not much replayability. Still, any game that has a password system is gonna be tough, so you’ll be at it a while!
45. Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen (1993)
Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen takes the 45th spot in this list of the best SNES games of all time!
For those tactical RPG fans out there, this is an absolute must-have title. It’s jam-packed with real-time strategic gameplay and epic battles, with the player looking after multiple factions of an army.
The cool twist – the factions are made up of mythological creatures such as a zombie ents, dragons, and hounds of hell!
So when I say this is a real-time game, players move their characters in real time and then swap to turn-based battles whenever skirmishes happen.
Build up your character, take advantage of special techniques, and grow your army into a major tour de force to win any battle.
There’s also a morality element to the game too, with players aligning themselves towards the forces of good or evil depending on the actions they take throughout the game!
44. Gradius III (1989)
Gradius III is up next, a space-age shooter that looks and feels a lot like R-Type.
You’ll probably find that I compare a lot of games to R-Type here on Retro Dodo, just like I compare a lot of karting games to Mario Kart. Some games just dominate a genre, and R-Type has monopolised scrolling shooters for me!
The ship in this game has a fantastic name too; a Vic Viper space fighter!
Where can I get my hands on one of those!
With three modes of difficulty and the chance to take it in turns and play with a friend, this 1989 shooter provides a great play through and some light relief from some of the more taxing titles further down this list.
43. Shadowrun (1993)
Shadowrun takes the 43rd spot in this list of the best SNES games of all time!
Any fans of Cyberpunk 2077 need to head back and check out this retrolicious RPG. It was actually birthed from a tabletop game which is still going strong today, and manages to cross futuristic tropes with dragons and elves.
In other words, a fantasy mashup that we all need in our lives!
And if you’re looking for a SNES game with a soundtrack to get your blood racing, then look no further. Not only does it have amazing visuals for a game made 3 decades ago, brilliant tunes, and a storyline that George R. R. Martin would be proud of, but it also has a few minigames for players to dive into aswell.
There’s definitely an argument that this game was ahead of its time; that’s why it didn’t sell as well back in the day. People just weren’t ready for this level of nerd, but now everyone’s lapping this game up like it was free at a local Dungeon Master convention.
42. Super Double Dragon (1992)
Super Double Dragon see Billy and jimmy Lee heading back into action once more. It’s all the brilliance of Double Dragon, but this time it’s ‘Super’.
And that has nothing to do with the fact that this game is appearing on the Super Nintendo… honestly.
The Black Shadow Warriors have taken your friend, and you have to use all of your martial arts awesomeness to take them down in the coolest ways possible.
All while wearing double denim.
Players have the option to either go solo or to team up and attack bad guys together. It’s way more fun with a friend on the go, however, both tackling the Hulk Hogan-esque bad guys in unison and working together to lay the smackdown.
Can you save your friend from the Shadow Warriors and punch their leader into next week?
41. Earthworm Jim 2 (1995)
Earthworm Jim 2 will forever be one of my favourite games on any console. Whether playing on the Mega Drive or on the SNES, everything about Earthworm Jim still makes me smile.
I mean, what’s not to love about an earthworm in a robotic superhero suit that allows him to run around like a human?
Add his mate Snot into the mix, and you’re soon swinging across caverns, fighting massive enemies with insane firepower, and generally having the time of your life!
The first time you decimate everyone on the screen with the barn blaster is one of those moments that will never leave you, either. It’s like the South Park cow launcher on steroids!
The game has a very Taz: Escape from Mars feel to it, with Jim moving through dark worlds and pumping enemies full of lead as he goes.
The main aim of the game is to save Princess Whats-Her-Name from the wretched and dastardly Psy-Crow. If you haven’t guessed already, it helps to be a little unhinged when playing this one.
40. Axelay (1992)
Axelay takes the 40th spot in this list of the best SNES games of all time!
We love a good retro space game here at Retro Dodo, and this story of a one-person fighter jet which is the only one of its kind taking on a horde of aliens is right up our street.
Your mission – to take the aliens out where they live. That’s right, we’re taking the fight to them!
One of the things I like about Axelay is that it mixes play up. With horizontal and vertical scrolling play it kind of feels like the lovechild or R-Type and Ikaruga.
Which can only ever be a good thing, right?
And, when you get onto a vertical scrolling mode, you’ll be able to immerse yourself in the magic of the SNES’ Mode 7 graphics. For those not into jargon, that’s the bit that makes the levels look like they have multiple layers in them!
39. Contra III: The Alien Wars (1992)
Contra III: The Alien Wars recently appeared on our top Gameboy games list under the name ‘Contra: The Alien Wars”. The SNES title goes for gold with the full name and rightful place as the third title in the series.
Contra games will never get boring. I love running into battle with guns blazing or ploughing through streets filled with cretins in a tank.
The main problem I have i s that I tend to die a lot as this game is insane, but you know, you can’t have everything!
Shoot in multiple directions as you let bullets rain down on your enemies. Some of the bosses are ridiculous too. I think I’d just turn the other way and keep on running if this was real life.
One of the cool things about Contra 3 is that it comes with some exciting top-down levels where players ride a motorbike and complete missions instead of just trotting from left to right.
It always pays to mix things up a little, and you’ll need these levels to give your head (and eyes) a rest!
38. Super Punch-Out!! (1994)
Super Punch-Out!! (which has always annoyed me with its use of two exclamation marks) isn’t the same as Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!.
Again with the marks!!
It’s the same game series, but Nintendo lost the rights to use Mike Tyson in the title when their licensing deal expired.
Still, if you love boxing and smashing your way through a tournament, then this is the game for you!
See through your character as you watch your opponents moves. There are multiple boxers to square up against, 16 champions in total as you fight your way to the top!
It’s not as hands-on as Wii Boxing, but man is it addictive. And, it’s a great game to play with a mate on a Saturday afternoon too!
Yeah, there’s a secret two-player mode… wish we had known that back in the day!
37. Batman Returns (1992)
Batman Returns takes the 37th spot in this list of the best SNES games of all time!
It’s true that Batman is one seriously cool dude. I’m not a massive fan of the earlier movies now that I’ve seen Christopher Nolan’s trilogy, but I’ve got so much time for the games.
As you might expect from a 90s SNES title, the gameplay is mainly a Streets Of Rage meets Double Dragon kind of beat-em-up side-scroller.
There is a level where Batman gets to drive his iconic Batmobile too though, just to keep you on your toes.
This level looks pretty simple but the clowns on bikes never fail to raise those anger levels. Why is it always clowns!
Throw Batarangs, smack your enemies into the dirt, and stop the Penguin in his tracks.
36. Secret Of Evermore (1995)
The Secret Of Evermore definitely sounds like an Emo band from the early 2000’s, but it’s actually a great and somewhat spooky SNES game.
It’s also the first of two games with Secret in the title, because one always makes me think of the other!
When a boy and a dog go poking around with some abandoned scientific equipment, they become transported to the world of Evermore… presumable forever more!
There’s a reason why this game and the one coming up next remind me of each other, and it’s because they’re incredibly similar.
Instead of magic (or mana), this game revolves around the idea of alchemists, with the player collecting different items to use in conjunction with one-another as they progress through the game.
It won’t revolutionise your SNES collection, but I had fun playing it and would definitely recommend picking up a copy if you can find one cheap!
35. Secret Of Mana (1993)
Secret Of Mana takes the 35th spot in our list of the best SNES games ever made!
This RPG is jam packed full fighting action, hack and slash mashing from start to finish. Take a trip through a magical world governed by the power of (you guessed it) Mana along with two other AI characters, wielding spells and upgrading your armour and weapons as you progress.
For those of you that haven’t played Secrets of Mana before, here’s the lowdown.
Mana is imbued into the heart of the natural world, but an evil villain wanted to use it to break the harmony the people created and conquer the planet. Death and destruction reigned, but peace prevailed in time.
Still, all good things must come to an end, and history has a habit of repeating itself.
Cue a knight, a magical sword, an army of monsters, and all sorts of horrible goings on, all in colourful graphics and an immersive storyline that captured the hearts and minds of gamers everywhere.
Mana is powerful stuff!
34. NBA Jam (1994)
NBA Jam is basketball action at it’s finest… or it would have been back in 1994.
This simple 2v2 basketball title is super fun to play both solo and with mates. You control one member of your team, so chose your computer character carefully!
Oh, and pick a mate that’s easy to beat too.
The crowd look pretty detailed for an early 90s game, which makes up for the wild slam dunks that the players pull.
Honestly, if I tried to pull off a move like that id be laid up in bed for a week!
If you’re not massively up on your Basketball, then there’s no need to worry either. The only real rule that you need to remember is the 3-point line, and that’s it. The controls are much easier than trying to work out what to do in Fifa, and it’s so simple that even my gran could do it!
33. Super Tennis (1991)
Super Tennis kicks off this list of the best SNES games of all time with some of the best pre-match music of all time.
Those tunes were retrolicious, as were the get-ups worn by the different players. Each character represents a famous tennis player of the time, though due to licensing issues their last names don’t feature.
If you know your tennis, then guessing who’s who adds to the excitement!
I used to love playing doubles with a mate while playing this game. We’d team up against the computer and smash them every time.
Players can hone their skills solo in single mode, and there are plenty of tournaments to power through on the way to the top of the rankings.
The characters run, leap, and strike like absolute pros, and the game even has three different surfaces to play on which is a neat feature.
I want to know where Nintendo got those three identical triplets in the background from; must have been tough tracking them down!
32. Tetris Attack (1995)
Fans of Tetris and pretty much every block-joining game ever will love Tetris Attack. It’s one of the most addictive multiplayer titles on the SNES and, strangely, has absolutely nothing to do with Tetris.
Yep, it’s called Tetris attack but doesn’t use Tetris blocks or Tetris levels. It doesn’t even have the Tetris music!
Why Tetris put their name to this game is another story for another day. Today’s gamers may well know this series better through Pokemon Puzzle League and through references in other popular titles.
The format is simple; join symbols and clear screens. The blocks pile up pretty quickly as more filter in from the bottom, so keeping a calm head and steady hands are the key to success in this title.
Like Puyo Puyo 2, well known characters adorn the screen and gameboards. This title is based on game Number 8 in this list of the best SNES games, though we’ve got a bit of a way to go before we get there!
Play multiplayer against mates or improve your skills in the single player mode. It’s a vibrant, colourful title that needs to be in your collection.
31. Illusion of Gaia (1993)
Illusion of Gaia takes the 28th spot in this list of the best SNES games of all time!
It’s life on earth, but not as we know it. Imagine all of the famous landmarks that you know and love; the Great Wall of China, the Incan Ruins, etc.
Now, imagine those places overrun by ghouls, goblins, and undead cretins. It’s your job to take a band of characters through the games different levels, following a mission set by the primordial being, Gaia.
Now that’s a request that would be impossible to worm your way out of.
Players control Will, the protagonist of Illusion of Gaia who must stop a comet from destroying the earth. Through the game, Will can become two other characters; a dark knight called Freedan, and a living ball of energy named Shadow.
I wonder if that’s where Sega got the idea for the ultimate lifeform from?
Unlike other RPG titles where levelling up happens through earning skill or mana points, players receive a ‘level up’ gem after killing certain enemies throughout the game. It removes the ‘waiting time’ while you decide which stats to beef up and keeps gameplay flowing, which I think is a nice touch!
30. Killer Instinct (1994)
Fulgore and the gang are back in Killer Instinct, one of the best SNES games for pulling off epic moves and laying the smackdown on friends.
One of the best bits about the SNES version of this game was the black cartridge that it came with as well as a bundled CD of killer instrumental fight tunes.
Ok, that wasn’t the best bit, but it was real cool and stood out amongst the other games in player’s collections.
The Game Boy version of Killer Instinct and the SNES are virtually the same bar the home console version providing glorious colour battles and more definition on the characters.
Fulgore, T.J Combo, Glacius; they’re all playable characters and epic fighters that just seem to have that (get ready for a title drop) Killer Instinct running through their veins.
Battle against every CPU player in a bit to become the champion or play against a mate. Killer Instinct is a solid title for anyone who’s completed or grown bored with the other fighting games lower down this list!
29. Harvest Moon (1996)
Harvest Moon is a game that needs no real introduction. It’s probably the most famous farming simulator of all time and enjoyed by fans all over the globe.
Not bad for a game where you have to look after your late Grandfather’s farm, is it?
The weird thing about this game is that ‘ol Grandpappy checks in on you from time to time to make sure the farm is still in good nick, and if he’s not happy, it’s game over!
Like Animal Crossing, certain events happen at certain times of the game year and every action has a consequence.
If crops arent’ watered, then they won’t grow. If the animals arent’ fed or tended to properly, then they’ll die, meaning less money for the farm and the business failing.
It’s not all work and no play though; the local pub is open on an evening to chat to other in-game NPCs, a great place to pick up tips, tricks, and maybe even a business opportunity or two!
28. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles In Time (1991)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles In Time takes the 25th spot in this list of the best SNES games of all time!
Although this is the fourth game released in the series, it’s actually the sequel to the original TMNT arcade game, which I think we can all agree is one of the best arcade games ever made!
Well, this sequel continues to replicate the vibes and feel of the epic cartoon series with a brand new adventure for fans of the half-shell-heroes to sink their teeth into!
It’s time travelling turtle action like you’ve never seen before. After Krang and Shredder orchestrate a heist of the Statue of Liberty, the Turtles give chase.
After entering the Technodrome, Shredder sends the Turtles into a timewarp; talk about a tough day! Not only do they have to try and save the statue of liberty, but they’ve got to battle Shredder’s cronies through the past and the future as well as finding a way to get home.
You can’t play four player like the arcade cabinet version, but two players can team up to tackle this title together. Each turtle has his own strengths and weaknesses, as well as different power combos, a new feature to the series.
27. The Lion King (1994)
The Lion King still makes me angry to this day. Do you know how many times I had to do this giraffe level as a kid? Honestly, it drove me crazy; I’ve taunted myself by including a picture of the scene below!
The Lion King video game looked great, despite my obvious flaws while playing it. Fans of the Disney film will know the storyline and love the tunes that feature through the game too, as well as cameos from other lovable characters.
Players control Simba as both a cub and a fully grown adult as the game progresses. Cub Simba can only roar and jump on stuff, but adult Simba is a bonafide badass.
That guy can maul enemies into submission, a skill he’s going to need for the final showdown with his maniacal uncle, Scar.
Play as everyone’s favourite duo, Timon and Pumba, in bonus stages and immerse yourself in this Disney classic. Along with Disney’s Aladdin, these are two of the best games that Virgin Games produced.
26. Kirby’s Dream Land 3 (1997)
The Pink Peril himself returns in Kirby’s Dream Land 3, a brilliant side-scrolling platform adventure that fans of the first two Dream Land titles will love from the off.
Kirby never gets a day off. This time, he’s got to save Planet Popstar from a shady-looking Dark Cloud.
Planet Popstar might sound a little like Simon Cowell’s newest reality TV show, but don’t be fooled. This colourful, once peaceful world is about to be the torn asunder by the forces of evil right before your very eyes!
Kirby’s Dream Land 3 has two different endings depending on your commitment to collecting and completing a game 100%.
Spoiler alert; peace can only be truly achieved by collecting all of the heart stars, otherwise you’ll end up being treated to a similar-style ending as every Stranger Things series where the bad guy comes back even bigger and stronger!
Inhale enemies, spit stars, and float around the game’s exciting levels, accompanied by Kirby’s many animal pals including Rick the Hamster and Chuchu the Octopus!
25. Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals (1995)
Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals is up next, a brain tickling RPG title that acts as a prequel to the first Lufia game.
This title is a puzzle fans dream. Seriously, it’s crammed with problems to solve and challenges to complete, all of which require a fast mind and the patience of a buddhist monk.
Compared to Lufia and the Fortress of Doom, Rise of the Sinistrals feels like a much more polished game. The random encounters have disappeared, making it feel less like a romp through Viridian Forest in bug mating season, and the new weapons and abilities introduced through the various characters are so cool you won’t ever want to put your controller down.
But what is this game all about, and what the Dickens is a Sinistral?
Rise of the Sinistrals is a prequel to the original Lufia adventure. It follows the story of Maxim, the ancester of the main character who finds himself mixed up in a fierce battle between mankind and a bunch of all-powerful gods.
Yep, the Sinistrals are gods… big, brutal, gods.
In true RPG style, players delve into dungeons, kill baddies, and level up. Save up cash and items to buy spells and weapons or search the vast levels for them instead. Take a party of three characters along with you (that’s four in total for those fearful of math) as you fight to save the world.
It’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it!
24. Super Bomberman (1993)
Everyone loves Bomberman. The early games with the epic multiplayer action brought some of the fondest memories of my childhood, and that’s even when I lost continually.
Still, these games did also have a normal story-style mode as well as the epic battle arena… though you could play this game and never actually delve into the main storyline quite easily.
Picture the scene; you’re in Diamond City, and Dr Mukk along with Mr. Karat have been causing a right old ruckus.
Clear the board in each level, destroy the enemies, and move onto the next brain-tickling puzzle.
Connect your SNES up with 4 controllers thanks to the Super MultiTap, one of the best SNES accessories, and create the ultimate battle with friends.
Let’s face it, that’s the main reason you’re buying this game, right?
23. Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong’s Double Trouble (1996)
Donkey Kong Country 3 takes the 21st spot in this list of the best SNES games of all time!
Dixie won the hearts of gamers everywhere in Donkey Kong Country 2. So much so, in fact, that she was given a chance to take the limelight along with her cousin, Kiddy Kong.
The game is very similar to the first two adventures as far as looks and gameplay mechanics are concerned. The pre-rendered graphics that Shigeru Miyamoto hated so much make a return, as do King K. Rule and his Kremlins.
Dixie and Kiddy are on a mission to save Donkey and Diddy from ol’ croc Face K.Rool himself. Like the first two games, players can control either Dixie or Kiddy at any point, utilising Dixie’s Ponytail hover move or Kiddy’s water-skipping ability.
Animals play a big part in the game too, with Enguarde the Swordfish returning alongside new animals such as Ellie the Elephant.
Collect Bananas and DK coins, save Donkey and Diddy, and kick as much crocodile ass as possible. Job done.
22. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy Kong’s Quest (1995)
Double DK! Donkey Kong Country 2 might look familiar to fans of Donkey Kong Land 2, one of the best Gameboy games of all time.
That’s because the two games are very similar in setting and storyline.
In both titles, Diddy and Dixie Kong take the reigns as the main protaganists on a quest to save Donkey Kong from K.Rool…
… this guy’s as bad as Bowser and peach. Seriously, K.Rool, don’t kings have more important stuff to be getting on with than stealing simian superstars?
The pre-rendered 3D-esque graphics look brilliant, in my humble opinion. Dixie made a big splash as the newest Kong on the scene, and Diddy proved that he didn’t have to hide in the big man’s shadow anymore.
Let’s talk about facts and figures surrounding this title now. For starters, it’s the best selling game to have not been part of a game/console bundle. It’s also the sixth best selling SNES game of all time!
All in all, I’d say that makes it a huge success!
Complete all of the 52 levels on Crocodile Isle and rescue DK King K.Rool’s claws…
… or should that be Klaws? Let’s move on.
21. Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (1996)
What’s this; a Mario RPG on the SNES?! Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars is one of those Mario games that tends to get left by the wayside in favour of the traditional titles, but it’s one of the best Mario games and one of the best SNES games on the console!
A lot of our favourite Mazza adventures wouldn’t exist without this one. The Mario & Luigi series on the GBA and the hugely successful Paper Mario canon have their origins in this game, which makes it a worthy entry in this list for that fact alone!
In short, imagine Final Fantasy III with Nintendo characters working together instead of battling each other for a change, and you’ll get the general gist of the game!
Like Zaxxon and other games that are classed as having isometric 3D graphics, Super Mario RPG has a 2.5D, almost diagonal-down viewing angle.
Take it turns to fight bad guys and then wait while they pummel you as you battle it out to see who will come out victorious. Mario can team up with three other characters, and the whole thing feels so familiar to an RPG nerd like me.
Instead of taking itself too seriously, Super Mario RPG boasts a comical element that would later go on to be the main pull in Superstar Saga and the other portable RPG adventures. Critics couldn’t get enough of it, and neither can we!
20. Final Fantasy III (1990)
Speaking of Final Fantasy III, it’s up next in our list of the best SNES games ever made!
What is there to say about FF3? Well, it’s a classic, a bonafide RPG adventure with more magic and fantasy than Terry Pratchett and Tolkien having a joint elven-themed birthday party.
With 1.4 million sales under its belt before it ever left Japan, the game was always destined to one day end up in this most prestigious of lists.
The game follows four orphans who are given powers by a mysterious crystal of light. The talking crystal (it’s an RPG, of course it can talk) bids the four orphans to save the world, using their new power to bring balance back to the universe.
Leaving their floating continent, the four young warriors must delve into the world below. They’ll chat with warlocks, meet soothsayers, and battle humongous enemies as their quest proceeds.
It’s never a dull day in the world of Final Fantasy…
FF3 remains one of my favourite games to kick back with. The storyline is superb, the graphics are great, and the camaraderie between the four orphan main characters is fantastic.
With updates such as visible hit points and all the same turn-based beatdowns from the first two games, this is one title you’re going to want to get hold of right away!
19. Final Fantasy IV (1991)
Why not go with Final Fantasy IV next eh, another cracking RPG for the SNES.
Technically, this is Final Fantasy 2 to us Western gamers, as it was the 2nd game to be released in the West.
Why it couldn’t still have been called Final Fantasy 4 I don’t know; are our brains so puny that we couldn’t deal with the fact that other things go on in other parts of the world?
Active Time Battles made an appearance in the 4th FF title, bringing real time elements to the tried and tested turn-based battles made famous from these games.
FF4 also brought specified classes into the mix too; you can’t customise your characters like in previous games.
Still, I quite like picking one of the existing characters and classes; it helps to feel more a part of a story that’s been written for you to enjoy.
And with the best SNES HDMI cables, this game looks fantastic on modern TVs!
18. Kirby Super Star (1996)
Kirby Super Star brings 8 amazing Kirby titles to your screen in one Super Nintendo cart…
… don’t mind if I do!
This game is a must-have for fans of the Pink Peril himself. The games are brilliant and this compendium brings new moves and never-before used abilities to the table.
Inhaling enemies now creates a helper copy, a little like Gooigi from Luigi’s Mansion 3. This helper can be used by a second player for those old-school couch-co-op feels!
Here’s a brief lowdown of the games in Kirby Super Star –
- Dyna Blade – Prevent a monstrous bird from guzzling up all the crops in Dream Land.
- Gourmet Race – Race against King Dedede while scoffing down the most food along the way to be crowned the winner.
- Milky Way Wishes – A huge adventure where Kirby travels between 9 worlds to protect a wish-granting comet.
- Revenge of Meta Knight – Beat the clock and prevent Meta Knight from taking over Dream World.
- Spring Breeze – A SNES remake of the classic title ‘Kirby’s Dream World’.
- Sub-games – Two mini games; Samurai Kirby and Megaton Punch.
- The Arena – Fight every boss featured on the cartridge and become the ultimate champion.
- The Great Cave Offensive – Go treasure hunting and obtain over 60 hidden items from other famous Nintendo series.
If that doesn’t make you want to part with your hard earned cash for a copy of this epic game, then I don’t think anything will!
17. Mario Paint (1992)
Using a mouse with a Nintendo plastic mousemat might seem like a strange concept on a games console, but Mario Paint had hours of fun hidden away inside it.
You might find it hard to become the next Bob Ross or Leonardo Davinci (I bet that’s the first time those two have been in a sentence together), but it was great for mucking about doodling your own designs or making bizarre drawings.
If you’re a whizz on Microsoft paint like Jim’ll Paint It, then you probably can make anything you want by using this game!
Two of the most memorable parts of this game were the melody maker, in which you use different character faces and emblems as different notes and instruments in a bid to remake classic Nintendo songs, and the fly swatter game which still remains infuriatingly addictive.
It might not be a game that you play on religiously for months, but it’s one of the Best SNES Games for letting off steam after losing your temper with Zelda or dying for the 100th time on Super Mario World. Test it out and see what you can create!
16. Super Star Wars (1992)
Star Wars is one of my favourite film franchises of all time, so it’s no surprise that ‘Super Star Wars‘ made it into this list. Not content with simply recreating the 1977 first entry into the series, Nintendo slapped ‘Super’ on there to bring it in line with the SNES branding.
Does that make Luke ‘Super Skywalker’? I kind of like it!
Super Star Wars has everything that a classic ‘run and gun’ title should have. It’s side-scrolling brilliance with perfectly designed backdrops that recreate all of your favourite scenes from the movies.
While most of the action revolves around running through iconic areas from the film, you will also be able to drive a landspeeder and pilot an X-wing just like in the movie. You can also play as multiple characters from the original story too.
The game follows the plot-line closely with a few adjustements to make it work as a game. It’s the perfect title for any space-nerds like myself out there and a must have for any Star Wars fans.
15. Mortal Kombat 3 (1993)
Where do I begin with the next title on my list of the Best SNES Games. Mortal Kombat 3 soaked up so many hours of my childhood life.
Perfecting the special moves for Sub-Zero, Cyrax, Smoke, Nightwolf. Cindrel, Liu Kang; my friends and I played as all of them until we were the best!
The Mortal Kombat series is known for its gruesome fatality scenes and pushing the boundaries of fighting games. Back in the day, Mortal Kombat 3 had a bit of blood and portrayed the ideas of gruesome finishing moves, but they weren’t too harrowing to watch as a kid.
The game itself was absolutely awesome. While other fighting titles proved more popular, none were as weird or as brutal as Mortal Kombat. Robots that fired missiles, a warrior that could freeze you and break you into chunks of ice. These guys and girls weren’t messing around!
I played this game around the time that the cartoon series came out too. I knew all the good guys from the bad guys (watch out, Kano) and always fought as my favourite fighters from the show. If you’re looking for a fighting game with a difference, then check this out!
14. Super Castlevania IV (1991)
Castlevania IV had some of the best music of any computer game ever made. Add that to Konami’s winning vampire-slaying formula and Simon Belmont slaying ghouls and demons, and you’ve got yourself one of the greatest games of all time.
Many people do consider Castlevania IV to be one of the best games ever made, and once you’ve played it, it’s not hard to see why.
The graphics were cutting-edge for the time, the gameplay makes it impossible to put down, and the expanded play controls made it superior to all of the entries in the series before it.
So what is Castlevania IV? Well, the story follows Simon Belmont on his mission to kill Dracula. It’s 1961, Simon has a whip that can block projectiles and attack enemies, and there are undead people trying to eat him alive. ‘Nuff said; this game kicks ass!
You might recently have played this game on the SNES Classic Mini amongst the other pre-installed titles on the system. If you’re a fan of side-scrollers with attitude, then Castlevania IV should be high up on your list.
13. F-Zero (1990)
Many of you will have battled your way through Super Smash Bros. using the all-powerful ‘FALCOOOON PUUUUNCH’, but Captain Falcon didn’t start his career on the battleground.
Well, not a fighting battleground at any rate.
Captain Falcon starred in F-Zero, a futuristic racing game set in the 26th century. Fans of Mario Kart beware – this is not a game that you can play while relaxing back in an armchair. This is high-speed danger driving at its best.
F-Zero was famous for being a hard and challenging game. Bashing into the sides of the track would result in you losing power to your space racer, while special energy strips would fill your bar back up again.
You could race as different characters, all of whom had ships with different attributes. The courses felt so much different to the friendly worlds in Mario Kart – this was a ‘race or die’ kind of challenge where banana skins were the least of your worries!
12. Chrono Trigger (1995)
If you haven’t played Chrono Trigger, then I’m afraid you haven’t lived. It has one of the coolest game covers ever and stands tall amongst the likes of Fire Emblem and Final Fantasy.
Dare I say it, but it could be my favourite RPG of all time!
Because this game was such a huge hit, it tends to go for a pretty penny on second-hand-resale sites. Still, if you can get hold of a copy, then it’s 100% worth the cost.
Just look at that game still above; how many SNES games look that good? It’s an immersive adventure that gamers of any age can enjoy and a title that seperates the fair-weather gamers from the hardcore Nintendoids.
Like any good RPG, Chrono Trigger has tonnes of great characters and side-quests galore. There are multiple endings to uncover too and a storyline that involves time travel and a Grandfather Paradox. Talk about deep!
It’s no surprise that this game was such a success with the brains behind Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and DragonBall Z artist behind it!
No wonder many people consider it to be one of the be greatest games of all time!
11. Super Mario All-Stars (1993)
The next entry in our list of the Best SNES Games features four titles for the price of one. Super Mario All-Stars was one of the best titles for the SNES and was loved by gamers and critics alike. It’s a pure work of genius and features all of the best Mario titles in one game pak with some nice extras thrown in for good measure.
I loved this game as it had ‘everything under one roof’, so to speak. I could quickly swap and change through my favourite Mario games as I pleased without getting out of bed.
You could play as Luigi, Toad, and Peach too, which added even more Mushroom Kingdom madness.
Super Mario All-Stars featured remastered renditions of the original games, something that Shigeru Miyamoto wanted to bring to the table after the successful completion of Mario Kart. This game sold over 10.5-million copies, making it one of the most successful SNES games and Super Mario titles of all time.
If you’re a die-hard Mario fan, then the chances are you’ve already played this game. If, however, you’ve joined at Super Mario Odyssey and want to get to know the plumber’s illustrious back catalogue, then this is a great place to start!
10. Mega Man X (1993)
Mega Man X isn’t just cool because the letter X makes everything cool.
Ok, it kind of does though, doesn’t it? X marks the spot, X-Men… you get the idea.
Mega Man X kickstarted a whole new branch of Mega Man adventures, and to be honest they’re my favourite part of the series.
Having the ability to climb and dash up walls as well as being a kick-ass space hero – yes please!
So who or what is Mega Man X?
Well, a scientist created him, and then put him in storage for 100 years.
What a waste, especially since an evil dude finds him and replicates into a reploid, and then tonnes more reploids, all intent on killing the human race.
Enter X and Zero, the dream team that will save humankind from a robot-eating end.
Upgrade X as you hunt down reploids through fantastic side-scrolling levels; Samus Aran would be proud
9. Super Mario World (1990)
Ask anyone who the character is with the red hat and blue overalls, and 99.89% of people will tell you that it’s Mario. He could well be the most famous game character of all time, if not the most famous plumber, and his franchise spans generations.
You have to be a pretty dark and moody gamer not to enjoy hearing that ‘yahoo’ or ‘let’sa go!’ whenever he jumps or enters a level, and the controls in Super Mario World are also so perfectly simple that anyone could pick them up and have a go.
Super Mario World sold an astonishing 20million copies, making it the winner of the Best SNES Games of all time accolade (in terms of sales at any rate). The storyline is classic; save Peach from Bowser, but this time you have to save Dinosaur Island at the same time.
What’s more, you can now play as Luigi and use Yoshi to get around too! Things just don’t get better than this.
If you haven’t played Super Mario World then you really need to wake up and get onto eBay, stat; this is one game that you need to play before you run out of real-life 1-Up mushrooms, so to speak.
8. Yoshi’s Island (1995)
Yoshi first debuted in Super Mario World, even though he was born in the minds of developers back in the NES days. Thanks to Super Mario World becoming one of the Best SNES Games of all time and one of the best platformers on the console to boot, Yoshi managed to snag his own title on the console; Yoshi’s Island.
Game critics and players everywhere loved the graphics, the style, the music; everything about this game was a winner.
It’s no surprise with Shigeru Myamoto behind the wheel really; everything that man touches turns to video gaming gold!
Yoshi is still loved by Nintendo fans all over the world today; my girlfriend always snaps him up when we play Mario Party before I even have a chance to pick him!
The colouring book style setting and scribble drawings in the background add a new texture never before seen in the SNES game world, one that we would go on to see in Yoshi’s Story and feel traces of in Yoshi’s Wooly World.
This side-scrolling game sees you controlling Yoshi as he jumps, flutters, and eats his way through a multitude of worlds, solving puzzles and grabbing collectables on the go.
You have to get Baby Mario back across all 48 levels and rescue Baby Luigi from the Koopalings, all without losing our little red-capped friend along the way. It’s a brilliant game and on that firmly deserves a place in our Best SNES Games list.
Ok, time for something non-Mario related next!
7. Star Fox (1993)
In a world where side-scrolling 2D games reign supreme, one Fox dares to make a difference.
That should have been the title for the advertising slogan, but unfortunately, I was too young to be employed by Nintendo at the time.
Thanks to the Super FX chip (everything is’ Super’ in the Nintendo-verse), the first-ever Star Fox game was a 3D forward scrolling space-age shooter, which was a very nice surprise for Nintendo fans and a kick in the teeth to their competitors.
Star Fox features the one and only Fox McCloud and his space crew; Falco Lombardi (still the best character name ever), Peppy Hare, and Slippy Toad. It’s based in the Lylat System, and their mission is to defeat the evil Andross from taking over the galaxy.
I’m a big fan of space-age fighter games, and Star Fox still retains all of the tension and excitement that it did back in the day. Firing torpedos at robots and enemy craft is something I’ll never be able to do in real life, so at least I can get my fix in a virtual way.
Being able to temporarily speed up and slow down to avoid enemies was a very nice touch and, unlike Rogue Squadron where every altercation with a mountain seems to kill you, Fox’s Arwing has a decent shield around it to stop you from becoming a slice of furry burnt toast every time you crash into the world around you.
It’s tricky and it can be stressful at times, but it’s one of the Best SNES Games that I’ve ever played, so I’m sticking it in the list!
6. Pilotwings (1990)
What made Pilotwings so exciting to play? Maybe it was the fact that many of us will never actually have the guts or the skills to get up in the air in a real plane? Perhaps it was the fact that it was just so damn addictive?
Either way, it’s a worthy entry into our list of the Best SNES Games and one that you NEED to try.
Pilotwings is an amateur flying game where the player takes to the skies in a variety of different aircraft and using thrill-seeking adventure equipment.
You have to train to gain a license in light plane flight, skydiving, hang gliding, and the super-cool rocket belt!
One of the best bits about this game was the name of the training area – the ‘Flight Club’. I guess the second rule of Flight Club is that I can’t mention it again, so I better move on.
You get points for completing certain tasks and how fast you finish each stage. The graphics were pretty stunning for the time and the gameplay itself was so intriguing, largely down to the fact that I never had the cahoonas to do any of these sports in real life.
If you want a challenge that doesn’t involve eating 1-Up mushrooms or bouncing on piranha plants, then give Pilot Wings a try. It’s hi-octane fun from the comfort of your own home.
5. Street Fighter II – The World Warrior (1991)
Street Fighter II: The World Warrior tried to destroy me a number of times, but I desperately wanted to become the world warrior (which I finally did when I was about 16. No biggy).
Fighting as Blanca, Guile, Ryu, Ken, Dhalsim, E. Honda, and the rest of the Street Fighters was like nothing that I had experienced before on a computer game.
To this day, I still don’t know what Blanca’s deal is, and I can’t think about Yoga without seeing Dhalsim’s massive arms. And how hard was the bullfighter dude at the very end of the game! Capcom sure now how to make good punch ’em ups!
The controls are pretty simple if you want to kick and punch your way to victory, but with a plethora of special moves up our heroes sleeves (expect for Blanca who doesn’t wear sleeves), you can pull out some insane techniques that will make it impossible for your opponent to gain the upper ground.
Each fight follows a ‘best of three’ system and the person with most health will win if no-one defeats their opponent in the last round.
FUN FACT – I was in a band called ‘Hundred Hand Slap’ for a little while. None of us wore Sumo skirts though; we might have been more popular if we did.
4. Super Mario Kart (1992)
Mario Kart doesn’t really need an introduction, or any write up to follow it if I’m going to be perfectly honest. But, I have a word count to hit…so…lets…give…it…a…go.
Accelerate, brake, fire weapons, steer, drift. That’s all you need to know to play Mario Kart, which makes it one of the Best SNES Games for beginners and the most accessible racing game of all time.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re a tattooed goth who loves Dark Souls or a princely pup who continuously craves Nintendogs, everyone loves Mario Kart, and the SNES version of Rainbow Road still makes me excited whenever I play on it.
Even though the graphics are a little dated now and the players look a little squashed, the gameplay and the racing format that we have come to know and love is exactly the same.
It’s a timeless classic and one that I’m definitely going to be showing to my future kids to let them know where kart racing began.
This game would go on to influence Mario Kart 64, arguably the best title in the series, and many other racing games across all of the other platforms.
3. Super Metroid (1994)
Samus Aran couldn’t be more kick-ass if she tried. A space soldier in a robotic suit that uses a plasma cannon to defeat alien monsters; it doesn’t get much better than that!
Samus travels to Zebes to take an infant Metroid creature from the hands of a notorious space pirate named Ridley. If you were still wondering whether this is a good game before the last sentence, then hopefully that will have convinced you that Super Metroid is another one of the Best SNES Games of all time.
You can fire your plasma cannon in eight different directions as you travel through the different levels, using your grappling hook to swing over canyons and pull objects towards you.
The Morph Ball has always been one of my favourite functions linked to Samus’ suit, especially because you can plant bombs while you’re rolling!
And don’t get me started on the massive enemies and bosses that you come up against; those guys just don’t know how to die! Samus is a space-age heroine of epic proportion, and her games are all highly rated by the global gaming world.
One small leap for space soldiers, one giant leap for Nintendo-kind!
2. The Legend Of Zelda – A Link To The Past (1991)
Zelda games are my childhood (and my adulthood if I’m being perfectly honest). Link is one of the greatest characters of all time and just as influential as Mario when it comes to pushing new Nintendo consoles (there’s a reason why the Switch launched with BOTW!).
A Link To The Past see’s our green-garbed crusader trying to stop his arch-nemesis Ganon from being released by an evil wizard.
It follows the alternate reality in which the Hero of Time did not succeed, which for all you non-nerds out there means that Ganondorf is trapped in the Sacred Realm with the triforce pieces, but in his beast form, named Ganon.
The Sacred Realm is now the Dark realm and Link is the only one that can save the descendants of the Seven Sages (the ones from Ocarina of time that you don’t technically know about yet) and defeat the wizard, thus saving Hyrule and cleansing the Sacred Realm.
Whether you understood that top bit or not doesn’t matter; the fact is that this is a stellar game and one that everyone needs to play at least once in their lifetime.
It’s the first title where we come into contact with
You can play it on the SNES or try it out on the Nintendo Switch through the online membership. What have you got to lose?
1. Donkey Kong Country (1994)
Shigeru Miyamoto might not have liked the pre-rendered graphics on this game, but Donkey Kong Country will forever be one of the Best SNES Games of all time in my humble opinion. I used to play this game with my cousin all the time, taking it in turns whenever one of us died or lost a life.
Riding Rambi the rhino and shooting around levels using the barrel cannons was so amazing, and there’s something about a kick-ass fighting squad of apes defeating walking crocodiles that will never stop being awesome.
King K. Rool might not be as well known as Bowser or Ganondorf, but he’s still a tough cookie to crack!
I still don’t know why King K. Rool stole all of Donkey Kong’s bananas, but he was messing with the wrong ape when he took those sweet yellow snacks away from Kong’s jungle house.
Players must take the duo through the different levels and collect as many bananas as they can while trying to avoid and/or defeat the minions along the way.
It’s a fast-thinking fast-paced adventure game that I still love playing today, and when I think of the SNES, I always think about Donkey Kong Country and those blasted blasting barrels first.
Think we’ve missed something out? What are the Best SNES Games from your gaming past? Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and let us know!
Seb Santabarbara has bought every Nintendo console that has ever been released in his 33 years on Planet Earth. His favourite game franchise is Zelda, and he’s patiently waiting for Banjo-Kazooie to come back to the fold. When he’s not playing games, he’s travelling the world in his self-converted camper van.
