The Best RPGs on the SNES Console

Launched in the early 1990s, the SNES saw an array of RPGs filled with intricate stories, memorable characters, and innovative game-play mechanics.

Here is our list of some of the best RPGs on the SNES console.

Chrono Trigger

Chrono Trigger is a classic role-playing video game (RPG) developed and published by Square (now Square Enix) for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1995.

The game was created by a group of renowned developers, famously referred to as the “Dream Team,” which included Hironobu Sakaguchi (creator of the Final Fantasy series), Yuji Horii (creator of the Dragon Quest series), and artist Akira Toriyama (famous for his work on the Dragon Ball series).

The game’s story focuses on a group of adventurers who travel through time to prevent a global catastrophe. The narrative spans different eras, from prehistoric times to a post-apocalyptic future.

Key features of Chrono Trigger are its multiple endings, plot-related side-quests, and a unique combat system that incorporates time as a strategic element.

Its music was composed by Yasunori Mitsuda and Nobuo Uematsu.

Chrono Trigger has been re-released on various platforms over the years, including the PlayStation, Nintendo DS, mobile devices, and PC, allowing new generations of players to experience this classic.

It’s often cited as one of the greatest video games for the SNES and has a dedicated fan base even decades after its initial release.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past” is a critically acclaimed action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES).

Released in 1991 in Japan and 1992 in North America and Europe, it is the third installment in “The Legend of Zelda” series.

“A Link to the Past” returns to the top-down perspective and game-play style of the original “The Legend of Zelda,” moving away from the side-scrolling format of “Zelda II: The Adventure of Link.” This return to form was widely praised and helped to solidify the series’ iconic game-play style.

The story follows Link, a young hero who sets out on a quest to save Hyrule and rescue Princess Zelda from the evil wizard Agahnim. The narrative introduces the concept of a parallel world to Hyrule, known as the Dark World. This dual-world mechanic is central to the game’s structure and puzzles, as Link travels between the Light and Dark Worlds to progress in his quest.

Final Fantasy IV

Final Fantasy IV, originally released in 1991 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, is a game in the Final Fantasy series and was considered foundational within the history of RPG video game development.

The game follows the story of Cecil, a dark knight struggling with his loyalty to his kingdom and his sense of morality. Throughout his journey, he encounters a diverse group of characters, each with their own unique backgrounds and abilities. This party of heroes faces numerous challenges and battles as they attempt to save the world from a powerful sorcerer, Golbez, and a malevolent entity known as Zemus.

Final Fantasy IV was pioneering for introducing the Active Time Battle (ATB) system, which added a real-time element to turn-based combat, making battles more dynamic and strategic. This became a staple in many subsequent Final Fantasy games.

Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals

Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals is a classic role-playing game (RPG) that was originally released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in 1995.

Developed by Neverland and published by Taito in Japan and Natsume in North America, the game is a prequel to the original Lufia & The Fortress of Doom.

The game follows the story of Maxim, a young monster hunter, as he embarks on a journey to confront a group of powerful beings known as the Sinistrals who threaten the world. Throughout his quest, Maxim is joined by a variety of characters, each with their own unique skills and backstories, including the spell-caster Selan, the powerful warrior Guy, and the quirky yet capable inventor Dekar.

The game’s dungeons are filled with puzzles that require strategic thinking to solve, making it a little different than other RPGs from the era. This added an extra layer of engagement to the dungeon exploration aspect of the game.

Another key feature of Lufia II is the Capsule Monster system, which allows players to collect and raise monsters that can assist in battles. This added a level of strategy and customization to the combat system, as players could choose which monsters to bring into battle and how to evolve them.

EarthBound

EarthBound, known in Japan as “Mother 2” is a role-playing game (RPG) which was developed by Ape Inc. and HAL Laboratory, and published by Nintendo.

Released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in 1994 in Japan and 1995 in North America, EarthBound is the second game in the “Mother” series, which was created by Shigesato Itoi.

The game is set in a fictional version of Earth and follows the story of a young boy named Ness. Ness embarks on a journey to collect melodies from eight Sanctuaries in order to stop the evil alien force Giygas from dominating the world. Along his journey, Ness is joined by other unique characters: Paula, a girl with psychic abilities; Jeff, a young inventor; and Poo, a martial artist and prince.

EarthBound is known for its quirky and humorous take on the RPG genre, deviating from the traditional fantasy settings of contemporary RPGs, as the story takes place in a modern setting, with cities, buildings, and modern landscapes.

The battle system in EarthBound is turn-based, reminiscent of traditional RPGs, but with a few unique twists. One notable feature is the “rolling health meter” – when a character takes damage, their health slowly rolls down, giving players a chance to heal before the character is knocked out. The game also includes a system that allows players to win battles instantly against weaker enemies, streamlining gameplay.

Secret of Mana

Secret of Mana, known in Japan as “Seiken Densetsu 2”, is an action role-playing game (RPG) developed and published by Square (now Square Enix) for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES).

It was originally released in 1993 and is the second installment in the Seiken Densetsu series.

The game is set in a fantasy world, which players navigate through from an overhead perspective. The story follows three protagonists — a boy, a girl, and a sprite — on their quest to prevent an empire from conquering the world with the power of an ancient flying warship. This quest leads them to seek out the eight Mana Temples to restore balance to the Mana Sword and stop the evil empire.

One of the most notable features of Secret of Mana is its real-time battle system, a departure from the turn-based systems commonly used in RPGs at the time. Players control one character at a time while the others are controlled by AI, but there’s also a local multiplayer option where each character can be controlled by a different player.

The game also includes a unique “ring command” menu system, which allows players to pause the action and make tactical decisions, such as selecting spells or items.

Breath of Fire

Breath of Fire is a role-playing game (RPG) developed and published by Capcom, originally released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in 1993.

It is the first installment in the Breath of Fire series.

The game is set in a fantasy world populated by a variety of races, including humans, anthropomorphic animals, and dragons. The story revolves around Ryu, a young man with the ability to transform into a dragon, who embarks on a quest to save his sister and defeat the evil emperor Zog, who seeks to conquer the world.

Breath of Fire features traditional turn-based combat, with a party of characters each possessing unique abilities and spells. The game allows players to form a party of up to four characters from a larger pool of potential members, each with their own strengths, weaknesses, and special abilities. This party-based system and character variety add depth and strategy to the battles.

One of the distinctive features of Breath of Fire is the dragon transformations of the protagonist, Ryu. These transformations play a key role in both the story and game-play, as they provide powerful abilities that can turn the tide of battle.

The soundtrack was composed by Yasuaki Fujita and Yoko Shimomura, who would both go on to have great careers in video game music.

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars is a role-playing game (RPG), developed through a unique collaboration between Nintendo and Square (now Square Enix).

Released in 1996 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), this game is notable for being the first RPG in the Mario series, blending traditional RPG elements with the iconic characters of the Mario franchise.

The story of Super Mario RPG begins with Mario setting out to rescue Princess Toadstool (Peach) from Bowser. However, the narrative quickly evolves into a larger quest when a new enemy, the Smithy Gang, appears, shattering the Star Road and causing chaos in the Mushroom Kingdom. Mario teams up with a diverse cast of characters, including Princess Toadstool, Bowser, a cloud-like creature named Mallow, and a living doll named Geno, to recover the seven stars needed to repair the Star Road.

The game-play in Super Mario RPG is a blend of traditional turn-based RPG combat and platforming elements. The battle system incorporates a timing-based mechanic known as “Timed Hits,” where players can deal extra damage or defend more effectively by pressing a button at the right moment during an attack or defense.

The game’s soundtrack was composed by Yoko Shimomura.

Secret of Evermore

Secret of Evermore is an action role-playing game (RPG) developed by SquareSoft (now Square Enix) for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES).

Released in 1995, it was unique in that it was the first Square game developed entirely by a North American team.

The game’s story centers on a young boy and his pet dog who accidentally transport themselves to the world of Evermore. This world is composed of different realms, each themed after various historical and fantasy settings, such as prehistoric times, ancient Egypt, medieval Europe, and a futuristic world, all of which the boy must navigate, in order to find a way back home.

One of the notable features of Secret of Evermore is its alchemy system, which replaces the traditional magic system seen in many RPGs. Players collect ingredients scattered throughout the game world and use them to create various alchemical formulas. These formulas can be used to attack enemies, heal the player, or provide various other effects. This system requires players to experiment with different combinations and adds an element of strategy to the game.

The game also features real-time combat, where players control the boy and occasionally the dog, switching control between them.

Terranigma

Terranigma, known in Japan as “Tenchi Sōzō”, is an action role-playing game (RPG) developed by Quintet and published by Enix (now Square Enix) for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES).

It was released in 1995 and is the third game in the unofficially connected “Soul Blazer” trilogy, following Soul Blazer and Illusion of Gaia. However, it’s important to note that each game in this trilogy stands alone with its own distinct story and characters.

In Terranigma, players take on the role of Ark, a mischievous boy from a small village who inadvertently triggers a series of events that lead to the resurrection of the surface world, which had been sealed away and frozen in time. The game is divided into two main parts: the resurrection of the Earth, which involves reviving continents and life forms, and the reclamation, where Ark helps civilizations develop and flourish.

The game-play combines fast-paced, real-time combat with exploration and puzzle-solving. Ark travels across an over-world map that represents a down-scaled version of Earth, visiting various locations inspired by real-world geography and cultures. In these locations, he engages in combat, interacts with characters, solves puzzles, and fulfills quests that drive the story forward.

Terranigma is particularly noted for its deep and philosophical story-line, which delves into themes such as creation, resurrection, and the cycle of life. The game explores these themes not only through its main narrative but also through the various subplots and characters Ark encounters on his journey.

The game’s graphics are considered some of the best on the SNES, with detailed sprites, vibrant colors, and dynamic animations. The music, composed by Miyoko Kobayashi and Masanori Hikichi, is also highly praised for its quality and how well it complements the game’s atmosphere and themes.

Robotrek

Robotrek, known in Japan as “Slapstick”, is a role-playing game (RPG) developed by Quintet and published by Enix (now part of Square Enix) for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES).

In Robotrek, players take on the role of a young inventor whose father is a famous scientist. The main feature of the game is the ability to build and customize robots that the player then controls in battles. These robots can be equipped with a variety of weapons, items, and skills, which the player can upgrade and modify throughout the game. This level of customization was relatively unusual for RPGs at the time and added a significant strategic element to the game.

The battle system in Robotrek is turn-based. However, instead of the player character fighting directly, the battles are fought by the robots they create and customize. This adds an extra layer of strategy, as players must not only consider the usual RPG tactics but also how they design and equip their robots.

The game’s story involves the player’s quest to stop a group known as the Hackers, who are causing trouble in the world. The narrative is light-hearted and filled with humor, a contrast to many of the more serious RPGs of the time.