14. F-Zero
One of the launch games for the SNES, F-Zero showed the world what lightning-fast futuristic racing looks like, and even introduced another would-be iconic Super Smash Brothers character, Captain Falcon.
The game’s racing mechanics were intense, and the advanced Mode 7 graphics paved a unique style gamers hadn’t really seen at the time. Thanks to F-Zero, gamers got a glimpse of what would become one of the best gaming consoles of all-time, while also establishing a new, long-lasting IP.
13. Super Mario Kart
While we’re on the subject of racing games, Super Mario Kart may not have had the lightning fast driving of F-Zero, but it brought out a new side of competition players never knew they had.
Featuring characters throughout the Mario Brothers universe, Mario Kart reimagined the racing genre as not just a driving sim, but a multiplayer game where racers could gain power-ups and attack each other.
This game is surely to blame for many late nights of multiplayer madness with your best buddies, especially when you’re on a balloon popping frenzy in battle mode.
12. Mega Man X
The original Mega Man franchise was one of the most difficult, yet satisfying, games of the NES era. However, Capcom went back to the drawing board with its blue bomber franchise and delivered the ultra futuristic Mega Man X franchise.
The game kept the core Mega Man mechanics intact but introduced faster shooting, dashing, and wall jumping. It also gave players incentive to re-explore completed levels once they’ve upgraded their character so they could discover new items in areas of the stage that were once unreachable.
The Mega Man X series was beloved by many fans, old and new, and the series would go on to spawn countless sequels.
11. Super Street Fighter II
The big kahuna – or Hadouken – of the SNES fighting games.
Super Street Fighter II is in the pantheon of classic SNES games thanks to its diverse roster and tight fighting mechanics. Bringing a rich and robust fighting game that originated on the arcade cabinet to your home was a lofty goal, but Capcom nailed the hell out of it with Super Street Fighter II, giving us one of the most memorable games of all time that is still being emulated to this day.
10. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles In Time
You can’t talk about the 80’s or the 90’s without mentioning the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – and Turtles in Time was one of the highlights of the Turtles’ video game career. A port from the arcade, TMNT IV gave us a fast and frenetic side-scrolling beat ‘em up featuring all of our favorite turtles.
But what made Turtles in Time stand out was it perfectly captured the tone and vision of the original cartoon series. The bright colors, rogues gallery and overall personality of each turtle came across on the SNES. It also helps that the game features some memorable backdrops like a prehistoric dinosaur land and a raging battle on board a pirate ship in the open sea.
9. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island
The first Super Mario World introduced the world to the lovable green steed, Yoshi, but Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island let us take control of him.
A beautifully crafted sequel to one of the SNES’ best games, Yoshi’s Island lets players control Yoshi as he guides Baby Mario through the colorful world.
While the dynamic platform controls were still there, the game also introduced us to Yoshi’s full arsenal including his flutter jump and egg throw – two techniques that you needed to master if you wanted to retrieve a wailing Baby Mario from being kidnapped.
8. Donkey Kong Country
The character who started out his Nintendo career as a villain was eventually established as a hero thanks to Donkey Kong Country. The game lets you play as either the titular Donkey Kong or his chimp friend, Diddy.
A fantastic platformer, Donkey Kong Country was gorgeous to look at thanks to its 3D visuals. It’s also credited with giving the SNES one last successful breath as the next generation of gaming consoles were being introduced in the mid 90’s, including the Sony Playstation.
7. Contra III: The Alien Wars
This … fricking … game.
Contra III: The Alien Wars continues the long-standing series tradition of one hit deaths and mind-numbing difficulty, but the SNES version upped the bravado. It was chock-full of explosive weaponry for up to two players and for the first time in the series you could carry two weapons at once. Not only that, some the levels were completely insane as one stage lets you fight a boss mid-air while jumping and hanging from one live missile to another.
Sprinkle in some other insane boss fights, a few top down perspective levels, treacherous platforming, and a rock solid soundtrack straight out of Predator and Terminator, and you had yourself one explosive good time.
6. Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
Take one of the most iconic Nintendo characters of all time and let the developers of Final Fantasy make a game? Sign me up!
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars continues the SNES’ long lineage of excellent RPGs thanks to its colorful world exploration and timed battle mechanics. Add in the fact that game also contained the touchstone platforming mechanics Mario was known for, and you had yourself one of the most entertaining games of this console generation.
As an added bonus, while gamers are used to seeing Mario and Bowser share the screen together, this was one of the first times the two arch-nemeses worked together toward the same cause. It was groundbreaking stuff.
5. Final Fantasy III
While it’s technically Final Fantasy VI, Final Fantasy III (as it’s known in the states) completely changed the way JRPGs played.
Whether through its visuals, storytelling, enemies, or gameplay, Final Fantasy III was one of the most complete RPGs to ever hit the SNES. It proved that great writing and great characters were more than enough to satisfy players without the need for over the top cutscenes or action sequences.
4. Super Metroid
Arguably THE best Metroid game in the series (The Gamecube version is a close 2nd) Super Metroid expanded on what the original NES version brought to the table.
A superbly crafted world map, topped with fast-twitch action and addicting power ups, Samus Aran would become one of Nintendo’s top icons thanks to this SNES entry.
The world of Zebes was deadly and noxious, but exploring every nook and cranny was one of the highlights of this game, which would influence countless imitators likes Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and Shadow Complex.
3. Chrono Trigger
The JRPG hits just keep on coming with the SNES, and Chrono Trigger is no exception. Perhaps one of Square’s all-time best games, Chrono Trigger presented a time-traveling story that was filled to the brim with memorable characters and the potential for players to receive one of 13 endings.
The action was palpable too, as the game delivered a dynamic battle system. But perhaps the legacy of Chrono Trigger will forever reside with the fact that it was developed by some of the most iconic minds in nerd culture including Hironobu Sakaguchi (Final Fantasy), Yuji Horii (Dragon Quest), and Akira Toriyama, the creator of Dragon Ball.
2. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
The original Legend of Zelda blew the minds of people who got to explore the vast world of Hyrule – but The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past built even further on the original game’s foundation, delivering a legendary experience.
Exploring the 16-bit Hyrule and uncovering its secrets is a thing of beauty. The world is rich and colorful, but the introduction of the dark world created a stark contrast that can break the hearts of the bravest adventurers.
Exploration is key in Zelda, but the combat, items, memorable dungeons, and boss encounters of A Link to the Past are nearly impossible to top.
1. Super Mario World
What would a Nintendo game list be like without Mario?
As one of the pack-in launch games for the SNES, Super Mario World delivered what many thought was an impossible task: following up to the revered Super Mario Brothers 3. And Nintendo did just that, giving us an instant classic.
Super Mario World introduced us to the 16-bit era with flash, color, and plenty of fresh ideas. It showed us what a next generation game could be like by unleashing new characters like Mario’s trusty steed Yoshi, while also presenting wacky and memorable levels and boss fights.
If any game MUST be on a potential SNES classic console, it’s definitely this one.
Nintendo struck gold with the release of its NES classic console. The miniature version of one of the most popular consoles of all time is nearly impossible to find this holiday season. In fact, the $60 NES classic is selling so well that online scalpers are selling units for as high as $1,000 on eBay.
The bundle is popular because it not only sells nostalgia with its classic console and controller look, but it contains 30 great games including The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario Brothers, Castlevania, and much more.
So it got us thinking: what if Nintendo decided to up the ante and create a SNES classic in the same vein as the NES classic?
If (and that’s a big IF) Nintendo were to ever create such a miniature console, here are 30 games we’d love to see on it.
30. Killer Instinct
Rare’s first push into the fighting genre had a lot going against it. In the 90’s the market was saturated with popular games like Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter, but Killer Instinct brought something new to the table. The game utilized a unique computer-generated art style similar to Donkey Kong Country and popularized over-the-top combos with its combo breaker system.
Who can forget going up against Sabrewulf and getting absolutely pummeled to death by his continuous cartwheels? Of course, the game’s roster was chock full of memorable characters including Fulgore (a machine), Glacius (an elemental), and Riptor (a raptor).
29. Super Punch-Out!!
Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! may be the shining point of this series, but you would be doing yourself a disservice if you missed out on the SNES version.
Super Punch-Out !! features zany and maniacal opponents, including Bear Hugger, Mad Clown, and Nick/Rick Bruiser, but popular characters from the NES including Mr. Sandman, Super Macho Man, and Bald Bull also brought the intense precision-based fighting system to the ring. As the seemingly outmatched Little Mac, you had to study your opponent’s moves for weaknesses and exploit them with sweaty precision. Nothing compares to that thrill of knocking out your opponent after all your hard work.
28. Aladdin
You can probably put The Lion King right next to this entry, but Aladdin has a slight advantage. The SNES version of the game was completely different to the Sega Genesis version due to licensing issues, but it was still a great action platformer.
The animation was colorful, the jump mechanics were smooth, and the overall set pieces were a blast to play through, especially the sequence where you have to escape from the collapsing Cave of Wonders.
27. Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage
The SNES was the console that popularized the beat ‘em up/brawler genre, but Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage was a cut above the rest due to its faithfulness to its comic book source material.
The side-scrolling action was intense, and you got to play as either Spider-Man or Venom, each with their own unique fighting characteristics. Add in a colorful cast of characters, which helped introduce many audiences to the Marvel universe, and you had yourself one of the best games of the SNES generation.
26. Zombies Ate My Neighbors
Believe it or not, there was a time when zombies weren’t inundated in every creative medium we see today. Zombies Ate My Neighbors is a top-down shooter with fantastic level designs and a plucky B-movie vibe that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
The game featured great gunplay and was even more fun if you played in two-player mode. And you weren’t just killing zombies either. The game forced players to take on classic movie monsters including vampires, werewolves, squidmen, UFOs, and even demonic babies.
25. Earthworm Jim
There is probably no game that defines the oddball nature of the 90’s than Earthworm Jim. This game featured clever gunplay and platforming, but its zany characters and setting are what really set it apart. You played as a reluctant earthworm who was bestowed with a powerful suit, taking on the likes of intergalactic murderous villains like Psy-Crow and Queen Pulsating, Bloated, Festering, Sweaty, Pus-filled, Malformed, Slug-for-a-Butt (Yes, these are really their names).
The game did spawn a sequel (which was also pretty good) and even a short-lived animated TV series, but the first Earthworm Jim deserves the spot on the figurative SNES classic.
24. Super Mario All-Stars
Before it became popular to remaster older video games onto newer systems, Nintendo was about 20 years ahead of the curve when it released Super Mario All-Stars.
Unlike many of today’s ports, Nintendo gave us a fantastic compilation of the original three Mario games, plus the Japanese version of Super Mario Bros. 2, The Lost Levels. Each game had refined visuals for the SNES, making it a striking collection for gamers.
23. NBA Jam
One of the first video games to feature NBA-licensed teams and players, NBA Jam was a game that condensed the sport of basketball into intense 2-on-2 slam-dunk mayhem. NBA Jam allowed players to take control of some of the most popular athletes of the era who were granted superhero-like abilities like jumping 30 feet into the air and literally setting the basket on fire.
The game was frenetic, but when you used cheat codes like playing with big heads or unlocking presidential candidates as players, that’s when things got really interesting.
Oh yea, and BOOM SHAKALAKA!!!
22. Final Fight
Although it originated as an arcade coin-op, Final Fight was brought to the SNES in the early 90’s and helped pave the way for future 16-bit side-scrolling brawlers. The game features one of the cheesiest plots that would make the 80’s blush, with Metro City Mayor Mike Haggar’s daughter being kidnapped by street thugs, leaving the city’s highest elected official to personally go out and save her.
Final Fight featured some fun fighting mechanics with two playable characters who brought unique skills to the table. The game was an exercise in patience at times when you had to deal with overpowering enemies, but connecting your punches still feels satisfying all these years later.
21. Star Fox
Although it may have aged poorly, Star Fox at the time was one of the more advanced looking games of the generation thanks to its use of three-dimensional graphics. While it may look rough by today's visual standards, Star Fox still features fun flying mechanics and fast-paced shooting.
Plus, without this game, we may have never been blessed with hearing about the benefits of doing a barrel roll.
20. Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
Frankly, the entire Super Star Wars series should be on this list, but if we had to choose one, Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi is probably the best of the bunch. The game featured all of the intense action and platforming from the first two games, but now allowed players to choose from one of five different characters including Luke, Chewie, Han, Wicket, and Leia.
19. Secret of Mana
Secret of Mana is what you get when you mix Final Fantasy and Legend of Zelda. The game was a milestone for the SNES as it had one of the most unique battle systems around thanks to its hybrid real-time action and timed attacks. It also doesn’t hurt that Secret of Mana told a phenomenal story containing some of the more memorable characters in RPG.
The game was fast, fun, strategic, and bold all at once, and shouldn’t be missed if Nintendo were to ever grace us with a SNES classic.
18. Earthbound
Speaking of great RPGs, Earthbound is one of those games many people mistake as being a giant commercial success, but the opposite is true. Although Ness became popular with Super Smash Brothers, Earthbound was more of a cult hit in North America. In fact, it’s the only game in the Mother series to officially come out in the states.
Despite its lackluster sales, the game included fun battles and had a unique take on American pop culture. Not to mention, Earthbound had one of the trippiest dream sequences we’ve ever seen in gaming.
17. Mortal Kombat II
The original Mortal Kombat may have pushed the limits for violent video games, but MKII showed us you could make an even bloodier game and still make it groundbreaking. The second entry in the popular fighting series brought us more iconic characters like Baraka, Kung Lao, and Kitana/Mileena, while also expanding on the series’ fighting moves and fatalities.
Kombat Zones were also beautiful to look at, pushing the boundaries of the 16-bit era with stages like the Living Forest and Kahn’s Arena.
16. ActRaiser
Secret of Mana successfully brought together real-time action and timed battles, but ActRaiser successfully combined two different genres entirely.
Part side-scroller, part God game strategy, ActRaiser is considered another cult hit on the SNES because of its successful pairing of genres. It also delivered some of the most memorable boss fights of its time.
15. Super Castlevania IV
Super Castlevania IV can be considered one of the first reboots of the video game era. A retelling of the original NES Castlevania, Super Castlevania IV brought back main character Simon Belmont and a whole lot of monsters to slay with his trusty whip.
One of my favorite games of the entire series, Super Castlevania IV introduced multi-directional whip combat, new levels, and reimagined its unique cast of villains including Medusa, Frankenstein’s monster, the Grim Reaper, and of course, Count Dracula.
