Top 34 Best SNES Games
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES/SFC) is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 21, 1990, with sales of 49.1 million units worldwide.
There are 1447 game titles that can be played on the Super Famicom, and among them, 34 titles that I have personally selected are introduced here.
· My Best SFC Games
∘ 1. Super Mario World
∘ 2. Super Mario Kart
∘ 3. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
∘ 4. Chrono Trigger
∘ 5. Kirby Super Star
∘ 6. Final Fantasy VI
∘ 7. Dragon Quest III
∘ 8. Super Mario RPG
∘ 9. Trials of Mana
∘ 10. EarthBound
∘ 11. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island
∘ 12. Dragon Quest VI
∘ 13. Romancing SaGa 3
∘ 14. Final Fantasy V
∘ 15. Super Mario All-Stars
∘ 16. Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War
∘ 17. Dragon Quest V
∘ 18. Star Fox
∘ 19. Final Fantasy IV
∘ 20. Donkey Kong Country
∘ 21. Secret of Mana
∘ 22. SimCity
∘ 23. Final Fight 2
∘ 24. Super Metroid
∘ 25. Super Game Boy
∘ 26. Super Street Fighter II
∘ 27. Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts
∘ 28. Super Bomberman 3
∘ 29. Mega Man X2
∘ 30. F-Zero
∘ 31. Live A Live
∘ 32. Street Fighter II
∘ 33. Gokujo Parodius
∘ 34. Dragon Ball Z: Super Butōden 2
My Best SFC Games
I’d like to introduce 34 recommended game titles from the Super Famicom (SNES) softwares that I own.
- The release dates are based on Japan.
- The purchase price is the successful bid price at the Japanese net auction.
- All prices are for ROM cassette only; with box, prices are three to ten times higher.
- The exchange rate is 1 dollar = 147.61 yen.
Below is a list of the top 34 SFC games:
1. Super Mario World
One of the launch titles for the Super Famicom, released atthe same time as “F-Zero”.
It was the number one selling Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) software title worldwide, with a total of 20.61 million units sold. In Japan, it was second only to “Super Mario Kart” (3.82 million units), with approximately 3.55 million units sold.
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Release: 21 November 1990
- Genre: Platform
- Purchase Price: ¥800/$5.42
The two characters that can be controlled are Mario and Luigi, and you can also ride Yoshi the dinosaur.
Currently, the Super NES and Game Boy Advance versions are playable on Nintendo Switch Online.
2. Super Mario Kart
Characters from the Super Mario series ride in karts and race and battle. This is the memorable first title in the Mario Kart series.
There are four game modes: “Mario Kart GP,” “VS Match Race,” “Battle Game,” and “Time Attack.”
The Grand Prix mode has four cups and three difficulty levels (50cc, 100cc, 150cc).
There are a total of 20 different courses and 4 battle courses.
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Release: August 27, 1992
- Genre: Kart racing
- Purchase Price: ¥600/$4.06
It is included in Nintendo Switch Online, which was released on September 6, 2019.
3. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
It is a sequel to The Legend of Zelda (released in 1986) on the Family Computer Disk System and the third in the Zelda series.
The adventures are pursued by conquering dungeons scattered across a vast field map and traveling back and forth between the two worlds.
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Release: November 21, 1991
- Genre: Action-adventure
- Purchase Price: ¥780/$5.28
You can play this game on SNES - Nintendo Switch Online, which is available on Nintendo Switch on September 6, 2019.
4. Chrono Trigger
A role-playing game created as a “Dream Project” by the top management of “Final Fantasy” and “Dragon Quest”. The character design was done by Akira Toriyama, known for his manga Dragon Ball.
- Publisher: Square
- Release: March 11, 1995
- Genre: Role-playing
- Purchase Price: ¥580/$3.93
The player controls the main character, Chrono, who travels back and forth from the present to the future and past, altering the past history as he goes along in his adventures.
There are six characters that can be controlled, but if hidden characters are included, the total number of characters is seven.
5. Kirby Super Star
This is the seventh title in the “Kirby series” in Japan, and the fourth if limited to action games.
Kirby has a total of 24 copy abilities. In addition, it is possible to call “helper” characters for each copy.
The game can be played in six different action game modes and two mini-games, and once all the main games have been completed, a boss rush mode is unlocked in which players fight a series of bosses.
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Release: March 21, 1996
- Genre: Action, Platform
- Purchase Price: ¥650/$4.40
The game can currently be played on the Nintendo Switch Online, released in 2019.
6. Final Fantasy VI
It is the sixth game in the Final Fantasy series and all 14 characters are protagonists.
It uses 24 megabit ROM cassettes, and the graphics and background music are among the best of their time.
- Publisher: Square
- Release: April 2, 1994
- Genre: Role-playing
- Purchase Price: ¥350/$2.37
Currently, the pixel-remastered version is playable on Nintendo Switch, PS4, iPhone, Android, and other platforms.
7. Dragon Quest III
A remake of “Dragon Quest III” released on the Family Computer in 1988.
New weapons and jobs have been added, and the graphics and background music have been redesigned.
- Publisher: Enix
- Release: December 6, 1996
- Genre: Role-playing
- Purchase Price: ¥1300/$8.81
Currently, this title is available on the Nintendo DS, PS4, iPhone, and Android stores.
8. Super Mario RPG
Nintendo and Square teamed up to create the first RPG work in the Mario series.
The genre is action RPG, but combat is command-based turn-based battle.
Pressing the buttons at the right time for an attack can make the attack more powerful or prevent damage from the enemy.
There are a total of five characters, including Mario, that can be joined, but not Yoshi, who is depicted on the Japanese version’s packaging.
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Release: March 9, 1996
- Genre: Role-playing
- Purchase Price: ¥500/$3.39
A remake of this title will be released on Nintendo Switch on November 17, 2023.
9. Trials of Mana
First, you can choose a total of three characters to be your protagonist and companion, and depending on the protagonist you choose, parts of the story will change dramatically.
By using “mana stones” in the dungeon, the main characters can change classes.
By changing classes, new techniques and magic can be learned.
- Publisher: Square
- Release: September 30, 1995
- Genre: Action role-playing
- Purchase Price: ¥580/$3.93
April 24, 2020 for a full remake of “Trials of Mana” PlayStation 4/Nintendo Switch/Windows.
10. EarthBound
It was released in The second in the series, released five years after “MOTHER” on the Family Computer in 1989.
Set in a modern American-style world, this command-based RPG depicts a journey of battle and adventure by the protagonist and his friends.
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Release: August 27, 1994
- Genre: Role-playing
- Purchase Price: ¥1200/$8.13
Starting February 10, 2022, this game can be played on “SNES - Nintendo Switch Online”.
11. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island
It tells the story of Mario when he was a baby, and depicts Mario and Yoshi’s first encounter and adventures.
There are six worlds in this work, each containing eight basic stages. The fourth stage (fort) in each world has a mid-boss battle, and the eighth stage (castle) has a major boss battle.
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Release: August 5, 1995
- Genre: Platform
- Purchase Price: ¥400/$2.71
Currently, the game can be played on the subscription service Nintendo Switch Online.
12. Dragon Quest VI
Two large world maps (parallels) exist, and the protagonists move back and forth between the two worlds in their adventures.
There are a total of six main characters and a total of 18 types of monsters that can join them. There are nine basic classes, and nine advanced classes that can be changed by meeting certain conditions.
- Publisher: Enix
- Release: December 9, 1995
- Genre: Role-playing
- Purchase Price: ¥800/$5.42
A remake was released on January 28, 2010 on the Nintendo DS, and the game is currently available on iPhone and Android.
13. Romancing SaGa 3
It is the third in the “Romancing SaGa” series and the last in the “Romancing” series.
The player chooses one of the eight protagonists and proceeds with the adventure. The seven protagonists not chosen also appear in the story, and there are events that bring all eight together.
About 30 characters can join the group in this game, and each character has a different status.
- Publisher: Square
- Release: November 11, 1995
- Genre: Role-playing
- Purchase Price: ¥500/$3.39
The remastered version is available on November 11, 2019, on PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Windows 10, Steam, iPhone, and Android.
14. Final Fantasy V
The fifth in the Final Fantasy series, it was the first in the series to sell more than 2 million units in Japan.
The five main characters are Bartz, Lenna, Faris, Galuf, and Krile, and up to four can participate in a battle.
There are 22 different jobs to choose from, which can be changed at any time except during battle.
There is a job experience value called ABP (ability point), and as you accumulate ABP and raise your job level, you can learn “abilities” that are unique to each job.
- Publisher: Square
- Release: December 6, 1992
- Genre: Role-playing
- Purchase Price: ¥400/$2.71
The pixel-remastered version, available starting November 11, 2021, can be played on Nintendo Switch, PS4, iPhone, Android, and other platforms.
15. Super Mario All-Stars
This is a remake of “Super Mario Brothers,” “Super Mario Bros. 2,” “Super Mario Bros. 3,” and “Super Mario USA” all in one software package.
Each game has been upgraded to higher image and sound quality and includes a save backup function.
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Release: July 14, 1993
- Genre: Platform
- Purchase Price: ¥500/$3.39
The Super Mario Collection was also released on the Wii on October 21, 2010, as part of the Super Mario 25th Anniversary Campaign.
Although the game titles included are different, “Super Mario 3D Collection” was released on Nintendo Switch in 2020 to celebrate Mario’s 35th anniversary.
16. Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War
This is the fourth title in the Fire Emblem series, and the 3-soup system for weapons was introduced in this title.
The story is divided into two parts: the first half is the “parent generation” featuring Sigurd, and the second half is the “child generation” featuring Sigurd’s son Selis.
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Release: May 14, 1996
- Genre: Tactical role-playing
- Purchase Price: ¥1000/$6.77
Added to the “Super NES Nintendo Switch Online” collection on May 26, 2021.
17. Dragon Quest V
The fifth in the Dragon Quest series, it has no story connection to Dragon Quest IV, but the world and timeline are connected.
This game is the story of three generations of parents and their children, and there is an event in the middle of the story: marriage. The player chooses one of two potential brides.
For the first time in the series, a monster-joining system was introduced, with a total of 40 different monsters available.
- Publisher: Enix
- Release: September 27, 1992
- Genre: Role-playing
- Purchase Price: ¥800/$5.42
A remake of the game is currently available for purchase on the iPhone and Android stores.
18. Star Fox
The ROM cassette was equipped with a Super FX chip, making it the first 3D game software released on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES/SFC).
Players take control of the spaceship Arwing, in which the main character Fox McCloud rides, and travel to the planet Venom to defeat Andorf.
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Release: 21 February 1993
- Genre: Rail shooter
- Purchase Price: ¥400/$2.71
This title w a s included in the Nintendo Classic Mini Super Nintendo Entertainment System, which was released on October 5, 2017, and also included the sequel Star Fox 2, whose development had been canceled.
19. Final Fantasy IV
The fourth in the “Final Fantasy” series and Square’s first Super Famicom game.
A party of up to five players can participate in battle, the most in the Final Fantasy series. The battle system is real-time active time battle (ATB).
There are a total of 12 characters to control, including the main character “Cecil Harvey”.
The player can control a maximum of five characters, who repeatedly join and leave the game as the scenario progresses.
- Publisher: Square
- Release: July 19, 1991
- Genre: Role-playing
- Purchase Price: ¥500/$3.39
A pixel remastered version will be released on September 9, 2021 and can be played on PS4, Nintendo Switch and various smartphones.
20. Donkey Kong Country
The game was developed by the British game maker Rare, and uses 3D modeled characters for graphics.
The player can control either Donkey Kong or Diddy Kong. Donkey Kong moves slowly but can defeat even the hardest enemies. Diddy Kong is not as powerful, but he is lighter and quicker.
There are six areas (levels) in total, each area has five to six stages and a boss stage.
In some stages, animals called “animal friends” (rhinoceros, marlin tuna, etc.) appear to assist in the adventure.
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Release: 18 November 1994 UK
- Genre: Platform
- Purchase Price: ¥350/$2.37
The music by David Wise is highly accomplished and maximizes the world of each stage. The music is so realistic and beautiful that it is hard to believe that it was recorded on a Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES).
Three Super Donkey Kong titles are currently available for play in “SNES Nintendo Switch Online”.
21. Secret of Mana
This is the second in the Seiken Densetsu series, the first in the series was released on the Game Boy in 1991.
The main character is Randi, a boy who has drawn the “holy sword” and travels the world to seal the power of mana that has run amok.
The maximum number of party members is three: the hero, Randi, the heroine, Primm, and the fairy, Popoi. By using multi-tap, the game can be played by up to three people.
- Publisher: Square
- Release: August 6, 1993
- Genre: Action role-playing
- Purchase Price: ¥350/$2.37
The 3D full remake of “Seiken Densetsu 2 Secret of Mana” was released on PS4/PS Vita/ Windows (Steam) on February 15, 2018.
22. SimCity
Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) version of the city-building simulation game “SimCity” released for the PC.
The player becomes the mayor and the objective is to develop and grow the city.
- Publisher: Maxis
- Release: April 26, 1991
- Genre: City-building
- Purchase Price: ¥500/$3.39
Funds are needed to develop a city. Funds can be obtained by collecting taxes from residents or by obtaining loans from banks.
In addition to the three types of residential, commercial, and industrial areas, cities can build transportation networks such as roads and railroads, as well as power plants, police and fire stations.
There are three playable modes: “Practice Mode” and “Free Mode,” in which you build a city from scratch, and “Scenario Mode,” which uses a real city as a model case.
23. Final Fight 2
It is a sequel to the previous “Final Fight” and has a total of three characters available: Maki Genryusai, Mike Haggar, and Carlos Miyamoto.
There are four levels of difficulty, and the ending and staff roll change with each level of difficulty. If you clear the game on the highest difficulty level, “Expert,” you will be able to see the complete ending and staff roll.
There are six rounds of stages in total (Hong Kong, France, Holland, England, Italy, and Japan) and two bonus stages.
- Publisher: Capcom
- Release: May 22, 1993
- Genre: Beat ’em up
- Purchase Price: ¥800/$5.42
A sequel, “Final Fight Tough,” was released on the Super Famicom and is currently fetching high prices.
24. Super Metroid
The third in the Metroid series of exploratory science fiction action adventures, the story takes place on the planet Zebes.
Zebes is divided into several areas, including a “vegetation area,” a “lava area,” and “underwater area,” and the map is detailed and vast.
As in the original “Metroid,” the stages are composed of multiple areas connected to each other, and area bosses have been added significantly.
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Release: March 19, 1994
- Genre: Action-adventure
- Purchase Price: ¥1600/$10.84
Currently, the game can be played on the SNES Nintendo Switch Online, with a special edition available on February 10, 2022.
25. Super Game Boy
Peripheral device to enable the Super Nintendo Entertainment System to play Game Boy software.
The Game Boy is displayed in four shades of black and white, but this unit can replace each of the four shades with any color and project it on the TV screen. Depending on the software, up to 13 colors can be displayed.
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Release: June 14, 1994
- Purchase Price: ¥600/$4.06
On January 30, 1998, the Super Game Boy 2 was released with a communication terminal.
However, since the hardware was released before the Game Boy Color was launched, it was not compatible with Color-specific software and could not be activated, as was the case with the Super Game Boy, which was released in 1994.
26. Super Street Fighter II
The following four new characters have been added to the new version of Street Fighter II: T.HAWK (Mexico), CAMMY (UK), FEI-LONG (Hong Kong) and DEE JAY (Jamaica).
There are a total of 16 characters that can be used, and the ending can be seen when 12 of them, including the four Heavenly Kings, are defeated.
- Publisher: Capcom
- Release: June 25, 1994
- Genre: Fighting
- Purchase Price: ¥550/$3.73
Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection International, released in 2018, can be played on the Nintendo DS, PS4, XBOX One, and more.
27. Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts
Players control the knight Arthur and conquer a total of eight stages.
A wide variety of weapons and magic can be used, and a two-step jump and armor power-up system have been added to this game.
There are eight stages in total, with a boss at the end of each stage.
- Publisher: Capcom
- Release: October 4, 1991
- Genre: Platform
- Purchase Price: ¥900/$6.10
Currently, this game can be played on “Super Nintendo Switch Online”.
28. Super Bomberman 3
This is the 13th title in the Bomberman series and the fourth in the Bomberman series on the Super Famicom.
For the first time in the Super Nintendo series, five players could play at the same time, and in the story mode, two players could play at the same time.
- Publisher: Hudson Soft
- Release: April 28, 1995
- Genre: Action, Maze, Party
- Purchase Price: ¥500/$3.39
The story mode consists of six stages, divided into four areas per stage, except for the final stage.
Bottle mode has 12 stages, and you can also ride five different types of “Rooy” (kangaroo-like creatures).
29. Mega Man X2
The player controls the main character X, and his objective is to recover Zero’s body, which was stolen by the “Counter Hunters (Maverick Hunters)”.
There are a total of eight stages, and once all eight stages’ bosses are defeated, the contestants can proceed to the final stage.
Each stage hides four armor parts and life-enhancing items.
- Publisher: Capcom
- Release: December 16, 1994
- Genre: Platform
- Purchase Price: ¥800/$5.42
A port of this title, Mega Man X Anniversary Collection, was released in 2018 on Windows (Steam), Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Xbox One.
30. F-Zero
One of the Super Famicom launch titles released at the same time as “Super Mario World”.
It is a racing game set in the future of the 26th century and is inspired by the future of Formula 1.
There are two game modes, “Grand Prix” and “Practice,” with 15 different courses to run.
There are four different machines to choose from, and each machine has a different maximum speed, acceleration, and grip.
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Release: November 21, 1990
- Genre: Racing
- Purchase Price: ¥600/$4.06
If you subscribe to Nintendo Switch Online, you can play “F-Zero 99,” a 99-player battle royale race, for free.
31. Live A Live
This game has seven main characters and allows players to explore seven different times and places.
If all 7 scenarios are cleared in one saved data, a new scenario, “The Middle Ages” will appear.
After completing “The Middle Ages”, the seven protagonists come together and enter the final scenario.
- Publisher: Square
- Release: September 2, 1994
- Genre: Role-playing
- Purchase Price: ¥1600/$10.84
An HD-2D remake of “Live Alive” was released on July 22, 2022, and a PS5/PS4/Win (Steam)version was released on April 27, 2023.
32. Street Fighter II
This game began operation as an arcade game in March 1991, and was ported to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) home video game console in June 1992.
A total of eight characters can be used, and “M. Bison”, “Balrog”, “Sagat” and “Vega” are not available in this work.
In the arcade version, it was not possible to play against the same character, but this is now possible in the Super Nintendo version.
- Publisher: Capcom
- Release: June 10, 1992
- Genre: Fighting
- Purchase Price: ¥350/$2.37
The Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection, released in 2018, includes the arcade version.
33. Gokujo Parodius
A port of the arcade game to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, this title is the third in the Parodius series.
- Publisher: Konami
- Release: April 26, 1994
- Genre: Side-scrolling shooter
- Purchase Price: ¥1800/$12.19
There are a total of 11 pairs of characters that can be used, and each character has a different weapon that can be used.
There are 8 stages in total. After clearing all the stages, you can go to a special stage with a higher level of difficulty.
34. Dragon Ball Z: Super Butōden 2
Fighting game based on the popular anime “Dragon Ball Z”.
Although it was released only nine months after the previous “Dragon Ball Z: Super Butōden”, it became a million-seller following its predecessor.
- Publisher: Bandai
- Release: December 17, 1993
- Genre: Fighting
- Purchase Price: ¥350/$2.37
There are a total of 10 characters available, including Son Goku (Goku) and Broly (Tara) can be used by entering a hidden command at the opening.
There are three game modes: Story Mode, Competitive Mode (1-on-1), and Tournament.
