In the golden age of the 90s, the Super Nintendo reigned supreme, bringing with it a collection of titles that captured the hearts and minds of millions around the world. In tribute to these legends who marked the video games industry, we’ve put together the 20 greatest Super Nintendo games of all time.
If you’re ready to relive childhood memories or discover the treasures of the past, get ready to embark on this nostalgic journey with us, with this list that brings together the most iconic titles and also includes curiosities about Super Nintendo games.
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The 20 greatest Super Nintendo games of all time
1 – Super Mario World (1990)
One of the greatest Super Nintendo games of all time. The story follows Mario on his journey to rescue Princess Peach from Bowser’s clutches. With its colorful graphics and fluid platform gameplay, the game won the hearts of gamers all over the world.
Curiosity: Originally, Yoshi was planned to appear in Super Mario Bros. 3, but due to technical limitations, he was introduced for the first time in Super Mario World.
2 – The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (1991)
An epic journey of adventure and exploration. Players take on the role of Link as he travels between the world of Hyrule and the Dark World to defeat the evil Ganon and save Princess Zelda. Its gripping narrative, challenging puzzles and innovative gameplay make it one of the greatest Super Nintendo games of all time.
Curiosity: the game introduced the iconic Master Sword, a legendary sword that has become a recurring symbol in the Zelda series.
3 – Super Metroid (1994)
An action-adventure game that follows bounty hunter Samus Aran on her mission to rescue a stolen creature and defeat the forces of evil on an alien planet.
Curiosity: the game has multiple endings, depending on how long it takes the player to complete it.
4 – Chrono Trigger (1995)
One of the most acclaimed RPGs of all time. The story revolves around a group of characters who travel through time to stop an imminent threat to the world.
Curiosity: features a unique battle system, known as “Active Time Battle”, which combines elements of real-time combat with turn-based strategy.
5 – Super Mario Kart (1992)
It revolutionized the video game racing genre by introducing a unique and fun gameplay. Players compete on colorful and exciting tracks, using power-ups to gain an advantage over their opponents. A true classic that can’t be left off the list of the greatest Super Nintendo games of all time.
Curiosity: it was one of the first games to use the Super FX chip, allowing three-dimensional graphics on a 16-bit console.
6 – Final Fantasy VI/Final Fantasy III (1994)
One of the greatest RPGs of the Super Nintendo era. Its epic story follows a diverse group of characters in their fight against a malevolent dictator and a menacing divine entity.
Curiosity: the team had to face several technical limitations, which were overcome with innovative data compression techniques.
7 – Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (1996)
A collaboration between Nintendo and Square Enix. This action RPG follows Mario on a journey to rescue Princess Peach and defeat an evil entity known as Smithy.
Curiosidade: foi o primeiro jogo da série Mario a apresentar elementos de RPG, como um sistema de níveis e habilidades.
8 – Donkey Kong Country (1994)
One of the Super Nintendo’s most influential platform games. The story follows Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong on their mission to recover their stolen treasure from the evil King K. Rool. It also earned its place on the list of the greatest Super Nintendo games of all time.
Curiosity: the game’s soundtrack, composed by David Wise, is widely praised for its immersive atmosphere and catchy melodies, contributing significantly to the overall experience of the game.
9 – Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting (1993)
With its fast and fluid gameplay, a variety of selectable characters and in-depth combat mechanics, the game quickly became a hit with fighting fans.
Curiosity: it was one of the first versions of Street Fighter II to introduce the ability to play as “mirror match” characters, allowing two players to select the same fighter.
10 – Mega Man X (1993)
One of the most revered games in the Mega Man series. Its story follows the new protagonist, Mega Man X, in his fight against the Maverick Hunters and their traitorous leader, Sigma.
Curiosity: the game introduced the character Zero, one of the most iconic allies in the Mega Man series, who became one of the main characters in later games in the series.
11 – Super Castlevania IV (1991)
A platform and action game that follows vampire hunter Simon Belmont on his journey to defeat Count Dracula.
Curiosity: the game was acclaimed for its soundtrack composed by Masanori Adachi and Taro Kudo. Many of the game’s tracks have become classics.
12 – Super Mario All-Stars (1993)
Uma compilação de quatro dos maiores jogos do encanador bigodudo: Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, Super Mario Bros. 2 e Super Mario Bros. 3. Os jogos foram redesenhados com gráficos atualizados e jogabilidade aprimorada para o Super Nintendo.
Curiosidade: incluiu uma versão remasterizada do Super Mario Bros. 2, originalmente lançado apenas no Japão como “Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic”.
13 – Secret of Mana (1993)
An action RPG that follows a young hero on his mission to restore peace to the world and defeat an evil force known as the Empire. Players can explore a vast open world, recruit allies and face enemies in real-time battles.
Curiosity: originally planned to be a CD-ROM release, but was reconfigured for cartridge due to production delays.
14 – EarthBound (1994)
An RPG that follows a group of children on their journey to save the world from an alien threat known as Giygas. With its surreal narrative and quirky humor, the game stands out for its originality and unique style.
Curiosity: it was released with a printed strategy guide, which included stickers and a map of the game, making it one of the first games to include a physical “gift” pack.
15 – Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island (1995)
A platform adventure that focuses on the iconic dinosaur Yoshi on his mission to rescue baby Mario from Kamek’s clutches.
Curiosity: it was one of the first games to use the Super FX2 chip, allowing for advanced graphics and impressive special effects on the Super Nintendo.
16 – Star Fox (1993)
A 3D space shooter that follows the team of Arwing pilots led by Fox McCloud in their fight against the evil scientist Andross. Players take control of spaceships as they face challenging enemies and bosses on a variety of planets.
Curiosity: it allowed real-time 3D graphics on the Super Nintendo, an impressive feat for the time.
17 – Contra III: The Alien Wars (1992)
A side-scrolling action-shooter that follows soldiers Bill Rizer and Lance Bean in their fight against an alien invasion of Earth.
Curiosity: was one of the first Super Nintendo games to feature pre-rendered graphics, which gave the game a more detailed and cinematic appearance.
18 – F-Zero (1990)
Another member of the list of the greatest Super Nintendo games of all time is F-Zero, a futuristic racing game that challenges players to pilot spaceships at high speed through tracks full of obstacles and dangerous curves.
Curiosity: it was one of the first games to use the parallax scrolling mode, which gives the illusion of depth and speed to the tracks.
19 – Kirby Super Star (1996)
A collection of mini-games and adventures starring the lovable pink character Kirby. Players can explore several colorful worlds, each with its own set of challenges and bosses, while using Kirby’s unique abilities to absorb enemies and copy their skills.
Curiosity: one of the first games in the series to introduce the “Helper” mode, where players can recruit computer-controlled allies to help Kirby on his journey.
20 – The Secret of Evermore (1995)
The action RPG follows a young man and his faithful dog on a journey through strange and mysterious worlds, in search of a way to return home after being transported to an unknown world. Perfect to round off this list of the greatest Super Nintendo games of all time.
Curiosity: the only game that Squaresoft of America produced before it was renamed Square USA and eventually dissolved.
The 20 greatest Super Nintendo games of all time
- Super Mario World
- The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
- Super Metroid
- Chrono Trigger
- Super Mario Kart
- Final Fantasy VI (Conhecido como Final Fantasy III na versão americana)
- Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
- Donkey Kong Country
- Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting
- Mega Man X
- Super Castlevania IV
- Super Mario All-Stars
- Secret of Mana
- EarthBound
- Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island
- Star Fox
- Contra III: The Alien Wars
- F-Zero
- Kirby Super Star
- The Secret of Evermore
We hope that remembering the 20 greatest Super Nintendo games of all time has warmed your heart. And if you like games, be sure to check out more content on our website:
