U.N. Squadron (SNES)

U.N. Squadron (SNES)
U.N. Squadron (SNES)
Publisher: Capcom / Developer: Capcom
Release Date: 3rd Sep 1991 (USA) / 10th Dec 1992 (UK/EU)

The SNES might not be famous for its prowess when it comes to shmups, but this early example from Capcom nonetheless hits the target. Sure, there's some slowdown here and there – an unfortunate consequence of the SNES' slow CPU – but the ability to upgrade your plane and select different missions gives the game a more open and interesting feel than your typical linear shooters. While the western version is called U.N. Squadron, the Japanese original is named after the anime and manga series which inspired it, Area 88.

Donkey Kong Country (SNES)

Donkey Kong Country (SNES)
Donkey Kong Country (SNES)
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Rare
Release Date: 21st Nov 1994 (USA) / 24th Nov 1994 (UK/EU)

You could argue that Rare's update of the famous Donkey Kong series is better remembered for the impact of its CGI visuals than its Mario-style gameplay, but that cruelly overlooks the fact that this is a painfully polished platformer that stands head and shoulders above the vast majority of its 16-bit rivals. The graphics might not be quite as impactful today as they were at the time of release, but Donkey Kong Country (and its sequels) are still fantastically playable and well worth a look.

Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts (SNES)

Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts (SNES)
Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts (SNES)
Publisher: Capcom / Developer: Capcom
Release Date: 28th Nov 1991 (USA) / 10th Dec 1992 (UK/EU)

While the Mega Drive / Genesis got an excellent port of the arcade original, SNES owners were blessed with an entirely new adventure in the form of Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts. Everything is improved here; the visuals and sound are arguably better than those seen in the coin-op predecessor, while the level designs are more inventive and interesting. The only downside is that, like many early SNES games, Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts suffers from some pretty dramatic slowdown when there's a lot going on, but this is easy to overlook. A port was later released for the GBA.

Pilotwings (SNES)

Pilotwings (SNES)
Pilotwings (SNES)
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo EAD
Release Date: 13th Aug 1991 (USA) / 1992 (UK/EU)

Alongside F-Zero, this is the game that really sold the world on the SNES' Mode 7 trickery and convinced everyone that it wasn't just a party trick and could actually deliver more immersive games. In Pilotwings, you're basically joining a flight school and must pass a series of tests to earn progressively tougher licences. Everything from biplanes to jetpacks is featured, and at one point you even get to fly an attack helicopter. Pilotwings was like nothing else when it was first released and has therefore remained at the forefront of people's memories, even after all these years.

Arcana (SNES)

Arcana (SNES)
Arcana (SNES)
Publisher: HAL Laboratory / Developer: HAL Laboratory
Release Date: 1st Jun 1992 (USA)

Very close in style and tone to Sega's Mega Drive / Genesis RPG Shining in the Darkness, HAL's Arcana (known as The Card Master in Japan) is a first-person dungeon-crawler with random, turn-based visuals. It might not leap out as a particularly exciting setup, but the visuals and audio are many, many steps ahead of Sega's aforementioned effort and the challenge is pitched perfectly; while the random battles do occasionally get annoying, there's enough depth to the battle system to keep you invested and interested. Arcana is something of a hidden gem in the SNES' RPG arsenal and well worth your time.

Demon's Crest (SNES)

Demon's Crest (SNES)
Demon's Crest (SNES)
Publisher: Capcom / Developer: Capcom
Release Date: 17th Nov 1994 (USA) / 13th Dec 1994 (UK/EU)

Part of the same Ghosts 'n Goblins spin-off franchise that includes Gargoyle's Quest 1 & 2, Demon's Crest fuses the platforming action Capcom is famous for with some light RPG elements to create a title that rewards repeat play; as Firebrand, the main character, progresses through the game he acquires additional skills which allow him to access portions of stages which were previously inaccessible. Demon's Crest was a commercial bomb in North America, and as a result, it has become very expensive on the secondary market. We'd argue that it's worth seeking out, however; it's one of the most unique platformers of the 16-bit era. If you own a Switch, it's available as part of the Nintendo Switch Online subscription service, which will save you a fair few pennies.

Zombies Ate My Neighbors (SNES)

Zombies Ate My Neighbors (SNES)
Zombies Ate My Neighbors (SNES)
Publisher: Konami / Developer: LucasArts
Release Date: Sep 1993 (USA) / 1993 (UK/EU)

Published by Konami but developed in the west by LucasArts, this humorous top-down run-and-gun title gained plenty of attention back in the day for its horror theme – something which caused the title to be censored in Europe, as well as renamed to simply "Zombies". Inventive weapons, great enemy design and a wonderful two-player mode make this a stand-out entry in the SNES' action library; the sequel, Ghoul Patrol, isn't quite as good but is worth a look regardless.

Terranigma (SNES)

Terranigma (SNES)
Terranigma (SNES)
Publisher: Enix / Developer: Quintet
Release Date: 19th Dec 1996 (UK/EU)

Considered by many to be the final entry in a trilogy that includes Illusion of Gaia and Soul Blazer, Terranigma is one of the most accomplished action RPGs on the SNES, but it's one that didn't reach as wide an audience as it should have done because it came so late in the console's lifespan that it never got a North American release, and was only made available in English in European territories. Despite this setback – and the game's high cost on the collector's market – Terranigma is absolutely worth seeking out today.

Tetris Attack (SNES)

Tetris Attack (SNES)
Tetris Attack (SNES)
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Intelligent Systems
Release Date: 1st Aug 1996 (USA) / 28th Nov 1996 (UK/EU)

Despite having the Tetris name attached to it, this is actually a localisation of the Japanese puzzler Panel de Pon, and involves matching coloured blocks into horizontal or vertical rows; match three of them and they will vanish from the playfield, causing the blocks above to shift and potentially trigger a chain-reaction of matches. There are plenty of single-player modes to keep you busy, but Tetris Attack is at its best when played with a friend. Later entries in the series were released in the west under the "Puzzle League" branding, and all of them are worth your time.

The Legend of the Mystical Ninja (SNES)

The Legend of the Mystical Ninja (SNES)
The Legend of the Mystical Ninja (SNES)
Publisher: Konami / Developer: Konami
Release Date: Feb 1992 (USA) / 1994 (UK/EU)

Part of the Ganbare Goemon series, The Legend of the Mystical Ninja (known as Ganbare Goemon: Yukihime Kyūshutsu Emaki in Japan) was the first entry in the franchise to get a release in the west. This is an utterly charming mish-mash of genres and styles, mixed top-down fighting action with more traditional 2D platform elements, RPG mechanics and even mini-games, some of which are based on other Konami titles. Three direct sequels would be released for the SNES, but none of them made it out of Japan, with western fans having to wait until 1998's N64 release Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon.

Illusion of Gaia (SNES)

Illusion of Gaia (SNES)
Illusion of Gaia (SNES)
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Quintet
Release Date: 1st Sep 1994 (USA) / 27th Apr 1995 (UK/EU)

Another Quintet classic, Illusion of Gaia – or Illusion of Time, if you're in Europe – is an action-adventure that, rather uniquely, takes place on a planet which has many features that are instantly recognisable as real-world landmarks, such as the Great Pyramids and the Great Wall of China. Many of the themes touched upon in other Quintet titles are found here, and the visuals and audio are up to the high standard one expects from the studio's work. There are some clever puzzles and the challenge is pitched perfectly for genre newcomers, but ultimately, it's the engrossing story which makes this one stick in the memory.

Mega Man X (SNES)

Mega Man X (SNES)
Mega Man X (SNES)
Publisher: Capcom / Developer: Capcom
Release Date: Jan 1994 (USA) / 1st May 1994 (UK/EU)

After what felt like an endless production line of sequels on the NES and Game Boy, the Mega Man blueprint was feeling a little bit tired by the time the character made his 16-bit debut, but Mega Man X was the shot in the arm the franchise so badly needed. While the core appeal of the series remains intact, everything from the visuals to the gameplay is upgraded and improved – although some purists still insist it's not difficult enough. Mega Man X would kickstart a new sub-series of games that would later arrive on consoles such as the PlayStation and Saturn.

Super Smash TV (SNES)

Super Smash TV (SNES)
Super Smash TV (SNES)
Publisher: Acclaim / Developer: Acclaim
Release Date: 16th Jul 1992 (USA) / 1992 (UK/EU)

Based on the 1990 arcade machine (which, in turn, owes something of a debt to the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie The Running Man), Smash TV takes place in a futuristic TV show where contestants have to fight for their lives to win cash and prizes, much to the amusement of the live global audience. The coin-op version used a twin-stick control system where the left stick was in charge of movement while the right could influence where your character shot their weapon – a setup that allowed you to move in one direction and shoot in the other. The SNES pad's four-button 'diamond' cluster was able to replicate this configuration quite convincingly, making this the definitive home port for a long time. As a two-player title, Smash TV is one of the console's most appealing releases.

Final Fantasy III (SNES)

Final Fantasy III (SNES)
Final Fantasy III (SNES)
Publisher: Square Enix / Developer: Squaresoft
Release Date: 11th Oct 1994 (USA) / 18th Mar 2011 (UK/EU)

Considered by many to not only be one of the best Final Fantasy entries, but one of the greatest video games of all time, Final Fantasy VI (initially released in North America as Final Fantasy III, due to the fact that only two other mainline series titles had been localised at that point) boasts a dazzling cast of characters and some surprisingly mature and dark themes. All of the SNES-based entries are worth a look, but this is perhaps the one you should start with first; it's an emotionally-driven JRPG masterpiece that only seems to get better with age.

Super Bomberman 3 (SNES)

Super Bomberman 3 (SNES)
Super Bomberman 3 (SNES)
Publisher: Hudson Soft / Developer: Hudson Soft
Release Date: Oct 1995 (UK/EU)

To be fair, all of the Super Bomberman titles on the SNES are worthy of your attention, but this third entry is the one that sticks out the most, thanks to its excellent additions, fantastic visuals and amazing techno-inspired soundtrack. A single-player mode will keep you busy when you can't find friends to play with, but it's as a party game that Super Bomberman 3 truly excels; up to five players can participate when using a multitap accessory. No North American release was forthcoming for this one; it only saw release in Japan and Europe.

Breath of Fire (SNES)

Breath of Fire (SNES)
Breath of Fire (SNES)
Publisher: Capcom / Developer: Squaresoft
Release Date: 10th Aug 1994 (USA) / 27th Nov 2014 (UK/EU)

In the early '90s, Capcom was famous for its platformers, shooters and fighting games, but had less experience in the realm of RPGs. Breath of Fire was the Japanese veteran's first real attempt to capitalise on the incredible popularity of Japanese adventure titles like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, and the game places you in the role of Ryu (no, not that one), a young boy who can shapeshift into a dragon. Ryu begins the story aiming to locate his sister but quickly becomes embroiled in a conflict with the sinister Dark Dragon Clan. Breath of Fire got a direct sequel on the SNES and subsequent entries on PlayStation consoles, and was ported to the Game Boy Advance in 2001.

Kirby Super Star (SNES)

Kirby Super Star (SNES)
Kirby Super Star (SNES)
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: HAL Laboratory
Release Date: 20th Sep 1996 (USA) / 23rd Jan 1997 (UK/EU)

Also known as Kirby's Fun Pak in some parts of the world, Kirby Super Star takes the core platforming gameplay seen in previous entries and places it within smaller games, each with different storylines and goals. Spring Breeze, for example, plays like a shortened version of Kirby's original Game Boy outing, while The Great Cave Offensive is a Metroidvania-style adventure. Meanwhile, Gourmet Race is, as the title suggests, a racing title. This variety makes Kirby Super Star a real joy to play; it's available on the SNES Classic Edition and as part of the Nintendo Switch Online subscription service.

Harvest Moon (SNES)

Harvest Moon (SNES)
Harvest Moon (SNES)
Publisher: Natsume / Developer: Natsume
Release Date: Jun 1997 (USA) / 4th Jan 2008 (UK/EU)

Today, Harvest Moon is a franchise which spans multiple formats and has inspired countless imitators, but this is where it all began. You assume the role of a young man who has inherited a farm from his grandfather; the objective is to turn it into a successful business by growing crops and raising livestock. However, there are many RPG-like elements involved, too, such as interacting with other villagers and running errands. While the Harvest Moon series evolved over the next few years, its debut is still surprisingly solid and well worth a look today.

Super Punch-Out!! (SNES)

Super Punch-Out!! (SNES)
Super Punch-Out!! (SNES)
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo
Release Date: 14th Sep 1994 (USA) / 26th Jan 1995 (UK/EU)

Punch-Out!! made waves in the arcades and on the NES, but this SNES sequel improves on its predecessors in every way imaginable. Boasting big, bold sprites and a surprising degree of depth to its pugilistic gameplay, it's easy to see why this game has remained such a firm favourite with Nintendo fans over the years. You can play Super Punch-Out!! on the SNES Classic Edition micro-console, as well as part of the Nintendo Switch Online subscription service.

R-Type III: The Third Lightning (SNES)

R-Type III: The Third Lightning (SNES)
R-Type III: The Third Lightning (SNES)
Publisher: Irem / Developer: Irem
Release Date: 2nd Aug 1994 (USA) / 1994 (UK/EU)

This console-exclusive sequel is considered by many R-Type fans to be one of the best entries in the series, and with good reason; it's relentlessly polished and uses the SNES' Mode 7 effects brilliantly. Add in some gorgeous visuals and fantastic music and you've got one of the best 16-bit shmups money can buy – sadly, it will take a lot of money these days as R-Type III is very desirable on the secondary market and often fetches insane amounts. The GBA port is a pale imitation and should be avoided at all costs.