F-Zero (SNES)

While Super Mario World is arguably one of the best launch titles of all time, the game it released alongside is no slouch, either. F-Zero was perhaps the game that best demonstrated the SNES' capabilities; the smooth Mode 7 scaling and rotating allowed for a more immersive and realistic perspective on the racing action, putting all previous console racers well and truly in the shade. It would also do much of the pathfinding for Super Mario Kart, a title which used the same technique to even more impressive effect a few years later.

Soul Blazer (SNES)

Developer Quintet made quite an impression with its SNES debut ActRaiser, and followed it up with a top-down action-adventure that was just as appealing. The player must enter various dungeons to defeat enemies, which causes liberated souls to reappear in the game's many towns. These souls then impart advice and guidance which allows the player to progress. Despite being quite an early entry in the SNES library, Soul Blazer is nonetheless one of the console's most charming titles and forms part of an unofficial trilogy with fellow Quintet games Illusion of Gaia and Terranigma.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time (SNES)

Konami's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade game was nothing short of a revelation when it first launched, and was to be found in amusement arcades, leisure centres, public houses and fish & chip shops all over the globe. Turtles in Time is essentially a sequel to that game, and while it doesn't reinvent the wheel when it comes to basic gameplay mechanics, it's still one of the most fun belt-scrolling fighters on the SNES. Sure, the lack of combat options can be a little frustrating – especially when compared to the likes of Final Fight and Streets of Rage – but it's impossible to play this game without a big, broad smile on your face.

Axelay (SNES)

The SNES is often compared rather unfavourably to the Mega Drive / Genesis and PC Engine when it comes to shmups, largely due to the console's slower processor, but there are titles which buck this trend – and Axelay is at the top of the pile. A stunning technical accomplishment which pulls off visual tricks that other systems couldn't hope to replicate, this is undoubtedly one of Konami's best 16-bit releases; it's a crying shame that we never got the sequel that was promised during Axelay's ending sequence.

Contra III: The Alien Wars (SNES)

Konami really was untouchable in the early days of the SNES' life, and launched some of the console's very best games in those formative years – one of which is Contra III (known as Contra Spirits in Japan, and rebranded as Super Probotector in Europe). The gulf between this title and the NES versions is remarkable, and even the original arcade Contra pales in comparison; visually, Konami uses every trick in the book to make this a memorable experience, while the gameplay is both addictive and challenging, making for a game that requires serious skill and perseverance to complete. Top it off with top-down sections that make superb use of the console's Mode 7 talents, and you have a run-and-gun blaster that is practically timeless.

Star Fox (SNES)

While Star Fox's 3D visuals might look crude by modern standards, it's important to remember what a seismic event it was back in the early '90s. Thanks to the Super FX chip found inside the cartridge, Star Fox was populated by immersive, jaw-dropping graphics that really placed you right in the action – but it was also backed up by the typically polished Nintendo gameplay. This was thanks to the marriage of western technical knowledge (via UK studio Argonaut, which also designed the Super FX chip) and Nintendo's crack team of producers and artists. A sequel was finished by cancelled, only to eventually turn up as a bonus game on the SNES Classic Edition micro-console.

Super Castlevania IV (SNES)

Arguably one of the best entries in the long-running Castlevania franchise, Super Castlevania IV is essentially a retelling of the very first game, with Simon Belmont once again the protagonist of the tale. What's different this time is the fact that the SNES offers so much more power than the NES; the visuals are gorgeous (with great use of scaling and Mode 7 rotation), the gameplay is engaging without being frustrating and the music is so good it's hard to believe it's not being streamed from a compact disc. Of all of the 'classic' Castlevania instalments, this has to rank as one of the very best.

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (SNES)

Producing a follow-up to one of the most acclaimed 2D platformers of all time was always going to be a stern challenge, and while you could argue that Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island isn't quite up to the standard of Super Mario World, it's still one of the finest platformers you could hope to play. Mario's a baby this time around, and the player assumes control of a Yoshi who is tasked with guiding him to safety. The Super FX chip – previously used to allow the SNES to manipulate polygons in Star Fox – lends a hand with 2D trickery here, resulting in a game that takes the genre in new and unexpected directions.

Secret of Mana (SNES)

Whenever you mention the very best SNES RPGs, Secret of Mana is sure to pop up at some point in the conversation. One of Square's most beloved 16-bit efforts, it mixes fantastic storytelling with stunning 2D visuals and a beautiful soundtrack, as well as throwing in gameplay innovations like its famous circular menu system. A recent remake did a good job of updating the game for modern audiences, but to be perfectly frank, this is a solid-gold classic that remains as compelling and appealing now as it did decades ago. A must-have.

Chrono Trigger (SNES)

Crafted by the "Dream Team" of Hironobu Sakaguchi (Final Fantasy), Yuji Horii (Dragon Quest) and Akira Toriyama (Dragon Ball), Chrono Trigger is one of the most celebrated and beloved JRPGs in existence. Set across multiple time periods with a cast of vibrant and appealing characters, it uses Final Fantasy's "Active Time Battle" system to great effect and boasts many hours of gameplay, with a storyline that some would argue has never been bettered. A commercial and critical smash hit at the time of release, Chrono Trigger's reputation has grown over the decades thanks to a series of ports, including one for the Nintendo DS and smartphones. A masterpiece.