It’s the SNES 30th anniversary! The iconic ’90s console turns 30 today in North America and in the past three decades, the system has remained a powerful, relevant, and energizing influence upon my life. My own SNES, my childhood SNES, has crossed two oceans with me and it might be a bit yellowed and dinged up, but it works just fine.
I don’t think I’ll ever stop loving it.
Why do I love it? Because of the array of games, of course! Exclusives and non-exclusives. First party, second party, third party. Shooters and shmups, racers and figthers, beat ’em ups and brawlers, platformers and hoo boy the RPGs. What a system!
To highlight the incredible library proves difficult, though. Any list of “best of” or “top favorites” is going to include some crossover with other lists of the same kind. So I thought, why not try to create a list that emphasizes some of the SNES’s diversity?
So here it is… 30 games from 30 developers and/or publishers that made the system great. Just in time for the SNES 30th anniversary!
#1. Capcom – Mega Man X
I told myself this wouldn’t be a ranked list and I wouldn’t be trying to pick out “the best” game from a developer or publisher, but I have to say… in the impressive canon of works that Capcom produced for Super Nintendo, Mega Man X is a crown jewel.
#2. Konami – Sunset Riders
To echo the statement above, Konami made a lot of great games at the time. Of course, I should probably mention the Castlevanias here but instead, I thought I’d give the shout out to their home port of Sunset Riders. I might get dragged across the coals for that but you know what? Bury me with my money.
#3. Acclaim – Mortal Kombat
I’ll say it: there weren’t a whole lot of great fighting games on SNES that didn’t have the initials SF or MK. Mortal Kombat might’ve been sweaty on Super Nintendo, but it was a defining fighter for me in my early years with the system.
#4. Enix – E.V.O.: Search for Eden
I didn’t play E.V.O. until later in life but there’s no doubt in my mind that it is one of the most creative games of its category on the SNES. Heck, maybe even of its category in its era.
#5. Beam Software – Super Smash T.V.
A twin-stick shooter on a controller that didn’t even have a single joystick? Thanks to the now-standard diamond-pattern button layout, Super Smash T.V. worked just fine for cheap thrills and gratuitous violence.
#6. Koei – Gemfire
It’s been a long time since I played this one so don’t @ me if you think it’s terrible, but I thought that it was worth mentioning a tactical game on this list. After all, this article is sort of about the variety that the SNES boasted.
#7. Ocean – Jurassic Park
You had to be there. I mean, Jurassic Park was everywhere, thanks to the hit movie. Dinosaurs were cool again. That’s likely why I have decently fond memories of this one, even though I don’t think it’s incredible.
#8. AIM – SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron
A prince among action cartoons, SWAT Kats was unbelievably cool. It was one of those shows that grabbed me in the first few seconds of its intro. Of course I had to play the game adaptation and to this day, I still think it’s unbelievably cool.
#9. Natsume – Harvest Moon
For me, this is the catalyst of a lifetime of peaceful, down to Earth living. My obsession with scouting for marriageable candidates and plucking turnips started here. It wasn’t my first Harvest Moon game, to be clear (that was Harvest Moon 64), but it’s where it all began and I gotta respect it for that.
#10. Taito – Bust-A-Move
Not every arcade to console port was amazing at the time, or even playable, but it’d be hard to screw up Bust-A-Move (aka Puzzle Bobble). This was a favorite of mine in the arcades so I got to save some quarters with the home version.
#11. Delphine Software – Out of this World
I will hear no backtalk about Eric Chahi’s sci-fi adventure, also known as Another World. It was an early cinematic pioneer in gaming and I still think its dedication to oppressive, mysterious, and plodding atmosphere and storytelling holds up today. You just need to know what you’re getting into.
#12. Interplay Entertainment – The Lost Vikings
What a premise. To me, wacky ideas like this are what creators ought to explore in the world of gaming. Fun alone or with a friend, this one kept me up at night trying to figure out how to get the Vikings back home safe and sound.
#13. Silicon & Synapse – Rock n’ Roll Racing
I warmed up to it a lot in recent years. Unique for a racing game, RnR Racing sort of brings in some shmuppish sensibilities, plus the soundtrack is to die for. Not to mention the narration!
#14. Kemco – Phalanx
Perhaps one of the most famous (or infamous) examples of Super Nintendo cover art, I had to give a spot to Phalanx. The shmup itself is okay but we mostly just remember the professional Santa on the cover.
#15. Shiny – Earthworm Jim
One of my favorites growing up when gross-out humor came into its own. An absolutely bonkers game oozing with personality.
#16. Hudson Soft – Hagane: The Final Conflict
A cult of whispers surrounds this title, which has only come up on the radar in recent times. I dare not say more lest the ninjas come get me.
#17. Quintet – Soul Blazer
The first of the Quintet trilogy that I played and so far the only one I’ve completed. It really stuck with me and I think that’s due to some unique gameplay mashup elements on display.
#18. Wisdom Tree – Super 3D Noah’s Ark
Sure, they were in their top form on the NES but Wisdom Tree had one more illegitimate gift to the world for the SNES. Nothing screams “Christian!” like reskinning a game about blasting demons into a game where you play as the biblical Noah.
#19. HAL Laboratory – EarthBound
I’d be stupid not to give a spot to EarthBound. It is still one of the most unique RPG experiences I’ve ever had with some unforgettable characters, moments, and humor.
#20. Minakuchi Engineering – Magic Sword
Is this the best version of it? No. But that’s okay. I like it anyway. Besides, nobody ever remembers Magic Sword!
#21. Data East – Joe & Mac
Probably not the best from Data East but the one that’s wedged in my recent memory. That’s thanks to its appearance on Nintendo Switch Online.
#22. Gremlin Interactive – Top Gear 3000
Turns out all I needed to like racing games was upgrades, cool music, and the entire galaxy. I’ve not had much interest in the other Top Gears but I really like this game.
#23. Jaleco – Earth Defense Force
This is still my go-to shmup on the system and, like, I really have no idea why. It lets you pick weapons, but I always choose homing, regardless. Because why wouldn’t I?
#24. Virgin Interactive – The Lion King
Still haven’t beaten it. Convinced that the “I Just Can’t Wait To Be King” level is the last level and there’s no Scar boss fight at all.
#25. Irem – Super R-Type
R-Type is a shmup icon so it had to land a spot on my list. I appreciate this genre for its quick pick-up-and-play style, plus I got to play through Super R-Type fairly recently. Recommended.
#26. LucasArts – Zombies Ate My Neighbors
Oooh baby! A long-time favorite since childhood, I recently completed the game twice in the span of a three-day weekend and it still beckons me back for more zombie blowing-uppery.
#27. Maxis – SimAnt
Love me some SimCity games but if you asked me my favorite Sim game on SNES, I might just say SimAnt depending on the day of the week. Just keep SimEarth as far away from me as possible.
#28. Rare – Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest
Rare was a sight to behold and they knocked it out of the park with the Donkey Kong Country trilogy. I personally fall firmly on the side of the fence that posits DKC2 is the best of the bunch.
#29. Square – Chrono Trigger
What? You thought I could compile any list of SNES without including Chrono Trigger? C’mon.
#30. Nintendo – Super Mario World
If you asked me what video game best represents what the Super Nintendo is as a home console, I’d have to say Super Mario World. It is inseparable from the SNES. It is the SNES, as far as I’m concerned. It might not be Nintendo’s best on the system but it is the mascot, the icon, the poster child, without a doubt.
…plus one more for good luck…
#31. LJN – Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage
Or maybe bad luck… Look, LJN didn’t run over your foot or anything so you don’t have to hate them just because that’s the prevailing notion of the day. That said, I think that most would probably say Maximum Carnage is the best game with LJN on the cover. Which isn’t saying a whole lot.
And that’s the list! Want to give a few shoutouts to your own favorite developers, publishers, and SNES games to celebrate the Super Nintendo’s 30th anniversary? Let me know about them in the comments or tag me when you share this post with your own nominations!
Thanks for reading.
Red formerly ran The Well-Red Mage and now serves The Pixels as founder, writer, editor, and podcaster. He has undertaken a seemingly endless crusade to talk about the games themselves in the midst of a culture obsessed with the latest controversy, scandal, and news cycle about harassment, toxicity, and negativity. Pick out his feathered cap on Twitter @thewellredmage or Mage Cast.
Bury me with my money!