The NES was a hit and can be thanked for creating a video game empire. As popular as that system was, it’s nothing compared to the nostalgia about the SNES. Few systems with so many games in the SNES’ libraries hold up as well from the gameplay to the graphics.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Super Mario World, Chrono trigger, and the list goes on. These three examples lived on in the next generation of consoles. The other SNES examples on this list were less fortunate, but should still be remembered to try. Many of them were exclusively Japanese and so are a bit more obscure.
8 ActRaiser
ActRaiser was one of the more unique action RPGs on the SNES. It was part simulation game and part action platformer. Players were essentially a god who took care of the world below from a cloud fortress. When it looked dangerous below, a warrior was sent down to settle any disputes. There was a sequel with similar gameplay.
In 2019 there was a spiritual successor to via SolSeraph and a remaster of the original in 2021 called ActRaiser Renaissance. The name and premise didn’t die, but because the series never got a real sequel outside of the SNES, ActRaiser still counts towards this breakdown.
7 Aero The Acro-Bat
The SNES era was lousy with mascot platformers trying to de Mario series. The only series that stuck was Sega’s investment in Sonic the hedgehog. Aero de Acro-Bat was another platformer with a circus performing bat. It, and the sequel, were decent platformers, but not amazing.
However, they were big enough to create a spin-off via Zero the kamikaze squirrel. This was exclusive to Sega Genesis and the titular Zero was Aero’s rival in the other games. Aero The Acro-Bat was later ported to the Game Boy Advance and plans were made to re-release the sequel as well, but it was soon canceled.
6 Disney’s Magical Quest
Disney’s Magical Quest was one of several platform games Capcom developed for Disney in the 1990s. The first game in this trilogy, The Magical Quest starring Mickey Mousehad a costume system that gave Mickey powers similar to a power-up in the Mario spell. The only difference here is that these costumes were required to complete levels.
The sequel, The great circus mystery starring Mickey and Minnie, added concurrent co-op. the third game, Disney’s Magical Quest 3 with Mickey & Donald, also had co-op. Oddly enough, the SNES version of the final game didn’t come out in the West in the GBA port until 2004. The other two games were also ported to the GBA, but a fourth game was never made.
5 Double sphere
Double sphere is an obscure series in the West, as neither of the two games was ever released outside of Japan. They are both classic turn-based RPGs set in fantastic fantasy worlds with similar gameplay to dragon quest.
The sequel has been given a full fan translation in English for the curious. The original, for some reason, didn’t have a finished script, but it was also worked on by fans. There are better RPGs to watch on the SNES, but these are still worth remembering.
4 Go Go Ackman
Go Go Ackman is based on a manga of the same name. It was created by Akira Toriyama, who most anime fans will recognize as the creator of Dragon Ball. The main character of this series resembles Trunks, so it’s hard not to see a resemblance.
There were three SNES games and they were all action platformers. None of them have ever received an official release outside of Japan, but fans have made every effort to keep them online. There was also a Game Boy spin-off that was more puzzle-like.
3 Jerry Boy
Jerry Boy was the Japanese name of the game, but western fans will recognize it as Smart Ball. The biggest difference between the two versions is the name, as they are both platform games with a jelly-like hero in the lead role. This game is inconsistent with being a series as technically only one game has been released.
But a sequel Jerry Boy 2, was almost done. Sony pulled the plug late in development. A beta version of the game eventually appeared online and fans went to town to translate it. Spiritually, this “series” belongs on this list because the sequel was practically done, but was shelved due to bad blood between Sony and Nintendo. Also note that Game Freak co-developed these games.
2 king of the monsters
There are many games like King of the Monsters today like the recently released GigaBash. However, these were some of the first fighting games with large environments. It was an SNK series that started out in arcades, but soon found a home on the SNES as well.
Both games feature giant monsters fighting each other in destructible city environments. They are just as fun today as they were in the 90s and can be found in various SNK collections. However, a third game was never made.
1 Little Master
Little Master is another series that runs down the line as the first two games were on the Game Boy. Those two games were tactical RPGs and were titled Little Master Raikubaan no Densetsu and Little Master 2: Kaminari Hikari no Kishi.
the third game, Little Master: Nijiiro no Maseki, was the final release and was made for the SNES. Since the Game Boy is technically part of the same era as the SNES, it seems appropriate for discussion here. A lot of effort has gone into translating this series into English as they were all exclusively Japanese. Of the three, the last game is worth checking out.
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