47 Must Play RPGs On The SNES

Heart of Maelstrom introduces a completely revised game engine that expands the capabilities of the previous titles in the franchise. Think: larger dungeons, more character classes, and better combat. It is the only Wizardry game from the series to be ported to the SNES, and is well worth a look for old school RPG fans.

A licensed movie tie-in probably didn't come to mind when thinking or RPGs! The Addams Family Values game is mostly an action-adventure but has enough RPG-lite elements to make it comfortably fit onto the this list.

Runes of Virtue II is, believe it or not, the sixteenth entry in the Ultima series. If you've never heard of this game, you might be more familiar with the franchise's signature title: Ultima Online. It features a top-down isometric point of view with all of your typical RPG elements.

Wolf Team developed this isometric action RPG that lets you pick from four different characters, each with their own playstyle and abilities. It's a port of the Sega Genesis version and plays like a faster-paced Gauntlet with more RPG elements layered in. Co-op support makes it even better if you can find a second player.

HAL Laboratory went all in on the first-person dungeon crawler format here and wrapped it in a card-based visual style that was pretty unique for the time. The dungeons are grid-based and tough, and the random encounter rate is high even by early 90s standards. It's rough around the edges but there's a charm to it that dungeon crawler fans will appreciate.

One of the earliest RPGs on the SNES and it shows. Drakkhen has an open world that you can explore freely from the start which was genuinely ambitious for 1991. The combat is clunky and the difficulty spikes are brutal, but there's a weird appeal to how different it feels compared to everything else in the SNES library. Infogrames really swung for the fences with this one.

Kemco's action RPG plays a lot like a top-down Zelda with RPG progression. The big complaint has always been the absurdly short attack range on your sword, which makes combat feel more frustrating than it should be. The world and dungeon design are actually solid though, and if you can get past the hit detection issues there's a decent game underneath.

Paladin's Quest does something almost no other SNES RPG bothered with, using HP instead of MP for magic. Every spell you cast chips away at your own health, which makes even routine battles feel like a calculated risk. The alien world design is genuinely strange in a way that still stands out, but it's that magic system that makes it worth revisiting.

New World Computing brought their PC dungeon crawler over to the SNES and it translated surprisingly well. The first-person exploration and turn-based combat are deep enough to keep you busy for a long time. If you've played any of the later Might and Magic games or Heroes of Might and Magic, this is where a lot of those systems got their start.

This one flies under the radar for most people but it's a fun little action RPG with a quirky sense of humor. You play as a vampire kid fighting through colorful stages using a spinning hat attack. Naxat Soft kept it short and sweet, and the co-op support adds some extra replay value. It's light on depth but heavy on charm.

Inindo was released back in 1991 originally, and ported to the SNES in 1993. This interesting title has you playing as a ninja, the last of surviving of your clan, set out on a mission to avenge your fallen friends. The game brings a touch of strategy to the table along with some unique mechanics.

Play through "The Fellowship of the Ring" as Frodo and crew in this licensed action RPG. As the story progresses you unlock more of the cast as playable characters, and it even has multiplayer support to let your friends take control. The game features a punishing perma-death mechanic, once a character dies, they cannot come back!

Brandish is a great example of an early dungeon crawler. For 1991, it visually looked just as polished as other RPGs of the period. If you're a die-hard fan of the: dungeon, loot, upgrade, repeat gameplay loop, this one may still be worth your time.

Neverland Co. kicked off the Lufia series with a traditional JRPG that opens with one of the most memorable prologues on the SNES. The gameplay is straightforward turn-based combat with random encounters, nothing groundbreaking, but the story carries it. It's often overshadowed by its sequel but the original is still a solid RPG in its own right.

Bullfrog Productions took the god game formula from the original Populous and expanded it with Greek mythology theming and way more powers to play with. It's more of a strategy game than a traditional RPG but the progression system and the ability to shape the world around your followers gives it enough RPG DNA to land on this list.

Romancing SaGa is an underrated franchise that has gotten better with age. The game was released for the SNES, but only in Asia. There is a translation patch, but it's not perfect. While technically still an SNES game, it's recommended to play one of the 2D ports to newer console or the newer 3D remake for the best experience.

The predecessor to Isles of Terra and still a solid first-person dungeon crawler in its own right. New World Computing packed a massive world into this one with tons of quests, character classes, and secrets to find. The SNES port is a decent way to experience it though the PC version is generally considered the better option.

Enix published this action RPG that plays a lot like a puzzle-heavy Zelda. The dungeon design is the highlight here, with some genuinely clever puzzles that require you to use jade companions, little helper creatures that follow you around and assist in combat. It's short and doesn't have the deepest story but the gameplay loop is satisfying.

Westwood Studios, the same team behind Command & Conquer, made this action-adventure RPG about a young Merlin before he became a legendary wizard. There's no text or dialogue in the game at all which makes progression feel like a constant puzzle. It's a strange design choice that won't click for everyone but it gives the game a unique identity.

Quintet developed this quirky RPG where you build and customize robots to fight for you. The invention system lets you combine items to create new equipment and the whole thing has a lighthearted tone that sets it apart from the more serious RPGs on the SNES. It flew completely under the radar at launch and it's still underrated today.

Enix published one of the most unique RPGs on the SNES with this one. You start as a fish and evolve through different stages of life, upgrading your body parts along the way. The evolution mechanic is genuinely creative and watching your creature transform based on your choices never gets old. There's really nothing else like it on the platform.

Quest Corporation made a real-time tactical RPG that was years ahead of its time. You manage entire units across a battlefield, making strategic decisions about formations, classes, and positioning. The reputation system means your choices actually matter and there are multiple endings depending on how you play. It's complex but incredibly rewarding once it clicks.

The sequel to Drakkhen and a massive improvement in pretty much every way. Kemco swapped the original's clunky open world for a mix of side-scrolling action and overhead exploration that works way better. The combat is more responsive, the RPG systems are deeper, and it actually feels like a complete game this time around.

Bullfrog's original god game that basically invented the genre. You control a deity raising and lowering terrain to help your followers thrive while wiping out the opposition. Peter Molyneux designed something genuinely new here and while it's simpler than its sequel, the core concept is still fun to mess around with on the SNES.

Capcom's beat-em-up based on Arthurian legend has just enough RPG progression to earn a spot here. Your character levels up and visually changes armor as you fight through stages, which was a cool touch for a 1994 arcade port. It's short and best played with a friend but the combat is tight and satisfying in that classic Capcom way.

Keeping with the trend of confusing timelines, FFII in North America is actually a port of FFIV in Japan. It vastly improves upon the first game, both visually and mechanically on the upgraded SNES platform.

Mystic Quest is a peculiar entry in the Final Fantasy series. It's a very dumbed down version of the main entries of the franchise, with an equally linear story and mechanics. That being said, it still has a solid RPG backbone and doesn't do the franchise a disservice.

Capcom's first crack at a JRPG and a solid one at that. The dragon transformation system is the standout mechanic, letting protagonist Ryu shift into different dragon forms during battle. The story is fairly standard save-the-world stuff but the combat system and the fishing minigame (a series staple that started right here) give it personality.

Beam Software took the tabletop RPG and turned it into a cyberpunk action RPG that was way ahead of its time on the SNES. The setting alone makes it stand out from everything else in the library, mixing hacking, gunfights, and magic in a dystopian Seattle. The open-ended structure and multiple approaches to missions give it a level of freedom that most SNES RPGs didn't even attempt.

FTL Games created one of the most influential dungeon crawlers ever and the SNES port holds up well. Real-time combat in a first-person dungeon was groundbreaking when it first released and the SNES version keeps that tension intact. The magic system where you combine runes to cast spells is still one of the coolest implementations of magic in any RPG.

Capcom made a dark action RPG spinoff of the Ghosts 'n Goblins series starring the demon Firebrand. The crest system lets you transform into different gargoyle forms, each with unique abilities that open up new areas. It's tough, atmospheric, and has some of the best pixel art on the entire console. Criminally overlooked even to this day.

Square's American-developed action RPG that often gets compared to Secret of Mana but is really its own thing. The alchemy magic system where you combine ingredients to cast spells is unique and the boy-and-his-dog dynamic gives it personality. It got a mixed reception at launch partly because it came out instead of Seiken Densetsu 3 in the west, but it deserves to be judged on its own merits.

The first game in Quintet's unofficial "Heaven and Earth" trilogy that also includes Illusion of Gaia and Terranigma. You clear out monster lairs to restore towns and bring NPCs back to life, which gives the dungeon crawling a sense of purpose beyond just leveling up. It's simpler than the other two games in the trilogy but the core loop is really satisfying.

Westwood Studios brought their D&D-licensed first-person dungeon crawler to the SNES and it's a solid port. The real-time combat and grid-based exploration are addictive once you get into a rhythm, and the D&D ruleset gives character building a lot of depth. If you're into old-school dungeon crawlers at all this one is essential.

Origin Systems brought one of the deepest PC RPGs of the early 90s to the SNES. The open world is genuinely impressive for the hardware and the level of interactivity with NPCs and objects was unmatched at the time. The SNES port has some compromises compared to the PC version but it's still a remarkably ambitious RPG that holds up if you have the patience for it.

Capcom improved on the original in almost every way with a darker story, better graphics, and the Township system where you build and customize your own village. The translation is notoriously rough which hurts the story delivery, but the gameplay underneath is some of the best traditional JRPG action on the SNES. The dragon transformations are even better this time around.

Quintet's second entry in the Heaven and Earth trilogy and a big step up from Soul Blazer. The ability to transform between three different characters, each with unique abilities, keeps the gameplay fresh throughout. The story goes to some surprisingly dark places for a Nintendo-published game and the set pieces inspired by real-world locations like the Great Wall of China and Angkor Wat give it a sense of scale that most SNES action RPGs don't have.

Neverland Co. took everything that worked about the first Lufia and made it better. The puzzle design in the dungeons is some of the best on the SNES and the Ancient Cave, a 99-floor randomly generated dungeon, adds a massive amount of replay value. The story is actually a prequel to the first game and hits way harder emotionally. One of the most underrated JRPGs on the console.

Originally released as Seiken Densetsu 3 in Japan, western audiences didn't get an official localized version until decades later. You pick three characters from a roster of six and the story changes based on your choices, which was incredibly ambitious for 1995. The real-time combat with class upgrades and co-op support makes it one of the best action RPGs Square ever put out on the SNES.

The original Harvest Moon kicked off a beloved franchise that is undoubtably the start of the "cozy farming sim" genre that is so popular today. If you're looking for something more laid back and not your typical medieval fantasy RPG, Harvest Moon is for you.

Square's action RPG with real-time combat and a ring menu system that became iconic. The three-player co-op using the SNES multitap is still one of the best local multiplayer RPG experiences on any console. The colorful sprite work and Hiroki Kikuta's soundtrack are legendary and the weapon leveling system gives combat a satisfying sense of progression. It's a must-play for any SNES RPG fan.

Split into four unique chapters, Terranigma is an RPG released towards the tail-end of the SNES lifespan. Strangely, it's one of the only games that did not ever receive a North American release. For folks in the Americas, you may have never heard of this hidden gem.

Square and Nintendo teaming up to make a Mario RPG sounded strange in 1996 and somehow it worked perfectly. The isometric perspective, timed button presses during combat, and a cast that includes both Mario and original characters like Geno and Mallow made it feel completely fresh. It's the game that proved Mario could carry an RPG and it directly paved the way for the Paper Mario and Mario & Luigi series.

Despite "three" being in the title, FFIII on the SNES is actually the western release of FFVI. It features a sprawling world with an iconic cast of characters and, at the time, a groundbreaking "Active Time Battle system" that helped define the genre.

This critically acclaimed JRPG sequel to the 1989 Japanese-only "Mother" title stars a young boy named Ness (who you may know from other Nintendo titles like Super Smash Bros) who leaves home to go on a bizarre adventure. If you're at all a fan of the genre, EarthBound is a must-play.

Chrono Trigger is the landmark SNES RPG. It's one of those games that has stood the test of time. Year after year, this game is still referenced by fans of the genre. A unique, engaging battle system with a rich story makes it not only one of the best RPGs on the platform, but of all time.