Even if SNES he had a wonderful library RPGnot every player was able to get to all of them in the 90s. Even today, with collections and online stores, it's seemingly impossible to play the best of the best. This doesn't even take into account that some games are lost to time because they were never re-released through the right channels or never left Japan.
The best SNES RPG that gets better as you play
These games may start off slow, but they grow into some of the best RPGs the Super Nintendo has to offer.
Be that as it may, games like Fantasy stories or Metal Max returns were forgotten today. Let's highlight why these games and others deserve to be remembered. Some are even celebrating their anniversary in 2026, so the timing couldn't be better.
Arrange the covers in the correct US release order.
Start
Arrange the covers in the correct US release order.
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Bahamut Lagoon
Dragon tactics
Bahamut Lagoon is one of the many games developed by Square and published on the SNES that remain forgotten and hidden to many because they never left Japan, but there is a patch for English fans. It has an interesting approach to tactical combat, as the game is overall linear, but players can move their characters around the grid-based map.
Instead of units attacking each other directly, touch an enemy icon to initiate a single turn-based battle. Final Fantasy fans may suspect that dragons are involved given the title and the fact that Bahamut is the king of dragons, and they wouldn't be wrong as dragons can be used to fight battles in Bahamut Lagoon, too.
The dark half
A fight between two opposing sides
- Developer: Western one
- Publisher: Enix
- Released: 31/5/96 (Japan)
- Platform: SNES
The dark half is one of the most interesting RPGs on the SNES and is another example of a game that never left Japan but also got a fan patch. Instead of just traversing a fantasy world and fighting a dark lord, players actually switch between the hero Falco and the main antagonist Rukyu as they fight opposing battles.
As Rukyu, players can command monsters in battle, while Falco joins a party of adventurers. The meter ticks off with most actions taken, and if players, like any character, run out of said meter, it's game over. It's challenging and hard to master, but also fascinating for any RPG fan who likes to be evil.
Lufia 2: Rise Of The Sintrals
On scale with Final Fantasy 6
Despite the name, Lufia 2: Rise of the Sinistrals is actually a prequel to the first game, so it's just as good a place to start as the original. The titular Sinistrals are bosses that players must defeat in order to save the world, so overall it's a cliche plot. That said, he had a lot of forward thinking ideas for the SNES.
The dungeon puzzles were more involved than typical RPGs on the SNES at the time. Players could obtain items along their journey to solve similar puzzles Zelda games, monsters appeared in dungeons, battles were turn-based, and there was even a limited monster-catching mechanism. Although the game was released outside of Japan, it is one of those SNES games without a modern port.
More Cartoon Fallout
- Developer: Crea-Tech
- Publisher: Data East
- Released: September 29, 1995 (Japan)
- Platform: SNES
The Metal Max franchise began on the NES in 1991 in Japan, with Metal Max returns is a SNES remake released just a few years later in 1995. There is a patch for fans and for more insiders, The metal saga was the first game in the series to officially launch in North America on the PS2 in 2006.
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History aside, Metal Max returns takes place in a post-apocalypse where battles are more safely fought with different vehicles of the like Mad Max. Players can acquire tanks and other vehicles along with party members to fight in simple but satisfying turn-based battles in the post-apocalypse.
Shin Megami Tensei If…
One of the many forgotten SMT games
- Developer: Atlas
- Publisher: Atlas
- Released: 10/28/94 (Japan, SNES version)
- Platforms: SNES, PS1, Mobile
Shin Megami Tensei If… is SMT spinoff that was released on the SNES in 1994. Although the game was ported to mobile devices and the PS1, North America never officially received the game, but there is a patch for fans. Fans of more modern Shin Megami Tensei games will not be lost in this spin-off as it follows the traditional story and gameplay.
Set in modern-day Japan, players will battle demons and learn how to summon them in turn-based combat. They also shouldn't be surprised by the dark content in the game's story, which is not unusual in the gaming environment SMT game.
Star ocean
Blurring the lines between fantasy and science fiction
Star ocean
- Released
-
July 19, 1996
- ESRB
-
t
- Developers
-
Tri-Ace, Tos
The Star ocean series celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2026, as it all started on the SNES with the simply named Star ocean in 1996. It was only released in Japan, but this version has a fan translation, which is good because the only version North Americans got was the PSP remake in 2008, followed by an even better remaster in 2019.
This game is also a big deal for tri-Ace developers since it was their first game. Like most games in the series, Star ocean is a mix of science fiction and fantasy, and is one of the first examples of a game with action combat in more traditional turn-based arenas.
Fantasy stories
Back to where it all began
Fantasy stories
- Released
-
December 15, 1995
- ESRB
-
E10+ For everyone 10+ // Fantasy violence
- Developers
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Wolf team
Fantasy stories precedes Star ocean by one year, and it also started a great tradition of action RPGs in more traditional battle contexts. The game was released in Japan in 1995 on the SNES and there is a fan patch for it, but there is also a GBA version that is mostly the same game, which is how North America finally got to play it in 2006.
In the game, you play the powerful hero Cress Albane, who with his party strives to stop the dark lord from destroying the world. In battle, players can run around on 2D planes and attack monsters with weapons and skills, with the ability to stop and issue orders whenever they want if they need to take a breather. Fantasy stories not the best Stories about game, but is important in the history of the series.
Twisted Tales Of Spike McFang
Vampire loving tomatoes
Twisted Tales of Spike McFang is a great little action RPG originally released in North America on the SNES. The game stars the titular Spike, who is a vampire more in love with tomatoes than blood.
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Players explore dungeons, fight colorful enemies such as anthropomorphic garlic cloves, wield a powerful cloak, hat, and spell cards, and level up between real-time battles. There's even a co-op mode, which is a bit rare for RPGs of this era. All these features and more Twisted Tales of Spike McFang a truly unique experience.
Treasure hunter G
Tactical Indiana Jones
- Developer: Sting
- Publisher: Square
- Released: 24/05/96 (Japan)
- Platform: SNES
Treasure hunter G is another game hidden from the West published by Square and developed by the rather obscure Sting who some may know Evolutionary worlds or Yggdra Union: We will never fight alone. The game has a similar faux-3D style Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Starsmaking it stand out as a late 1996 SNES game.
As brothers Red and Blue, players explore caves and ruins and fight small tactical battles while searching for treasure. It was, and still is, a nice change of pace from the usual save-the-world plots, because even though there's an evil overlord in the background, Treasure hunter G it's still a bit more cheerful than a typical RPG.
The treasure of the Rudras
Hidden Square RPG
The treasure of the Rudrasnot to be confused with Treasure hunter Gis another Square RPG released in 1996 only in Japan. The game took a different approach to its campaign, allowing players to start with different characters out of sequence, each with their own stories to tell in their chapters.
Once all chapters are completed, another story will be unlocked to collect the plot. It's a typical turn-based combat system, but spells definitely have a bigger place during combat, and the animations between heroes and enemies are next-level. Like all these Japanese exclusives, it's just a shame The treasure of the Rudras remained hidden from Western audiences.
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