Top 10 Super Nintendo RPGs

We start our epic RPG list with this underrated gem, which unfortunately never made it to North America. “Terranigma” is an action role-playing game with a magnificent, grandiose story about the rebirth of the world following the clash between God and the Devil. Main character Ark is a mischievous bad boy whose fate seems intertwined with the planet’s future. The gamer takes control of Ark as he runs, jumps and attacks using the intuitive battle system that offers challenging and unique mechanics. With a marvelous soundtrack, creative level designs and a beautiful art style, “Terranigma” is a blast from start to finish.

The prequel to the first “Lufia” game, Lufia II improves on every aspect from its predecessor, offering a more robust adventure filled with multiple dungeons and hundreds of puzzles. Taking us back 99 years before the events of the original, the game tells the origins of the evil god-like Sinistrals and the war they waged against humanity. Innovative features such as IP Skills and Capsule Monsters – battling alongside captured animals - were introduced along with the Ancient Cave, a randomly generated dungeon with 99 floors to explore.

Set 500 years after the original, “Breath of Fire II” offers an awesome RPG experience. Beautifully crafted with great production value, the player takes control of Ryu, the last surviving member of the Dragon Clan, as he and a colourful cast of humans and creatures fight to rid the world of a growing evil. Besides the solid turn-based combat, one of the cooler aspects of the game is how each character has a different skill that can be used outside of battle, such as fishing and hunting.

“Secret of Evermore” is an underrated action-RPG that follows a boy and his pet dog who are accidently transported to the world of Evermore. You’ll engage in real-time battles in prehistoric jungles filled with dinosaurs, medieval kingdoms, Egyptian-like ancient civilisations and even futuristic space stations. Core gameplay involves the usual puzzle-solving and exploration, intermixed with mastering weapons and the unique Alchemy system for casting spells. With an atmospheric soundtrack and great level design, this tale of a boy and his dog makes for a great adventure.

Next on our list is this action role-playing game by Enix. Harnessing his psychic powers, Will is tasked with stopping the Chaos Comet that will bring destruction to the Earth. While the player only takes control of Will, he can transform himself into the dark knight Freedan and the insanely powerful mass of energy known as Shadow. Each transformation brings something to the table, adding an interesting element to mix up the combat and puzzle-solving. A great soundtrack and gorgeous visuals are the icing on this delicious RPG cake.

Coming in at number 5 is another fan-favorite. In “Secret of Mana”, you take control of an unnamed warrior whose task is to find the seeds of the Mana tree, a force that keeps good and evil in perfect balance. Foregoing turn-based combat for real-time battles, the game features an interesting Ring Command menu system which allows the player to pause the action and make critical decisions. Furthermore, you can grab a buddy and play the game co-op with two players. With a great plot, colourful graphics and a phenomenal soundtrack, this is one of the Super’s finest.

What is the one thing a video game needs to be above all else? Fun, and “EarthBound” offers that in spades, despite that fact that it requires more grinding that pretty much anything else on this list. With its real-world setting – which was unheard of in RPGs at the time – humorous tone and great characters, “EarthBound” quickly became a cult favorite among SNES gamers. Playing as Ness, you and your buddies must stop the evil alien Giygas from enveloping the world in hatred. A catchy soundtrack and charming level design add to this innovative RPG experience, with our favorite level in the game being Moonside, a colorful city where everything is opposite.

Mario in an RPGDeveloped by Squaresoft, this was one of the earliest cases in which Nintendo let another developer handle their star mascot. When the Mushroom Kingdom comes under attack from the villainous Smithy, a menacing mechanical creature who has stolen the Seven Stars from the Star Road, it naturally falls to our favourite plumber to set things right. Mario RPG offers fun turn-based combat with newcomers Mallow the “tadpole” and Geno, the fan favorite puppet magician. Most shockingly, Bowser joins Mario in the battle against Smithy, who has taken over Bowser’s Castle. Memorable enemies such as the Axem Rangers and Culex, the Final Fantasy-inspired secret boss, made this game a joy to play.

Arguably the finest entry in this RPG series, “Final Fantasy VI” boasts excellent gameplay and superb design with a story to rival the best of the best. From the moment Terra plows through snowy Narshe, gamers know they’re witnessing something magical. FF6 also has the distinction of having one of the greatest villains in video game history, the sociopathic clown Kefka Palazzo, who actually does the unthinkable and ends the world! With numerous memorable scenes such as the Opera House, “Final Fantasy VI” will go down as one of the best RPGs ever.

When you mix epic RPG action and a complex story about a group of heroes using time travel to stop the apocalypse, you get our number one entry. “Chrono Trigger” is not only the best RPG on the Super Nintendo, it’s arguably one of the best RPGs period. In addition to the fantastic work that went into the game’s visual aesthetics and musical score, it offers dynamic gameplay with its innovative battle system, encouraging you to combine your characters abilities for mind blowing results. With multiple endings and even a major character death, “Chrono Trigger” has cemented itself as RPG royalty.…

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