BEST SNES GAME FROM EVERY YEAR OF THE CONSOLE'S LIFE

The Super Nintendo Entertainment System, better known as the SNES, was Nintendo’s first 16-bit console and their answer to the Sega Genesis. Little did they know that it would become one of the best gaming systems of all time, both thanks to its graphical prowess and its vast catalog of incredible video games.

The SNES is one of those systems that had a revolutionary game released for it every single year, from 1991, when it came out in the United States, up to 1999 when the console was finally discontinued in that same country. So that’s the timespan that was considered for this impressive list.

Super Mario World (1991)

The Perfect Launch Game

The SNES is often considered to have had one of the best launch lineups in gaming history, with important titles that showed off its new 16-bit technology, like Pilotwings or F-Zero. But since Mario had been responsible for the sales of so many NES consoles, it was only logical that Nintendo would release their next console alongside the fourth mainline entry, Super Mario World.

This game changed the Mario franchise forever: It featured detailed sprites and environments that demonstrated how powerful the SNES truly was. The gameplay now felt faster and smoother, with some innovative new mechanics that Shigeru Miyamoto had wanted to use from the beginning, like the fan favorite, Yoshi. Almost every player that has had an SNES since launch has bought Super Mario World with it.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (1992)

Now It Was Link’s Turn To Shine

Similarly to what happened to its predecessor, the SNES also had a Legend of Zelda title released in its second year, which had already proven itself to be one of Nintendo’s biggest franchises. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is not only considered one of the best entries of the franchise to this day, but it ended up being one of the most important video games of all time.

After the mixed bag that was Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link, this felt like a true sequel to the first game. A colorful art style, a beautiful soundtrack, a surprisingly deep story, fun new items for Link to use, and incredible boss fights are some of the reasons that A Link to the Past became such a huge success. At that point, both Mario & Link had proven how great the SNES could be.

Star Fox (1993)

The SNES Could Run 3D Games Too

By 1993, the entire industry was desperate to create 3D video games that would impress players with their technology. But, while other companies needed to create add-ons or brand-new systems, Nintendo managed to accomplish this goal with their revolutionary Super FX graphics chip. And Star Fox was the perfect game to implement it in.

It’s mind-blowing to think that the SNES had a fully 3D rail shooter by its third year on the market. But Star Fox was not just about its incredible graphics; it also had entertaining gameplay and charming characters to boot. As always, Nintendo’s desire to innovate led them to create what would become one of their biggest franchises.

Super Metroid (1994)

Putting The “Metroid” In “Metroidvania”

1994 can easily be considered the best year for the SNES, with hard hitters that would change the gaming industry forever, like Donkey Kong Country, EarthBound, or Final Fantasy VI. But, at the end of the day, the best game released that year was definitely Super Metroid.

This game managed to create an intense yet mysterious atmosphere that was thought to be impossible on the SNES. Not to mention that it featured a huge map for Samus Aran to slowly explore, unveiling new areas as she unlocked more abilities. And it tells a nuanced story without any dialogue. Super Metroid is still considered one of the best games of all time, and it was so influential that it’s half the reason the Metroidvania genre exists today.

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (1995)

The Best Platformer On The Console

1995 was yet another incredible year for the SNES, with some strong releases like Chrono Trigger or Yoshi’s Island. But none of them could compare to the masterpiece that is Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, Rare’s second entry in their new ape-centric franchise. This is a perfect sequel that took everything that made the original so good and made it better.

Dixie and Diddy just feel excellent to control, which makes the platforming extremely precise and challenging, and it was made better with the impeccable design of every level they have to go through. But what made Donkey Kong Country 2 differentiate itself from other platformers was its presentation, with its impressive 3D sprites and David Wise’s beautiful music, which is one of the best soundtracks of all time.

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (1996)

A Great RPG That Kept The Console Alive

By 1996, the Nintendo 64 had already been out, yet the SNES still saw some amazing releases that kept the console alive for those who couldn’t afford its 64-bit successor. Out of all them, the most memorable one is definitely Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, a fated collaboration between Nintendo and Square and the plumber’s first foray into the role-playing genre.

This felt like the perfect mixture of Super Mario and Final Fantasy since it had colorful environments, catchy music, and fun characters, combined with deep RPG mechanics and challenging enemies. And its spectacular 3D sprites made it feel relevant at the time. There’s a reason the recent Super Mario RPG remake for Nintendo Switch didn’t change much from the original release.

Kirby's Dream Land 3 (1997)

An Unexpected Treat

Game releases for the SNES were slowing down by 1997, but there was an unexpected first-party title published that year that added value to the console for those that were still playing with it. Why Nintendo and HAL Laboratory felt the need to release a sequel to the Kirby’s Dream Land subseries on the SNES in 1997 is anybody’s guess, but it was definitely worth it.

Kirby’s Dream Land 3 was the next step this subseries needed, as it transitioned from the Game Boy to the SNES, which led to the implementation of a beautiful chalk-like art style, the return of Kirby’s adorable Animal Friends, and one of the most disturbing Nintendo bosses ever created. This was the final Nintendo-published game on the SNES, and it showed that this console could still deliver some really fun experiences.

Frogger (1998)

The Return Of An Arcade Classic

• Released: 1998
• Developer: Morning Star Multimedia
• Genre: Platform

While the Japanese Super Famicom still saw some solid releases in 1998, like Wrecking Crew '98 or Mega Man & Bass, there were only two games released for the SNES that year: NBA Live 98 and Frogger. The latter was a port of Konami’s classic arcade game, finally allowing it to be experienced on this console.

Frogger for the SNES is a decent port with improved graphics and mechanics, and it includes more levels. A fun experience, but it paled in comparison to the console’s previous offerings. This was the final officially licensed game released for the SNES before it was discontinued the next year. It may not have gone out with a bang, but nobody can deny that it had an amazing run.

2024-02-26T23:31:39Z dg43tfdfdgfd