Best SNES Games Turning 30 In 2025

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Summary

  • Chrono Trigger celebrates 30 years with innovative RPG features like time travel and dual arts.
  • Front Mission is a tactical RPG series turning 30 with customizable mechs and strategic grid-based maps.
  • Mega Man 7 introduced new elements to classic platforming, including a shop and new characters.

In Japan, the Super Famicom was debuted in 1990, and its North American counterpart, the Super Nintendo, followed suit in 1991. From its inception, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) boasted a fantastic collection of games that remained popular, even beyond their prime, particularly in Japan. In fact, new games were still being released for the SNES even during the Nintendo 64’s lifespan.

In 2025, it won’t fully capture the excitement if we say a group of jokes are celebrating their thirtieth anniversary, as there were many fantastic Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) games to celebrate instead. Although some Game Boy games were popular at the time, it was actually the year of the SNES, not the Game Boy, in 1995. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit some of the most memorable SNES classics that will undoubtedly still be cherished in 2025.

8. Chrono Trigger

Rewind The Clock With This Time Traveler

Chrono Trigger stands out as a cornerstone among numerous RPGs launched for the SNES, and it continues to be highly respected as an elite RPG on any gaming platform. The team behind it managed to achieve so much with the hardware they had. Unlike most other RPGs, there were no random battles, and the world map was completely free of combat. Instead, it featured time travel, dual arts, and several other unique elements.

Despite being packed with numerous events, this game is surprisingly brief. Any avid Role-Playing Game enthusiast who overlooked this timeless classic or any previous versions should revisit it now to honor its 30th anniversary.

7. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest

Shiver Me Palm Tree Timbers

In “Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest,” we find a follow-up game that brought new life to one of the most challenging titles on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). This time around, Donkey Kong was kidnapped, and it fell upon Diddy to embark on a mission to save him.

In this adventure, Diddy Kong wasn’t by himself; his cousin, Dixie, joined in too. She was the star of the performance with her hair spinning gracefully as she navigated through levels. One more delightful feature of the game was its pirate-themed design, evident in the music and level/enemy designs. Among the SNES series, this particular title is definitely worth playing.

6. Front Mission

A Tactical Titan Turns 30

2025 signifies the 30th year since the debut of the Front Mission series, a strategic role-playing game that took place in future wars using grid maps and mechanized combat units called Wanzers. Players had the freedom to modify their Wanzers with parts enhancing attributes such as HP, while also equipping an array of weapons, ranging from ranged to melee types.

North America didn’t get a chance to play the original game until it was adapted for the DS in 2007. Instead, we received Front Mission 3 on the PlayStation 1 in 2000 as the first installment. Remarkably, the original game was also remade and released in 2022.

5. Mega Man 7

The Original Gets One Shot At The Top

During the SNES era, the Mega Man series primarily focused on the innovative spinoff series, Mega Man X. However, there was an effort to create a traditional Mega Man game through Mega Man 7. Although not as iconic as the X series, Mega Man 7 offered a strong addition to the classic action platformer genre by introducing fresh elements.

In this instance, there stood a store selling goods exchangeable for bolts. It was here where the character Bass was first introduced to the franchise, accompanied by his mechanical ally named Treble.

4. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island

Children Did Not Make This

In “Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island,” we find a prequel storyline where Mario and Luigi are depicted as infants. It was Luigi who got kidnapped by Kamek this time. Baby Mario, on the other hand, is carried off by a group of Yoshis, who become the game’s main characters. These Yoshis are immune to harm, but when they get hit, Baby Mario gets separated and begins to cry.

Time was restricted to retrieve him, or the game would end at that level for some players, which became somewhat frustrating at times. However, the unique crayon-like art style of the game made up for any inconveniences, as it continues to make Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island visually stunning even on the SNES thirty years after its release.

3. Secret Of Evermore

Mana No More

The game titled “Secret of Evermore” isn’t linked to the “Mana” series, despite sharing its name, lineage, and similarities in gameplay. Surprisingly, this action RPG was developed in the United States instead of Japan, which is unusual since many Square games from that era were exclusively released in Japan on the SNES. This left a significant number of Square games on the SNES unavailable to players outside of Japan.

In this unique game, a young lad and his faithful canine embark on an extraordinary adventure when they stumble upon a mysterious mansion. This unexpected encounter leads them into another realm. The diverse settings within the game are particularly captivating, making it a truly peculiar experience overall. However, for some reason, it seems to have slipped the memory of many gamers over time.

2. Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together

The Precursor To The King

The game “Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together” significantly transformed and took the “Ogre Battle” series to unprecedented levels. In fact, it served as the blueprint for “Final Fantasy Tactics” years before its conception. Unfortunately, North America didn’t get a chance to play this game until 1998, when it was ported to PlayStation 1 and remained largely unaltered from its original form.

In 2011, a larger port was available on PSP. More recently, in 2022, another port named “Tactics Ogre Reborn” was launched on various consoles. Despite its multiple iterations, there are likely those who haven’t experienced “Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together”, a tactical RPG that’s been circulating for quite some time now.

1. Tales Of Phantasia

Namco Genre Bends With Action

1995 marked the beginning of the “Tales of” series, unlike “Front Mission,” which arrived in North America earlier. The initial installment, “Tales of Phantasia,” debuted in Japan for the SNES and was later ported to the GBA in 2006; it was this version that eventually made its way to the West. Conversely, North America’s introduction to the series came with “Tales of Destiny” on the PS1 in 1998, which was released before the Japanese version of “Tales of Phantasia.

Although Tales of Phantasia may appear somewhat outdated compared to other games in the franchise today, it was remarkably innovative for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) when it was released. Rather than traditional turn-based combat, players could control their characters as if they were in a 2D action game during battles. As the series progressed, it became more action-oriented, further emphasizing its roots.

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2025-01-05 08:04