Summary
- SNES games like Super Mario World and Chrono Trigger boast stunning pixel art, making them easy to revisit.
- Games like Lethal Enforcers and Yoshi's Safari impressed players with FMV and vibrant graphics on a 16-bit system.
- Titles such as Donkey Kong Country and Super Mario RPG utilized clever design tricks to create visually impressive 3D effects.
Super Mario World, Chrono Trigger, and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past are three of the best-looking games on the SNES. This makes them easy to go back to, thanks to the crisp pixel art. It’s why 16-bit games notably hold up the best compared to most other consoles, at least from Nintendo ones.
8 Most Influential SNES Games, Ranked
The 90s were a high point in video games thanks to these SNES classics, that influenced gaming for years to come.
As great as these games are today, back in the 90s, other games stood out as technical marvels. They skirted the line between 2D and 3D, which was baffling to see on a 16-bit system like the SNES. While not all of these games hold up as well today, they were amazing when they were first released. They will be ranked based on how technically jaw-dropping they were for SNES games in the 90s.
8 Lethal Enforcers
How Did They Shrink Those People Into My Game?
- Developer: Konami
- Publisher: Konami
- Released: January 1994 (SNES Version)
- Platforms: Arcade, PS1, Sega CD, Sega Genesis, SNES
There were a few FMV games that made it onto the SNES that wowed players in the 90s. Lethal Enforcers started in arcades and digitized real actors to fill up the screen with hostages and terrorists. It was a simple trend for light gun games back then, along with other genres, including platformers and fighting games.
While the SNES version doesn’t look as good as the arcade or Sega CD versions, it is still one of the most impressive FMV games to ever grace the console.
7 Yoshi's Safari
Big Sprites, Bigger Gun
Yoshi's Safari
- Released
- July 14, 1993
- Developer(s)
- Tose Co., Ltd.
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo Co., Ltd.
Yoshi's Safari is another light gun game, and even though it didn’t use digitized live actors, the graphics were better. This is thanks in part to the animations of enemies moving more fluidly compared to the stiffness of Lethal Enforcers.
Sprites were big and colorful, especially during boss battles against the Koopalings. It’s a shame this game is hard to emulate on modern consoles now because it would still look good on the SNES retro selection for the Switch.
6 Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
My Child Is Talented
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
- Released
- October 4, 1995
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo EAD
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
- Platform(s)
- SNES, Nintendo Game Boy Advance
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island is another Yoshi vehicle that looked good back in the '90s and still holds up today. The colors are vibrant like Yoshi’s Safari, but what truly made the game remarkable was the overall art style, which looked crayon-like in design.
8 Best SNES RPGs That Never Came To America
While there were many incredible RPGS on the SNES that got released in numerous countries, these games never made it out of Japan.
Somehow, the models also had a 3D effect, which is still hard to grasp. The chips within the SNES made it hard to port the game in perfect condition for years, and playing it on an actual SNES is still the best way to see the game.
5 ClayFighter 2: Judgment Clay
Forged In Fire
- Developer: Interplay Productions
- Publisher: Interplay Productions
- Released: January 1, 1995
- Platform: SNES
The first ClayFighter game looked on par with other digitized fighting games, including Mortal Kombat. Animations were stiff but still cool from a technical viewpoint. ClayFighter 2: Judgment Clay was a step above its predecessor as the digitized clay looked to retain more of their shapes as they fought on screen.
The N64 sequel blurred the lines even further, but ClayFighter 2: Judgment Clay tricked many young minds in the 90s that they were playing with clay molds, even if the game doesn’t appear as groundbreaking today.
4 Star Fox
Triangles In Space
Star Fox
- Released
- March 22, 1993
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo, Argonaut Software
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Genre(s)
- Rail Shooter
- Platform(s)
- SNES
Playing Star Fox now can look silly because it’s just a bunch of polygonal shapes, mostly triangles, firing at each other. There’s not much design to the ships of Fox McCloud and his crew or the enemy ships. It’s not impressive now, but for an early SNES game, players couldn’t believe their eyes.
Thankfully, the designs were clearer in the N64 sequel. The one thing that does hold up about Star Fox is the music in the first level, because it absolutely slaps.
3 Stunt Race FX
A Blocky Racer Rival To Super Mario Kart
Stunt Race FX
- Released
- June 4, 1994
- Platform(s)
- SNES, Nintendo Switch
Super Mario Kart is the go-to racer on the SNES, but it’s not the visually pleasing one of the system. That would go to Stunt Race FX, a game most SNES fans have forgotten or maybe haven’t even heard of before.
Best SNES RPGs With Open-World Elements
Though limited in terms of the open-world aspect, these incredible SNES RPGs still showcase some of the best elements the genre has to offer.
Like Star Fox, the game used polygonal shapes to construct rough outlines of vehicles. The designs were much better in Stunt Race FX game thanks to a clever technical trick. Because the level of playing field was seen through a window, things ran better, which makes the game still look decent.
2 Donkey Kong Country
Rare Goes Bananas
Donkey Kong Country
- Released
- November 24, 1994
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Developer(s)
- Rare
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
- Platform(s)
- SNES, Nintendo Game Boy Color, Nintendo Game Boy Advance
While fans wait for Donkey Kong Bananza to come out on the Switch 2, which looks absolutely stunning, let’s remember those warm, fuzzy feelings upon seeing Donkey Kong Country for the first time. “This is what video games can look like?!” That was probably screamed by many a kid in the '90s who got their hands on the game.
Donkey Kong, Diddy, Cranky, and all of the other Kongs and enemies were 3D models placed in a 2D world. That’s what it seemed like at least, but now it’s not as wow-inducing once the magic trick can be seen through. The trilogy is still fun to play on the SNES, though.
1 Super Mario RPG: Legend Of The Seven Stars
A Collaboration Worth Praising
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
- Released
- May 13, 1996
WHERE TO PLAY
Squaresoft used similar tricks as Rare did with Donkey Kong Country when they designed Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars. It was beyond impressive because Mario explored areas from a top-down perspective, thus giving a better illusion of 3D.
It’s not graphically powerful now, but the gameplay is still solid, which helped create the time-based combat system. Even modern games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 were inspired by Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, which is the game’s greatest legacy beyond art style by far.
Best Donkey Kong Game On Every Nintendo Console
Donkey Kong was the game that made Nintendo a household name, and all these years later, he has made an impression on each of Nintendo's consoles.