5 SNES Games With Great Stories That Fans Love

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The Super Nintendo is famous for having an incredible selection of role-playing games, or RPGs. It really excelled at deep, story-driven experiences, thanks to some amazing work from well-known game developers. While the SNES offered a lot of great games, it’s particularly remembered for its narrative masterpieces. This list focuses on highlighting just one standout title from each series – so while there are many fantastic games like Final Fantasy IV, I’ve chosen only one entry per franchise.

Here are the five best stories on the Super Nintendo.

5) Live A Live

When Live A Live was first released in 1994, it was difficult for many players outside of Japan to obtain. The game was initially only available in Japan, meaning fans had to spend a lot of money to import it. Even then, they would need to either learn Japanese or find an unofficial English translation to enjoy Takashi Tokita’s acclaimed game.

Luckily, Live A Live received a remake in 2022 and was released worldwide, allowing more people to experience a truly special game. It’s similar to a fantastic anthology series, featuring several compelling individual stories that ultimately connect to form a larger, meaningful narrative with a rewarding ending. It’s a difficult feat to accomplish, but Live A Live pulls it off exceptionally well.

4) Earthbound

EarthBound was unique among role-playing games when it came out because of its quirky art style, funny characters, and bizarre storyline. The game follows a group of kids on a mission to defeat an ancient alien and save the world.

The story of Earthbound might seem like a standard RPG setup at first, but it quickly becomes incredibly unique. You’ll experience things like rescuing a teammate from a bizarre cult, and even exploring the main character’s dreams as a level. Plus, one of your companions is a prince named Poo! It’s a wonderfully strange game that’s hard not to love, which makes it disappointing that its sequel hasn’t been released in English.

3) Terranigma

Terranigma is the final game in a series of three RPGs created by Quintet. Originally, the developers intended to call it Soul Blazer, like the first game, and even planned that title for Illusion of Gaia. While the connections between the three games aren’t direct, many fans see them as a connected trilogy.

I could definitely see why someone would choose Illusion of Gaia for this spot, but I personally prefer Terranigma. Its combat is much faster and the music is fantastic. Terranigma builds on what makes Gaia great, adds dungeon design reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda, and creates something truly special. Plus, it has a captivating story that will keep you hooked – it’s easily one of the best games on the system.

2) Chrono Trigger

Many consider Chrono Trigger to be one of the greatest games of all time. It features a captivating story about time travel, unforgettable characters, and incredibly polished gameplay. Plus, the character designs are by Akira Toriyama, the famous creator of Dragon Ball Z.

Chrono Trigger offers a remarkable amount of replay value with its 12 different endings, made possible by its time travel mechanics. Plus, the game’s New Game Plus feature lets you carry over your equipment and levels, making it easier to experience everything the game has to offer after your first completion.

If you enjoy role-playing games even a little, you absolutely need to play this game. Luckily, Chrono Trigger is still accessible thanks to its re-release on many platforms. A sequel, Chrono Cross, came out in 1999, but there haven’t been any updates since, which is a shame considering how popular Chrono Trigger remains.

1) Final Fantasy VI

There are a lot of great Final Fantasy games from the SNES era that could easily fit here, and I wouldn’t mind at all. Square was really hitting its stride with the series back then, so most of them are worth mentioning. But for me, Final Fantasy VI stands out, largely because of its compelling main villain.

There’s a reason villainous clowns are so effective in stories – they’re genuinely scary, no matter the genre. While Kefka isn’t exactly like Pennywise or the Joker, clowns just have a naturally unsettling quality. I still believe Kefka Palazzo is the best villain in the whole series, though Sephiroth is a very close second.

With a story that tackles heavy subjects like fighting against a controlling government and the horrors of chemical warfare, Square Enix began to explore more mature narratives. While Final Fantasy 7 gained more attention when it came out on PlayStation, Final Fantasy 6 remains a standout title in the series.

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2026-01-17 23:42