90s SNES Games: Standout Picks by Genre
The SNES library spans tightly designed 2D platformers, some of the best-regarded RPGs of the era, and genuinely useful multiplayer, all running on the same hardware.
Platformers and action
- Super Mario World (1990 Japan, 1991 North America), the SNES launch pack-in in North America.
- Donkey Kong Country (1994), built around pre-rendered 3D models converted into 2D sprites.
- Super Metroid (1994), an exploration-focused action-adventure rather than a straightforward platformer.
Play the SNES launch classic: Super Mario World
An original cartridge of Super Mario World, discussed above, the platformer that shipped with the SNES itself in North America.
Check price on Amazon →Role-playing games
- Final Fantasy VI (April 1994 Japan, October 1994 North America).
- Chrono Trigger (1995), a collaboration between Square, Enix's Yuji Horii, and Dragon Ball's Akira Toriyama.
Multiplayer
Super Mario Kart (1992) established the kart-racing genre and its split-screen multiplayer; fighting games like the Street Fighter II SNES ports also drove a lot of two-player SNES time in the era.
Modern edition pointers
A number of these games are available today through Nintendo Switch Online's SNES library, though the exact catalog changes over time, so we're not listing it here as fixed. Physical original cartridges are also still widely bought and sold.
Frequently asked questions
What SNES games are considered the best role-playing games of the era?
Final Fantasy VI (1994) and Chrono Trigger (1995) are the two most frequently cited SNES role-playing games from the decade.
Is Super Metroid a platformer?
It's usually described as an action-adventure rather than a straightforward platformer, built around exploring an interconnected map rather than progressing through linear levels.
Can I still play these SNES games today?
Some are available through Nintendo Switch Online's SNES library, though the exact catalog changes over time. Original cartridges are also still widely bought and sold.
Sourcing and corrections
Release years for Super Mario World, Donkey Kong Country, Super Metroid, Final Fantasy VI, Chrono Trigger, and Super Mario Kart were checked via web search against sources including Wikipedia and MobyGames in September 2026.