... the best RPGS on SNES List.

[dj2times]

EDIT:
Lets go ahead and start making a list of the great RPGs on the SNES.

Long time gamer, starting to come around in the RPG realm. ive been playing some of the Retro rpgs to see what all ive missed out on in the past.
Currently playing CT. ive heard its on of the best rpgs for snes? is this an accurate statement? other SNES Rpg suggestions?

so far:
Final Fantasy 2/3 (or 4/6 if you're in Japan)
Earthbound
Super Mario RPG
Secret of Mana
Lufia 1/2
Secret of Evermore
Terranigma (Japan/Europe only)
Breath of Fire I & II
Paladin's Quest
Soul Blazer (more action/rpg)
Tales of Phantasia
secret of the stars

Actraiser
SoulBlazer
Lufia and the Fortress of Doom
Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals
Illusion of Gaia
Breath of Fire 1 & 2
Secret of Evermore
Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest
Shadowrun
Harvest Moon

Uncharted Waters
Ys III
Dragon View
Lagoon
Wizardry 5
Robotrek
AD&D Eye of the Beholder
Drakkhen
Obitus
The Lord of the Rings
Brandish
Arcana
Paladin's Quest
The 7th Saga
Addams Family Values
Brain Lord
Dungeon Master
Inindo
King Arthur & The Knights of Justice
Uncharted Waters 2: New Horizons
The Twisted Tales of Spike McFang
Ultima Runes of Virtue 2
Ultima VI: The False Prophet
Ultima VII: The Black Gate

[heybtbm]

Yeah, I'd agree that Chrono Trigger is #1, followed closely by Final Fantasy VI.

The debate between which one is the best will go on and on. I always give Chrono the edge since it's gameplay is unique while the gameplay of FF1-6 really doesn't change that much from game to game (which isn't necessarily a bad thing in their case). Both games are as close to perfection as you can get (SNES-wise).

[Mayhem]

Erm... where do you start? :P

Final Fantasy 2/3 (or 4/6 if you're in Japan)
Earthbound
Super Mario RPG
Secret of Mana
Lufia 1/2
Secret of Evermore
Terranigma (Japan/Europe only)

are just a few to begin with...

[Drexel923]

Erm... where do you start? :P

Final Fantasy 2/3 (or 4/6 if you're in Japan)
Earthbound
Super Mario RPG
Secret of Mana
Lufia 1/2
Secret of Evermore
Terranigma (Japan/Europe only)

are just a few to begin with...

All of those are great...to that list I would add the following:

Breath of Fire I & II
Paladin's Quest
Soul Blazer (more action/rpg)

Personally I think the SNES is still the best RPG system out there.

[Fuyukaze]

I actualy thought Lufia 1 was better then anything square released in N/A. That's not to say I hated any of the games as I enjoyed FF 3/6 on the snes alot as well. There were plenty of great RPGs for the system. Wizardry is one of those I enjoyed but am in a bit of a minority over it. Some of the best ones though never crossed the pacific ocean. The Shin Megami Tensei series, Fire Emblem, and Front Mission being three of the bigger ones. Now that I think about it, all the Dragon Quest games for the SNES never were released here as well. Also, considering the amount of tactics in them, maybe Fire Emblem and Front Mission woundn't qualify, but I still think of them as great RPGs as they have some of the features most common in RPGs.

[Raedon]

FF3 is the only competition to Chrono Trigger IMHO. Those two RPG's shouldn't be missed like you wouldn't want to miss out never having seen LOTR:triology before you die.

[exit]

I never found CT to be that great of a game, if anything it's overrated. I prefer FF3/6, it just had that one little spark in it that got me hooked.

[hezeuschrist]

I'm gonna have to veto the Lufia suggestions.

When i played the game as a kid, I loved it to death, and played the shit out of it until my save game was erased, never to play it again.

Until a couple months ago, I attempted to pick it up from the start and revel in some oldschool rpg goodness... but it wears its age on it's sleeve something fierce. The only complaint I have is that the game doesn't let you select the enemy you're attacking... a completely fundamental flaw, albeit intentional. After having played plenty of current RPG's it's nigh impossible to adjust to such completely artificial difficulty. Mind you, I'm playing through DQVIII and getting my ass handed to me, but I'm not bothered by that.

It might also be that I'm stuck having to fight some douchebag in a tower with just the Hero and it's based entirely on luck... after a 20 minute treck through a pain in the ass tower. I guess if I sit around for 2 hours to gain two more levels I could take him on, but meh. I don't know if it's really worth it.

And of course, I'm going to have to go ahead and pimp FF2 for SNES, as I'm obviously devoted to that game something fierce. I just replayed it with the release of FFIV Advance and it stands the test of time very, very well, as does Chrono Trigger.

[XYXZYZ]

I felt Chrono Trigger was way overhyped. I played it, finished it once...it was good, but it sure as hell wasn't the best RPG I'd played on the SNES. I got one of the 68 or whatever endings you can get and had no interest in playing it again.

The SNES RPGs I found myself playing several times over are FF2(4), FF3(6), Secret of Mana, and Breath of Fire II.

But, sure, go ahead and get Chrono Trigger and enjoy that, but play some other stuff when you're done, you know?

[Chrome]

I've gotta suggest Earthbound. It is not only my favorite game on the SNES, but my favorite game of all time. It's easy to find a copy, but they are pretty well sought after and it drives the price up.

Later,
Chrome...

[Haoie]

I've got a soft spot for the original Tales of Phantasia.

But the PS version is conceded to be better in every way.

[Jackattack]

It's easy to find a copy (of earthbound), but they are pretty well sought after and it drives the price up.

Are you kidding me! excluding ebay you think earthbound is easy to find. Please say it ain't so. I'm not mad at you, I'm mad at where I live if that is the case. No joke, I looked for Earthbound for 5 years before I found it, which happened to be last week!

On a side note to the original poster, I too am playing through Chrono Trigger for the first time... and I'm loving it!

[Chrome]

Are you kidding me! excluding ebay you think earthbound is easy to find. Please say it ain't so. I'm not mad at you, I'm mad at where I live if that is the case. No joke, I looked for Earthbound for 5 years before I found it, which happened to be last week!!

Earthbound was not released in limited quantities. I remember after it was released, there were tons of them in the the local store's clearence bin (which is where I got mine). I've seen two copies in the wild in the last 6 months. I'm kicking myself in the arse for not snatching the one at a local pawn shop for $20. There is no doubt Ebay is the easiet place to find it (or almost any other game). It's the manual that I'm trying to replace and the box I'm trying to find that I've never seen in the wild (since the release of course).

Later,
Chrome...

[boatofcar]

Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy 2/3 (call them by the name on the label, it's not as l33t as you think it is to call them by their Japanese name) are my two favorite RPGs for the SNES. Chrono Trigger is shorter and easier, but the graphics are still amazing. FF3 has a darker storyline and a much wider selection of characters.

Just stay away from the Illusion of Gaia and Secret of Evermore and you'll be ok.

[Niku-Sama]

in my opinion chrono trigger is way better than any final fantasy game, FF is getting to be a dime a dozen from my point of view

[Avatard]

Illusions of Gaia was AWFUL.

I'd put FF6 and FF4 over CT, those are must plays.

Also you MUST play Mario RPG, its exteremly good. Its gonna seem really really weird at first, but stick with it.

[Blitzwing256]

what no love for secret of the stars?

bastards :-(

[Xantan the Foul]

Just stay away from the Illusion of Gaia and Secret of Evermore and you'll be ok.

I loved Illusion of Gaia and Secret of Evermore! Just stay away from Secret of Mana...

My two SNES favorites are Final Fantasy 4 and Chrono Trigger, though the Lufia games are great too.

[InsaneDavid]

Erm... where do you Terranigma (Japan/Europe only)

are just a few to begin with...

Soul Blazer (more action/rpg)


Just stay away from the Illusion of Gaia and Secret of Evermore and you'll be ok.


Illusions of Gaia was AWFUL.

Why the hell does everyone overlook or shit on Illusion of Gaia? It's hands down my favorite video game of all time. Super Mario RPG is another game well worth picking up, as was mentioned. As for EarthBound, a loose copy can run you anywhere from $20 - $60 (I have sold them for that much loose, with label damage!) and a boxed complete one runs around $200 at the peak. (sold mine for $180 last December because I was in a money crunch) You also may want to take a look at the criminally underrated action RPG Lagoon - yeah it's hard because you have short range but it can be overcome.

[DigitalSpace]

Chrono Trigger is my favorite RPG and my third favorite game of all time (behind Super Mario World and Super Metroid). I was in the middle of playing through it for the second time, but took a break and never went back to it. Gotta finish that up sometime.

[dj2times]

well currently playing Mario RPG and Chrono Trigger simultainiously. Not at the exact same time but that would be an awesome VID! have a guy time attacking two RPGs at the same time! id put that on my site. anyways... i remember when i was a kid, i had no RPG experience and i picked up MarioRPG...and was clueless onto what was going on... "Im tapping the button but he only hits him once?...Taking turns?..what kind of fight is this" *ejects and inserts Street Fighter 2 turbo.*... going back to see what ive missed out on. enjoying both very much.

keep adding to the list of other good RPGs for the SNES so i have more to play when i finish these two.

[hezeuschrist]

Well, you're making a pretty impossible request. For a good lot of us, nostalgia dictates our favorite titles, or maybe availability from childhood.

So the best thing to do is list all of them, in order of widespread popularity. Everyone has their own tastes and the only way you'll know if you like an RPG is if you try it out for yourself. Here you go:

Most Popular:
Final Fantasy II
Final Fantasy III
Chrono Trigger
Secret of Mana
Earthbound
Super Mario RPG

Tier 2:
Actraiser
SoulBlazer
Lufia and the Fortress of Doom
Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals
Illusion of Gaia
Breath of Fire 1 & 2
Secret of Evermore
Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest
Shadowrun
Harvest Moon

The Rest:
Secret of the Stars
Uncharted Waters
Ys III
Dragon View
Lagoon
Wizardry 5
Robotrek
AD&D Eye of the Beholder
Drakkhen
Obitus
The Lord of the Rings
Brandish
Arcana
Paladin's Quest
The 7th Saga
Addams Family Values
Brain Lord
Dungeon Master
Inindo
King Arthur & The Knights of Justice
Uncharted Waters 2: New Horizons
The Twisted Tales of Spike McFang
Ultima Runes of Virtue 2
Ultima VI: The False Prophet
Ultima VII: The Black Gate

Take it with a grain of salt. I don't think anyone here will contest the most popular ones I've listed, even if anyone has any particular dislikes for those titles, it's impossible to deny that they're the heavy hitters. Those should be your first priorities.

Tier 2 is far, far more subjective. There are some who will praise the Lufia series up and down, but I obviously will not. The Breath of Fire games are very, very simple games. Not easy, but simple. Those could probably all be tier one titles, but you've gotta draw the line somewhere.

As for "The Rest"... Well, those are pretty much all the ones a lot of people never heard of, or are widely regarded as poor titles. I personally love Ys III, but it's not for everyone, and didn't ever reach widespread acclaim.

Everyone has their favorites, and you'll probably find at least one person here who claims every title on that list as their favorite. You're really just gonna have to try them out for yourself and find out.

EDIT: Added Daria's suggestions

[poopnes]

I really enjoyed Illusion of Gaia, but hated Lagoon, but like the above poster said its just a personal opinion with some nostalgia mixed in.

Since people have thrown in a couple of action RPGs I'd like to mention The Twisted Tales of Spike McFang. I loved this game when it came out. I don't currently own it now and its probably a good thing, I doubt its stood the hands of time.

[Jasoco]

Super Mario RPG and EarthBound FTW. And the Final Fantasy III with Kefka. That's all I can think of that I love. Or at least the ones that matter. (I'm working through Mario RPG this week. Almost finished. Then I move back to either Final Fantasy VI (III) or Dragon Quest VIII on PS2.)

[hezeuschrist]

Super Mario RPG and EarthBound FTW. And the Final Fantasy III with Kefka. That's all I can think of that I love. Or at least the ones that matter. (I'm working through Mario RPG this week. Almost finished. Then I move back to either Final Fantasy VI (III) or Dragon Quest VIII on PS2.)

FINAL FANTASY IV YOU HEATHEN! :angry:

[Daria]

List


The rest of the rest:

Addams Family Values (quirky action RPG)
Brain Lord
Dungeon Master
Inindo (really cool tradtional KOEI RPG)
King Arthur & The Knights of Justice (CRAP!)
Uncharted Waters 2: New Horizons (Awesome)
The Twisted Tales of Spike McFang (Fun quirky action RPG)
Ultima Runes of Virtue 2
Ultima VI: The False Prophet
Ultima VII: The Black Gate

You also neglected to mention Harvest Moon which would rank up in the first tier of insanely popular games.

[hezeuschrist]

List updated ;)

I put Harvest Moon in tier two, because even though it does have mass appeal it really doesn't fit the genre as tight as the ones I've got up top.

[InsaneDavid]

I really enjoyed Illusion of Gaia, but hated Lagoon, but like the above poster said its just a personal opinion with some nostalgia mixed in.

I can agree with that, a lot of people didn't care for Lagoon much at all. To me it was like what Ys III should have been (although Ys III is a fine game on its own merrits but it just didn't feel like a Ys game due to the changes since Ys I & Ys II). The leveling system in Lagoon is a lot like Ys I & II and over all the game felt like a more grown up version of The Legend of Zelda. It does have some insanely frustrating parts though, I will agree.

Then again the attacking at close range thing was no problem if you had played Ys I & II as you ran into enemies in those games to dispatch them. Now I wasn't some TurboDuo spoiled kid LOL but I had played Ys I & II here and there when I had the chance. If anything you can tell that Kemco / Seka didn't simply rush Lagoon out the door, there's a lot of good game there.

[Steven]

I'm going through BRANDISH right now and I am digging it. Granted, it's my first real "RPG" taste, period, so I'm sure as I play along my opinion of it may change. And no it isn't a traditional RPG, it's more like Zelda.

Speaking of which Zelda was omitted from MOST POPULAR which is shocking, heh.

Also, though I haven't played it yet, I heard good things about EQUINOX (gotta love that title) -- I think it's in the vain of Zelda and Brandish, is it not. I am just starting to get into the RPG genre. Before I saw it as slow and pointless drivel (I know I know) but now that my gaming tastes have matured I wish to sit down and enjoy a nice long quest. :)

EDIT: BTW I don't think I've seen RoboTrek or Young Merlin mentioned yet either. Robo is traditional, YM in the vain of AF Values.

[Jasoco]

Super Mario RPG and EarthBound FTW. And the Final Fantasy III with Kefka. That's all I can think of that I love. Or at least the ones that matter. (I'm working through Mario RPG this week. Almost finished. Then I move back to either Final Fantasy VI (III) or Dragon Quest VIII on PS2.)

FINAL FANTASY IV YOU HEATHEN! :angry:I refuse to comment until the PSP is capable of playing it without shutting down before the opening cut scene is finished. They don't even get to LAND AT THE CASTLE for gods sake! And as I've said many times before, I refuse to play emulation on a computer.

Still, Final Fantasy III (VI) rocks.

[vintagegamecrazy]

I'm going through BRANDISH right now and I am digging it. Granted, it's my first real "RPG" taste, period, so I'm sure as I play along my opinion of it may change. And no it isn't a traditional RPG, it's more like Zelda

I'm sorry to hear that, probably one of the worst RPGs I have played before.

Yes it's a crappy game but everyone is skipping Firestriker.

I think Soulblazer is a tier one game, amazing music game play and story.

Terranigma and Firemen are both in English and deserve a spot it the ranks.

[Steven]

I'm going through BRANDISH right now and I am digging it. Granted, it's my first real "RPG" taste, period, so I'm sure as I play along my opinion of it may change. And no it isn't a traditional RPG, it's more like Zelda

I'm sorry to hear that, probably one of the worst RPGs I have played before.

heh, I'm enjoying it. :)

[Daria]

Yes it's a crappy game but everyone is skipping Firestriker.


Have to admit this is the first I've ever heard of the game. I found some screenshots of the game, but could you tell me a little more what the game's like?

[Steven]

Yes it's a crappy game but everyone is skipping Firestriker.


Have to admit this is the first I've ever heard of the game. I found some screenshots of the game, but could you tell me a little more what the game's like?

I own it but have yet to play it. Not really an RPG from what I understand however. You toss energy that has to reflect off something to hurt the enemies I believe.

For sure I know there's a four player mode and the game involves four elements like wind, water, earth and fire I believe.

[hezeuschrist]

Super Mario RPG and EarthBound FTW. And the Final Fantasy III with Kefka. That's all I can think of that I love. Or at least the ones that matter. (I'm working through Mario RPG this week. Almost finished. Then I move back to either Final Fantasy VI (III) or Dragon Quest VIII on PS2.)

FINAL FANTASY IV YOU HEATHEN! :angry:I refuse to comment until the PSP is capable of playing it without shutting down before the opening cut scene is finished. They don't even get to LAND AT THE CASTLE for gods sake! And as I've said many times before, I refuse to play emulation on a computer.


Still, Final Fantasy III (VI) rocks.

Uhh, play it on GBA? PSOne? PS2? DS? SNES?

[Jasoco]

Super Mario RPG and EarthBound FTW. And the Final Fantasy III with Kefka. That's all I can think of that I love. Or at least the ones that matter. (I'm working through Mario RPG this week. Almost finished. Then I move back to either Final Fantasy VI (III) or Dragon Quest VIII on PS2.)

FINAL FANTASY IV YOU HEATHEN! :angry:I refuse to comment until the PSP is capable of playing it without shutting down before the opening cut scene is finished. They don't even get to LAND AT THE CASTLE for gods sake! And as I've said many times before, I refuse to play emulation on a computer.


Still, Final Fantasy III (VI) rocks.

Uhh, play it on GBA? PSOne? PS2? DS? SNES?Is the one you are talking about the one on the GBA "Dawn of Souls I+II" cart? Because I was just playing that last night and it's way different than the ROM I was playing of II the other day. (That I mentioned above.) I've said it before and I'll say it again. I can't get these damned Final Fantasy games straight! Please clear this up for me!