All-Time 16-Bit Classics: Our Comprehensive Guide to the Best Super NES Games (Update: 1994!)

Nintendo launched the Super NES in America in August 1991, and unlike its predecessor the NES, it got off to a roaring start. As the system approaches its 25th anniversary, we'd like to look back at its best releases year by year.

As with our massive video compendium of NES games, this isn't just a countdown. It's a collector's guide! In addition to telling you which games you need to track down, we also want to help you find them. Some games never made it beyond its original Super NES release, but quite a few of these greats can be dug up on Virtual Console, through remakes, and via compilations.

The Best Super NES Games of 1991

Super Mario World

Nintendo | August 1991
Where to find it: Game Boy Advance, Wii Virtual Console, Wii U Virtual Console

F-Zero

Nintendo | August 1991
Where to find it: Wii Virtual Console, Wii U Virtual Console

Pilotwings

Nintendo | August 1991
Where to find it: Wii Virtual Console, Wii U Virtual Console

SimCity

Nintendo | August 1991
Where to find it: Delisted from Wii Virtual Console

U.N. Squadron

Capcom | September 1991
Where to find it: Never reissued; only available via the original cartridge

ActRaiser

Quintet/Enix | November 1991
Where to find it: Wii Virtual Console

RPM Racing

Silicon & Synapse/EA | November 1991
Where to find it: Never reissued

Final Fantasy II

Squaresoft | November 1991
Where to find it: WonderSwan, GBA, DS, iOS, Steam, PSP/Vita, Wii Virtual Console

Super Ghouls 'N Ghosts

Capcom | November 1991
Where to find it: Saturn (import), PlayStation (import) Wii Virtual Console, Wii U Virtual Console

Super Castlevania IV

Konami | December 1991
Where to find it: Wii Virtual Console, Wii U Virtual Console

The Best Super NES Games of 1992

Contra III: The Alien Wars

Konami | April 1992
Where to find it: Game Boy port, Game Boy Advance remake, Wii Virtual Console, Wii U Virtual Console

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

Nintendo | April 1992
Where to find it: Game Boy Advance remake, Wii Virtual Console, Wii U Virtual Console

Arcana

HAL | May 1992
Where to find it: Super NES version only

Super Star Wars

Sculptured Software/JVC | April 1992
Where to find it: Wii Virtual Console

Legend of the Mystical Ninja

Konami | June 1992
Where to find it: Wii Virtual Console, Wii U Virtual Console

Street Fighter II: The World Warrior

Capcom | July 1992
Where to find it: Wii Virtual Console (delisted), Wii U Virtual Console; arcade version appears in numerous collections, including PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Xbox, and PlayStation Portable/Vita

Mario Paint

Nintendo | August 1992
Where to find it: Super NES only

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time

Konami | August 1992
Where to find it: Super NES only; arcade remaster for Xbox 360 (delisted)

Super Mario Kart

Konami | September 1992
Where to find it: Wii Virtual Console, Wii U Virtual Console

Axelay

Konami | September 1992
Where to find it: Wii Virtual Console, Wii U Virtual Console

Soul Blazer

Quintet/Enix | November 1992
Where to find it: Super NES only

Musya

Jorudan/SETA | December 1992
Where to find it: Super NES only

The Best Super NES Games of 1993

Star Fox

Argonaut/Nintendo | March 1993
Where to find it: Original Super NES version only

The Lost Vikings

Silicon & Synapse/Interplay | April 1993
Where to find it: Game Boy Advance, Battle.net

Shadowrun

Beam/Data East | May 1993
Where to find it: Original Super NES version only

Super Bomberman

Hudson | May 1993
Where to find it: Original Super NES release only

Alien 3

Probe/Acclaim | July 1993
Where to find it: Original Super NES release only

Run Saber

Horisoft/Atlus | July 1993
Where to find it: Original Super NES release only

Goof Troop

Capcom | July 1993
Where to find it: Original Super NES release only

Super Mario All-Stars

Nintendo | August 1993
Where to find it: Wii (25th Anniversary Edition)

E.V.O.: The Search for Eden

Almanic/Enix | August 1993
Where to find it: Original Super NES release only

Zombies Ate My Neighbors

LucasArts/Konami | September 1993
Where to find it: Wii Virtual Console

Secret of Mana

Squaresoft | Dec. 1993
Where to find it: Wii Virtual Console, iOS/Android

The Best Super NES Games of 1994

Mega Man X

Capcom | Jan. 1994
Where to find it: iOS/Android, Wii & Wii U Virtual Console, PSP (as Mega Man: Maverick Hunter X)

Flashback: The Quest for Identity

Delphine/U.S. Gold | Feb. 1994
Where to find it: iOS

Skyblazer

Ukyotei/Sony Imagesoft | May 1994
Where to find it: Original cart only

Super Metroid

Nintendo | May 1994
Where to find it: Wii & Wii U Virtual Console

Uniracers

DMA Design/Nintendo | June 1994
Where to find it: Original cart only

Breath of Fire

Capcom/Square | Aug. 1994
Where to find it: Game Boy Advance, Wii U Virtual Console

Illusion of Gaia

Quintet/Nintendo | Sept. 1994
Where to find it: Original cart only

Super Punch-Out!!

Nintendo | Sept. 1994
Where to find it: Wii & Wii U Virtual Console

Sparkster

Konami | Oct. 1994
Where to find it: Original cart only

Final Fantasy III

Square | Oct. 1994
Where to find it: PlayStation Classics for PSP/PS3/Vita (as Final Fantasy Anthology), iOS/Android (as Final Fantasy VI), Steam (as Final Fantasy VI), Game Boy Advance (as Final Fantasy VI Advance)

Demon's Crest

Capcom | Nov. 1994
Where to find it: Wii U Virtual Console

Pocky & Rocky 2

Natsume | Nov. 1994
Where to find it: Original cart only

Donkey Kong Country

Rare/Nintendo | Nov. 1994
Where to find it: Game Boy Advance, Wii & Wii U Virtual Console