
All-Time 16-Bit Classics: Our Comprehensive Guide to the Best Super NES Games (Update: 1994!)
The year 1994 arrives, and with it some of the greatest games ever made. Our year-by-year video guide to the best of Super NES continues!
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
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