Chrono Trigger 1995
Why it still holds upAreas hardly overstay their welcome and the puzzles are challenging without being frustrating, which is why the pacing holds up today.
SNES RPGs that still hold up
First released on the SNES
Games
Chrono Trigger 1995
Why it still holds upAreas hardly overstay their welcome and the puzzles are challenging without being frustrating, which is why the pacing holds up today.
Final Fantasy III 1994
Also known as Final Fantasy VI
Why it still holds upPlaying it now means choosing your party: with fourteen characters, each with abilities of their own, who you bring is up to you.
EarthBound 1994
Also known as Mother 2
Why it still holds upIt still respects your time, with visible enemies and that slow HP drain, and its humour gets wackier as you go.
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars 1996
Why it still holds upVisible enemies and timed button presses keep you acting in every turn, which is the reason to play it now.
Terranigma 1995
Why it still holds upBecause the world is rebuilt as you progress, its towns and dungeons change with Ark's actions, and quick controls keep it easy to pick up today.
Final Fantasy IV 1991
Why it still holds upCharacters with fixed roles who join and leave the party make the story and the combat change together, and that still shapes every battle today.
Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together 1995
Why it still holds upEven now, a story with eight endings and a turn order tied to weight and agility make a campaign worth playing again.
Secret of Mana 1993
Why it still holds upA party that fights beside you and a menu that pauses the action keep fights simple to manage, even with friends today.
Trials of Mana 1995
Why it still holds upThere is still more than one way to play through it, with six characters and class changes that split into light or dark paths.
Fire Emblem: Thracia 776 1999
Why it still holds upScouting is still part of the tactics, with fog that hides the map until a unit advances.
Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War 1996
Why it still holds upThe campaign still has a long arc, with a story told across two generations.
Tales of Phantasia 1995
Why it still holds upDirectly controlling one fighter among computer controlled allies still makes each battle a matter of timing and positioning.
Bahamut Lagoon 1996
Why it still holds upA dragon you raise yourself still makes each squadron feel like your own.
Shadowrun 1993
Why it still holds upYou still get somewhere by talking, with a bank of words you collect and use in conversation.
Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals 1995
Why it still holds upEvery step is still a decision, in a dungeon where enemies move only when you do.
Illusion of Gaia 1993
Why it still holds upExploring is still a team effort, with three characters who open different doors.
Breath of Fire II 1994
Why it still holds upToday, a Monster Meter that warns you of fights lets you decide how far to push on.
Harvest Moon 1996
Why it still holds upA calm rhythm of small daily chores is as relaxing now as it ever was.
Final Fantasy V 1992
Why it still holds upChoosing a job for each member is part of the fun even today.
Secret of Evermore 1995
Why it still holds upAlchemy that combines ingredients into potions, and weapons that recharge after each swing, still make the fights a matter of choices.
Soul Blazer 1992
Why it still holds upEach dungeon fight still has a visible reward, as an area is rebuilt one soul at a time.