Fire Emblem: Mystery Of The Emblem (SNES)

This lavish remake of the Famicom original expands and improves on the solid foundations laid down by that esteemed 8-bit outing (even going so far as to include its own all-new sequel) without making the mistake of reinventing for reinvention’s sake and ending up the same game in name only. Character animations on the map and in those tense fight scenes are always incredibly fluid and bursting with personality, and small new additions like pre-battle inventory sorting and cavalry needing to dismount indoors have a direct impact on your battle strategy even on familiar battlegrounds. Fire Emblem wasn't a known series in the west when this was released – that didn't change until the Game Boy Advance turned it into a fan favourite outside of Japan – so it never got released outside of Japan. But worry not, you can still play it in English via this patch.

Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest (SNES)

Rejected by many on release as being Final Fantasy: For Babies (or for Europeans, Final Fantasy: Sorry No Mainline Games For You Edition), later revisits after the annoyance has died down have revealed this spinoff to be a thoughtfully streamlined adventure containing some incredible monster art accompanied by a fantastic soundtrack. There are other games with more depth to their combat systems, and others with stronger characterisation, but when you’re playing Mystic Quest you’re unlikely to care about anything other than the engaging RPG playing out before you. While history hasn't been kind to Mystic Quest, we'd urge you to give it another chance (or a first chance, if you're a newcomer).

Dungeon Master (SNES)

This first-person dungeon crawler felt truly revolutionary on its floppy disc debut back the in late '80s, and was no less impressive when it appeared on the SNES a few years later. In this inescapable underground labyrinth fiendish puzzles combine with real-time combat to create a deadly dungeon filled with traps and monsters that must be defeated… and then eaten if you don’t want your team to slowly starve to death. The freeform character growth system gives players more opportunities to customise their party than many of the similar games that would follow in its footsteps, and help to make every trip through Lord Chaos’ dimly-lit halls (did we mention you have to maintain your own source of illumination, too?) feel different from the last. Sure, it's somewhat sluggish on Nintendo's console and really needs mouse control to feel natural, but the scope of the experience remains remarkable, even today.

FEDA: The Emblem of Justice (SNES)

This SRPG will look and feel very familiar to fans of Sega’s Shining Force series thanks to the direct involvement of several key members of the popular Mega Drive game’s staff; however, take a moment to peek underneath the incredible battle cutscenes and animal people expected of this team and you’ll find several significant tweaks to that already enjoyable formula, giving FEDA an identity all of its own. Most notable is the law/chaos behaviour system, which alters your alignment – and the people willing to join you – based on whether you minimise casualties and carefully follow mission objectives or mindlessly slaughter your way across the map. While it was only ever released in Japan, a fan translation patch can be found here.

Final Fantasy II (SNES)

Final Fantasy II really does show its age when compared to other entries in the series, but there's still something quite charming and engaging about this classic. Released as Final Fantasy IV in Japan, this instalment introduces the iconic "Active Time Battle" system which would underpin many future Final Fantasy entries. A Nintendo DS update arrived in 2007 which spruced up the visuals while expanding some gameplay and story elements, but we have to admit it's the 16-bit original that is closest to our hearts. While SNES stablemate Final Fantasy VI (released as Final Fantasy III in the west) is arguably the better game, this one is still worth a look.

Illusion of Gaia (SNES)

Developed by Quintet – the same team which produced the excellent ActRaiser, Soul Blazer and Terranigma – Illusion of Gaia (or Illusion of Time if you're in Europe) is an Action RPG that boasts neat puzzles, awesome visuals and a fine soundtrack. Little wonder, then, that it was a solid seller globally, shifting around 650,000 copies worldwide. The story, too, is noteworthy, even if it does tone-down the spiritual core seen in the likes of the aforementioned Soul Blazer and Terranigma.

Breath of Fire II (SNES)

Capcom wasn't famous for its RPG titles prior to the release of the original Breath of Fire in 1993, but the company quickly gained a solid reputation on the basis of that well-liked RPG. The sequel – which, like its predecessor, was lucky enough to get a western localisation – is more of the same, boasting colourful visuals and some fetching character design. While the two SNES entries in this series aren't quite as critically-lauded as the 16-bit Final Fantasy outings, they're still worthy of your time if you're looking for some old-school JRPG action. Both Breath of Fire and Breath of Fire II were re-released on the Game Boy Advance.

Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals (SNES)

Released very late in the SNES' lifespan and perhaps unfairly ignored by most people, Lufia II is easily one of the top-tier RPGs for the SNES. When you combine the game's unique visual stylings, the efficient turn-based combat system and the beautifully orchestrated soundtrack, you get one absolutely unforgettable experience. Before we all got spoiled with the full-motion video and millions of polygons per second of today's epic RPGs, we had games like Lufia II that had a lot more to them than flashy visual effects and voice-overs. The DS remake is also worth a look, even though it changes a lot of what made the original so great.

Bahamut Lagoon (SNES)

Squaresoft’s pastel-hued world of floating islands in an endless sky combines its beautiful fantasy stylings with a unique battle system that merges strategic decisions usually associated with SRPGs such as terrain type, attack range, and positioning with the familiar side-on swords and spell-flinging of their evergreen Final Fantasy games. Feeding your army of dragons weapons, items, and armour not only boosts their stats but determines the sort of mythical beast they’ll grow into, making every game different from the last. Released in 1996, there was never going to be any reasonable chance of this coming to the west, but you can play it in English thanks to an excellent fan-made transition patch.

Soul Blazer (SNES)

Also by Quintet is this early example of a SNES Action RPG. Like its stablemate ActRaiser, Soul Blazer places you in the role of a 'servant' warrior who is sent to a troubled world by "The Master" – a god-like deity who wishes to destroy the monsters which hold the captured souls of the world's inhabitants. During the dungeon segments, slaying certain enemies releases the soul of an NPC which can impact the story in the game's many towns and settlements. It's a unique approach that gets a little goofy at times (you talk to a flower and dolphin during your quest, for example), but, despite its rough edges, remains a likeable example of the genre.