Secret of Evermore (SNES)

Given the game's title and the fact that it was published by Square, it's easy to see why Secret of Evermore is so readily-compared to Secret of Mana. However, it was produced in the west rather than in Japan (you can read about its development here). The storyline and characters definitely make this feel like a western-made RPG, and while it arguably falls short of hitting the same heights as Mana, its likeable tone and amazing soundtrack (by Jeremy Soule, who has gone on to become one of video gaming's most prolific soundtrack composers) mean that it's well worth a look regardless.

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Shin Megami Tensei (SNES)

Summon demons, survive the apocalypse, pick yourself up afterwards and then go on to determine whether humans will eke out an existence under the crushing absolutes of divine law, fight for individual survival in a dog-eat-dog world of chaos, or walk a third path if your own making. The game’s themes and artistic style remain as strong as they ever were, although the lengthy labyrinths and often brutal difficulty require a certain stubbornness (or save states) to tolerate. While the series has become a global best-seller in recent times, back in the early '90s its demonic themes were never going to fly with a Nintendo audience so it remained exclusive to Japan. Thankfully, it's possible to enjoy this game in English thanks to a fan-made patch, which you can find here.

Dragon Quest I & II (SNES)

An outwardly unassuming collection containing nothing less than what are still the most beautiful versions of a pair of legendary RPGs – RPGs so important they would influence all that followed in their adventurous footsteps. By today’s high standards both games will feel understandably light on strategy, but that doesn’t stop anyone from feeling the weight of history behind every iconic monster design and unforgettable story beat, or appreciating how carefully these remakes have ironed out the few wrinkles present in the original releases. Both have since been released on the Switch with enhanced visuals, but if you feel the burning desire to play the original, you can use this English language patch.

Laplace no Ma (SNES)

Capcom’s Famicom classic Sweet Home proved long ago that an intimidating mansion filled with gruesome enemies and haunted by the spirits of the dead could be the perfect setting for an RPG, so it’s a little strange titles like Laplace no Ma (already very different from the original dungeon crawling Japanese computer game it’s based on) are so few and far between. Those who do brave the dimly-lit halls of the Weathertop mansion will find themselves caught in the middle of a stylish horror adventure that hopes to be as unsettling as it is challenging, your team relying on intelligence as much as brute strength to survive. Another late release in Japan, there was never any danger of this troubling western shores, but a patch exists which allows you to play it in English.

Popful Mail (SNES)

Falcom’s self-made remake of its colourful “Magical Fantasy Adventure” retains much of what made the better-known and more widely played Mega CD port so well-loved (naturally those extensive animated scenes had to go) while remixing Mail’s, Tatto, and Gau’s light-hearted action-adventure just enough to throw a few surprises in old fans way and keep this already charming tale feeling fresh and fun. Sadly, no English language patch exists at this time, but it's possible to play with a guide.

Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together (SNES)

Arguably even more famous than the Ogre Battle it came from, Denam and his forces have always been warmly received on whatever format they ended up on. The intricately detailed isometric battlefields grant each skirmish an added level of depth rarely found to this degree in the genre, and the ability to decide for yourself whether you walk the path of lawful obedience or rebellious chaos gives the game’s political train of thought more weight and meaning than an endless procession of even the most well-written dialogue boxes on the rights and wrongs of conflict ever could. Not bad for a game named after a Queen song, is it? Tactics Ogre was later released on the PlayStation (which even got localised, thanks to Atlus) and, even later on, was remastered for the PSP. If you want to play it on the SNES, an English language patch thankfully exists. Oh, and the GBA outing (also released in the west) is worth a look, too.

Seiken Densetsu 3 (SNES)

Once out of reach for all but Japanese Super Famicom owners and dedicated importers yet always desperately wanted by everyone, Seiken Densetsu 3 (that's its Japanese title – westerners might know it better as Secret of Mana 2 or, more recently, Trials of Mana) finally made its way to the west on Switch and proves that some games really are worth the wait. The game’s pixel art is some of the finest not only on the system but the medium as a whole, the beautiful soundtrack enhances every scene, and the customisable party (and the different storylines that go with it) make each adventure your very own. If you don't fancy playing it on the Switch (either as part of the Collection of Mana or in its remastered form), then you can experience it on the SNES thanks to the wonder of a fan-made English language patch.

Treasure Hunter G (SNES)

Notable for being the final game Square would publish on the Super Famicom (the company would effectively cut ties with Nintendo during the 32-bit era), Treasure Hunter G is very similar to Sega's Shining Force series in that it mixes traditional RPG elements – such as exploration and interaction with NPCs – with tactical strategy. The pre-rendered sprites have aged poorly, but the game's soundtrack – an epic group effort composed by Hitoshi Sakimoto, Mitsuhito Tanaka, Masaharu Iwata, Toshiaki Sakoda, Yoko Takada, Tomoko Matsui, and Akiko Goto – is stunning. As a very late release in the Super Famicom's lifespan, a western localisation was never on the cards. Mercifully, you can play the game in English using a fan-made translation.

Live A Live (SNES)

Another Japanese exclusive, Live A Live contains multiple storylines which all cover different periods of history and mixes standards RPG exploration with turn-based combat. For a game released in 1994, it is quite crude in terms of visuals, but its amazing scope and ambition more than make up for its graphical shortcomings; there's no other RPG that is quite like Live A Live. The game is also notable for showcasing the musical talents of Yoko Shimomura, who joined Square from Capcom to work on the game. Although a western released was rumoured at the time, it never came to pass; thankfully, an English language patch is available.

And if that seems like too much work, we've got the HD-2D remake on Switch.

Front Mission (SNES)

Front Mission is Fire Emblem with giant robots. The game manages to be much more than a simple trade of medieval fantasy settings for mech science-fiction scenario; it is a beautiful, masterfully-crafted package that can turn people who are not fans of either turn-based strategy or mechs into diehard followers overnight. It was a shame Squaresoft never went ahead with the planned western localization of this game; such a well-crafted product would surely have found an audience among SNES owners in 1995 beyond the niche collection of Gundam fans. Still, a complete English translation exists so there's no excuse to not give it a try. Despite the lack of a global release, Front Mission would prove to be so successful it would spawn a series that has seen entries on the PlayStation, DS, WonderSwan and Xbox 360.

There’s little doubt Nintendo’s 16-bit console was home to some of the finest RPGs of its generation, encompassing everything from thoughtful slow-burns to breathless action and everything in between.

Whether coming to some of these fresh via Nintendo Switch Online or revisited regularly as part of a nostalgic annual ritual over the past 20+ years, the games we’ve chosen to highlight here – and many more on the system – are still able to satisfy and surprise even the most battle-hardened spellcaster.

Are you thrilled your favourite made our list, or irritated we left off a classic? Let us know in the comments below!