20. Kirby Super Star (SNES)

This is less a game and more a smorgasbord of ideas thrown at the SNES which — somewhat unexpectedly — congeals into a satisfying blend of games, sub-games and mini-games. There are nine in total and the titular character is a versatile hero that manages to suck up these experimental bits and pieces and meld them into a whole greater than the sum of its parts. 'Cohesive' might be generous, but Kirby Super Star is thoroughly entertaining and well worth a look.

19. Terranigma (SNES)

There are very few role-playing experiences quite as enjoyable or engrossing as Terranigma. Not only is the quest absolutely epic in size, but the way the storyline continues to evolve and unfold gives it a cinematic feel. Terranigma did for action-RPGs what games like Final Fantasy and Chrono Trigger did for the more traditional RPG market; it's one of those RPGs that once you play it, you'll never forget the experience.

18. Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers (SNES)

Super Street Fighter II followed on from Street Fighter II' Turbo: Hyper Fighting and added four new fighters and some excellent gameplay modes, yet arguably doesn't manage to overshadow its predecessor. Turbo was, for many, the game where Street Fighter II reached its peak; by the time Super came around the SNES was about to give way to 32-bit systems and the popularity of one-on-one fighters was starting to diminish, but this is still an exceptionally enjoyable brawler with plenty of depth, appealing visuals and excellent two-player potential.

17. Secret of Mana (SNES)

Secret of Mana manages to take the action-adventure stylings of Legend of Zelda, and add that trademark Square RPG feel to it. Easily available these days as part of the Collection of Mana, the action combat of this game may take some gamers a little time to get used to if you prefer more traditional role-playing games, but you absolutely don't want to miss this one if you're an action-RPG fan.

16. Contra III: The Alien Wars (SNES)

Contra III: The Alien Wars is often cited as a shining star in the catalogue of games available on Super Nintendo, one of the finest consoles ever launched. Incredibly, the game has lost little of that lustre all these years later, as the gameplay, presentation, controls and sheer intensity of Contra III’s attitude all manage to strike just the same chords they did in 1992. Available on Switch as part of Konami's Contra Anniversary Collection, its refreshingly short completion time, ingenious stage structure and inimitable mood and tone come together beautifully to offset the one or two design drawbacks in the top-down levels.

15. Street Fighter II' Turbo: Hyper Fighting (SNES)

Street Fighter II' Turbo: Hyper Fighting was undoubtedly a big deal when it launched on the SNES back in 1993. The Street Fighter craze was in full force and it was genuinely exciting to see the original game refined and improved in such a manner; you could finally play as the four boss fighters and the additional speed injection made things much faster and enjoyable. Turbo is an improvement over its SNES-based prequel, and offers more depth and entertainment as a result.

14. Super Castlevania IV (SNES)

In Europe, Super Castlevania IV actually released before Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse, which gives you some indication of why so many fans directly compare them, despite the power difference between the NES and SNES. On many levels, Super Castlevania IV – which is essentially a retelling of the original game – scales things back. There are no branching pathways and Simon Belmont is the only character you get to control. However, in practically every other respect, Super Castlevania IV is the better of the two games. The visuals and music are taken to an entirely new level thanks to the power of the console, with the soundtrack, in particular, being one of the best you'll hear on any cartridge-based system. The gameplay – which makes good use of the SNES' Mode 7 capabilities – is also tight and engaging, even if it's perhaps a little less challenging than the NES entries. A true classic.

13. Donkey Kong Country (SNES)

Rare's first foray into the world of DK and his cronies. Despite the visuals not wowing like they did back in 1994, the template put down in Donkey Kong Country would influence every DK title to come. The redesigned DK looked brilliant, the music was incredible, and every aspect of the game demonstrated a stunning attention to detail. While not quite as polished as you remember, DKC is still a classic that should be tracked down and played — which is much easier now that it's included as part of the Nintendo Switch Online Super NES offering.

12. Mega Man X (SNES)

Mega Man X is a fantastic game. It retains the charm and pacing of the classic Mega Man series and adds a much appreciated spin of its own. With plenty of hidden items and upgrades — don't forget the super-secret one in Armored Armadillo's stage — and a host of fun new weapons to use, Mega Man X is a game worth playing again and again. Later entries in this sub-series might be a bit of a mixed bag, but there's no denying that this first title is a masterpiece.

11. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time (SNES)

What's a 16-bit console without a classic arcade-style side-scrolling beat 'em up? This tapped into the zeitgeist in the early '90s and came from Konami at a time when it seemed the company had trouble producing a bad video game. Turtles in Time matched the popularity of the licence with an impressive game to boot. This is an expensive cart to track down these days and despite tricky licensing issues, it'd be a treat to see it running on a Nintendo console again — and, fortunately, we'll have just that very soon indeed! Until then, we've got our well-loved Super NES cart.