When the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) launched, it was an instant success following some of the legendary Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). Nintendo sold out the initial shipment of 300,000 systems within hours, making itone of the best-selling consolesof all time. While not quite as big of a quantum leap as the jump to the N64 would be, the SNES was a technical powerhouse for its time.

The system offered now-classic games and follow-ups to some ofthe best NES gameswithMortal Kombat, Legend of Zelda, Castlevania, and, of course, some of thebestMariogames.The system brings back fond memories for lots of players, but because it was so long ago, some of our favorites have been lost to time. To highlight some of these missing classics, we have compiled a list of some of the best games the SNES had to offer.

If you’re diving into Nintendo history, you should also check out our round-ups of thebestGame Boy Color,best Nintendo 64 games, andbest Game Boy Advance games. There are also a lot of great Nintendo titles included inDigital Trends’ ranking of the top 50 best video games of all time.

Mortal Kombat II

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time

Kirby’s Dream Course

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

Contra III: The Alien Wars

Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts

Mega Man X2

Super Mario All-Stars

Donkey Kong Country

Super Castlevania IV

Secret of Mana

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island

Super Mario Kart

Super Street Fighter II Turbo

Final Fantasy IV

EarthBound

Final Fantasy VI

Super Mario World

Chrono Trigger

Super Metroid

Few video game series carry the reverence the video game industry holds forthe best The Legend of Zelda games. This franchise has been around for almost 30 years and has introduced generations of gamers to fantastic games. It’s one of the most influential series, on par with titles like Super Mario games. There are points to be made for which Zelda game is the best today — many people would argue for a more recent entry,Breath of the Wild— but for a long time,The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Pastwas the pinnacle of the series and the best game in the SNES’s stellar library. This installment in theLegend of Zeldafranchise is a classic because of the outstanding gameplay.A Link to the Pastis an incredibly exciting adventure, and it also introduces concepts that you will recognize from other Zelda games, including the Dark World, or the Sages. The story ofA Link to the Pastinfluenced the subsequent games in the franchise. The vast lands of Hyrule and the Dark World are jam-packed with secrets to uncover, making for a thrilling playing experience. The game’s secrets and exploration mechanism are memorable. Finding a cave’s entrance was a wildly exciting adventure, allowing you to imagine all the challenges and hidden treasures awaiting you. The dungeons inA Link to the Pastare perfect examples of the ones all The Legend of Zelda games are famous for.A Link to the Pastdungeons aren’t easy, but they’re fair. Winning the exclusive treasures and weapons deep within them transforms Link from a green-clothed explorer into a formidable warrior. Other video games encourage players to crush their foes, butA Link to the Pastmanages to provide entertainment and a challenge without promoting needless violence. To win the game, you have to defeat Ganon and all the other villains – but you’ll spend most of the game solving puzzles and unraveling adventures.A Link to the Pastdelivers a unique experience by focusing on independent exploration rather than simply hunting and killing. Like other games in the Legend of Zelda series,A Link to the Pastinstills child-like wonder and curiosity while cultivating a deep appreciation of a plot and the power of character.