10 Classic Game Series That Began on the SNES

The Super Nintendo launched in North America on 23 August 1991, and its 16-bit hardware became the starting point for several enduring game series. From role-playing adventures to kart racing and space combat, these franchises began on the SNES before expanding across later consoles and handhelds.

This list leaves out Donkey Kong Country because it developed an existing Donkey Kong concept. The Seiken Densetsu series also misses out because its first game appeared on Game Boy, while Super Mario RPG is separate from the later Paper Mario and Mario & Luigi lines.

For more retro hardware ideas, explore RETROCADE’s arcade blog and arcade videos.

1. Lufia

First released: 1993

Neverland introduced the series with Lufia & the Fortress of Doom, an RPG generally regarded as one of the stronger releases of its year. Its first sequel was actually a prequel, and the series later continued with three more games on Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS. Neverland, also associated with Marvelous’ Rune Factory series, went bankrupt in 2013, making a new entry unlikely. A compilation would still be welcome.

2. Tales

First released: 1995

Wolf Team’s Tales of Phantasia began a role-playing franchise that has continued for three decades. The original did not reach North America until its Game Boy Advance port, but its impressive presentation, colourful world and memorable characters established a major rival to Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest.

3. Breath of Fire

First released: 1993

Capcom’s fantasy RPG series travelled to several platforms after debuting on the SNES. Squaresoft published the North American release of the first game, while Capcom handled publishing from Breath of Fire II onwards. The games became known for dragon protagonists and troubled fantasy worlds. Dragon Quarter made a significant change on PlayStation 2, and a later mobile game effectively ended the series.

4. Mega Man X

First released: 1993

Mega Man X moved the action further into the future, replacing the earlier hero with the more capable X. Against Sigma and his Reploids, players could dash, climb walls, ride armour and charge special weapons. The stages also hid more secrets, and the series continued for seven further instalments. Although Capcom has left it quiet in recent years, it became a defining action platformer.

5. Ogre Battle

First released: 1993

Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen cast players as the leader of a revolution against the Sacred Zetaginian Empire. Monsters and mercenaries could be recruited, while alignment and major decisions influenced 13 possible endings. Its sequel, Tactics Ogre, established ideas later used by Final Fantasy Tactics. The series also returned to its original style with Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber, though later releases largely became side stories.

6. Star Ocean

First released: 1996

The first Star Ocean was released on the Super Famicom and did not reach North America until the PSP remake, Star Ocean: First Departure. The series blends space exploration with medieval societies on developing alien worlds. Action combat, detailed skill systems and optional “private actions” remain key features. Later entries received a mixed response, but the franchise continued through Star Ocean: The Divine Force.

7. Mario Kart

First released: 1992

Super Mario Kart established Nintendo’s mascot-driven racing formula more than 30 years ago. The series has since reached nine mainline games, with players drifting through Mushroom Kingdom courses, using items and turning multiplayer races into chaotic contests. Versions of Mario Kart 8 on Wii U and Switch had sold nearly 80 million copies by June 2026, making it unlikely that a future entry will surpass their combined performance.

Its pick-up-and-play design remains a natural fit for a family game room, alongside the wider range of arcade machines available to Australian players.

8. Chrono

First released: 1995

Chrono Trigger brought together leading creative talent from Square and Enix. Its time-spanning world, 12 possible endings, striking artwork and Yasunori Mitsuda’s music helped set a high standard for RPGs. It also popularised New Game+, carrying selected progress into another playthrough. The series later included the Japan-only Radical Dreamers and Chrono Cross, but no new main entry has followed.

9. Harvest Moon

First released: 1996

The Japanese original, Bokujou Monogatari, arrived in August 1996 before Natsume renamed it Harvest Moon for North America. Marvelous later began releasing the farming games as Story of Seasons, while Natsume continued using the Harvest Moon name with different developers. The SNES release therefore stands at the beginning of two related franchises, as well as the Rune Factory spin-off line. Each centres on rebuilding a struggling farm and becoming part of a lively rural community.

10. Star Fox

First released: 1993

The original Star Fox could easily have looked like a mascot platformer from its animal-filled cover, but it instead sent Fox, Falco, Peppy and Slippy into space aboard Arwings. Their first major mission involved confronting Andross, a giant ape-headed enemy. Star Fox 64 followed with another journey through the Lylat System, and later games repeatedly returned to the same setting. The series remains associated with rail-shooter action, explosions and eccentric scientific villains.

A strong SNES legacy

These ten series show how broadly the SNES shaped game design. Some became long-running commercial successes, while others remain dormant or survive through remakes and spin-offs. For anyone planning a dedicated retro setup, RETROCADE’s arcade machine buying guide can help compare cabinet formats, while bartop arcades offer a compact option.