Out of any gaming company that made home video game consoles, Nintendo is one that had more hits than misses. The Super Nintendo Entertainment System, also known as the SNES, was released in 1991, and many of the best games of that era were designed for it.

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Not all video games from this era age very well, mostly because of the simplistic graphics and thin storylines, but that was often all the consoles of the olden days could handle. Luckily, some forward-thinking developers made games with timeless graphics for the SNES that still hold up today.

6 Earthbound

An Isometric RPG For The Ages

Earthbound, known as Mother 2 in Japan, didn't make a huge impact on the gaming world when it was first released, but in the last few decades, it's gained an impressive fan following. That's partly because of simple but endearing, unique, and beautiful graphics.

The graphic capability of the SNES only allowed for a few colors and possibilities, but this game uses them to the hilt. The settings are still fun and beautiful with isometric renditions of typical American neighborhoods, and when it comes to boss fights, gamers will be impressed with what this humble title can do when it comes to sound and suspense.

5 Super Metroid

The Best Of Vintage 2D Platformers

When it comes to adventure platformers, it's hard to go wrong with any entry in the Metroid franchise, and Super Metroid on the SNES is one of the flagship titles of the IP. The side-scroller was an arcade classic, but not every interaction of the game translated as well onto home consoles as Super Metroid did.

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The game still looks great, and it could have been released recently as a side-scroller developed in a vintage style. As with other games in the same franchise, the protagonist is Samus Aran, a brave adventurer who travels to the planet Zebes, and this time, the quest is to rescue a baby Metroid creature from Space Pirates.

4 The Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past

Super Cute & Never Gets Old

The third game in the Legend of Zelda franchise to hit shelves after two NES titles, A Link to the Past calls back to the first with its isometric viewpoint and the "chibi" art style. That's part of why the graphics and gameplay are still so appealing after over 30 years.

Many players who follow this popular franchise will choose this title as their favorite, and the main reason is that it's still fun to play after all these years. The nature of the title and the story is appropriate for all ages, as is the tradition with Nintendo games, so many different generations of players can enjoy it together.

3 Secret Of Mana

Still A Beautiful RPG Adventure

Even gamers who aren't fans of the role-playing or adventure genres will enjoy Secret of Mana, and those who are will recognize the impact they had on the whole industry. Many of the most popular and infamous role-playing titles of the present day were inspired by this SNES game.

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Secret of Mana is the sequel to another RPG game called Final Fantasy Adventure, which was a spin-off of the franchise of the same name and takes place in the same setting with similar gameplay and narrative elements. It also includes elements of both fantasy and steampunk in the design, giving the graphics a unique staying power in modern times.

2 Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island

One Of Many Timeless Mario Classics

There are various titles in the Mario franchise for the SNES, and most of them are still popular, but the familiar characters and abstract art style of Yoshi's Island make it one of the more timeless choices. Modern games like Okami mimic its unique animated style, which resembles pencil-sketched figures and settings.

The game is based on the classic platformer style and is the direct sequel to Super Mario World, another famous title in this popular franchise. This time, however, Yoshi the friendly dinosaur is the protagonist, and their quest is to reunite the infant brothers, Mario and Luigi.

1 Super Castlevania 4

A Vintage Side-Scroller With Modern Design

The settings and characters of Super Castlevania 4 look great, even for the period and the genre, but that's not all that makes this installment one of the most timeless for the SNES. The combat mechanics used for Simon Belmont as he tears through Dracula's castle were ahead of their time. An example of this can be seen through his signature whip, which could move in eight directions.

Even when it was released, the game was critically acclaimed and is still a great example of what a side-scrolling adventure game can do. The music and effects are as much a part of this as the timeless graphics, adding to the already high immersion factor.

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