The Super Nintendo Entertainment System, or SNES, is one of the most popular video game consoles of all time. Released in 1991 to North American markets, this 16-bit console would witness its fair share of beloved titles over the years. Games in the fantasy RPG genre, in particular, really came into their own during the time of the SNES.
Although they may not compare well with more modern games, certain SNES titles are plenty long. Unsurprisingly, all of the longest games on the SNES are RPGs. According to HowLongToBeat, these are some of the longest video games from gaming's heyday.
10 Majin Tensei (36 Hours Min.)
Released in 1994, Majin Tensei is a spin-off of the larger Megami Tensei series. Like most titles of its era, due to technological limitations, Majin Tensei is primarily a gameplay-centric experience. Don't expect multiple layers of intense storytelling. Rather, the player must battle demons from a top-down perspective to save the protagonist's home city.
HowLongToBeat estimates Majin Tensei taking about 36 hours to complete. That, however, is just the minimum number. Players who wish to experience everything the game has to offer should expect a playtime of approximately 72 hours.
9 Fire Emblem: Mystery Of The Emblem (37 Hours Min.)
Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem, is the third entry in the long-running series. Taking control of the protagonist, known as Marth, players must explore and fight their way through the continent of Archanea. Combat is turn-based and played on a tactical grid of the battlefield.
Hacking and slashing your way through the main game takes about 37 hours at a minimum. Nevertheless, there's always something more to do in an RPG. Conquering the game in its entirety is estimated at 63.5 hours of playtime.
8 Wizardry V: Heart Of The Maelstrom (37.5 Hours Min.)
Wizardry V: Heart of the Maelstrom was given a release in the United States in 1993. Puzzle-solving lies at the heart of this text-based dungeon crawler. Combat is resolved through decisions the player makes during each encounter, such as when to "parry" or "ambush" an enemy.
The main campaign of Wizardry V: Heart of the Maelstrom takes an average of 37.5 hours to finish. Players who wish to go above and beyond the call of duty should expect nearly double that amount of time. Completing everything will take about 60.5 hours maximum.
7 Breath Of Fire II (38 Hours Min.)
Although Capcom was already well-known for its Street Fighter franchise by the early 1990s, the company also dabbled in various RPG titles. Released in 1995 in North America, Breath of Fire II is a turn-based RPG set in a unique fantasy world. Players control Ryu, an orphan who sets out to rescue his best friend.
From start to finish, the main story takes an average of 38 hours to accomplish. Tackling any extra content won't add too much additional time either. Bringing the game to 100% completion is estimated at 42 hours total.
6 Dragon Quest VI: Realms Of Revelation (41 Hours Min.)
Released on the SNES in Japan in 1995, Dragon Quest VI was never given an English translation until 2011. The game follows a pretty standard formula as far as RPGs are concerned. Players progressively build their party of adventurers as they take part in turn-based combat.
About 41 hours' worth of content characterizes the main game. Players looking to achieve a completionist run should be prepared for a much longer endeavor. HowLongToBeat estimates the entire experience running at about 65 hours.
5 Shin Megami Tensei II (41.5 Hours Min.)
Part of the larger Shin Megami franchise, the second entry hit the shelves in 1994. Players explore the environment from a first-person perspective while battling and/or recruiting various demons to their party. The game also features a moral alignment system, giving players some degree of freedom to steer the protagonist in one direction or another.
Shin Megami Tensei II is only slightly longer than the previous entry. It clocks in at about 41.5 hours for the main story. Seeing and doing everything will take an average of 61 hours for those with a more completionist mindset.
4 Fire Emblem: Genealogy Of The Holy War (42 Hours Min.)
Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War is the fourth entry of the franchise and the sequel to Mystery of the Emblem. Utilizing similar gameplay, this title revolves around the protagonists' efforts to stop a cult from resurrecting an evil dragon.
There's plenty the main story has to offer and will take the player an average of 42 hours to complete. This time, there's a much greater jump between the bare minimum and the completionist run. The latter is estimated to take 90.5 hours to see through to the end.
3 Wizardry VI: Bane Of The Cosmic Forge (43.5 Hours Min.)
Yet another entry in the Wizardry series, Bane of the Cosmic Forge hosts a slew of improvements over its predecessor. More combat options are made available as well as additional customization variety for character creation. It still retains the mostly text-based and menu-driven gameplay as the rest of the series.
Hopefully, the player will enjoy delving into the deepest and darkest dungeons repeatedly. The main game will take approximately 43.5 hours. Longer playtimes can potentially take upwards of 55 hours when all is said and done.
2 Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together (43.5 Hours Min.)
Originally released in 1995, Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together is the second installment in the Ogre Battle franchise. The game was actually re-released in 1997 for the original Playstation console. Like others on this list, the gameplay features turn-based combat and exploration of the map.
It will take players in the ballpark of 43.5 hours to beat the main campaign. Interestingly, Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together also features branching storylines and multiple endings. Witnessing all of it takes about 68 hours.
1 Romancing SaGa 2 (44.5 Hours Min.)
Romancing SaGa 2 comes from the same developers as the Final Fantasy series. The setting of the game takes place in the Kingdom of Avalon, a land threatened by seven powerful demons. It's up to the player to assemble their team and defeat this evil threat.
The nonlinear nature of this game makes it the longest on the list. The main story is described as taking 44.5 hours to complete. However, concluding the game at 100% will take significantly longer. About 90 hours are needed to complete Romancing SaGa 2 in its entirety.