Chrono Trigger is widely regarded as one of the greatest games released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. The 1995 role-playing game is also credited with helping shape the popularity and influence of the RPG genre. But the SNES library includes other landmark titles that can stand alongside it.

Super Mario World, released in 1990, expanded the series with new mechanics and a more interconnected world. It introduced Yoshi, whose abilities include swallowing enemies and throwing items, as well as the Cape Feather, which lets Mario fly. Branching routes, hidden exits, locked doors and puzzle-focused ghost houses added new ways to explore its levels.

Super Metroid followed in 1994, sending bounty hunter Samus Aran to the planet Zebes to pursue the space pirates and recover a Metroid larva. Its non-linear exploration and atmospheric world design made discovery central to the experience. The game also helped establish the Metroidvania style, built around interconnected maps, hidden upgrades and abilities that open previously inaccessible areas.

Final Fantasy VI, another 1994 release, offers a different kind of comparison with Chrono Trigger. Its story tackles themes including imperialism, exploitation and grief, and takes a dark turn when the villain wins and the world is left in ruins. The RPG also features music by Nobuo Uematsu, a cast of 12 playable characters and a large world that gives players considerable freedom in how they progress.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, released in 1991, helped define the direction of the Zelda series. Its world is divided between the Light World and Dark World, with the Magic Mirror allowing Link to travel between them. The game combines a rewarding overworld with puzzles and a broad selection of weapons and gear, while guiding players through its environments without forcing them along a single route.

Together, these four games show the range of influential experiences available on the SNES, from platforming and atmospheric exploration to ambitious RPG storytelling and puzzle-driven adventure.

Sources: Comic Book Resources.