5 SNES Games Better Than Chrono Trigger

There's no question that Chrono Trigger was a fantastic and incredibly important game. Released in 1995, the RPG followed the time-hopping tale of Crono and his friends on their quest to save the world from the parasitic alien, Lavos and the powerful magician, Magus.

The title is believed today to be one of the greatest video games of all time. The masterpiece influenced RPGs and games that followed it, everything from the combat to the story and pacing.

That said, Chrono Trigger is not the only excellent game for SNES. Many incredible games arose from the SNES era, from Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past to Super Metroid. The console was also home to many classic RPGs, some of which were just as good as Chrono Trigger, or (dare I say it) maybe even better. Listed in no particular order, here are five SNES RPGs that deserve as much recognition as Chrono Trigger.

5 Lufia 2 Is An Often-Overlooked SNES Gem

Developed By Neverland And Published By Taito (Natsume In NA)

Lufia 2: Rise of the Sinistrals was released in Japan in the same year as Chrono Trigger, and was subsequently overshadowed by the bigger game's success. Despite being lesser-known, those who played this more hidden gem loved it.

The title was a prequel to the original Lufia & the Fortress of Doom, but playing the first wasn't necessary to enjoy the second. Lufia 2 follows an ancestor of the first game's main character, as he uncovers the origin of the conflict between humanity and gods known as Sinistrals.

Although the storytelling was similar across both titles, the second game was considered to be far superior to the first. It removed random battles in favor of visible enemies wandering around in the dungeons. The game also added many puzzles of varying difficulties, which are implemented well. This breaks up the otherwise potentially monotonous need to grind that many RPGs fall prey to.

But the feature that kept fans playing for hours and hours after beating the game was the Ancient Cave: 99 randomly generated floors that increase in difficulty and test your skills. At least in that sense, Lufia 2 has Chrono Trigger beat. The latter was a one-and-done; the former had fans coming back for more long after the game reached its epic conclusion (which seamlessly transitioned into the beginning of the first game in the series).

4 EarthBound Is Just As Influential As CT

Developed By Ape In and HAL Laboratory, Published By Nintendo

EarthBound, like Chrono Trigger, likely needs no introduction, but let's give it one, anyway. In EarthBound, a young boy named Ness and his party of friends head out to defeat a force called Giygas that's threatening to destroy their world. Originally released as Mother 2 in Japan, the 1994 game's colorful exterior hid a dark story lurking beneath the bright hues.

EarthBound turned the idea of a classic fantasy RPG on its head. Instead of using swords to fell dragons and slimes, Ness and his friends used slingshots and baseball bats to battle puddles of barf and annoying old men. The modern, urban setting made the game stand out among other games of its kind.

Though it didn't do well when it was originally released, EarthBound has since become a cult classic. Fans have grown to appreciate its surreal charm, and odd combination of silliness and dark, cosmic horror. Add to that one of the most memorable final bosses of all time (if you don't know, I won't spoil it despite the game's old age!), and you have a recipe for one incredible SNES RPG experience.

3 Secret Of Evermore Is The Tale Of A Boy And His Dog

Developed By Square And Published By Square Soft

Secret of Evermore was another title released by the prolific Enix in 1995, but it followed a backward story from most games created by Japanese devs at the time: It was released in North America, Europe, and Australia, but never made it to Japan.

In Secret of Evermore, a young boy and his dog are transported back from their home in midcentury Podunk, USA to the world of Evermore. The boy travels around the different realms within Evermore, which correspond to different time periods, from prehistoric to the future.

Instead of a traditional party and turn-based fighting mechanics, Secret of Evermore lets players control either the boy or his dog (in whatever form he takes in each particular area). A unique magic system and lighthearted writing make this a gem that deserves as much recognition as its more popular SNES sibling.

2 Final Fantasy 6 Remains A Classic

Developed And Published By Square

If we ignore Final Fantasy Mystic Quest (as most people do), the SNES was home to three Final Fantasy games: the fourth through sixth. Any one of these could be included on this list, as the Final Fantasy series has been just as, if not more influential in gaming as Chrono Trigger.

But it's Final Fantasy 6, in particular, that fans consider as one of the series' best and most memorable. It was released for the SNES in North America in 1994 as Final Fantasy 3 (partially because the original FF3 was deemed "too difficult" for the West).

The title was the last game in the series to use pixel art sprites. It was also the first to take the series in a more industrial direction, combining traditional fantasy elements with a more mechanical world. It also includes the now-iconic opera scene.

Final Fantasy 6 followed the half-Esper Terra and her companions on the usual quest to save the world. Unusually for the series, RPGs, and fantasy stories, they (spoiler alert) don't quite succeed. It's a game that's equal parts beautiful and bleak, and it remains one of the best RPGs for the SNES (and in general).

1 Terranigma Never Got A Chance To Shine

Developed By Quintet And Published By Enix

Terranigma is an action RPG that never became as big as Chrono Trigger largely because of lack of exposure. The SNES game was never released in North America, enjoying a limited audience in Japan, and later Europe and Australia. But I'm certain that if it had been, it would have become a classic like Chrono Trigger.

The action RPG was part of an unofficial trilogy of games created by now-defunct developer Quintet better known for creating the hit titles ActRaiser and Shenmue. It followed the unlikely protagonist Ark, a troublemaker in his home village of Crysta. When Ark opens a mysterious box, mysterious bubbles fill the sky and everyone in his village freezes. Ark is tasked with leaving his underworld village and traveling to Earth to restore his village to life.

The Earth is similar to our real world, but Ark finds it entirely lifeless. Throughout the game, Ark revives the world, starting with the plants, the birds and the wind, animals, and finally, humans. Gameplay was a simple but fun action romp that had Ark running, dashing, and jumping through enemies.

What makes Terranigma really special, though, is what happens once the humans return to Earth. Ark encounters characters with vaguely familiar names that represent real historical figures, like Christopher Columbus, Alexander Graham Bell, and Wilbur Wright. He also has a chance to shape the way each city and country turns out in the future, depending on his actions throughout the city's history.

Terranigma was a truly special title that was ahead of its time. Instead of a hero saving a world from certain doom, Ark is a hero who must restore life to a planet that's already met its doom (then protect it from new dangers). It's a strangely hopeful SNES game that would have left a much bigger impact on the world of gaming if it had enjoyed a world-wide release like the better-known Chrono Trigger.