When we talk about the golden age of gaming, I feel like the SNES (or Super Nintendo) is probably the platform that most people will point to. Whether or not that's actually true is completely subjective, but the fact remains that the SNEs has some of the most iconic games of all time. And while you may know the likes of Super Mario World, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, or Mega Man X, there are also a lot of great SNES games that don't get as much attention as they deserve.

So let's try to change that. I've rounded up ten games I'd consider somewhat less popular than the ones you always hear about, but that you should definitely give a try all the same. These aren't necessarily obscure, but they may have flown under your radar back in the day.

10 Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest

It doesn't get much better than this

I'll admit that the Donkey Kong Country series back in the day probably had a higher profile than it may appear in retrospect, so referring to this one as a lesser-known title may be a bit of a stretch. But being a sequel, on top of being one of the very best games on the platform, gives me enough reason to put Donkey Kong Country 2 on this list.

The original Donkey Kong Country was already fantastic, and this sequel brings in Dixie Kong as a second playable character, which adds some new movement options to the platforming challenges and makes them even more interesting. Add a great soundtrack and graphics that were very impressive for the SNES, and you have an absolute gem with this one. I personally haven't played this game to completion yet, but I did play Donkey Kong Land 2 on the Game Boy, which is very similar in terms of design philosophies, and that's a very good game, so I have no problem vouching for this one.

In fact, you should play the entire Donkey Kong Country series if you haven't already. All three games are on the Nintendo Switch Online service, so give them a shot.

9 Super Punch-Out!!

An oft-forgotten sequel

Punch-Out!! on the NES was a very well-known title, likely thanks to the initial branding deal with Mike Tyson. However, when a sequel appeared on the SNES with Super Punch-Out!!, it didn't get quite the same level of attention. This is a boxing game where your mission is to study the movements of your opponent and learn their patterns so that you can dodge attacks and deliver punches at the right time.

Unlike the NES game, this one adds a power meter that can be charged up, allowing you to deliver more powerful punches. The game is a bit more involved and complex as a result, but this makes it that much more engaging, and the improved visuals are a big boon for this game, too.

One cool aspect of this title that was only discovered in 2022 is that through a secret cheat code, you can unlock a two-player mode to fight against a friend. This works on all versions of the game, including the one on Nintendo Switch Online, so there's no excuse not to give it a shot.

8 Super Metroid

This game is incredible

It's crazy to me that the Metroid series doesn't get more love among Nintendo's franchises. It does have its loyal fans, but these games deserve to be a lot more successful, and Super Metroid is one of the shining examples of how good it can really be. To this day, many still consider Super Metroid the best game in the series, and while I wouldn't say that, I do think this is a phenomenal title in every respect.

Super Metroid sees you once again take the role of Samus Aran revisiting planet Zebes to capture a stray Metroid stolen by Ridley, one of the primary antagonists of the series. What makes this game so good, though, is the sense of exploration, growth, and progression, which is something that Metroid games almost always nail. You start out the adventure stripped of most of your abilities, but as you progress through the planet, more of your suit's features are restored, adding things like multiple mid-air jumps, new weaponry, or the ability to run at incredibly high speeds.

It's never too late to play any Metroid game, but it's especially not too late to play this one. It's also on Nintendo Switch Online, so there's no reason not to play it.

7 Super Smash TV

Twin-stick shooter, without the sticks

Super Smash TV started life as an arcade game (Smash TV), but it received home console ports very soon after the original release, and the SNES version is a fantastic one. This is a twin-stick shooter, but considering the SNES didn't have analog sticks, movement works by using the D-pad to move and the ABXY buttons to aim, but as clunky as it may seem, it works pretty well.

There isn't a whole lot that can be said about Super Smash TV as it's very clearly an arcade game, but it's a very fun one at that. Sometimes, that's all games need to be. Sadly, this one isn't on the Nintendo Switch Online service, so you'll have to find another way to access it.

6 Battletoads in Battlemaniacs

Beat 'em up greatness

Battletoads isn't the most obscure series out there, but it's certainly not the most popular these days, either, which is a shame because the original games were all fantastic. This is a series of beat 'em up games starring two toad-like creatures punching their way through various scenarios. It started on the NES, but there are two SNES titles that are definitely worth checking out.

Battletoads in Battlemaniacs is the direct sequel to that original game, and it introduces some changes like specific combo moves for the different playable characters, on top of the huge graphical upgrade that comes with being on the SNES. Much like the original, there's quitre a bit of variety here, switching between the traditional side-scrolling beat-em-up style and other styles like on-rails segments or a bike racing stage.

This game was also followed up by Battletoads & Double Dragon, a crossover with another popular beat 'em up title. Both of these are available on NIntendo Switch Online, so they're pretty easy to check out today.

5 Kirby Super Star

A slightly different Kirby game

Kirby games up until this point had essentially been standalone adventures, each one introducing a new single-player experience and not much more. But Kirby Super Star was pretty different in that it was almost like an anthology of multiple Kirby experiences in one. There are six campaigns here with different elements to each, but some notable differences in the story and gameplay departments. For example, Spring Breeze is a relatively typical linear adventure, but The Great Cave Offensive is more like a multiplayer "metroidvania" title where the goal is to search for different treasures scattered throughout the world.

A single Kirby game is always worth recommending, but with six main experiences in one, plus some bonuses, Kirby Super Star really was the ultimate package at the time. It has since been enhanced and re-released on the Nintendo DS, but the original SNES version is still great, and it's easily accessible to through Nintendo Switch Online.

4 Super Mario RPG

The one Mario game you probably didn't play

We all know the red plumber's adventures in platforming games, but on the SNES, Nintendo worked with Square Enix to take Mario in a whole new direction, and the result was Super Mario RPG. This is a beloved turn-based role-playing game that plays from an isometric perspective, creating 3D-like graphics that are pretty impressive for the SNES.

But what makes Super Mario RPG so beloved is the characters and their charm, and the fact that this was the most personality we had seen these Mario characters have in a videogame. It's also a great game for how approachable it is as an RPG, simplifying the usually complicated RPG mechanics to make for something more people can enjoy. Plus, there's some absolutely brilliant music in this title.

Super Mario RPG was basically ignored by Nintendo for decades, but in 2023, the company delivered a full-blown remake of the game on Nintendo Switch and it's one of the best games on the platform, so if you don't want to mess around with unofficial emulation, you can play the best version of the game that way.

3 Earthbound

A cozy RPG adventure

The series known in Japan as Mother didn't make its international debut with the first release, but when a sequel came out on the SNES, Nintendo localized it and released it as EarthBound only in the United States, meaning European had no way to play this game for the longest time. Which is a huge shame because EarthBound is a beloved RPG among those who've played it. Compared to other RPGs of the era, EarthBound is a bit more grounded.

You control a kid named Ness and go around villages, cities and other areas that feel more like they could be in a real-world scenario, though the fantasy elements are still definitely there. That more modern setting does help the game stand out from other RPG series such as Final Fantasy, though, and it also helps that the game has an endearing story and the ability to switch between more humorous and serious tone to help the storytelling.

Thankfully, EarthBound has been re-released on the Nintendo Switch Online service, and if you want to see where it all began, the original NES game has also been localized and released as EarthBound Origins.

2 Star Fox 2

The game that almost didn't exist

Star Fox (or Star Wing, in Europe) was a pretty well-known title in the library, especially thanks to the use of the Super FX chip that allowed it to render 3D-like graphics on the SNES. Following thje relative success of that game, Nintendo worked on a sequel, but with the impending launch of the Nintendo 64, the company ended up never releasing Star Fox 2 on the SNES, since the Nintendo 64 would be getting Star Fox 64.

However, in 2017, Nintendo launched the SNES Classic Edition, a miniature version of the console featuring multiple games, and one of those games was indeed, Star Fox 2. Despite never seeing an official release as a cartridge, the game made it to that collection, and it's pretty much what you'd expect from a sequel to Star Fox: an on-rails shooter where you have to beat as many enemies as possible to keep your home planet safe and the Lylat system safe.

Thankfully, Star Fox 2 is also on the Nintendo Switch Online service, so you can play it easily these days.

1 Terranigma

Americans didn't deserve this one, it seems

It's not often that we get to talk about games that came to Europe but not the United States, but Terranigma definitely deserves the attention. This is an action RPG, meaning you take the role of the main character and you dish out a variety of moves in real-time to try and defeat the numerous enemies in your path.

The story sees you take the role of Ark, a boy who sets out to save his home planet by bringing life back to the surface world. The story and characters are the best parts of Terranigma, so it's best if you go in knowing as little as possible. The gameplay itself is also pretty fun and you get new abilities throughout the adventure that give you a great sense of progression.

If you live in the United States, there's a good chance you've never heard of this game, but you'll be doing yourself a favor by playing it. Unfortunately, it's one of those forgotten games that never received a remake, seemingly due to rights issues, so you'll have to look for unofficial ways to play it.

Expand your gaming horizons

You may have already known about some of these games, or you may be new to most of them, but no matter what, these are all excellent titles in the SNES library and you owe it to yourself to try them. That being said, if you have played these, let us know your thoughts on them below.