| SNES | ActRaiser | 1991 | Action | Quintet | A strange mashup of city-building simulator and 2D platformer, where population functions as XP and you must protect your people |
| JP SFC | Alcahest | 1993 | Action | HAL Laboratory | ARPG featuring item-based stat growth and a password system rather than traditional saves |
| JP SFC | Ancient Magic: Bazoo! Mahou Sekai | 1993 | Turn-Based | Hot-B | Generic turn-based affair with male/female protagonists with an emphasis on magic |
| JP SFC | Arabian Nights: Sabaku no Seirei-o | 1996 | Turn-Based | Pandora Box | Apparently rushed toward the end of development |
| SNES | Arcana | 1992 | Dungeon Crawler | HAL Laboratory | Card-focused 1st-person dungeon crawl |
| JP SFC | Aretha | 1993 | Turn-Based | Japan Art Media | A sequel to the Game Boy trilogy of the same name, neat multidirectional turn-based combat |
| JP SFC | Aretha II - Ariel no Fushigi na Tabi | 1994 | Turn-Based | Japan Art Media | Pretty similar to the first |
| JP SFC | Bahamut Lagoon | 1996 | Strategy | Square | Square's oft-forgotten SRPG child, divine spritework |
| JP SFC | Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon: Another Story | 1995 | Turn-Based | Angel | Adorable digitized voices, Senshi combo attacks, what's not to love? |
| SNES | Brain Lord | 1994 | Action | Produce | ARPG featuring dungeon puzzles and little monsters that follow you |
| SNES | Brandish | 1995 | Action | Falcom/Koei | Top-down dungeon crawl, the only entry in the series to be localized |
| JP SFC | Brandish 2: The Planet Buster | 1995 | Dungeon Crawler | Falcom | Similar top-down dungeon crawling as the first |
| SNES | Breath of Fire | 1994 | Turn-Based | Capcom | Capcom's take on the traditional JRPG with a lot of dragons |
| SNES | Breath of Fire II | 1995 | Turn-Based | Capcom | Direct sequel to BoF I |
| JP SFC | Bushi Seiryuuden: Futari no Yuusha | 1997 | Turn-Based | Game Freak | Zelda-like exploration; combat is 2D platformer-like, but still turn-based (enemies only act when you do); pretty spritework |
| JP SFC | Captain Tsubasa III: Koutei no Chousen | 1992 | Sports | Tecmo | Continues the alternate universe plot of the second game, otherwise an incremental/generational improvement over its predecessor |
| JP SFC | Chaos Seed: Fuusui Kairouki | 1996 | Action | Neverland | Lots of resource management! Multiple endings! |
| JP SFC | Chou-Mahou Tairiku Wozz | 1995 | Turn-Based | Red Company Corporation | 8 playable characters, branching storylines, invention systems- this game truly tries to do it all! |
| SNES | Chrono Trigger | 1995 | Turn-Based | Square | A shining example of the genre as a whole, a time-travel story done right |
| JP SFC | Crystal Beans: From Dungeon Explorer | 1995 | Action | Birthday/Hudson Soft | Straightforward ARPG gameplay, hidden playable characters, leveling stats through gems |
| JP SFC | Cyber Knight | 1992 | Strategy | Advance Communication Company | SRPG/turn-based hybrid combat, also: SPAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACE exploration |
| JP SFC | Cyber Knight II: Chikyuu Teikoku no Yabou | 1994 | Strategy | Atelier Double/Group SNE | Similar gameplay but massive graphical leap over the first |
| JP SFC | Dai-3-Ji Super Robot Taisen | 1993 | Strategy | Winkysoft | First in the series to have a branching storyline |
| JP SFC | Daikaijuu Monogatari | 1994 | Turn-Based | Birthday/Hudson Soft | Hidden characters and adorable sprites! |
| JP SFC | Dark Half | 1996 | Turn-Based | West One | Item-based leveling system; also, spoiler alert (not really): You play the antagonist! |
| JP SFC | Dark Law: Meaning of Death | 1997 | Turn-Based | Sakata SAS | Super duper hard! Also featuring rudimentary 3D! |
| SNES | Demon's Crest | 1994 | Action-Platform | Capcom | A sequel to Gargoyle's Quest, with mild RPG elements (similar abilty progression), but with equippable crests to change abilities and reach otherwise inaccessible areas |
| JP SFC | Der Langrisser | 1995 | Strategy | NCS | Remake of Langrisser II, with branching storylines |
| JP SFC | Dokapon Gaiden - Honoo no Audition | 1995 | Board Game | Earthly Soft | Leans more heavily into comedy than previous games in the series, with greater board variety |
| JP SFC | Dragon Ball Z: Super Saiya Densetsu | 1992 | Card-Based | D&D Corp/Tose | Combo of two of the FC DBZ games, still with card-based battles |
| JP SFC | Dragon Quest I + II | 1993 | Turn-Based | Chunsoft | Combined, debatably definitive version of DQ I and II |
| JP SFC | Dragon Quest III | 1996 | Turn-Based | Heartbeat | Arguably the definitive version of the game |
| JP SFC | Dragon Quest V: Tenkuu no Hanayome | 1992 | Turn-Based | Chunsoft | Monster capture and marriage/children ahoy! |
| JP SFC | Dragon Quest VI: Maboroshi no Daichi | 1995 | Turn-Based | Heartbeat | Third game in the Zenithian trilogy, return of the class system |
| SNES | Dragon View | 1994 | Action | Kemco | Sequel to Drakkhen, interesting pseudo-3D overworld system |
| SNES | Drakkhen | 1991 | Action | Kemco/Infogrames | Sparsely populated, customizable characters that attack using AI, and lots of water to hilariously drown in |
| JP SFC | Dual Orb II | 1994 | Turn-Based | I'Max | Ultra-high encounter rate, a difficult game without grind dedication |
| SNES | E.V.O.: Search For Eden | 1993 | Action | Almanic | Evolution: the game! |
| SNES | Earthbound | 1995 | Turn-Based | Ape/HAL Laboratory | AKA Mother 2, a more modern-themed game with some surprisingly heavy themes |
| JP SFC | Emerald Dragon | 1995 | Turn-Based | Alfa System | Breath of Fire's cousin with a unique battle system |
| JP SFC | Energy Breaker | 1996 | Strategy | Neverland | SRPG with town exploration and an action point-based economy for combat |
| JP SFC | FEDA: The Emblem of Justice | 1994 | Strategy | Max Entertainment | SRPG developed by some of the Shining Force team, features a morality-based system |
| SNES | Final Fantasy II | 1991 | Turn-Based | Square | Actually Final Fantasy IV, Introduced the Active Time Battle system and removed the ability to customize party members |
| SNES | Final Fantasy Mystic Quest | 1992 | Turn-Based | Square | Baby Final Fantasy! |
| JP SFC | Final Fantasy V | 1992 | Turn-Based | Square | So many jobs- |
| SNES | Final Fantasy VI (on cart as III) | 1994 | Turn-Based | Square | Features a more tech-based story than previous entries and a train to suplex |
| JP SFC | Fire Emblem: Monshou no Nazo | 1994 | Strategy | Intelligent Systems | Divided into 2 "books": Book 1 is an abridged remake of FE1, Book 2 is a direct sequel to FE1 |
| JP SFC | Fire Emblem: Seisen no Keifu | 1996 | Strategy | Intelligent Systems | Introduced the marriage/children mechanic that would be seen in later FE entries |
| JP SFC | Fire Emblem: Thracia 776 | 1999 | Strategy | Intelligent Systems | Takes place during the middle of FE4, initially distributed as a Nintendo Power ROM cartridge |
| JP SFC | Front Mission | 1995 | Strategy | G-Craft | Mech-focused SRPG with a ton of units and customizability |
| JP SFC | Front Mission: Gun Hazard | 1996 | Action | Omiya Soft | Side-scrolling ARPG with incredible graphics, separate universe from mainline series |
| JP SFC | Fushigi no Dungeon 2: Fuurai no Shiren | 1995 | Dungeon Crawler | Chunsoft | Follow-up to Torneko no Daibouken, a roguelike before they were cool |
| JP SFC | G.O.D.: Mezameyo to Yobu Koe ga Kikoe | 1996 | Turn-Based | Infinity | If Earthbound had a child with Phantasy Star IV's battle system, this would be it |
| JP SFC | Galaxy Robo | 1994 | Strategy | Copya Systems | SRPG with mechs |
| JP SFC | Heracles no Eikou III: Kamigami no Chinmoku | 1992 | Turn-Based | Data East | Standard turn-based combat like the rest of the series, but also has a day/night cycle for NPCs to follow |
| JP SFC | Heracles no Eikou IV: Kamigami Kara no Okurimono | 1994 | Turn-Based | Data East | A multitude of different avatars to play as, each with its own attributes and perspectives on storyline events |
| JP SFC | Hero Senki: Project Olympus | 1992 | Turn-Based | Winkysoft | A bit of Gundam, a bit of Kamen Rider, a bit of Ultraman, a bit of traditional JRPG! |
| JP SFC | Hiouden: Mamonotachi to no Chikai | 1994 | Strategy | Wolf Team | Point-and-click style SRPG, made by Team Wolf of Tales of Phantasia fame |
| JP SFC | Holy Umbrella: Dondera no Mubou!! | 1995 | Action-Platform | Earthly Soft | More of a sidescrolling platformer, but does have some stat increases via items, very cheeky tone |
| JP SFC | Hourai Gakuen no Bouken!: Tenkousei Scramble | 1996 | Turn-Based | Dynamite | High school: the JRPG! Join clubs to gain abilities! |
| SNES | Illusion of Gaia | 1994 | Action | Quintet | Part of the Quintet trilogy, ARPG with non-traditional stat increases |
| SNES | Inindo: Way of the Ninja | 1993 | Strategy | Koei | Part of the Nobunaga's Ambition series; recruiting party members is crucial |
| JP SFC | Jojo no Kimyou na Bouken | 1993 | Turn-Based | Winkysoft | RPG adaptation of Part 3, quite abridged; a very short game overall, point-and-click elements |
| JP SFC | Jutei Senki | 1993 | Strategy | TamTam | SRPG with circle-limited movement and neat cutaway battle animations, high difficulty |
| JP SFC | Kidou Senshi Gundam: Cross Dimension 0079 | 1995 | Strategy | Bandai | SRPG based on OG Mobile Suit Gundam, utilizes button combos to use attacks |
| JP SFC | Kouryuu Densetsu Villgust: Kieta Shoujo | 1992 | Turn-Based | Winkysoft | Based on an anime of the same name, ridiculous stat levels before Disgaea made it cool |
| JP SFC | Kuusou Kagaku Sekai Gulliver Boy | 1996 | Action | Amble | Very short ARPG with ungodly levels of hair spikiness on the protagonist |
| JP SFC | Kyuuyaku Megami Tensei | 1995 | Turn-Based | Atlus/Opera House | Enhanced remake of Megami Tensei 1 and 2 |
| SNES | Lagoon | 1991 | Action | Kemco | Dollar-store Ys |
| JP SFC | Laplace no Ma | 1995 | Survival | Humming Bird Soft | Lovecraftian spooky JRPG |
| JP SFC | Last Bible III | 1995 | Turn-Based | Multimedia Intelligence Transfer | Sequel to the Game Boy games, featuring monster recruitment and customization |
| JP SFC | Lennus II: Fuuin no Shito | 1996 | Turn-Based | Fill-In Cafe/Copya Systems | Superior sequel to Paladin's Quest, more risque themes, loads of recruitable characters |
| JP SFC | Live A Live | 1994 | Turn-Based | Square | 7 different scenarios in different time periods, shared action bar amongst party in combat |
| JP SFC | Lodoss Tou Senki | 1995 | Strategy | Thinking Rabbit | Plot-wise is more of a side story to the main novels, tactical combat engine |
| SNES | Lufia & the Fortress of Doom | 1993 | Turn-Based | Neverland | Standard turn-based combat, but targeting dead enemies will lead to a wasted turn |
| SNES | Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals | 1996 | Turn-Based | Neverland | Prequel to and much more Zelda-like than the first |
| JP SFC | Madou Monogatari: Hanamaru Daiyouchi Enji | 1996 | Turn-Based | Compile | Extremely unconventional attack and leveling system, but cookies are currency and it's cute! |
| JP SFC | Magna Braban: Henreki no Yuusha | 1994 | Turn-Based | Lenar | Gambits and auto-combat long before FFXII was even a thing |
| JP SFC | Mahou Kishi Rayearth | 1995 | Turn-Based | Pandora Box | Plays vastly differently than the Saturn version! Beginner-level JRPG, follows the OG story closely |
| JP SFC | Majin Tensei | 1994 | Strategy | Atlus | SRPG SMT spinoff with (naturally) demon recruitment and fusion |
| JP SFC | Majin Tensei II: Spiral Nemesis | 1995 | Strategy | Atlus | More or less the same as the first, but with an isometric battle view as opposed to top-down |
| JP SFC | Metal Max Returns | 1995 | Turn-Based | Crea-Tech | Remake of Metal Max, naturally much prettier but more difficult |
| JP SFC | Monstania | 1996 | Strategy | Amccus/Bits Laboratory | SRPG featuring puzzles, a party size of two, and a progress-based leveling system |
| JP SFC | Mystic Ark | 1995 | Turn-Based | Produce | A cousin to The 7th Saga, super grindy |
| JP SFC | Nekketsu Tairiku Burning Heroes | 1995 | Turn-Based | J-Force | 8 scenarios to beat for the true ending, characters other than the protagonist are AI in battle |
| JP SFC | Neugier: Umi to Kaze no Koudou | 1993 | Action | Wolf Team | An almost-localized ARPG with attacks that can level up, a rather short game overall |
| SNES | Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen | 1995 | Strategy | Quest | Epic overarching story with RTS elements |
| SNES | Paladin's Quest | 1993 | Turn-Based | Copya System | Utopian-themed turn-based game where casting magic costs HP instead of MP |
| JP SFC | Power of the Hired | 1994 | Strategy | Masaya | SRPG where the party can summon monsters to help in battle; monster selection determines the party's available spells |
| JP SFC | Princess Minerva | 1995 | Turn-Based | Atelier Double/Riverhillsoft | GIRL POWER ANIME-BASED ROAD TRIP! |
| JP SFC | Ranma 1/2: Akanekodan Teki Hihou | 1993 | Turn-Based | Atelier Double | Based on the anime/manga, otherwise pretty standard |
| SNES | Robotrek | 1994 | Turn-Based | Quintet/Ancient | Customize your robo-buddy party! |
| JP SFC | Romancing Saga | 1992 | Turn-Based | Square | A very sandboxy JRPG; multiple playable characters, non-linear in fashion |
| JP SFC | Romancing Saga 2 | 1993 | Turn-Based | Square | No complete English translation on this console, sandobxy multi-generation spanning story |
| JP SFC | Romancing Saga 3 | 1995 | Turn-Based | Square | No complete English translation on this console, sandboxy, gorgeous spritework, but difficult |
| JP SFC | Rudra no Hihou | 1996 | Turn-Based | Square | Create your own spells! Ultra-pretty sprites! |
| JP SFC | Ryuuki Heidan: Danzarb | 1993 | Turn-Based | Pandora Box | Epic sci-fi story marred by lackluster graphical presentation |
| SNES | Secret of Evermore | 1995 | Action | Square Soft | An ARPG featuring a boy and his dog traveling through different eras; never released in Japan |
| SNES | Secret of Mana | 1993 | Action | Square | Actually the second Mana game, up to 3-player co-op |
| SNES | Secret of the Stars | 1995 | Turn-Based | Tecmo | Super slow and super mundane |
| JP SFC | Seiken Densetsu 3 | 1995 | Action | Square | The character you choose at the start determines your storyline, otherwise plays like SoM |
| JP SFC | Shiki Eiyuuden | 1995 | Turn-Based | Outrigger Koubou/Be-On Works | A brutally hard turn-based historical JRPG set in the Warring States period of China; puzzles and quizzes found throughout |
| JP SFC | Shin Megami Tensei | 1992 | Dungeon Crawler | Atlus | 1st-person dungeon crawl with demon recruitment/fusion, only localized on mobile |
| JP SFC | Shin Megami Tensei if… | 1994 | Turn-Based | Atlus | Like regular SMT, but in a centralized high school setting. This is Persona's daddy! |
| JP SFC | Shin Megami Tensei II | 1994 | Dungeon Crawler | Atlus | Similar to but easier than the first game |
| JP SFC | Shin Seikoku: La Wares | 1995 | Turn-Based | J-Force | Based off a Japanese TTRPG, featuring mech combat |
| JP SFC | Shodai Nekketsu Kouha Kunio-kun | 1992 | Action | Technos Japan | More or less River City Ransom 2, but you gain actual XP instead of using cash to buy stat upgrades (for better or worse) |
| JP SFC | Silva Saga II: The Legend of Light and Darkness | 1993 | Turn-Based | Seta | Hire mercenaries to help in combat! |
| JP SFC | Slayers | 1994 | Turn-Based | BEC | Based on the anime of the same name, plays typically for the era |
| SNES | Soul Blazer | 1992 | Action | Quintet | Part of the legendary Quintet trilogy, an ARPG with some town-reconstruction elements |
| JP SFC | Star Ocean | 1996 | Action | Tri-Ace | Look at that spritework! |
| JP SFC | Super Chinese World 2 | 1993 | Action | Culture Brain | Super Ninja Boy sequel, has ARPG battles instead of its predecessor's turn-based combat |
| JP SFC | Super Chinese World 3 - Chou Jigen Daisakusen | 1995 | Action | Culture Brain | Two different battle modes to choose from: ARPG or turn-based, each with their own storylines |
| JP SFC | Super Famicom Wars | 1998 | Strategy | Intelligent Systems | Technically a digital-only title (released via Satellaview), units can gather XP in combat that does not carry between maps |
| SNES | Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars | 1996 | Timed Turn-Based | Square | Fun little turn-based game with a cute artstyle and rhythmic button pressing to maximize damage |
| SNES | Super Ninja Boy | 1993 | Action | Culture Brain | Can be played multiplayer, combat is done in side-scrolling ARPG format, sequel to Little Ninja Brothers |
| JP SFC | Super Robot Taisen EX | 1994 | Strategy | Winkysoft | SRPG, branching storyline, uses the SRW3 engine |
| JP SFC | Super Robot Taisen Gaiden: Masou Kishin - The Lord of Elemental | 1996 | Strategy | Winkysoft | SRPG, focuses on one of the original characters in the series, directional damage |
| JP SFC | Tactics Ogre | 1995 | Strategy | Quest | Epic storyline, lots of important choices to make - even at the very beginning of the game! |
| JP SFC | Tales of Phantasia | 1995 | Action | Wolf Team | Mind-bogglingly pretty, a technological marvel for the time |
| JP SFC | Tenchi Muyo!: Game Hen | 1995 | Turn-Based | TamTam | Isometric turn and grid-based combat, based off the anime! |
| JP SFC | Tengai Makyou Zero | 1995 | Turn-Based | Red Company Corporation | Utilized special technology to allow for a real-time clock, more dialogue |
| JP SFC | Tenshi no Uta: Shiroki Tsubasa no Inori | 1994 | Turn-Based | Telenet Japan | Not only can you negotiate with monsters, you get special experience points for doing so! |
| SNES | Terranigma (PAL/JP only) | 1995 | Action | Quintet | Strangely never localized, last in the Quintet ARPG trilogy; spells can only be cast via one-time use items |
| SNES | The 7th Saga | 1993 | Turn-Based | Produce | 7 different playable characters, way harder in the US than Japan |
| SNES | The Twisted Tales of Spike McFang | 1994 | Action | Red Company Corporation | Super cutesy ARPG |
| JP SFC | Torneko no Daibouken: Fushigi no Dungeon | 1993 | Dungeon Crawler | Chunsoft | First game in the Mystery Dungeon series, with a Dragon Quest coat of paint |
| JP SFC | Treasure Conflix | 1996 | Action | Squaresoft | A Satellaview-only game with soft RPG elements (upgrading your airship's parts to use in dogfights) where you hunt for treasure and sell it at auction |
| JP SFC | Treasure Hunter G | 1996 | Strategy | Sting | Another forgotten Square-published game, action point-based SRPG |
| SNES | Uncharted Waters: New Horizons | 1994 | Simulation | Koei | 6 different protagonists with different careers to balance the books with in a mercantile JRPG |
| JP SFC | Wonder Project J: Kikai no Shounen Pino | 1994 | Simulation | Almanic | Raise your robo-boy to follow commands, improve his stats, and rescue his creator (Think Pac-Man 2) |
| JP SFC | Xak: The Art of Visual Stage | 1993 | Action | Micro Cabin/Tokai Engineering | Ys' cousin, but the story only covers the first half of the first game on MSX |
| SNES | Xardion | 1992 | Action-Platform | Jorudan | A mech-based action-platformer with each robot having its own set of XP to gain and exploration elements, made by members of Gainax among other big names |
| SNES | Ys III: Wanderers From Ys | 1991 | Action | Falcom/Advance Communication | Similar to the FC version, but with cleaner graphics and arguably worse hit detection |
| JP SFC | Ys IV: Mask of the Sun | 1993 | Action | Tonkin House | Non-canonical to the Ys series after the release of Memories of Celceta |
| JP SFC | Ys V: Ushinawareta Suna no Miyako Kefin | 1995 | Action | Falcom | Only game in the series to have never been localized (hopefully this will change?) |
| JP SFC | Yume Meikyuu: Kigurumi Daibouken | 1994 | Turn-Based | Axes Art Amuse | First-person dungeon crawl; kill the enemies and take their costumes! |
