Hidden gems lists are all the rage these days. With video games being more accessible than they ever have been before gamers are no doubt on the lookout for quality titles they may have missed. I myself am one of these such people. As an avid collector I’ve come across many games I would otherwise never have heard of without doing lots of research. That’s why today I’ve decided to sit down and make my own list. This is all for the purpose of helping others discover video games they have never played for their favorite platforms. With that out of the way here is my opinion on the best SNES hidden gems.
Before we start I’d like to highlight a few of my criteria for ‘hidden gems’ because everyone has their own opinion on what can qualify.
- I’m not including import only titles. Clearly they would dominate the list, and I’ll make a separate one for Japan/PAL only games.
- This list is focused on titles that are still obscure. The hidden gems you don’t often hear about. That’s why you won’t see titles like Knights of the Round from Capcom here.
- Because licensed games got more exposure I’ll also be leaving those off the list. At least, games based off of North American licenses.
I’m only counting titles that are obscure in North America. A game can be a mega hit in Japan but still completely unknown throughout the rest of the world.
Okay let’s get started! Here are the top 15 best hidden gems for the SNES.
Ardy Lightfoot
We’re starting off with a platformer, and it’s one heck of one at that. This title is an SNES exclusive and one I never hear about these days. It didn’t help that this looks like a generic mascot based platformer of it’s time. You collect stars, hop on enemy heads to defeat them, and make timed jumps onto sometimes moving platforms. There are a few elements in place here to set it apart from the pack. First of all Ardy is joined by a small bird he can send forward to attack foes. Secondly, there’s a ton of variety. You’ll find new elements introduced to the gameplay from start to finish. Ardy Lightfoot deserved better than the exposure it got, which is why it’s one of the best SNES hidden gems.
Brain Lord
Generally obscure RPGs are widely celebrated these days. That’s why the likes of Lufia and Breath of Fire didn’t make this list. Brain Lord is on here because no one cared back at the time of release, and it seems like nobody does now either. It certainly didn’t help that the boxart featured a generic floating island with no explanation of what the game is about. Brain Lord is an overhead view action RPG that was published by Enix. While the basis of the game is slashing enemies and fighting your way through dungeons the emphasis is actually on puzzle solving. Brain Lord eases you into this, but later on expects you to rise to it’s high challenge level. It’s fun, mostly forgotten, and still worth playing today. Brain Lord was never re-released and had no sequels.
E.V.O. Search for Eden
Nintendo had strict standards for video games with any sort of clashes with or references to religion. That’s why an action RPG based entirely around evolution had no business being localized into English. EVO starts you out on a prehistoric earth. It’s a side scrolling action RPG wherein you begin as a fish, and eat other animals. This gains you evolution points, and when you get enough of these you can add evolutionary traits to your animal. This includes things like fins, teeth, etc. As time moves forward you move on to land as a reptile, and eventually various mammals. It’s incredibly unique. Gameplay is a little grind-heavy, but I never minded because it’s so darn rewarding. Clearly EVO is one of the best SNES hidden gems.
Faceball 2000
This might be one of the better known titles on the list simply because of just how bizarre it is. I rented it back in the day just off of the name and boxart. In no way was I disappointed. Faceball 2000 is a first person shooter, and a very ambitious one at that. Based off of the old PC game MIDI Maze it has you playing as any number of ball shaped faces as you hover around arenas blasting foes. There are no weapon upgrades, and the goal to eliminate a specific number of baddies is unchanged no matter how far you make it. What makes this one so special is it’s fully featured multiplayer including both co-op and versus. Did I mention that it is the best 16-bit FPS? Faceball 2000 has hidden gem written all over it.
Fighter’s History
Here we have one of the very few multiplatform titles on this list. Fighter’s History never got much fame, and despite originating in the arcades it hardly took off in any meaningful way. I might get some flack for including this one because it’s so clearly a Street Fighter II rip-off, but I still like it. Capcom even sued developer Data East because of this, but ultimately lost the case. Personally I think they chose a great source material to base Fighter’s History on because SFII is still amazing. In this title you play as any number of Capcom rip-off characters and slug it out in a series of one-on-one matches. If you know the inputs to any number of fighting games of the era then you can jump right in here. You should, because despite being derivative Fighter’s History is still worth playing.
FireStriker
Now we’re getting into the really obscure stuff. FireStriker in screenshots looks like a clear Legend of Zelda clone. You play as a knight armed with a sword and a lifebar indicated by hearts as you slash away at foes and other baddies. The difference here is that FireStriker isn’t an action adventure title. No, it’s actually a unique take on the classic puzzle title Breakout. Instead of playing as a paddle you’re in command of the aforementioned knight and must strike an energy ball to knock it into blocks to eliminate them from play. It sounds weird, and it is, but it’s definitely one of the best hidden gems on the SNES. The formula sounds like it might be a little awkward. It does take some getting used to, but you’ll find an incredibly addicting title under the surface here.
On the Ball
Here’s a game almost no one has ever heard of. On the Ball is similar to something like Koroinpa, Loco Roco, etc. You don’t play as a character, nor do you move blocks or a paddle or anything like that. Instead you manipulate the environment, and your goal in doing so is to guide a ball to the end of a series of stages. The ball always falls downward, and it will bounce off of walls and other obstacles. Ideally you’ll have fast enough reflexes to stop it from hitting anything. At the top of the screen you have a timer which is constantly counting down and you have to complete each area within a matter of seconds. To make things more complicated you have to have enough momentum to break through certain blocks blocking your path. Additionally, there are some obstacles that deplete the timer when touched.
Pocky & Rocky
Clearly publishers had a lot of zany Japanese titles they left in Japan because they were too crazy. Thankfully Natsume took a chance on Pocky & Rocky (as well as it’s sequel). It’s clear to see why this is relegated to being just a hidden gem. You play as either character in an overhead style adventure/shooter hybrid. You move forward through each stage at your own pace eliminating enemies using projectile attacks. This one is particularly great because it has co-op multiplayer. You can take to any of the zany stages with a buddy, and honestly that’s the best way to play it. Pocky & Rocky is truly one of the best SNES hidden gems.
Robotrek
Here’s another Enix published title. It’s clear that they had a tough time making waves in North America during the 16-bit era because most of their releases were obscure. Even among RPG enthusiasts few have actually played Robotrek. This is a turn based role playing game based on robots. Yeah you may have already guessed the theme, but bear with me here. You play as an inventor and fight enemies using a robo-buddy that you yourself create and customize. The system is surprisingly deep and very innovative for its time. It’s a real shame no one played this one because Robotrek is great fun. I absolutely love the graphics and art style, and it is unique compared to other offerings at the time. Fans of Pokemon will find a lot to love with this one.
Smart Ball
When Sony was a third party developer they released a number of hits on a variety of different platforms. The Super Nintendo got the bulk of their games, but nothing really caught on. Titles like Sky Blazer have found their audiences long after the fact. Smart Ball doesn’t have this luxury. This is a 2D platformer with a killer gimmick. You can absorb other balls which give you new abilities. Some of these are simple projectiles, but others give you a super jump, make your ball heavy, and much more. The stages can be a bit labyrinthine in design, but the puzzles and navigation are still manageable despite how vague the goals can be. Plus, how many other games let you play as a blob of slime that goes to the moon? I can’t think of any!
Spanky’s Quest
My brother actually rented this one when we were kids. I’m not quite sure why because the name and boxart are weird, but I’m glad he did because it’s one of the best SNES hidden gems. Spanky is a monkey with the not so natural ability to generate and throw balls. That in and of itself isn’t that crazy, but the method of powering up your attack is. You have to bounce the balls off of Spanky’s head to cause them to grow. You can then burst them to unleash various sports balls to attack foes. Yeah, it makes little sense but trust me when I say it’s unique and pretty fun. There is a fair amount of diversity in the stages, but the platforming is a little clunky. The combat mechanic is what makes this one so great. Spanky’s Quest is one weird platformer, but it’s plenty fun.
Super Ninja Boy
This is the first SNES release in the Super Chinese series that saw moderate success in Japan. Before this iteration we only saw two localized for the NES in the form of Kung Fu Heroes and Little Ninja Brothers. This is the sequel to the latter. Like the original it’s a game that few have heard of. It’s an action RPG that at first appears to be traditional fare ala Dragon Quest. You wander across a world map and through town areas and dungeons from an overhead perspective. Enemy encounters occur at random, but fights themselves play as kind of a beat ’em up of sorts. You can move up/down and left/right as you punch and kick to defeat enemies in real-time. There are even boss fights which are strictly turn based. What makes this such a great hidden gem is it can be played with a second player co-operatively.
Twisted Tales of Spike McFang
There weren’t enough Legend of Zelda clones on the SNES if you ask me. Few developers felt like they could compete, but Red Software gave it their best shot. The end result was the Twisted Tales of Spike McFang, and it’s amazing in its own right. You play as a young vampire in an adventure that doesn’t take itself too seriously. For example, rather than sucking blood you eat tomatoes, and these also represent your life bar. You make your way through a variety of different dungeons solving light puzzles and fighting foes with your cane. The real highlight is in the power-ups he has at his disposal. These allow for things like turning invisible, floating, summoning helpers, etc. There are even some light co-op elements with a second player controlling some elements in the game. Spike McFang is a cute and fun action adventure title.
U.N. Squadron
It’s unfortunate that the best scrolling shooter on the SNES is relegated to hidden gem status, but here we are. Capcom took a heavy anime based title called Area 88 and localized it almost completely intact. Sure, the boxart and name are changed to appeal more to North American gamers at the time but everything else is here. It has some great set pieces and stage designs, as well as one of my favorite power-up systems in the genre. In UN Squadron you earn money during missions and can use it to purchase not only new planes but also weapons/shields. The best part of this is that you retain these after losing a life. The annoying one hit deaths are nowhere to be found here and you have an honest to goodness life bar. UN Squadron is clearly one of the best SNES hidden gems.
Yoshi’s Safari
Hard to believe that a game based on the Mario franchise on the Super Nintendo is a hidden gem, right? Well Yoshi’s Safari had the disadvantage of being locked behind the expensive Super Scope 6 peripheral. Yes, it’s a light-gun game starring everyone’s favorite green dinosaur, and that’s what I love about it. It’s based on the mode 7 graphics style and you play as Mario who is armed with a blaster. You view the action from atop Yoshi’s back as you shoot classic franchise enemies as they come into your path. It’s refreshing to shoot goombas and koopa troopas instead of terrorists, animals or what have you. A Mario lightgun shooter sounds weird, and it is, but I’ll be darned if the formula doesn’t make for one of the best SNES hidden gems around.
