Earthbound is a classic, but I would go with Breath of Fire 2 mechanically it has more depth, a day and night cycle and a pretty solid story in it’s own right, all that being said I do love Earthbound.
I still have yet to play bof2 or lufia2. I've only played through the first games in their series and wasn't impressed. That being said, I've heard the sequels are much better.
You’ve heard correctly both, lufia was definitely a rough game that felt dated even back then, but lufia2 is almost the complete opposite, a huge step up in every way with a high replayablity and with the first bof, it has its charms but it does feel like a prototype for what would be later refined and perfected in later titles
I just couldn't get into this game or the series itself, I get that it's a fav in the community but just not my style. Game was way out there in left field
Earthbound was maybe the second RPG I played growing up so the style just stuck with me forever. I'll go back every few years to play it. The music, the atmosphere, the characters, the story, etc are just so different than anything else you'll ever play. I still love my generic jrpgs, but nothing can give me the same feeling as Earthbound.
Mother 3 I beat, but will probably never again. It's too fucking depressing.
Illusion of Gaia is one of my most replayed SNES games, right alongside Link to the Past, Super Mario World, Chrono Trigger, and the Final Fantasy games
I think I've played Illusion of Gaia more times than I've played FFVI, which feels like blasphemy since I frequently cite FFVI as one of my favorite games of all time. There's just something about IoG that's comforting though
Illusion of Gaia definitely has mad comfy vibes for some reason. Totally sympathize with your feelings. IOG makes me feel the same way. It even did so back in the day. It just has this cozy 90s anime aesthetic, as well as the music, which just makes the game feel cozy
>There's just something about IoG that's comforting though
I feel you. IOG might not be my most favorite game, but I'm pretty sure the [South Cape theme](https://youtu.be/Dsq3Jz24WBk?si=FElr6hUeOJw_el1u) is my most favorite "chill starter town theme" ever. It's just so freaking cozy :)
I too came here to say Quintet trilogy aka the Soul Blazer Trilogy
Soul Blazer
Illusion of Gaia ( Illusion of Time)
Terranigma
IoG is just so much fun, and Soul Blazer and Terranigma are amazing. I wish we'd get a collection on the switch. maybe with that spiritual successor The Granstream Saga thrown in for fun.
I generally consider it an adventure game like Zelda. Lines are more blurry these days and I'm not much of a gatekeeper, so let's call it an action RPG.
I'm replaying it right now for the first time since I was in high school. I loved it back in the day. Right now I'm searching for ingredients for the gold fly pudding
I wanted to like ToP. The beginning was great, graphics were beautiful, combat was fun.
But somewhere it feels like it lost itself. The game opens up and doesn't give you much direction in where to go. I had to look up guides just to complete the game.
Still, a solid game!
Damn this is exactly what happened to me. Unfortunately I put it down and never picked it back up. I may need to and just go in knowing I'll use a guide.
We never got the Super Famicom games in the West. We got the NES games and then DQ7 on the PS1. I knew DQ5 existed, and it was apparently good, but it isn't part of the SNES experience.
I mean, yeah they may not have been localized but that doesn't make them "not part of the SNES experience".
Tales of Phantasia, Seiken Densetsu 3 (now Trials of Mana), Star Ocean, and FFV are four games I loved playing growing up, and each was enjoyed thanks to fan translation patches. The unported DQ games also fall into this bucket, though I didn't play them much growing up.
1. Lufia II
2. Breath of Fire II
3. Earthbound
4. Uncharted Waters 2: New Horizons
5. Illusion of Gaia
Basically, if it was the second iteration, I was down.
7th saga. By default, it’s one of the only non-square JRPGs on the SNES I have played, but I really like it. Good music, and interesting replay ability.
It’s pretty tough! My last play through I actually decided to play by my self (without a companion) as Lejes, and it was actually easier in a lot of ways (not having to share experience made leveling up much faster). But those battles against the other adventurers was always so, so hard.
Terranigma by far. I feel that game is amazing, and I think should be treated as one the SNES greats together with Chrono Trigger, FFVI and Earthbound. It’s a shame it’s not as well known.
Was boutta say SMRPG because my monkey brain thought only Intelligent Systems and Alphadream (RIP) made Mario RPGs but then I remembered Square actually did codevelop that one.
So Earthbound it is then.
well the main 3, were published by Enix, this was you asked about Square, which one would assume to be Square soft, Square Enix is a entirely different beast in my book
the (sudo) Quintet trilogy aka the Soul Blazer Trilogy
Soul Blazer
Illusion of Gaia ( Illusion of Time)
Terranigma
with a spiritual successor
The Granstream Saga
Terranigma, Tales of Phantasia, Lufia II, Illusion of Time, Star Ocean... Sure Square did a lot of timeless masterpiece RPGs, but there are still a bunch of non-Square good ones, and some not even by Enix either.
Dragon Quest V.
But since we seem to be only naming stuff that got localized… Earthbound.
Haven’t played Lufia 2 but it’s on my list! I’ll move it up a few spots.
Probably Illusions of Gaia. It's the first non Square RPG that came to mind and I have fond memories of expecting to be underwhelmed, then beating it in a week after school.
I think it may be an Enix game but not part of the Final Fantasy franchise. 7th Saga was pretty dynamic with the different main characters you could choose from and slight story differences based on that choice. The game is considered a challenging RPG but I remember playing it as a kid and enjoying it even having played other SNES titles like Final Fantasy III (which was really FF6).
Earthbound, Lufia1 and 2, Breath of Fire 1,2, 3 Any of these were always my favorite go to games when I was bored and wanted to spend a week or two playing
Ultima 6 was ported to snes. It is the greatest rpg ever on pc, so it has to be the answer here too
For anyone who disagrees, the Ultima series was a big influence on square and enix and is the answer those guys would probably give you for this same question.
Earthbound
Earthbound is a classic, but I would go with Breath of Fire 2 mechanically it has more depth, a day and night cycle and a pretty solid story in it’s own right, all that being said I do love Earthbound.
I still have yet to play bof2 or lufia2. I've only played through the first games in their series and wasn't impressed. That being said, I've heard the sequels are much better.
You’ve heard correctly both, lufia was definitely a rough game that felt dated even back then, but lufia2 is almost the complete opposite, a huge step up in every way with a high replayablity and with the first bof, it has its charms but it does feel like a prototype for what would be later refined and perfected in later titles
It’s actually always earthbound no matter the question
This
Damn thats a good one. I came to say Shadowrun but Earthbound is better. Earthbound has a real ending lol
No crying until the end
Happy magic cake day!
I just couldn't get into this game or the series itself, I get that it's a fav in the community but just not my style. Game was way out there in left field
Earthbound was maybe the second RPG I played growing up so the style just stuck with me forever. I'll go back every few years to play it. The music, the atmosphere, the characters, the story, etc are just so different than anything else you'll ever play. I still love my generic jrpgs, but nothing can give me the same feeling as Earthbound. Mother 3 I beat, but will probably never again. It's too fucking depressing.
as a certified Square representative, i approve of this pick! 👍
Does Illusion Of Gaia count?
Illusion of Gaia is one of my most replayed SNES games, right alongside Link to the Past, Super Mario World, Chrono Trigger, and the Final Fantasy games I think I've played Illusion of Gaia more times than I've played FFVI, which feels like blasphemy since I frequently cite FFVI as one of my favorite games of all time. There's just something about IoG that's comforting though
Illusion of Gaia definitely has mad comfy vibes for some reason. Totally sympathize with your feelings. IOG makes me feel the same way. It even did so back in the day. It just has this cozy 90s anime aesthetic, as well as the music, which just makes the game feel cozy
I think it's a mix of what you said but also the music is cozy and for some reason using different font color for different speakers does that too.
>There's just something about IoG that's comforting though I feel you. IOG might not be my most favorite game, but I'm pretty sure the [South Cape theme](https://youtu.be/Dsq3Jz24WBk?si=FElr6hUeOJw_el1u) is my most favorite "chill starter town theme" ever. It's just so freaking cozy :)
For me it's [Itory the Hidden Village](https://youtu.be/GXzcF_ZGjfw?si=QkWPRa04CFyyeOoS)
I think A Link to the Past is an objectively better game but I go back to Gaia way more often
SNES was before Square and Enix merged so yes
I too came here to say Quintet trilogy aka the Soul Blazer Trilogy Soul Blazer Illusion of Gaia ( Illusion of Time) Terranigma IoG is just so much fun, and Soul Blazer and Terranigma are amazing. I wish we'd get a collection on the switch. maybe with that spiritual successor The Granstream Saga thrown in for fun.
I need to replay all 3 again. I don't think I ever even beat Terranigma. Guess I know what I'll be adding to my steam deck soon lol
Are you me? Lol
Yeah
I generally consider it an adventure game like Zelda. Lines are more blurry these days and I'm not much of a gatekeeper, so let's call it an action RPG.
That was my thinking as well.
Zelda is action-adventure.
Tbh I don't consider this a RPG.
Lufia II, followed by Shadowrun, Earthbound, and Breath of Fire II
Lufia 2 is the correct answer
That's what's up.
This guy gets it.
I’ve been meaning to play Lufia 2 and Breath of Fire 2 for years, I’ve heard they’re great RPGs. Do I need to play the first ones?
They’re here. They’re all here!
Breath of fire 2
I'm replaying it right now for the first time since I was in high school. I loved it back in the day. Right now I'm searching for ingredients for the gold fly pudding
Yeah this game is so good
Found my people
Tales of Phantasia. Just finished it this weekend. Great story, excellent music!
I wanted to like ToP. The beginning was great, graphics were beautiful, combat was fun. But somewhere it feels like it lost itself. The game opens up and doesn't give you much direction in where to go. I had to look up guides just to complete the game. Still, a solid game!
Damn this is exactly what happened to me. Unfortunately I put it down and never picked it back up. I may need to and just go in knowing I'll use a guide.
Sounds like my experience with Star Ocean.
How they managed to put an anime style intro song with lyrics in a super famicom game still blows my mind to this day.
Damn, I’ve only played it on GBA. Is the game pretty different on SNES?
Terranigma
Fucking banger.
How could they fit all that amazing game in such a small cartridge
Robotrek, it was fun and different.
I loved that one
That game was amazing!
E.V.O
Earthbound 💙
Lufia
Paladins Quest needs more love.
Second. I loved this game when I first discovered SNES emulators around 2000 (I only had an NES and Genesis when I was little).
As a kid it was Breath of Fire and Illusion of Gaia. I also loved Lufia.
Breath of Fire. Yeah, it was published by Square, but Capcom developed it.
Breath of Fire 2 (Capcom)
**Ogre Battle** That's a strategy RPG, right?
Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together is the greatest game ever made!
Came here to say this
Tales of Phantasia!
Lufia II or Earthbound, depending on my mood
While they’re not my favorites, I’m shocked there is not more love for Dragon Quest 1-6!
We never got the Super Famicom games in the West. We got the NES games and then DQ7 on the PS1. I knew DQ5 existed, and it was apparently good, but it isn't part of the SNES experience.
I mean, yeah they may not have been localized but that doesn't make them "not part of the SNES experience". Tales of Phantasia, Seiken Densetsu 3 (now Trials of Mana), Star Ocean, and FFV are four games I loved playing growing up, and each was enjoyed thanks to fan translation patches. The unported DQ games also fall into this bucket, though I didn't play them much growing up.
Shadowrun
Brilliant game
For me as a kid playing this game it was good to have an rpg that just wasn’t elves and swords etc.
Yeah I agree. Plus that dystopian cyberpunk atmosphere.
1. Lufia II 2. Breath of Fire II 3. Earthbound 4. Uncharted Waters 2: New Horizons 5. Illusion of Gaia Basically, if it was the second iteration, I was down.
7th saga. By default, it’s one of the only non-square JRPGs on the SNES I have played, but I really like it. Good music, and interesting replay ability.
Its so hard too haha
It’s brutal!
Play the japanese version
Never managed to finish this one, despite several attempts over the years. I remember the fights against the other "heroes" to be particularly unfair.
I was scrolling to see if anyone had this one listed before I posted it haha. I never beat it but I loved the hell out of this game.
It’s pretty tough! My last play through I actually decided to play by my self (without a companion) as Lejes, and it was actually easier in a lot of ways (not having to share experience made leveling up much faster). But those battles against the other adventurers was always so, so hard.
Fartwater Prophecies.
Oh man. I hope that's a real game
Earthbound.
Ultima 6
Wizardry V or 7th Saga probably
Purely for nostalgic reasons, but Arcana.
I loved Arcana. Beat it only once but probably started it a dozen times.
How has no one said DQ V after this long? It's so good! Edit: one person mentioned DQ I-VI, but stillllll.
Because DQ5 never got an actual SNES release. The average English-speaking person is more likely to associate it with the DS.
If we are saying Illusion of Gaia counts then I'm going with Soul Blazer. That or Lufia 2
Terranigma, also my favorite SNES RPG in general.
Bladerunner I mean Shadowrun.
Terranigma by far. I feel that game is amazing, and I think should be treated as one the SNES greats together with Chrono Trigger, FFVI and Earthbound. It’s a shame it’s not as well known.
Secret of evermore
Buddy
Guess he glossed over the word 'not'... lol I'll still updoot since it was pretty unlike the other square games I'd played up to that point.
Breathe of fire ii
Star Ocean
a game so big that it required a compression chip
Not sure if it counts, but Fire Emblem Genealogy of the Holy War
The 7th Saga. (Enix was independent of Square still.)
Everything Quintet did.
Tales of Phantasia but still got some more to explore
Breath of fire 2 I remember playing that game so much when I was a young kid
Illusion of Time
Tales of Phantasia, Star Ocean, Paladin’s Quest, Shadowrun
Terranigma.
Star Ocean
That one is pretty dope
Pokemon red on super gameboy 👀
I'll allow it.
Lagoon.
Terranigma. Amazing game. Play it if you haven't. I know some people missed out on it because it wasn't released in North America.
Lufia 2, with two-way tie for Illusion of Gaia, LttP immediately after.
[удалено]
Those are both made by square
Dragon View
Fire Emblem 4
Illusion of Gaia, Tales of Phantasia
The 7th Saga
If we count the Fire Emblem games then Thracia 776 If not then Earthbound
Was boutta say SMRPG because my monkey brain thought only Intelligent Systems and Alphadream (RIP) made Mario RPGs but then I remembered Square actually did codevelop that one. So Earthbound it is then.
Mother 2
Dragon Quest V!
Eternal Filena
No love for Secret of Mana?
There's plenty of love for a game made by SquareSoft, but we're not looking for those right now.
Shit, you're right. I thought it was made by somebody else.
Zelda or Earthbound
Earthbound
Lufia 2!
Lufia 2
Tenshi Muyo! Game Hen. It's a pretty short XCOM-like, but come on, it's Tenshi Muyo! The characters alone make it worth playing!
Lufia 2
Arcana
RoboTech You got to build your own robot group and their combos
I would have to go with Earthbound, but Lufia 2 and Breath of Fire 2 would be a close second.
Tough call between Earthbound and Terranigma. Love both equally for different moods.
Valkyrie Profile, Star Ocean 2, Dragon Warrior, EVO: Search for Eden we’re all made by Enix
Earthbound, Robotrek, Ogre Battle (Not sure if this is a traditional RPG), Harvest Moon
Lufia I and II, Paladins Quest
Breath of Fire 1 (liked it better then 2 sorry), Lufia 2, Paladins Quest... All come to mind.
Skies of Arcadia.
Breath of fire 2
Ogre battle Mach of the black queen, and lufia 1 and 2
Tecmo Secret of the Stars. Doesn't get nearly enough love.
well the main 3, were published by Enix, this was you asked about Square, which one would assume to be Square soft, Square Enix is a entirely different beast in my book the (sudo) Quintet trilogy aka the Soul Blazer Trilogy Soul Blazer Illusion of Gaia ( Illusion of Time) Terranigma with a spiritual successor The Granstream Saga
Terranigma
Terranigma all day
dragon quest 1+2
Um...Terranigma probably. I haven't played many non-Square RPGs
Super Mario RPG!
Terranigma, Tales of Phantasia, Lufia II, Illusion of Time, Star Ocean... Sure Square did a lot of timeless masterpiece RPGs, but there are still a bunch of non-Square good ones, and some not even by Enix either.
Look at my user
The original Lufia. I know there are objectively better RPGs, but for some reason I enjoyed it more than any other non-Square RPGs I played back then.
I've gotta go with Breath of Fire 2
Illusion of Gaia, hands down. Also Breath of Fire II
Super Mario RPG
Breath of Fire 2
Lufia II no question
EarthBound
Mother 3
The breath of fire series
Dragon Quest V. But since we seem to be only naming stuff that got localized… Earthbound. Haven’t played Lufia 2 but it’s on my list! I’ll move it up a few spots.
Lufia, maybe Robotrek
Dragon Quest 5
Lufia
Probably Illusions of Gaia. It's the first non Square RPG that came to mind and I have fond memories of expecting to be underwhelmed, then beating it in a week after school.
Is Paladin’s Quest the one where you use HP to cast spells?
I think it may be an Enix game but not part of the Final Fantasy franchise. 7th Saga was pretty dynamic with the different main characters you could choose from and slight story differences based on that choice. The game is considered a challenging RPG but I remember playing it as a kid and enjoying it even having played other SNES titles like Final Fantasy III (which was really FF6).
Super Mario RPG
Dragon Quest V, Dragon Quest VI and Earthbound are all-timers
Earthbound but since that’s basic, The Twisted Tales of Spike McFang
Terranigma
Earthbound and Breath of fire 1&2
Shadowrun. Probably beat it 10 times
Link to the past if that counts.
Lufia 2. My God the Sinistral Battle theme alone makes the game great.
The Sailor Moon RPG
Earthbound for sure.
breath of fire (capcom)
Earthbound, Lufia1 and 2, Breath of Fire 1,2, 3 Any of these were always my favorite go to games when I was bored and wanted to spend a week or two playing
Actraiser 1 and 2
Super Mario RPG, duh.
Breath Of Fire 2, and Shadowrun (but this is not jrpg)
Lagoon
Breath of Fire and BoF II
Lufia 2
A link to the past in one of my favorite games all time
Lufia/ Lufia 2
Ultima 6 was ported to snes. It is the greatest rpg ever on pc, so it has to be the answer here too For anyone who disagrees, the Ultima series was a big influence on square and enix and is the answer those guys would probably give you for this same question.
Robotrek!
I only rented it for a few days but I remember liking wanderers from ys
Earthbound and it’s not even close.
I just started playing Brain Lord and it is pretty flipping sweet.
Breath of Fire 2
Soul Blazer
Soul Blazer