Batman Returns SNES box art

Batman Returns

Introduction Batman Returns was developed and published by Konami, released for the SNES in 1993 as a side-scrolling beat ’em up adapting Tim Burton’s 1992 film of the same name, distinct from Konami’s separate arcade cabinet and Sega Genesis games built under the same movie license. Players fight through Gotham City streets and set pieces…

Battletoads in Battlemaniacs SNES box art

Battletoads in Battlemaniacs

Introduction Battletoads in Battlemaniacs was developed by Rare and published by Tradewest, released for the SNES in 1993 as a reworked version of the original NES Battletoads, redesigned with new stages and a toned-down difficulty curve compared to its infamously punishing predecessor. Players once again control Rash and Zitz, mutant toad heroes, fighting and platforming…

Aero the Acro-Bat SNES box art

Aero the Acro-Bat

Introduction Aero the Acro-Bat was developed by Iguana Entertainment and published by Sunsoft, released for the SNES in 1993 as a mascot platformer starring a circus-performing bat named Aero, created partly in response to the wave of attitude-driven animal mascots that followed Sonic the Hedgehog’s success. Players guide Aero through circus-themed stages using acrobatic moves…

ActRaiser 2 SNES box art

ActRaiser 2

Introduction ActRaiser 2 was developed by Quintet and published by Enix, released for the SNES in 1993 as a sequel that dropped the original’s town-simulation half entirely to focus purely on side-scrolling action, a significant structural departure that divided longtime fans. Players once again control a knight possessed by a benevolent deity, but instead of…

Breath of Fire II SNES box art

Breath of Fire II

Introduction Breath of Fire II was developed and published by Capcom, released for the SNES in 1995 as a direct sequel following a new protagonist, also named Ryu, generations after the events of the first game, once again wielding dragon transformation powers passed down through his bloodline. It expanded on its predecessor with a party-based…

Breath of Fire SNES box art

Breath of Fire

Introduction Breath of Fire was developed and published by Capcom, released for the SNES in 1994 as the studio’s first venture into traditional turn-based RPGs, starring Ryu, a young dragon clan warrior who can transform into various dragon forms in battle. Players lead a party of anthropomorphic animal companions, including a fish-man swordsman and a…

Sunset Riders SNES box art

Sunset Riders

Introduction Sunset Riders was developed and published by Konami, released for the SNES in 1993 as a home port of the 1991 arcade run-and-gun set in a cartoonish Wild West populated by bounty hunters and outlaws. Players choose from four playable gunslingers, each with slightly different weapons, hunting down a rogues’ gallery of wanted criminals…

RoboCop versus The Terminator SNES box art

RoboCop versus The Terminator

Introduction RoboCop versus The Terminator was developed by Interplay and published by Virgin Games, released for the SNES in 1993 as a licensed crossover between two of the era’s biggest action franchises, based on a comic book miniseries by Frank Miller rather than either film series directly. The plot has RoboCop discovering that Skynet’s rise…

Mickey Mania SNES box art

Mickey Mania

Introduction Mickey Mania: The Timeless Adventures of Mickey Mouse was developed by Traveller’s Tales and published by Sega for the SNES release in 1994, built to celebrate Mickey Mouse’s 65th anniversary by sending players through stages recreating classic Mickey cartoons across different eras of animation. Each level reproduces the visual style of a specific short,…

Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster Busts Loose! SNES box art

Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster Busts Loose!

Introduction Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster Busts Loose! was developed and published by Konami, released for the SNES in 1993 as a platformer starring Buster Bunny navigating cartoon-logic stages based on the Tiny Toon Adventures animated series. Each level reimagines a different Looney Tunes-style scenario, from raiding Elmyra’s toy-filled bedroom to escaping a horror-movie parody mansion,…

Kirby's Dream Course SNES box art

Kirby’s Dream Course

Introduction Kirby’s Dream Course was developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo, released for the SNES in 1995 as an unusual hybrid of golf and pinball starring Kirby as the ball itself. Rather than swinging a club, players launch Kirby across isometric courses filled with hazards, ramps, and enemies, aiming to eat every enemy…

Goof Troop SNES box art

Goof Troop

Introduction Goof Troop was developed and published by Capcom, released for the SNES in 1993 as a licensed adaptation of the Disney Afternoon animated series of the same name. Players control Goofy or his son Max, either solo with AI assistance or in two-player cooperative mode, working through an island full of block-pushing puzzles, item…