5 Unsung JRPGs from the SNES Era

The SNES had an abundance of JRPGs in its lengthy run but not all of them connected with fans domestically or internationally. Or rather, most of them didn’t end up being console movers or greatest hits for the console. That tends to result in a sequel not being developed or a sequel coming about years later.

Let’s look at five JRPGs released for the SNES that had something extra to them but just lost out to the likes of Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy, and the Mana games.

5.  The 7^th Saga (1993, Enix/Produce)

Of our featured SNES, The 7^th Saga is one of two absolute pounders. The difficulty of this game is down to the need to grind more than your RPG experience would deem necessary. You might level up, get some new gear, and think you’re going to clap monsters and bosses but The 7^th Saga will correct you in the most torturous fashion.

The difficulty is a result of some heavy-handed balancing during the localization process. Basically, everything else got a boost stat-wise except for the player character. Actually, that’s probably why it dwells in the unsung realm but our next entry is similar and it also has something a little extra to its gameplay.

The player is able to team up with other adventurers—other playable/selectable characters—during their quest. Those same characters can also turn on you and snag your magic runes. There’s also a radar mechanic that shows the player enemies—including other playable characters on the map while outside of villages and towns.

It’s a feature that was very ahead of its time given enemies were either visible in the explorable parts of the map as is the case of Crono Trigger and Secret of Mana or it’s a constant ambush situation as was the case in the OG Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest games.

Honestly, The 7^th Saga is an odd title in that the developers thought enough of the game to make a prequel and a few sequels for it despite the North American version being a misery simulator at times

4. Paladin’s Quest (1992, Copya System, Asmik)

While there is fun to be had in The 7^th Saga, it’s akin to taking the Stonecutters’ paddling ritual from The Simpsons. Paladin’s Quest is different in that localization didn’t add scorpions and wasps to the cartridge. No, Paladin’s Quest is a difficult game because there’s a little more strategy to it with all the spells, attacks, and employable mercenaries available.

Make no mistake: this game is a pounder. The extra features simply give you more ways to beat an enemy but grinding is very necessary. However, like any turn-based adventure worth its money, you can see progress from grinding, utilizing the right spells, investing in skills that hit multiple enemies, and bringing along the right mercenaries.

Actually, if you fancy yourself a Dragon Quest veteran, you might dig this game. It’s like DQ in a post-apocalyptic setting sans the charm. If the kids start complaining about wanting roll with the Hero and Sancho, tell them “We got Dragon Quest V at home!” and pop this bad boy in the SNES.

3. Robotrek (1994, Quintet/Enix)

It’s always nice to explore the origins of some genres or to come across something that did it first. Pokémon has a place of honor in the pantheon of JRPGs—not many JRPGs had a craze around them in the late 1990s and early 2000s—but before we were putting bug catchers in the dirt, we were battling with robots!

Robotrek was Pokémon before Pokémon. There are a few tropes that serve as the blueprint for the iconic series as well as for Pokeclones in general. Having preteens go out to face a terrorist organization/crime ring that uses the same companions as the kids—extremely irresponsible. That said, being able to store the player’s fighting companions—robots that you make in your dad’s lab—in little capsules is neat.

That ensures they won’t get in the way or roll away while the player is out…doing the adults’ job for them. As far as the gameplay mechanics here, it’s stock turn-based JRPG fare but the player is able to create attacks and combos in the lab and install them on the bot.

With Pokémon, Digimon, Shin Megami Tensei, Robopon, Monster Rancher, and DQ Monsters all dropping post-1994, there was room for another collect-and-battle JRPG. However, SquareSoft and Enix became one and the Square side already had a hit with Dragon Quest Monsters.

2. Inindo: Way of the Ninja (1991, Koei)

In the 1990s, Koei was known more for its historical simulation strategy series Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Nobunaga’s Ambition. They would also release a few others in that same vein such as Liberty or Death, Gemfire, and Pacific Theater of Operations. In its more flexible and explorative days, Koei also had a couple of JRPGs to its name including our final entry.

Inindo was one of the early attempts at the JRPGs on the Super Nintendo and it was a great one. The player controls an Iga clan ninja who witnessed his village being razed by Nobunaga. From there, the goal is to survive to fight another day as the player has to avoid bounty hunters in towns and on the overworld map.

They’re also tasked with going to different hidden villages in Japan and learning lost techniques that can help them in their path of revenge. Along the way, players can team up with other ninja—recruited at an inn after becoming acquainted with them. Yes, Inindo has a few of the relationship building elements you’ll see in later Romance of the Three Kingdoms games.

Actually, this game had a bit too much going for it creatively that probably resulted in it being a turnoff for players not familiar with either JRPGs or Koei games. It mixed in a lot of simulation as players were able to work for a rival lord and assist with battles, there was no day and night cycle but the game had a passage of time.

The year was displayed and events happened in the game that could’ve impacted the player’s plots to…sabotage or snoop. It’s a Koei title worthy of a reboot with better technology and features that have since been introduced in their titles.

1. Uncharted Waters: New Horizons (1994, Koei)

Released four years after the original, Uncharted Waters: New Horizons came with a couple of improvements. Obviously, there’s an improvement in graphics and how smooth the game looked but 1994-1995 saw a lot of developers step it up from how games looked in the early 1990s.

Let it be said that New Horizons isn’t the best example of this change as many fans didn’t get to experience it as they did the jump from Final Fantasy IV and V to FF VI, Crono Trigger, and Secret of Mana.

The gameplay involves sailing the world, exploring new lands, sea trade, piracy, pirate hunting, and investing. To a degree, New Horizons is different compared to other Super NES JRPGs in that there’s a high amount of replay value here. That’s down to Koei’s non-simulation games from the 1980s and 1990s all having business sim and/or political strategy elements in them.

Serving a feudal lord and performing espionage missions allowed for more motion towards the main character’s goal in Inindo: Way of the Warrior. In New Horizons, players will want to get in good with a monarch, get their Letter of Marque signed just how they like it, and invest in different ports in that country’s name.

Or just survive as a pirate outrunning buccaneers and pirate hunters! With multiple characters to start with and different routes to go, players could sink hours in this game. It’s a RPG Koei has floated out every four or five years while keeping the Romance of the Three Kingdom and Dynasty Warriors formula.

Koei’s 40 years in with Romance of the Three Kingdoms at this point. In the case of Uncharted Waters: New Horizons, an MMORPG followed in 2005 with Uncharted Waters Online and a 2023 mobile reboot with Origins. The franchise is getting some use today but the second in the entry is a fun, digestible experience for fans of Pirates! Gold, Port Royale, and/or The Patrician.

We’ll revisit this list as there are a lot of cult JRPGs from 90s-2000s consoles that are worth a look. What are some that you’ve enjoyed that you believe deserve some shine?

Let us know in the comments!