The SNES RPGs to Play for 100+ Hours (Longest List)

The SNES era was a golden age for RPGs, and many of them are known for their epic stories and lengthy playtimes. If you’re looking to sink a lot of hours into some classic RPG goodness, here’s a long list of SNES RPGs to consider, with a focus on those that offer extensive gameplay:

Must-Plays (Often 30-60+ hours for a thorough playthrough):

• Final Fantasy VI (known as Final Fantasy III in North America): Widely considered one of the best RPGs of all time, FFVI offers a sprawling narrative, a large and diverse cast of characters, and a massive world to explore. You can easily spend 40+ hours here.
• Chrono Trigger: While it can be beaten in less time than FFVI, Chrono Trigger’s New Game+ feature and multiple endings encourage multiple playthroughs, significantly extending its overall playtime. It’s a masterpiece in every sense.
• Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride (Japan only, but fan translated): This game introduced the beloved monster-catching mechanic to the series and features a multi-generational story that spans decades. It’s a truly epic journey.
• Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation (Japan only, fan translated): Another expansive Dragon Quest title with a large world and plenty of content to keep you busy for a long time.
• Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals: A fantastic prequel with engaging puzzles, a unique IP system, and a significant amount of content, easily pushing 30-40+ hours.
• Tales of Phantasia (Japan only, fan translated): One of the earliest “Tales” games, known for its real-time combat system and lengthy narrative.
• Breath of Fire II: A classic Capcom RPG with a deep story and plenty of exploration. It’s known for being a longer SNES RPG.
• Star Ocean (Japan only, fan translated): An ambitious RPG for its time, featuring a private action system, voice acting (in some versions), and a robust crafting system that can keep you playing for many hours.
• Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War (Japan only, fan translated): A tactical RPG with a multi-generational story and large-scale battles. Fire Emblem games are known for their length and strategic depth.
• Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen: More of a real-time strategy/RPG hybrid, this game is incredibly deep with tons of units, classes, and strategic decisions that will demand a lot of your time.

Other Excellent & Generally Long SNES RPGs:

• EarthBound: A quirky and unique RPG with a modern setting, memorable characters, and a surprising amount of depth. While some say it can be shorter, a thorough playthrough can be quite long.
• Secret of Mana: An action RPG with real-time combat and the ability to play with up to three players. It has a sizable world and plenty to do.
• Trials of Mana (Seiken Densetsu 3 in Japan, fan translated): The direct sequel to Secret of Mana, offering multiple protagonists and branching storylines that encourage replayability and make each playthrough feel fresh.
• Final Fantasy IV (Final Fantasy II in North America): Introduced the Active Time Battle system and featured a more character-driven story. It’s a substantial game, though perhaps not as long as FFVI.
• Final Fantasy V (Japan only, fan translated): Known for its incredibly deep and customizable Job System, allowing for endless party customization and strategic options. This game is a paradise for those who love to tinker with builds.
• Breath of Fire: The first in the series, offering a classic fantasy adventure.
• Secret of Evermore: An action RPG developed by Square for the North American market, featuring a unique alchemy system and a strong emphasis on exploration.
• Romancing SaGa 2 & 3 (Japan only, fan translated): These games are known for their open-ended structure, non-linear progression, and “free scenario” system. They offer massive amounts of content and replayability.
• Live A Live (Japan only, now officially localized): This unique RPG features multiple self-contained scenarios with different protagonists and gameplay styles. While individual scenarios are shorter, completing all of them makes for a long and varied experience.
• Might and Magic II: Gates to Another World: This western RPG port offers a vast world to explore and can be quite a time sink.

Important Notes for Playing these Games Today:

• Fan Translations: Many of the best and longest SNES RPGs, especially those from the Dragon Quest, Romancing SaGa, Star Ocean, and Tales of Phantasia series, were originally Japan-exclusive. You’ll need to seek out fan translations (ROM hacks) to play them in English.
• Emulation: The easiest way to play these games today is through emulation on various platforms.
• Official Releases/Remasters: Some of these games have received official remasters or re-releases on modern platforms (e.g., Collection of Mana includes Secret of Mana and Trials of Mana, Live A Live received a full remake). These are often excellent options if available.

This list should give you plenty of fantastic SNES RPGs to delve into for many, many hours! Enjoy your journey through these classic worlds.