Its Mario again, all grown up and looking handsome (in a podgy, dungaree-wearing plumber kind of way) with 16-bits of Nintendo power backing him up. The Super Nintendo Entertainment System, or SNES, was a huge leap from its predecessor and Super Mario World was a showcase to get us hooked on this new generation. It was a meaty platformer, loaded with new gameplay features that separated it from the 8-bit renditions, as well as some of the best level design ever dropped on a console. Every generation since his first outing has had at least one sublime Koopa-crushing, princess-saving, mushroom-munching Mario extravaganza, and for most of us this was the one which defined the 16-bit era.
20. The Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past - SNES (1991)
Like Mario and so many other timeless Nintendo classics, the Zelda franchise also had its roots in the 8-bit age. But, again like Mario, it was when Nintendo entered the 16-bit console wars that we got the best out of Link. The Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past is still considered one of the greatest moments in video gaming history, even by todays standards. It was an enchanting narrative, played out in that vibrant, welcoming visual style that has since become a trademark of first-party Nintendo franchises. Yes, we were out saving princesses again, but this time there was a brilliantly crafted storyline driving us to explore every corner of this boldly realized gameworld.