The Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) was home to a plethora of beloved video game characters, some of whom have become iconic in the gaming industry. Here are 5 of the best characters that debuted on the SNES.

1.Link (‘The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past’) – While not his first appearance, Link’s incarnation in ‘A Link to the Past’ left a lasting impression. This version added depth to his image and gave him tools and abilities that would mold his future as one of Nintendo’s flagship heroes.

2.Samus Aran (‘Super Metroid’) – Samus was already known from the NES era, but ‘Super Metroid’ propelled her to stardom. The game showcased her as a versatile and powerful bounty hunter, and it brought forth gameplay mechanics such as inventory management and backtracking that would define her series.

3.Yoshi (‘Super Mario World’) – This adorable dinosaur companion made his debut alongside Mario, offering players a unique new way to traverse levels and deal with enemies. His introduction into the Mario world was so well-received that he quickly earned his spin-off games.

4.Fox McCloud (‘Star Fox’) – As the leader of the Star Fox team, Fox McCloud took players on an intergalactic space adventure with impressive-for-the-time 3D graphics. His charm and bravery made him a standout hero among SNES characters.

5.Mega Man X (‘Mega Man X’) – Although Mega Man was already popular from his NES days, the SNES heralded a new iteration with Mega Man X. The game lent a more mature storyline, improved graphics, greater mobility for the character including wall climbing, dashing, thus reviving interest in the robot hero for older audiences.

These characters each brought something new and exciting to gaming at the time and helped cement their franchises—and themselves—in video game history.