Nintendo dominated the ’90s video game scene.
LightRocket via Getty Images
The 1990s revolutionized gaming. As the decade that saw the transition to 3-D polygon-graphics, ‘90s video games grew bigger and were more ambitious than ever before. Many great franchises were founded in the 1990s, and many titles from the decade are still considered to be some of the greatest games ever made. But with so many games launching in the ’90s, and quite range in the quality levels, finding the best ’90s games is not easy. Fortunately, this list features the best of the best and is a great place to start your nostalgia trip.
Classic ‘90s Video Games
A decade that saw fighting games, first-person shooters and role-playing games become more popular than ever before, not only did the ’90s revolutionize gaming, it laid the foundations of the video game industry we experience today.
Huge franchises like Sid Meier’s Civilization, Grand Theft Auto and Doom all began in the ‘90s, building on the franchise boom that began in the same decade. We also saw the release of the Sonic the Hedgehog games within the ’90s, with those first two Sonic games going on to be two of the best selling games of the decade. With so many iconic games released within the ’90s, this list represents the best of an unforgettable decade. It features games that are still fun today, a time capsule that anyone who plays video games will want to open and start playing.
30. Pharaoh
Platforms: PC
Impression Games’ 1999 city builder Pharaoh tasks you with the construction and management of cities in Ancient Egypt. Ensure your citizens are well-fed, employed and safe from disease, and you’re doing good. If you’re a bit of a history buff, this is a game you’ll have a great time with.
Play Puzzles & Games on Forbes
29. Resident Evil
Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Saga Saturn, DS
The iconic horror game from Capcom launched in 1996 and instantly terrified anyone who played it. Pioneering the survival horror genre, Resident Evil features more memorable moments than most games, as Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine try to escape the iconic mansion. This is a must play for horror fans.
28. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater
Platforms: PlayStation, Nintendo 64, Game Boy, Dreamcast
Developed by Neversoft and released in 1999, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater saw the skateboarding legend take to the video game world for the first time. Pull off tricks, collect objects and listen to some great music; this is for lovers of simple, fun and relaxing experiences.
27. Fallout
Platforms: PC
Released in 1997, Fallout is an RPG that takes place in a post-apocalyptic United States. You play as a Vault Dweller, a survivor of the nuclear war who sets out to save their home by finding a computer chip. If you’re a fan of the Fallout series, Interplay Productions’ first offering is a must-play.
26. RollerCoaster Tycoon
Platforms: PC, Xbox
Hasbro Interactive’s RollerCoaster Tycoon series began in 1999 and revolutionized the management simulation genre. Highly-detailed, it allows players to design their perfect theme park, completing scenarios to maximize guest satisfaction. If you love rollercoasters, management games or just have a creative touch, this is the game for you.
25. Silent Hill
Platforms: PlayStation
Konami’s 1999 survival horror game Silent Hill is a terrifying experience. Playing as Harry Mason, you search for your missing daughter, uncovering both a cult and her true origins. A game with multiple endings, if you’re okay with a scare and want something you can play again and again, this is a great choice.
24. Half-Life
Platforms: PC, PS2
The game that put Valve on the map, Half-Life was released in 1998. An FPS game with a rich story, it sees players escape alien-infested Black Mesa Research Facility as the iconic Gordon Freeman. This one is perfect for players who like great gunplay and stories.
23. Star Wars: X-Wing vs TIE Fighter
Platforms: PC
Star Wars may have ended the decade on a rough note with The Phantom Menace, but 1997 was a high point as Totally Games’ Star Wars: X-Wing vs TIE Fighter released. A space combat game, it focused on multiplayer gameplay, allowing you to play out different roles within a mission. A must-play for Star Wars fans.
22. Donkey Kong Country
Platforms: SNES, Game Boy
Nintendo’s 1994 side-scroller sees you play as Donkey Kong, traversing a jungle to recover a stolen banana hoard from King K. Rool and his Kremlings. With 40 levels to play, you’ll find this game to have an incredibly addictive gameplay loop and a great art style.
21. Mortal Kombat
Platforms: Game Boy, PC, PlayStation, PS2, PS3, SNES, Sega Genesis, Xbox 360
Still going strong today, Midway Games’ 1992 Mortal Kombat added a whole new level of brutality to the fighter genre. A game that takes an immense amount of skill and knowledge for how to play each character, this is the perfect game for people who love hard-hitting combat and a competitive kick.
20. Crash Bandicoot
Platforms: PlayStation
The first Naughty Dog game created exclusively for Sony consoles, 1994’s Crash Bandicoot would kick off an incredible partnership. A platformer that sees you play as the titular hero on a mission to defeat Doctor Neo Cortex, it has a vibrant art style and both fun and challenging gameplay.
19. Doom
Platforms: PC, SNES, Xbox, PlayStation, PS3, PS4, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Sega Saturn
Developed by id Software and released in 1993, FPS game Doom was one of the pioneers of multiplayer gaming. It may have modern clones, but no game has you gunning down the undead in a more satisfying way. Great for fans of the FPS genre who like to feel like a one-man army.
18. Super Mario 64
Platforms: Nintendo 64
One of the best games of the ’90s, Nintendo’s 1996 addition to the Mario franchise took the iconic 2-D platformer to a 3-D setting. It follows a typical Mario story, saving Princess Peach from Bowser, but Nintendo understands that you dont fix something that isn’t broken. A great game for any Mario fan.
17. StarCraft
Platforms: PC
Blizzard’s first StarCraft installment was released in 1996 and changed the game for the real-time strategy genre. Play as one of three factions, manage your forces and defeat your enemies. If you like RTS games and fancy a real challenge, this is a game you have to play.
16. Tomb Raider
Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Sega Saturn
There are very few video game characters that have left as big of a mark on the industry as Lara Croft, and when you play Core Design’s 1996 classic, it’s easy to understand why. Explore dungeons, solve puzzles and take down enemies. It’s simple, and it’s just a good time.
15. Age of Empires 2: The Age of Kings
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 2
Ensemble Studios’ 1999 release has stood the test of time and remains one of the greatest additions to the RTS genre. Play as one of 13 civilisations from the Middle Ages and become a powerful force across multiple different game modes. Great for lovers of history and RTS games.
14. Grand Theft Auto
Platforms: Windows, PlayStation, Game Boy
The first in one of the most successful franchises of all time, DMA Design’s 1997 action-adventure hit Grand Theft Auto spawned a blockbuster series. An open world experience where you climb status in a criminal underworld, it’s the classic GTA experience. If you’re awaiting GTA 6 and need that GTA hit, check it out.
13. Sid Meier’s Civilization
Platforms: PC, SNES, Sega Saturn, PlayStation
Another franchise-starter, the original Civ game was developed by MicroProse and released in 1991. A turn-based strategy game, lead a civilization across multiple millenia, making and breaking relationships to become a powerful force in the world. A great choice for the tacticians and wannabe politicians amongst us.
12. Chrono Trigger
Platforms: SNES, PlayStation, PC, DS
Still considered to be amongst the best RPGs ever made, Square Enix’s 1995 release sees you travel through time to prevent a disaster caused by a giant parasite. With a great story and multiple endings, this is great for players who want some replayability and an art style that has great charm to it.
11. Metal Gear Solid
Platforms: PlayStation, PC
Released in 1998, Metal Gear Solid is the fourth game from the Konami stealth franchise. Play as Solid Snake and prevent a terrorist threat from a rogue special forces unit. There’s plenty of Metal Gear games, but it may never get better than this. Love the franchise? Then you need to play this one.
10. Gran Turismo
Platforms: PlayStation
Released in 1997, Polyphony Digital’s Gran Turismo was revolutionary in the racing genre. A more accurate simulation than any predecessors, as is to be expected, you race some of the fastest cars in the world around real life tracks. If you love cars and racing, this is the game for you.
9. Super Metroid
Platforms: SNES
Nintendo’s 1994 classic Super Metroid is an action-adventure game that sees players control Samus Arana, a bounty hunter on a mission to retrieve a stolen Metroid creature. With a heavy focus on exploration, if you want a game with a truly immersive atmosphere, this is a must-play.
8. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Platforms: Nintendo 64, GameCube
Released in 1998, Ocarina of Time is still considered to be one of the greatest games in Nintendo’s Zelda franchise. With challenging boss fights and a great story, Ocarina of Time is an unmissable entry in the Zelda series. If you’re a fan, you have to play it.
7. Diablo
Platforms: PC, PlayStation
Developed by Blizzard and released in 1997, Diablo is a legendary action RPG that sees players hack and slash their way through a dungeon under the fictional town of Tristam. If you love loot-based gameplay, Diablo is a game that will leave you constantly coming back for more.
6. Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow
Platforms: Game Boy
The dawn of Game Freak’s Pokémon franchise, Red, Blue, and Yellow released in 1996. Pokémon’s tagline of “Gotta catch ‘em all” sums up the games perfectly. Head out into the Kanto region, catch Pokémon, train them up, and become the Pokémon champion. A perfect game to kick back and grind out.
5. Sonic the Hedgehog
Platforms: Sega Genesis, Game Boy, 3DS, Switch
The first title in Sega’s iconic platformer franchise, Sonic the Hedgehog took the world by storm in 1991. Play as the super-fast Sonic as you set out to defeat Dr. Robotnik. A fresh entry to the platformer genre, if you love platformers, this is one game you won’t want to miss.
4. Super Mario Kart
Platforms: SNES, Wii, Switch
Nintendo’s 1992 Super Mario Kart didn’t just spawn a franchise, it spawned the whole kart racing genre. Filled to the brim with the characters from the Mario world, race across colourful race tracks and dodge abilities in truly unpredictable races. A racing game with a huge twist.
3. System Shock 2
Platforms: PC
This 1999 FPS from Irrational Games stands as one of the most influential in the genre. With survival horror elements, threat is round every corner as you manage resources to stop the outbreak of a genetic infection. If you want a great story and unpredictable gameplay, System Shock 2 is for you.
2. Final Fantasy 7
Platforms: Playstation, PlayStation 4, PC, Switch, Xbox One
Square’s 1997 addition to the RPG franchise is so good it had to be remade in 2020. The story follows Cloud Strife, a mercenary who joins an eco-terrorism group trying to save their planet. Sure, you could play the remake, but the OG is always the best.
1. GoldenEye 007
Platforms: Nintendo 64, Xbox One
While most games from the ’90s are remembered most for their single-player gameplay, Rare’s 1997 classic GoldenEye 007 is remembered best for its excellent multiplayer. It features a great single-player campaign, too, so if you’re a fan of James Bond, this is a game you need to check out.
Bottom Line
Video games in the ’90s were truly revolutionary. Many of the titles laid the groundwork for the games we love to play today, and the entire landscape of gaming would be different without them. Whether you’re a fan of RTS games, FPS games, or even fighter games, there’s something in the 90s for everyone.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Are Popular Computer Games From The ‘90s?
Popular PC games from the ’90s include Doom, Diablo, and Age of Empires 2: The Age of Kings. Doom and Diablo both combine thrilling stories with solid and brutal combat. With the two games taking place in sci-fi and fantasy worlds respectively, fans of either genre setting will love whichever one they decide to play.
If action games aren’t your thing, then Age of Empires 2: The Age of Kings stands the test of time as one of the best RTS games ever created.
What Were Popular ‘90s Game Consoles?
Nintendo consoles were hugely popular in the ’90s, with the SNES, Nintendo 64 and Game Boy all releasing in the decade alongside iconic Nintendo titles. However, they had a fierce rival for most of that time in the form of Saga, with the likes of the Saturn and Dreamcast both launching.
PlayStation also saw huge success in the ’90s, with the first PlayStation console releasing late in 1994. As Saga started to lose a foothold in the console business towards the end of the decade, the PlayStation really came into its own, taking over as the main competitor to Nintendo.
What Were Popular ‘90s Sega Games?
Sega’s last great heyday was in the ’90s, with lots of incredible games coming from the publisher. 1991’s Sonic the Hedgehog was a hugely popular Sega game in the ’90s, as was its 1992 sequel, the aptly named, Sonic the Hedgehog 2.
As the iconic blue hedgehog gifted with super speed, you set out on a quest to stop Dr. Robotnik, the mad scientist who seeks out the powerful chaos emeralds. These platformers changed the genre forever and are still considered some of the best ever made over 30 years later.
What Are Popular Video Games Of The ‘80s?
Just like with the ‘90s, Nintendo games were incredibly popular in the ’80s. Titles such as Donkey Kong and Super Mario Bros. dominated the decade, with the two platformers going on to be two of the best-selling games of the decade.
Tetris was also popular in the ’80s, with the addictive puzzle game providing a gameplay loop and a unique challenge that players couldn’t get enough of. It’s core gameplay hasn’t really changed even to this day, and it is still played by millions.
