The gaming industry has exploded in the last two decades, with more people from different walks of life finding video games as an enjoyable hobby. Despite the modern era of gaming being so huge, the 1990s had some of the best titles that influenced how modern games are even today.
Super Mario 64 (1996)
Almost anyone who has picked up a controller or been a parent knows about the Mario Brothers franchise. While it wasn’t the title that started it all, Super Mario 64 changed platformers forever with the introduction of 3D graphics and an open world, along with many memorable characters to interact with.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998)
Another Nintendo heavy hitter is The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Many avid gamers praise Ocarina of Time as one of the best video games ever made. The world-building, immersion, and puzzles made Ocarina of Time a truly unique game that stood out for its time.
Doom (1993)
Doom may be the most influential game of the 1990s and was a precursor to most modern shooters, being the first of its kind with first person shooting and a 3D environment even if the enemies were still sprites. The franchise has a lasting legacy, with fans still creating their own mods for the original game today.
Final Fantasy VII (1997)
Final Fantasy VII is considered the best Final Fantasy game by many fans, with players controlling iconic Cloud Strife and his gargantuan sword. Sephiroth, the game’s antagonist, was also a fan favorite. The game has had so much praise over the years that the game was remade in 2020 with modern graphics and an overhauled combat system.
Pokémon Red and Blue (1996)
The Pokémon franchise is so iconic that it spawned its own Anime series in the 90s. Pokémon may be one of the franchises with the most entries, with over a 100 titles being made over the decades. Pokémon Red and Blue is often considered one of the best Pokémon games of the 90s and had a unique blend of exploration, strategy, and collection.
GoldenEye 007 (1997)
If Doom started the first-person shooter explosion, then GoldenEye 007 nearly perfected it for the late nineties. The game had innovations of its own, including release to console players, stealth mechanics, and an amazing multiplayer mode that’s regarded as one of the best for its time.
Street Fighter II (1991)
Before Mortal Kombat made fighting games more accessible to a western audience, Street Fighter was well established and seen as pioneering the fighting game genre. The intense one-on-one fights between all sorts of different characters with their own set of moves that Street Fighter II brought was something many people hadn’t ever seen before.
Mortal Kombat (1992)
Mortal Kombat came out just one year after Street Fighter II and was immediately solidified as a fighting game made by an American company. This mean it was much more accessible to the western market and had iconic and memorable characters like Scorpion and Sub-Zero. The title was controversial, with there being a bold amount of violence. The franchise has led to numerous games, including a reboot that came out in 2023.
Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)
Sonic The Hedgehog is the SEGA mascot that went toe-to-toe with the likes of Mario and other established heavy hitters. The difference Sonic The Hedgehog had over other platformers was its fast-paced and addictive gameplay in a bygone era where SEGA was still established as a console manufacturer. Despite this, the franchise has found so much appeal that it’s not going anywhere, with the Sonic The Hedgehog films being the latest examples to roll out.
Resident Evil (1996)
In 1996, Capcom looked at the amazing ideas that the video game Alone In The Dark had and innovated on them in a big way, creating a survival horror video game that would have its players terrified. The mixture of puzzles, resource management, and being trapped in an interconnected mansion made the game ahead of its time. The franchise has birthed numerous games and films, with the franchise getting a revival with Resident Evil 7 (2017) going back to their survival horror routes from the 1990s.
Crash Bandicoot (1996)
Crash Bandicoot was a unique 3D platformer for its time. The developers, Naughty Dog, got the most out of the PlayStation console by using vertex animation, meaning that the characters could have more complex facial animations. The game had memorable characters and a lighthearted atmosphere, which cemented the franchise as a PlayStation favorite.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater (1999)
There was no more popular time for skateboarding than the 1990s. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater aimed to bring the culture and enjoyment of skateboarding to a broader audience. The game had an arcade-style of gameplay and encouraged players to chain together advanced tricks to get high scores. The game used licensed music tracks and real life skateboarders to create an immersive experience that anyone could enjoy.
Sources:
The 15 greatest video games of the 1990s – ranked!
The 32 Best ’90s Video Games, Ranked
