The era of the 90s became a golden time for the gaming industry, giving the world projects that not only won the hearts of millions, but also forever changed the idea of video games.
About 15 legendary games that not only impressed, but also shaped the industry as we know it today, tells RBC-Ukraine (Styler project) with a link to the Gamerant website dedicated to video games.
Half-Life
Valve Corporation has established itself as a developer that constantly raises the bar for quality in the gaming industry. The original Half-Life was first released in 1998 exclusively for PC. The game later moved to consoles such as the PlayStation 2, as well as the Linux and OS X operating systems.
With a score of 96 percent on Metacritic, Half-Life has become one of those games that never loses its relevance. It revolutionized the genre with its level design and gameplay, maintaining a huge fan base to this day.
The Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past
Following the success of the first The Legend of Zelda, Nintendo drastically changed the direction of the series in its sequel. Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link completely overhauled the core gameplay mechanics. While the second installment was not considered bad, many players were unhappy with the sudden departure from the original style.
The next game in the series, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, was released for the SNES in 1991. This project was a bigger and better version of the original The Legend of Zelda that gamers had been hoping for. A Link to the Past offers one of Link's most memorable adventures, with meticulously crafted dungeons and a vibrant game world to explore.
Diablo
One of Blizzard's early successes, Diablo is a legendary hack-and-slash game that launched one of the most popular franchises in video game history. The game takes place in the fictional kingdom of Handuras, where players descend into the dungeons beneath the city of Tristram to fight the eponymous threat.
The addictive loot-based gameplay remains relevant today, which explains Diablo's huge success. The game spawned numerous sequels and influenced many projects in the RPG and hack-and-slash genres.
Super Mario Kart
Released in 1992, Super Mario Kart became the founder of an entire subgenre of racing games – karting, which has since become one of the most popular racing formats, especially among children.
In the original Super Mario Kart, players chose one of eight playable characters, each with a unique ability, and competed in races on tracks.
However, instead of the usual races, where success depends only on driving skills, here they won with the help of bonuses, accelerations and obstacles for rivals.
The driver who is in first place finds himself in the most vulnerable position, as everyone behind him uses all possible means to get around him.
Because victory is never guaranteed until the very finish, each race turns into an exciting adventure where anyone can win, regardless of their current position in the ranking.
Banjo-Kazooie
Banjo-Kazooie stood out among the multitude of platformers of the 90s with its open levels, which seemed huge at the time of its release in 1998. In addition, the main characters were very charming, and the game was full of humor, which became a hallmark of Rare in its golden age.
The size of the levels was impressive, but they were also filled with a lot of collectibles. Collecting them never felt tedious, because they were either in interesting places or required players to use newly mastered game mechanics.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater
In the late 90s One of the best “sports” games was released – Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. Although most of the sequels were released already in the 2000s, the original THPS still managed to become a “child of the 90s”, coming out shortly before the end of the decade.
Who would have thought , that the series will become so iconic? It has gathered an army of fans over the years and even spawned a remake of the original trilogy thanks to fan support.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater was a dynamic, exciting and at times absurd game, with one of the best video game soundtracks of its time. It's a must-see game, and thankfully you can now experience it in an updated version thanks to the remake.
Super Mario World
Super Nintendo Entertainment Console System has given the world many groundbreaking hits, and Super Mario World is considered by many to be one of the best games on the platform. The ability to complete levels in many different ways made this game easily stand out from the crowd.
Although Super Mario World has a significant learning curve, overcoming obstacles is the main pleasure of the game. As always, Princess Peach plays the role of a damsel in distress, and Mario tries to save her. The introduction of Yoshi, the iconic green dinosaur, was a revolutionary change for the series.
Final Fantasy 7
Final Fantasy 7, known for its turn-based combat, is more popular than ever today thanks to its remakes. Many have already tried the modern version, but what about the original?
Despite the impressive updated versions, players will not regret returning to the 90s to experience everything the original game had to offer. It's a full-fledged adventure with a gripping story, intense turn-based battles, and significant exploration opportunities.
Final Fantasy 7 was released in the late 90s, harnessing the full power of the Sony PlayStation console.
Age Of Empires 2: The Age Of Kings
Age of Empires 2 has stood the test of time, remaining at the top of the RTS genre, which is an incredible achievement. Microsoft's continued support is commendable – the game still receives updates, allowing both new and old fans to enjoy content that makes the most of the gameplay's strengths.
This is one of the best games of the 90s, and will keep fans coming back again and again. The improvements over the first part are numerous and so far ahead of its time that the fourth game in the series was built largely on what made the second part special, with minor tweaks to refresh the experience.
Resident Evil
The Resident Evil franchise has been thriving for many years, and the remake of one of its most popular parts, Resident Evil 4, even became a contender for the title of Game of the Year 2023. While the series has evolved greatly since the original game's release, it's impossible to ignore its significance in the history of the gaming industry.
The original Resident Evil hasn't stood the test of time as well as some of the other games on this list, particularly due to its fixed camera perspective. However, it deserves a place on this list due to its incredible influence on the survival horror genre, which gamers still feel today.
We also can't forget about the notoriously bad voice acting, which played a big role in the game's popularity. It may not be the best part of the series, but it definitely became one of the best games of the 90s.
Super Mario 64
Super Mario 64 is recognized as an important milestone in the development of 3D games. It was a success in an era when 2D games were the norm. Thanks to its free-form movement that opened up a wealth of new possibilities, many fans consider Super Mario 64 to be the best game of the 90s.
The game's levels are detailed to the smallest detail, with hidden secrets and unlockable items giving it immense replay value. Players often missed something on the first playthrough, which prompted them to come back again and again.
Sonic The Hedgehog 2
This is not a sequel to the Sonic the Hedgehog movie, but a sequel to the game Sonic The Hedgehog 2 for the Sega Genesis. This game has been ported to multiple platforms due to its high replay value.
The level design offers a near-perfect balance between difficulty and fun. Sonic The Hedgehog 2 stands out as one of the best games of the 90s.
After the release of Sonic The Hedgehog 2, many fans of the franchise hoped that Sega would return to the classic side-scrolling formula, as the 3D games in the series failed to impress. In 2017, their wish came true with the release of Sonic Mania, a game published by Sega and developed by a team known for their fan projects.
DOOM
DOOM (1993), like GoldenEye 007, became a pioneer in the world of multiplayer games. This was made possible by the revolutionary “Deathmatch” mode, which first introduced the term “deathmatch”, which is still used today.
But DOOM influenced more than just multiplayer games. It set new standards for the FPS genre and paved the way for countless “DOOM clones”.
While Wolfenstein 3D invented the FPS formula used by DOOM, it was this 1993 game that polished and popularized it. Even after decades, DOOM remains a cult classic and is supported by an active community of modders, thanks to which the game remains relevant.
Crash Bandicoot
Crash Bandicoot – the first game developed by Naughty Dog for the Sony-owned platform, marking the beginning of an amazing partnership that has borne fruit for many years The game tells the story of a main character named Crash who runs, jumps and spins through the levels to defeat his enemy – Dr. Neo Cortex.
Known for its vibrant graphics, addictive gameplay, and high level of difficulty, Crash Bandicoot has become a hit with gamers of all ages, spawning numerous sequels and helping to solidify the platforming genre on PlayStation. The N. Sane Trilogy allows you to enjoy this great game and other parts of the series again.
Mortal Kombat
Mortal Kombat from 1992 is a fighting game similar to Street Fighter and Tekken, which started a franchise that continues to be popular today. The basic gameplay is typical of fighting games: two players choose characters to fight in a 2D combat format, where everything is decided by reaction and the ability to perform combos.
What makes Mortal Kombat stand out from the rest is its brutal approach to fighting, which almost no developer dares to do.
The ability to rip out the entrails of a defeated opponent is a unique feature of Mortal Kombat. Few developers dare to add something as barbaric as “fatalities” to their games, which allows this series to remain one of a kind.