There’s something truly special about the 1990s gaming era. It was a time when every game seemed to be leaping from 2D to 3D, and it’s also when today’s multi-million-selling franchises and most iconic characters were born.
It was THE turning point for video games and an incredible shift in technology. The 90s also gave us PlayStation and Game Boy.
If you grew up during this era, you saw a massive boom in the gaming world like nothing before it. Let’s take a trip back and revisit these legendary 90s video games that still hold a special place in our hearts.
Sonic The Hedgehog 2 (1992)
Sonic, the iconic blue hedgehog. A video game series and media franchise created and owned by Sega.
Since its release, many Sonic games have been created, but the best one is Sonic the Hedgehog 2.
In this game, Sonic’s sidekick, Miles “Tails” Prower, was introduced, controllable by a second player, along with two of Sonic’s signature moves: the Spin Dash and Homing Attack.
This game captures everything about Sonic and built a lasting legacy. Sonic has also branched out into animated films, with multiple new Sonic games continuing to release.
Tekken 3 (1998)
Tekken is a series of fighting video and arcade games developed and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment.
Tekken 3, initially released for the PlayStation in 1998, is considered one of the first and best fighting 3D games of the time. The original Tekken was released in arcades in December 1994 and on the PlayStation in 1995.
The game has about 23 characters, each with 100 moves to let you string together chains of combos, throws, grabs, takedowns, and heavy hits to your heart’s content.
Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 (1995)
An update of Mortal Kombat 3, this fighting game in the Mortal Kombat series was developed and released by Midway to arcades in 1995.
This game introduced moves that let you pull off brutal, over-the-top attacks, like uppercutting your opponent through a ceiling. It also brought back the signature Dial-a-combo, the return of fan-favorite characters that were missing from Mortal Kombat 3, and the addition of 2-on-2 and tournament modes.
With this release, the game cemented its place as one of the finest fighting games of all time.
Street Fighter II: The World Warrior
Also known as Street Fighter II, a genre-defining game that started it all.
It’s a competitive one-on-one fighting game developed by Capcom. Initially released for arcade systems in 1991, it’s considered the best-selling franchise since the golden age of arcade gaming.
We also wrote a hands-on guide on PS4 games for kids that you might find useful.
You can choose between 8 different fighters, each with a unique fighting style and arsenal of moves.
Pokemon Red / Blue (1996)
From the opening moments in Pallet Town to choosing your first starter, battling gym owners and collecting gym badges, and finally defeating the Elite Four, Pokemon Red and Blue just feel right.
We can never forget Ash’s first adventure. Pokemon is a series of video games developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo and The Pokemon Company.
Pokemon has also been made into animated series and movies. Something about this game always brings a smile to our faces.
SimCity 3000 (1999)
A simulation and city-building PC game developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts.
This ambitious, full-3D renovation of the series brought in waste management and the ability to choose from three zoning densities.
Farms could appear in certain industrial zones. And then there were the disasters: power plants and water pumps breaking down, tornadoes, earthquakes, fires, and even alien attacks. All of it made this game absolutely phenomenal. The series evolved from 1989 all the way to 2014.
Half-Life (1998)
The first game Valve ever developed is a first-person shooter that was released in 1998. Half-Life changed the way we experience video games, period.
Its story-driven gameplay, packed with more than a few terrifying moments controlled by an AI enemy, delivered a realistic, gripping gaming experience that was years ahead of its time.
Road Rash PC (1995)
It’s probably the most aggressive motorcycle racing game of the 90s, with one unique and hilarious feature: you could punch, kick, hit with a bat, or chain the police, fellow racers, and people as you drove past them (and it could actually help you get ahead).
The game came with different characters and upgrades for your motorbike. Road Rash was created and published by Electronic Arts (EA).
Counter-Strike – Beta (1999)
The most famous multiplayer first-person shooter video game, developed by Valve. Also known as Half-Life: Counter-Strike.
It was originally developed and released as a Half-Life modification, and it was still in beta when it first blew up. The first full release of the mod was published in November 2000.
The game revolves around teams of bad guys battling to perpetrate an act of terror (bombing, hostage-taking, assassination) while counter-terrorists try to prevent it (hostage rescue).
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Counter-Strike has been played by millions of gamers across the globe, has influenced countless games, and will be played for generations to come.
Warcraft: Orcs and Humans (1994)
The first game in the Warcraft series was developed by Blizzard Entertainment, and it quickly became a best-seller as one of the original Real-Time Strategy games.
The multiplayer game is set in the mythic kingdom of Azeroth. Players must build a thriving economy while constructing a war machine to destroy the enemy.
Today, Warcraft is a massive franchise, with World of Warcraft continuing to release new expansions.
Tomb Raider (1996)
The rise of the female icon, Lara Croft. A 1996 action-adventure video game developed by Core Design and published by Eidos Interactive.
The game follows archaeologist-adventurer Lara Croft, hired by businesswoman Jacqueline Natla to find an artifact called the Scion of Atlantis.
Super Mario Bros 3 (1991)
Playing Super Mario feels like reconnecting with a best friend you haven’t seen since childhood. It’s one of the best 2D games ever, no question.
The game’s large, colorful map was always moving. Nintendo developed and published this legendary Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) game.
It was released in Japan in October 1988, North America in February 1990, and Europe in August 1991. Since then, it’s become the best-selling non-bundled video game ever.
The best representation of the Mario universe to come from the NES.
Grand Theft Auto (1997)
GTA (Grand Theft Auto) is an action-adventure game that became popular in the 1990s. It involves carelessly driving a stolen car while being chased by the police. The game was developed by DMA Design and published by BMG Interactive for MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows in October 1997.
It’s now considered by many reviewers to be one of the greatest video games ever made.
The game has players taking the role of a criminal who conducts jobs for various syndicates in three fictionalized US cities.
Starcraft (1998)
A piece of PC gaming history owned by Blizzard Entertainment. This sci-fi, real-time strategy game changed online and competitive gaming forever.
Set at the beginning of the 26th century, it centers on a galactic struggle for dominance among 3 species: Terrans, Zerg, and Protoss.
The game involves collecting resources to build your base and ultimately conquer opponents. Its expansion pack, StarCraft: Brood War, was released in 1998.
Final Fantasy VII (1997)
In 1997, the world was introduced to one of the first fully 3D Final Fantasy games: Final Fantasy VII. Final Fantasy has been one of the best-selling video game franchises ever.
A role-playing video game developed by Square for the PlayStation console, it features some of the most beloved characters in the entire history of the series. It was a state-of-the-art RPG at that time.
A Remake of the game was released in April 2020, with Final Fantasy VII Rebirth following in 2024.
