Highlights

• The '90s era of gaming saw the peak of 3D games, leading to some iconic titles that shaped the industry.
• Games like Super Mario 64 and Banjo-Kazooie are still remembered fondly for their impact on gamers.
• Titles like GoldenEye 007 and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater revolutionized multiplayer gaming experiences.

People who grew up during the '90s era of gaming saw the release of 3D games like never before. 3D gaming was present during the '70s and '80s, but the refinement witnessed in the '90s was humbling. While the '80s pushed the gaming industry to the brink of bankruptcy, the '90s was home to some of the most commercially successful games. The '90s saw the release of many hit games, but not all of them have aged as well as others.

The fact that modern 3D platformers like Yooka-Laylee can't hold a candle to impactful titles like Super Mario 64 and Banjo-Kazooie is a great example of why '90s games continue to be looked back on fondly by gamers who have a ton of love for the golden era of gaming. There are quintessential examples of great '90s games spread across various genres that are all pretty legendary in their own right and are still infinitely playable to this day.

Updated on April 5, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: The 90s was a golden period for video games. After the video game crash of 1983, Nintendo was the only company bold enough to launch a game console in the West, and the rest is history. The mid-80s served as a resurgence for video games, with the 90s witnessing the entry of several major players in the industry that ended up shaping the company's future for years to come. Several amazing games came into the limelight during that time, allowing players to experience incredible gameplay loops as they enjoyed titles that would become a major part of gaming history.

27 Street Fighter 2

Metacritic Score: N/A

Street Fighter 2 is one of the greatest fighting games ever made, featuring a wealth of improvements to the series' formula coupled with excellent gameplay and improved presentation. It was a game that blew everyone's minds at the time and continues to be one of the most talked-about video games to this day.

Even now, there are many people booting up this game to channel the good old days. Sure, future games in the series pushed things in a new and impressive direction, but nothing can take away from the legacy this game left behind, transforming an entire generation of gamers into fighting game aficionados who still can't get enough of the genre.

26 Super Metroid

Metacritic Score: N/A

While the original Metroid for the Nintendo Entertainment System introduced characters and laid the foundation for gameplay, Super Metroid improved the formula in nearly every way.

Super Metroid is, by all accounts, a masterpiece. Its intricate level design was thought-provoking yet enjoyable for progression, and the combat mechanics were quite advanced for their time. Overall, it's a meatier game than its predecessor, and Super Metroid's boss fights are a blast.

25 Doom 2: Hell On Earth

Metacritic Score: 77

Doom 2: Hell on Earth is a sequel to one of the greatest first-person shooters ever made. id Software clearly stumbled upon a gold mine that they'd capitalize on with the release of the second game by making things bigger, better, and more engaging than ever before.

Fans familiar with Doom will find the second game to be more of the same, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Both titles went on to define gaming in the '90s, introducing players to the realm of first-person shooters and the violent goodness that came with it.

24 Crash Bandicoot

Metacritic Score: 80 (N.Sane Trilogy)

Crash Bandicoot is the first game developed by Naughty Dog for a Sony-owned platform, setting up an amazing partnership that would reap dividends for the years to come. It follows the titular character Crash, a bandicoot who runs, jumps, and spins his way through levels to defeat his nemesis, Doctor Neo Cortex.

Known for its vibrant graphics, fun gameplay, and challenging difficulty, Crash Bandicoot was a hit with gamers of all ages. It spawned multiple sequels and helped to establish the platformer genre on the PlayStation, with the N. Sane Trilogy being a great way to experience this amazing game and the other titles in the series once again.

23 Pokemon Red And Blue

Metacritic Score: 81 (FireRed)

The massively popular Pokemon franchise wouldn't be where it is today without Pokemon Red and Blue. The Pokemon craze spread like wildfire, widely due to the addictive gameplay of these titles.

In Pokemon Red and Blue, each version features differences like exclusive Pokemon. Whether players are delving into the Pokemon Mansion to uncover past secrets or exploring the Safari Zone for wild Pokemon, Pokemon Red and Blue are too fun not to mention.

22 DOOM

Metacritic Score: 82

DOOM (1993), much like GoldenEye 007, was a pioneer of multiplayer gaming. This was thanks to the game's groundbreaking "Deathmatch mode," the first game to use the Deathmatch title that is still commonly used today. Multiplayer gaming wasn't the only thing that DOOM influenced. It also set a benchmark for the FPS genre in general and paved the way for numerous "DOOM clones."

Wolfenstein 3D may have invented the FPS formula that DOOM used, but this 1993 game refined and popularized it. To this day, classic DOOM is revered by the masses and features an active modding community that helped this game stay relevant for the many decades that have passed since its original release.

21 Sonic The Hedgehog 2

Metacritic Score: 83

This entry doesn't refer to the Sonic the Hedgehog movie sequel, but the Sonic the Hedgehog 2 game sequel for Sega Genesis. This game has been ported numerous times because of its replay value. The level designs offer a near-perfect mix of challenge and enjoyability. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 stood out as one of the best '90s video games.

Since the release of Sonic The Hedgehog 2, many fans of the franchise had hoped that Sega would release a game that returned to the classic side-scrolling formula, as the 3D games have struggled to impress. Fans got their wish in 2017 with Sonic Mania, a game published by Sega but developed by a team known for their work on fan games.

20 Super Mario 64

Metacritic Score: 85

Super Mario 64 is recognized for its strides in 3D gaming. It succeeded in the era where 2D gaming was the standard. Integrating free-flow movements that opened up a world of possibilities, many fans consider Super Mario 64 the best '90s video game.

Levels are intricately detailed with hidden secrets and unlockables, giving the game tremendous replay value. Chances are gamers missed something on their first playthrough, which encouraged them to return for another adventure.

19 StarCraft

Metacritic Score: 88

RTS (real-time strategy) games never looked the same after the release of StarCraft. While many other RTS classics' popularity has faded over time, StarCraft maintains a sizable player base that has hardly diminished. Rather than have numerous races to choose from, StarCraft's devs put polish into three: the Zerg, Protoss, and Terran.

There is a wide skill gap between professional players and casuals. StarCraft puts competitiveness in an RTS game like never before. This is a game that requires both micro and macro-management, and going into a StarCraft match without a strategy is a fatal move.

18 Final Fantasy 8

Metacritic Score: 90

Most people consider Final Fantasy 8 to be the series' black sheep, which is a pretty unfortunate reputation to have. Sandwiched between two of the greatest Final Fantasy games ever made, the unnecessarily convoluted plot coupled with a Junction system that clearly needed some balancing do make some of the criticisms valid.

However, players who enjoyed Final Fantasy 8 back in the day loved its amazing visuals and engaging gameplay, with the mere act of summoning Guardian Forces being a treat to witness in every way. As long as players don't get too frustrated by drawing 99 of every magic and avoiding the use of GFs in major boss fights, Final Fantasy 8 is an audio-visual treat with some of the franchise's best moments.

17 Donkey Kong 64

Metacritic Score: 90

Although Super Mario 64 and Banjo-Kazooie were incredible 3D adventures, Donkey Kong 64 took things to the next level by turning their 3D offering into a collectathon, giving players access to various characters with different abilities and having them backtracking all throughout the expansive release to collect otherwise inaccessible items.

It's a true badge of honor to "100 percent" Donkey Kong 64, thanks to its overwhelming amount of collectibles. This may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it likely helped to inspire some of the expansive content and collectibles found in the open-world games of today. Even if players spend their time collecting everything in Donkey Kong 64, it's still a blast to play through the main game and is a must-experience for fans of the series.

16 Tomb Raider

Metacritic Score: 91

Lara Croft is one of the most iconic video game characters of all time, with this archaeologist's debut being nothing short of a massive success. Tomb Raider was one of the first games to feature a female protagonist and ended up paving the way for other women to take up leading roles in gaming, even if the portrayal of the majority of these characters was a bit suspect.

With its mix of exploration, puzzle-solving, and third-person shooting action, Tomb Raider set the standard for future action-adventure games. It has since spawned multiple sequels, reboots, and adaptations, although the franchise's future is now up in the air following the disappointing sales of Shadow of the Tomb Raider and the sale of this IP to Embracer Group.

15 Resident Evil

Metacritic Score: 91

The Resident Evil franchise has been thriving for many years, and the remake of one of its most popular titles, Resident Evil 4, was even a contender for 2023's Game of the Year. Although the series has evolved a great deal since the original game's release, it is hard to ignore the debut's significance in gaming history.

The original Resident Evil hasn't aged as well as some of the other titles on this list, particularly due to its fixed-perspective camera. Yet, it deserves its spot on this list for its incredible influence on the survival horror genre that gamers can still feel today. To this day, there's something incredibly hilarious about the game's notoriously bad voice acting that has played a major role in its popularity, too. It may not be the best Resident Evil game in the series, but it was certainly one of the best titles to come from the '90s.

14 Thief: The Dark Project

Metacritic Score: 92

Thief: The Dark Project is a first-person stealth game developed by Looking Glass Studios. It was a pioneer in the stealth genre, where players were encouraged to avoid confrontation and utilize shadows to avoid detection.

With a complex storyline, innovative gameplay mechanics, and immersive level design, Thief was highly acclaimed for its atmosphere and its ability to create tension. It was a landmark title that helped to establish the stealth genre with immersive sim elements, and its legacy can be seen in modern games like Dishonored and Hitman.

13 Final Fantasy 7

Metacritic Score: 92

Heralded for its turn-based combat system, Final Fantasy 7 is now more popular than ever because of its remakes. Fans may have already played the remake, but what about the original?

Though the modernized versions of Final Fantasy 7 are impressive in their own right, gamers won't regret traveling back to the '90s to experience what the original game had to offer. It's a complete package with an intriguing story, arduous turn-based battles, and significant exploration opportunities. Final Fantasy 7 came out in the late '90s and harnessed the full power of the Sony PlayStation.

12 Super Mario World

Metacritic Score: 92 (Game Boy Advance Remake)

The Super Nintendo Entertainment System saw many groundbreaking hits. Many consider Super Mario World one of the platform's best games. The ability to complete any given level in a myriad of ways made the title stand out from the crowd with ease.

It has a significant learning curve, but overcoming obstacles in Super Mario World is the focus of its enjoyment. As usual, Princess Peach plays the damsel in distress as Mario tries to save her. The introduction of Yoshi, the iconic green dinosaur, was also a revolutionary change for the series.

11 Chrono Trigger

Metacritic Score: 92

Chrono Trigger is a game considered by many to be one of the greatest RPGs ever made. It follows the story of Crono and his friends who travel through time to prevent a catastrophic future at the hands of a massive planetary parasite called Lavos.

It was highly praised for its story, characters, and gameplay, including multiple endings and the ability to combine party members' abilities in combat. Its innovative design, timeless story, and memorable music have cemented its place as a classic of the genre.

10 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater

Metacritic Score: 92

• Platforms: PlayStation, Nintendo 64, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Dreamcast, N-Gage
• Released: September 29, 1999
• Developer: Neversoft
• Genre: Sports

The tail end of the 90s saw the release of one of the best "sports" games to ever hit the market with Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. Although all of the sequels to follow would end up releasing in the 2000s, the original THPS was technically a 90s baby, slipping in just before the decade ended. Who knew the series would become so iconic today? Developing a cult following over the years and even spawning a remake of the original trilogy thanks to an outpouring of fan support.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater was fast-paced, fun, and outrageous at times and featured one of the best soundtracks of any video game released during the era. It's a must-play, and thankfully, players can experience the glory in a remade fashion with the "remake."

9 Banjo-Kazooie

Metacritic Score: 92

Banjo-Kazooie differentiated itself from the many platformers released in the 90s with its open levels, which felt enormous in 1998. It helped that the two main characters were pretty likable, and the game itself was rife with humorous writing that made Rare such tour-de-force during the classic era of gaming.

Not only were the level sizes impressive, but they were also filled to the brim with collectibles to find, and finding the plethora of them in each level never felt tedious. Many of them either hid in interesting spots or required players to use recently learned gameplay mechanics to collect them.

8 Final Fantasy 9

Metacritic Score: 94

Final Fantasy 9 was the final JRPG in the series released on the original PlayStation, and it left fans pretty happy. Harkening back to the classic games in the series, Final Fantasy 9's charming plot and engaging characters were a treat at the time and helped this game attain a great reputation.

Even now, after all the years that have passed, countless fans still believe that this game is the best one in the series, which is saying something. The adventures of Zidane, Garnet, Steiner, Vivi, and the rest of the main cast are burned into the minds of those who consider this game to be the best of all three Final Fantasy PlayStation games.