Street Fighter 2

Metacritic Score: N/A

Street Fighter 2 is one of the best fighting games ever made. It makes a lot of changes to the Fighting Game Series model and also looks and plays better. Back then, it was a game that everyone was talking about, and people are still talking about it today.

A lot of people still play this game to feel like they're back in the good old days. Even though later games in the series took things in a new and impressive direction, this game will always be remembered as the one that made a whole generation of players love fighting games so much that they still can't get enough of them.

Super Metroid

Metacritic Score: N/A

Super Metroid made almost every part of the original Metroid for the Nintendo Entertainment System better. Metroid introduced new characters and set the rules for how to play.

Everyone agrees that Super Metroid is a classic. It had very complicated levels that made you think while still being fun to move through, and the fighting systems were very advanced for their time. Overall, it's not as good as the last one, but Super Metroid's boss fights are really fun.

Doom 2: Hell On Earth

Metacritic Score: 77

The follow up to one of the best first-person shooters ever is Doom 2: Hell on Earth. It was clear that id Software had found a cash mine. With the second game, they planned to make things bigger, better, and more interesting than ever.

For people who have played Doom, the second game will be more of the same, which isn't always a bad thing. Both games changed the way people played video games in the 1990s by bringing them to first-person shooters and all the violent fun that came with them.

Crash Bandicoot

Metacritic Score: 80 (N.Sane Trilogy)

Crash Bandicoot is Naughty Dog's first game made for a Sony-owned platform. This was the start of a great relationship that would pay off for years to come. It's about a bandicoot named Crash who has to run, jump, and spin his way through levels to beat his enemy, Doctor Neo Cortex.

Crash Bandicoot was a hit with players of all ages because it had bright graphics, fun gameplay, and hard levels. It had several follow-ups and, along with the N, helped to make platformers popular on the PlayStation. This is a great way to play this great game and the other games in the series all over again.

Pokemon Red And Blue

Metacritic Score: 81 (FireRed)

With out Pokémon Red and Blue, the Pokémon franchise would not be as famous as it is now. The Pokémon craze spread like flames because the games are so satisfying to play.

In Pokémon Red and Blue, each version has its own Pokemon that are only found in that form. Pokemon Red and Blue are too much fun not to mention. Players can explore the Safari Zone for wild Pokemon or go into the Pokemon Mansion to find out about the game's history.

DOOM

Metacritic Score: 82

Like GoldenEye 007, DOOM (1993) was one of the first games to let multiple people play together. Because of its innovative "Deathmatch mode," the game was the first to use the term "Deathmatch," which is still used today. DOOM had an effect on more than just multiplayer games. It was also a big deal for first-person shooters in general and led to a lot of "DOOM clones."

Wolfenstein 3D may have come up with the first-person shooter formula that DOOM used, but this 1993 game made it better and more famous. Classic DOOM is still loved by many, and there is an active modding community that has helped it stay current for the many decades since it was first released.

Sonic The Hedgehog 2

Metacritic Score: 83

This post is not about the second Sonic the Hedgehog movie. It is about the second Sonic the Hedgehog 2 game for the Sega Genesis. This game has been copied many times because people like to play it again and again. The level designs are almost the right mix of fun and difficulty. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was one of the best computer games of the 1990s.

Since Sonic the Hedgehog 2 came out, many fans of the series have been hoping that Sega would make a game that went back to the original side-scrolling style, since the 3D games haven't been very good. Fans finally got their wish in 2017 with Sonic Mania, a game put out by Sega but made by a group known for making fan games.

Super Mario 64

Metacritic Score: 85

People know that Super Mario 64 was a big step forward in 3D games. Back then, when 2D games were the norm, it did well. Many Mario 64 fans think it was the best video game of the 1990s because it let you move in free-flowing ways that let you do a lot of different things.

There are a lot of hidden secrets and unlockables in each level, which makes the game very fun to play again and again. Most likely, fans missed something on the first time through, which made them want to come back for another adventure.

StarCraft

Metacritic Score: 88

Since StarCraft came out, RTS (real-time strategy) games haven't looked the same. Many other famous RTS games have lost some of their appeal over time, but StarCraft still has a large community of players that hasn't changed much. It would have been nice to have a lot of races to choose from, but StarCraft only has three: the Zerg, the Protoss, and the Terran.

Professional players and amateur players are very different in how good they are. No other RTS game makes it so fun to play against other people like StarCraft does. Micro- and macromanagement are both important in this game, and starting a StarCraft match without a plan is a bad idea.

Final Fantasy 8

Metacritic Score: 90

A lot of people think that Final Fantasy 8 is the weakest game in the series, which is not a good image to have. The unnecessary complexity of the story and the obvious need for balance in the Junction system make some of the complaints valid. The game is stuck between two of the best Final Fantasy games ever made.

But people who played Final Fantasy 8 back in the day loved how beautiful it looked and how fun it was to play. Just calling up the Guardian Forces was a treat to see in every way. As long as players don't get too annoyed by having to draw 99 of every magic and not use GFs in big boss fights, Final Fantasy 8 is a beautiful game with some of the best moments in the series.

Donkey Kong 64

Metacritic Score: 90

Super Mario 64 and Banjo-Kazooie were both great 3D adventures, but Donkey Kong 64 took things to a whole new level by making it a collectathon. Players could choose from different characters with different skills and had to go back through the whole game to find items they couldn't get before.

You should be proud to say that you "100%" Donkey Kong 64 because it has so many collectibles. This might not be for everyone, but it probably sparked some of the big ideas and items that you can find in modern open-world games. Donkey Kong 64 is a great game for fans of the series, even if players spend a lot of time collecting everything. The main game is still a lot of fun to play through.

Tomb Raider

Metacritic Score: 91

Lara Croft is one of the most famous video game characters of all time, and her first game as an explorer was a huge hit. One of the first games with a female lead was Tomb Raider. It opened the door for other women to play lead parts in games, even if most of these characters were portrayed in a questionable way.

The original Tomb Raider set the bar for action-adventure games that came after it. It had puzzles to solve, exploration, and third-person shooting action. Since then, it has had many sequels, reboots, and adaptations. However, the future of the series is uncertain now that Shadow of the Tomb Raider didn't do well at the box office and was sold to Embracer Group.

Resident Evil

Metacritic Score: 91

The Resident Evil series has been doing very well for a long time. Resident Evil 4, a remake of one of its most famous games, was even in the running for Game of the Year in 2023. Even though a lot has changed in the series since the first game came out, it's hard to deny how important it was in the history of video games.

Because it had a fixed-view camera, the first Resident Evil hasn't held up as well as some of the other games on this list. It's on this list, though, because it had such a huge impact on the survival horror genre that players can still feel it today. People still find it very funny that the voice acting in this game is so typically bad, which is another big reason why it's so popular. That being said, it might not be the best Resident Evil game ever, but it was one of the best games of the 1990s.

Thief: The Dark Project

Metacritic Score: 92

The first-person spy game Thief: The Dark Project was made by Looking Glass Studios. It was one of the first games in the stealth genre, and players were told to stay out of harm's way and use shadows to hide.

Thief was praised for its mood and ability to build tension, thanks to its complicated story, new ways to play, and well-thought-out level design. It was an important game that helped to create the stealth genre with realistic simulation features. Games like Dishonored and Hitman carry on its theme.

Final Fantasy 7

Metacritic Score: 92

Final Fantasy 7 is more famous than ever thanks to its remakes. The game was praised for its turn-based combat system. The reboot may have been played by fans already, but what about the first game?

Even though the updated versions of Final Fantasy 7 are great, players will not regret going back to the 1990s to enjoy what the original game had to offer. It has everything you could want: an interesting story, tough turn-based fights, and lots of chances to explore. When it came out in the late 1990s, Final Fantasy 7 made the most of the Sony PlayStation's full power.

Super Mario World

Metacritic Score: 92 (Game Boy Advance Remake)

A lot of big hits came out for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. A lot of people think that Super Mario World is one of the best games for the platform. Because you could finish any level in a lot of different ways, the game stood out from the rest.

It takes a while to get good at Super Mario World, but getting past the challenges is what makes it fun. In this game, Princess Peach is once again the helpless girl that Mario tries to save. The addition of Yoshi, the famous green dinosaur, was another big change for the show.

Chrono Trigger

Metacritic Score: 92

An awful lot of people think that Chrono Trigger is one of the best RPGs ever. After Crono and his friends move through time to stop a terrible future caused by a huge planet-eating parasite named Lavos, the story continues.

It got great reviews for its story, characters, and gameplay, which included having different endings and letting players combine their skills in battle. It has become a classic in its field thanks to its unique style, timeless plot, and memorable music.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater

Metacritic Score: 92

"Sports" games like Tony Hawk's Pro Skater were some of the best ever made. They came out near the end of the 1990s. The next versions would all come out in the 2000s, but the first THPS was actually released in the 1990s, just before the end of the decade. Who knew that the show would become so well-known? Over the years, it's gained a cult following, and a remake of the original series was made because so many fans wanted it.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater had one of the best soundtracks of any video game launched at the time. It was fast-paced, fun, and sometimes crazy. People who want to feel the glory in a new way can thank the "remake."

Banjo-Kazooie

Metacritic Score: 92

Banjo-Kazooie stood out from other platform games of the time with its huge, open areas, which made the game feel even bigger in 1998. The two main characters were likeable, and the writing in the game was very funny, which made Rare a great classic game.

Aside from being huge, the levels were also packed full of collectibles that were fun to find. There were so many of them that it never got boring. A lot of them were hidden in cool places or needed players to use new skills they had just learned to get them.

Final Fantasy 9

Metacritic Score: 94

The last JRPG in the series came out on the original PlayStation, and fans were pretty pleased with it. Like the earlier games in the series, Final Fantasy 9's cute story and interesting characters were big hits at the time and helped it get a great reputation.

It's pretty impressive that many fans still think Basket Random is the best game in the series, even though many years have passed. People who think this is the best of the three Final Fantasy PlayStation games can't stop thinking about the adventures of Zidane, Garnet, Steiner, Vivi, and the rest of the main group.

Metal Gear Solid

Metacritic Score: 94

Metal Gear Solid, which came out in 1998, is known for being a huge step forward in the stealth genre. This was the last game that Hideo Kojima directed before he left Konami and started Kojima Productions. Many people think the game was way ahead of its time because of how well it works technically.

There's a good chance that Metal Gear Solid is one of the best games ever made, since it changed the genre in many ways. Because it did so well at the box office, several sequels were made, which added to the evidence that this was one of the best games of the 1990s.

Diablo

Metacritic Score: 94

This famous hack-and-slash game was one of Blizzard's first big hits. It led to one of the most popular video game franchises of all time. In the made-up Kingdom of Khanduras, Diablo takes place, and the players must go into a cave under the town of Tristam to fight the game's main enemy.

The game's loot-based gameplay is still fun to play today and shows why Diablo was such a hit. It has since been followed by several sequels and has had an impact on many hack-and-slash RPGs.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link To The Past

Metacritic Score: 95

After the highly acclaimed first Legend of Zelda game, Nintendo made a big change with the second one. The main way you play Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link was completely changed. Many people didn't like the second game's sudden change in style, even though the first game wasn't bad.

With The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, the next game in the series came out in 1991 for the SNES. This game was the bigger and better version of the first Legend of Zelda that players had been waiting for. A Link to the Past is one of Link's most memorable adventures. The levels are carefully thought out, and the overworld is fun to explore.

GoldenEye 007

Metacritic Score: 96

As we've already said, most of the games on this list are famous for their single-player modes. But GoldenEye 007 is known for having a great multiplayer mode that changed the way console multiplayer games were played. In the 1990s, this is where players found the strange pleasure of shooting their friends.

GoldenEye 007 is loved by players for more than just multiplayer, though. The single-player campaign was a good 9.5-hour FPS adventure. This strategy is still useful in games today because speedrunners like it.

Gran Turismo

Metacritic Score: 96

The 1990s were great for video games because a lot of new, innovative games came out. This was caused by more attention in the media. Many long-running series got their start in the 1990s. To this day, games in the Resident Evil, Super Mario, and The Legend of Zelda series are still being made. Some albums made big steps forward for certain types of music. The racing "simulator" Gran Turismo is a great example of this. It paved the way for series like Forza Motorsport and Need for Speed, which are much bigger.

People who like Gran Turismo are hoping that it will still be popular in the future. It created the "car racing simulation" market with its large collection of cars, detailed tuning tools, and many real-life race tracks.

Half-Life

Metacritic Score: 96

The Valve Corporation is known as a creator whose games always set higher standards. The first Half-Life game came out in 1998, but it was only for PCs. In later years, the game made its way to platforms like the PlayStation 2 and computer systems with Linux and OS X.

Metacritic gives Half-Life an overall score of 96%, showing that it is a classic game that will never go out of style. With its level design and gameplay, this game changed the genre and has kept a lot of fans ever since.

The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time

Metacritic Score: 99

In The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, you can explore and fight bosses. The game also has a gripping story and puzzles that make it even more fun. The music from Ocarina of Time is thought to be one of the best ever. The game got a lot of praise and a big cult following because of this and the fact that the main character was one of the most recognized in video games.

Sometimes the first one is just too good to beat. There is still a lot of disagreement about whether The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is better than its follow up, The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask. No matter which you like better, both games are wonders.