Funny Animals Installation Quizzes

EntertainmentAUG 5, 2022

The Ultimate List of Best Classic Video Games That Were Ever Made

Larysa Perih, Melanie Gervasoni and Beverly Noronha

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It’s hard to believe there was a time when video games were nothing more than a series of blinking pixels on a screen. The golden age of video games was a time of experimentation and innovation, so new gaming consoles and video games were released yearly, pushing the limits of what was possible in the industry. Today, we’ve got the benefit of hindsight and know what makes a great game.

We can look fondly back on the good old days when we played classic video games. While we love adventure games and platform games, there’s something about the simplicity of classic video games that we just can’t get enough of.

You probably already have a list of classic video games you love. But let’s take a moment to rediscover and appreciate some of the most popular video games of all time that provided hours upon hours of fun back when things seemed to be a little less complicated. These classic games and franchises shaped our childhoods and still serve as a link to the past.

#1 Super Mario Bros. 3

Super Mario Bros. 3

The best retro games have the power to take us back to a time when we could just kick back and play with our siblings, parents, or friends. And no retro game does that better than Super Mario Bros. 3. The music is iconic. The graphics are timeless. The gameplay is challenging but fair — and there’s a reason why it’s been ranked as one of the most popular games for NES! It’s basically impossible that you’ve never played this classic, but in case you haven’t, you’re in for a treat: it’s still just as fun today as it was back in the 1990s!

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14points

#2 Super Mario Bros. 2

Super Mario Bros. 2

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13points

#3 Pac-Man

Pac-Man

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13points

#4 Super Mario World

Super Mario World

A gem of the gaming community, Super Mario World’s gameplay is similar to that of the earlier Super Mario games: it follows Mario (or Luigi) through a series of levels in which the goal is to get to the other side by jumping around the platforms. The game introduced us to Yoshi, one of the most beloved Nintendo characters. It sold over twenty million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling SNES game.

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11points

#5 Donkey Kong

Donkey Kong

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11points

#6 The Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past

The Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past

The third release in The Legend Of Zelda franchise was one of the best games to see the light in the ’90s, and I would argue that it’s also one of the best games in general. It’s a classic Zelda title with all the elements that make up a great game: engaging gameplay mechanics, an intriguing story, and the memorable characters that made us fall in love with the series in the first place. Its spiritual successor, The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, was released in 2013.

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10points

And if you’re still in the mood for a bit of nostalgia mixed with a mental challenge, check out our NYT games hub for brain teasers like Wordle and Connections. It's a great way to blend retro vibes with modern-day fun.

#7 Sonic The Hedgehog

Sonic The Hedgehog

Raise your hand if you also spent your childhood afternoons playing with the most famous hedgehog of all time! This platform game follows a spinning blue hedgehog, with red shoes and white gloves, running across fields full of rings to collect. The game was released in 1991 and has since spawned spin-offs, sequels, cartoons, comics, merchandise, and even live-action movies! It was initially released on the Sega Genesis console and was later ported to modern platforms, Nintendo Switch included.

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10points

#8 Super Mario Kart

Super Mario Kart

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10points

Where to Buy Classic Video Games?

Modern games are fun, exciting, and can take you on a good adventure, but they don’t provide the same feelings of joy that classic video games do. Remember when you used to play Donkey Kong, Sonic the Hedgehog, Space Invaders, or Super Mario Bros? You could pop into an arcade and play for hours or fire up your Game Boy or Nintendo Entertainment System (NES).

You can still capture the feelings of playing the best video games of all time by buying them. Some people keep them as collectibles, whereas others want to explore every way to play these games again.

You can find these iconic games at retro game stores, pawn shops, flea markets, or, if you are lucky, at yard sales. The best way to buy one of those games would be to use eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or other online stores.

#9 Theme Park

Theme Park

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10points

#10 Duck Hunt

Duck Hunt

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9points

#11 Donkey Kong Country

Donkey Kong Country

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7points

#12 Ms. Pac-Man

Ms. Pac-Man

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7points

#13 Mario Kart 64

Mario Kart 64

Get some of your favorite snacks and favorite people, and get ready to race in one of the best video games ever! Developed specifically for Nintendo 64, players can choose their preferred character from the Mario franchise and race around a variety of tracks with items that can either get in the way of your rivals or rescue you when you need it the most!

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7points

#14 The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time

The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time

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6points

#15 Sonic The Hedgehog 2

Sonic The Hedgehog 2

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6points

#16 Super Mario Bros

Super Mario Bros

Choosing just one title from Nintendo’s first console would be hard. After all, it was home to some of gaming’s most iconic characters. But ultimately, we would go with Super Mario Bros., which is still considered one of the best platforming experiences ever created by anyone in any medium. If you too have fond memories of playing this iconic game, it’s time to take them back and introduce your kids and younger siblings to the same blessing of the first Super Mario Bros.!

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5points

Why Aren’t Some of the Greatest Video Games of All Time Being Remastered?

Remakes and remasters allow younger gamers to experience and enjoy the most influential games of all time with better graphics and gameplay. But there can come a time when nostalgia isn’t enough to bring certain retro video games back. This is because the gaming world has steadily moved ahead with better software and systems. Some games would not be compatible with the new software, which could cause gaming issues.

Still, the video game industry is resourceful and keeps finding ways to remaster the best classic games of all time for hardcore gamers. One of the best examples of this is Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, which will soon be remastered for the Oculus Quest 2.

#17 Super Mario 64

Super Mario 64

Super Mario 64 is a platform video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. Released in 1996, the game features Mario’s first 3D adventure as he travels through a large open world to rescue Princess Peach from Bowser. It received critical acclaim and is often mentioned among the best video games of all time.

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5points

#18 Street Fighter II

Street Fighter II

Street Fighter II was a massive success when it launched in 1991 on arcade machines. It was later ported to home consoles, including SNES and Game Boy, which contributed to it becoming one of the most popular video games and grossing more than $17 billion. It’s been credited for popularizing the fighting genre during the 1990s and inspiring other producers to create their own fighting series.

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5points

#19 Mortal Kombat

Mortal Kombat

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5points

#20 Sonic The Hedgehog 3

Sonic The Hedgehog 3

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5points

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