It's okay to admit it: you're a sucker for retro video games. It's okay because there's a reason why so many people are into them. As with everything vintage, the sense of nostalgia for our childhood and the “good old times” still grip our curiosity like nothing else.
It's crazy when you think about it. One day, you're playing Sonic the Hedgehog on your Sega Mega Drive, and in the blink of an eye, you're binge-gaming The Legend of Zelda on a Nintendo Switch.
Don't get us wrong: we’re huge fans of the new AAA titles, but there's something different about exploring the world of retro gaming through eyes that are now used to 3D graphics and insane animations. The visuals of old video games might not be as good as modern titles, but it's all part of their charm.
Retro gaming has witnessed rising interest in the community in recent years, with more and more people being drawn to classic consoles and games from the 20th century. We've seen new titles trying to bring back the nostalgia factor by offering similar graphics and gameplay mechanics to those classic video games we grew up with.
And even though they offer a pleasant adventure, nothing beats the memories of when, together with the other kids, we visited an arcade, asked our parents for some coins, and fought aliens in Space Invaders.
That's why we've put together a list of some of the best retro video games out there! This way, you can make sure that the next time your friends want to play something old-school, they don't have to be stuck with those same two or three titles.
What retro game brings back memories for you? Let us know in the comments!
#1 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 top games for NES! It’s basically impossible that you never played this classic at least once in your life, but in case you didn’t, then you’re in for a treat: it’s still just as fun today as it was back in the 1990s!
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#2 The Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past
The third release in The Legend Of Zelda franchise, it 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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#4 Donkey Kong
Did you know that Donkey Kong is the very first game in both the Donkey Kong and the Mario series? Talk about vintage video games! Donkey Kong is an essential part of the history of video games and saw the light for the first time in 1981. It represented the desperate efforts of Nintendo to create a video game that could rival the success of Namco and its extremely popular Pac-Man. Well, what can we say? Mission accomplished.
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#5 Street Fighter II Turbo
Street Fighter II Turbo was a massive success when it launched in 1992 on arcade machines. It was a big deal for two reasons: one, it helped establish Capcom as a major player in the video game industry; two, it introduced a more intense gameplay experience and new special moves for the characters that contributed to its popularization. There’s no doubt it’s one of the best ’90s games, period.
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#6 Super Mario Kart
For those who didn’t notice, the first Super Mario Kart was released 30 years ago. Yep, 1992. Sure, the first title is a little rough around the edges compared to its modern siblings, but that’s what makes it so charming. It represented an important stepping stone for the franchise since it led to the expansion and popularization of the Mario series outside of the “platform games” category. It’s often credited for creating the kart-racing subgenre of video games.
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#17 Tetris
If we talk about puzzle games, it has to be Tetris. It was invented by Alexey Pajitnov in 1984 and has established itself as one of the great early video games. The objective of this game is simple: you must use the falling blocks of different shapes to fill the rows without leaving gaps to gain points. If you want to really instigate your competitive side, there’s a multiplayer version where you can play against other players worldwide and see which one of you will be the last one standing!
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#18 Sonic The Hedgehog 2
Raise your hand if you also spent your childhood afternoons playing with the most famous hedgehog of all time! If you didn’t, let us tell you what you missed. Sonic The Hedgehog 2 is a platform game that follows a blue hedgehog who runs through side-scrolling levels collecting rings and defeating enemies along the way. Unlike the first game, this one features a multiplayer mode, a new character (Tails), and faster gameplay.
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#19 Space Invaders
The game that started it all! Space Invaders, released in 1978 by Taito, defined the video game industry with its simple graphics and gameplay. It paved the way for the next generation of shoot ’em up games to the point it has been considered one of the most influential games of all time. Space Invaders is also considered the pioneer that initiated the golden age of video games, a period around the 1970s and 1980s that witnessed the insane growth and rising popularity of video games in the global industry.
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#20 Outrun
We all remember how it felt to be a young, carefree driver with nothing but the open road ahead and Outrun’s awesome soundtrack to keep us company. Recognized for its pioneering hardware and graphics, Outrun was a critical and commercial success, becoming the highest-grossing arcade title of 1987. It was the first experience with racing games for many kids in the 1980s, and despite not being the very first racing game, it set the bar for other titles of the same genre released in the following years.
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