15 best '90s video games that changed gaming world

Half-Life

Valve Corporation established itself as a developer known for continually raising the bar for quality in the gaming industry. The original Half-Life was released in 1998, initially as a PC-exclusive title. Later, the game expanded to consoles like PlayStation 2 and became available for operating systems such as Linux and OS X.

With a 96% rating on Metacritic, Half-Life remains one of those games that never loses its relevance. It revolutionized the genre with its level design and gameplay, maintaining a large fanbase.

Half-Life (photo: Gamerant)

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

After the success of the first The Legend of Zelda, Nintendo drastically changed the series' direction in its sequel. Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link completely overhauled the core gameplay mechanics. Although the second installment was not considered bad, many players were not fond of the unexpected departure from the original style.

The next game in the series, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, was released on the SNES in 1991. This project became a larger and enhanced version of the original The Legend of Zelda, the game gamers had hoped for. A Link to the Past offers one of Link's most memorable adventures, with meticulously crafted dungeons and a vibrant world to explore.

The Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past (photo: Gamerant)

Diablo

One of Blizzard's early successes, Diablo is a legendary hack-and-slash game that launched one of the most popular franchises in video game history. The game takes place in the fictional kingdom of Khanduras, where players descend into the dungeons beneath the town of Tristram to battle the titular threat.

The captivating loot-based gameplay remains relevant today, explaining Diablo's massive success. The game spawned numerous sequels and influenced many projects in the RPG and hack-and-slash genres.

Diablo (photo: Gamerant)

Super Mario Kart

Released in 1992, Super Mario Kart became the cornerstone of an entire subgenre of racing games, kart racing, which has since become one of the most popular racing formats, especially among children.

In the original Super Mario Kart, players selected one of eight playable characters, each with a unique ability, and competed in races on various tracks.

However, instead of the usual races where success depended solely on driving skills, victory was achieved through power-ups, speed boosts, and obstacles aimed at opponents.

The drivers in the first place found themselves in the most vulnerable position, as everyone behind them used every available means to overtake.

Thanks to the fact that victory is never guaranteed until the finish line, each race turned into an exciting adventure where anyone could win, regardless of their current position in the standings.

Super Mario Kart (photo: Gamerant)

Banjo-Kazooie

Banjo-Kazooie stood out among the many platformers of the 1990s for its open levels, which seemed massive at its release in 1998. In addition, the main characters were incredibly charming, and the game was filled with humor, which became a trademark of Rare during its golden era.

The size of the levels was impressive, but they were also packed with numerous collectibles. Gathering them never felt exhausting, as they were either hidden in interesting locations or required players to use newly mastered gameplay mechanics.

Banjo-Kazooie (photo: Gamerant)

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater

At the end of the 1990s, one of the best "sports" games, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, was released. While most sequels came out in the 2000s, the original THPS still became a "90s kid" icon, arriving just before the decade ended.

Who could have predicted that the series would become so iconic? Over the years, it gathered a massive fanbase and even spawned a remake of the original trilogy, thanks to fan support.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater was dynamic, thrilling, and at times absurd, featuring one of the best soundtracks among video games of its era. It's a must-play game, and fortunately, it can now be experienced in an updated version thanks to the remake.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater (photo: Gamerant)

Super Mario World

The Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) brought the world many groundbreaking hits, and Super Mario World is considered by many to be one of the best games on the platform. The ability to approach levels in various ways allowed this game to stand out from the rest easily.

While Super Mario World has a significant learning curve, overcoming obstacles is the core enjoyment of the game. As always, Princess Peach plays the role of the damsel in distress, and Mario is on a mission to save her. The introduction of Yoshi, the iconic green dinosaur, was a revolutionary addition to the series.

Super Mario World (photo: Gamerant)

Final Fantasy 7

Final Fantasy 7, known for its turn-based combat system, is more popular today than ever thanks to its remakes. Many have already tried the modern version, but what about the original?

Despite the impressive updated versions, players won't regret returning to the 90s to experience everything the original game had to offer. It’s a full-fledged adventure with a captivating story, intense turn-based battles, and significant exploration opportunities.

Final Fantasy 7 was released in the late 90s, harnessing the full power of the Sony PlayStation console.

Final Fantasy 7 (photo: Gamerant)

Age of Empires 2: The Age of Kings

Age of Empires 2 has withstood the test of time, remaining at the top of the RTS genre, an incredible achievement. The continuous support from Microsoft deserves praise, as the game still receives updates, allowing both new and old fans to enjoy content that fully leverages the strengths of its gameplay.

It’s one of the best games of the 90s, guaranteed to bring fans back repeatedly. The improvements over the first game are numerous, so ahead of their time, the fourth installment in the series was largely built upon what made the second game special, with only minor tweaks to refresh the experience.

Age Of Empires 2: The Age Of Kings (photo: Gamerant)

Resident Evil

The Resident Evil franchise has thrived for many years, with the remake of one of its most popular installments, Resident Evil 4, even becoming a contender for Game of the Year in 2023. While the series has evolved significantly since the original game’s release, its importance in the history of the gaming industry cannot be ignored.

The original Resident Evil hasn’t aged as well as some other games on this list, particularly due to its fixed camera perspective. However, it deserves a spot here because of its immense impact on the survival horror genre, a feeling still experienced by gamers today.

Also, the infamous poor voice acting played a major role in the game's popularity. It may not be the best entry in the series, but it certainly became one of the greatest games of the 90s.

Resident Evil (photo: Gamerant)

Super Mario 64

Super Mario 64 is recognized as a pivotal milestone in the development of 3D games. It achieved success at a time when 2D games were the standard. With its free movement, which unlocked many new possibilities, many fans consider Super Mario 64 the best game of the 90s.

The levels in the game are meticulously detailed, and the hidden secrets and unlockable elements provide immense replay value. Players often missed something on their first run, encouraging them to return repeatedly.

Super Mario 64 (photo: Gamerant)

Sonic The Hedgehog 2

This refers not to the sequel of the Sonic movie but to the game Sonic The Hedgehog 2 for Sega Genesis. The game was ported to numerous platforms due to its high replay value.

The level design offers an almost perfect balance between difficulty and enjoyment. Sonic The Hedgehog 2 stands out as one of the best games of the 90s.

After the release of Sonic The Hedgehog 2, many franchise fans hoped Sega would return to the classic side-scrolling formula, as the 3D entries in the series failed to impress. In 2017, their wish was fulfilled with the release of Sonic Mania, a game published by Sega and developed by a team known for their fan-made projects.

Sonic The Hedgehog 2 (photo: Gamerant)

DOOM

DOOM (1993), like GoldenEye 007, was a pioneer in the world of multiplayer games. This was made possible by the revolutionary "Deathmatch" mode, which introduced the term "Deathmatch" that is still in use today.

But DOOM didn't only impact multiplayer games. It set new standards for the FPS genre and paved the way for countless "DOOM clones."

While Wolfenstein 3D invented the FPS formula that DOOM used, it was this 1993 game that refined and popularized it. Even decades later, DOOM remains a cult classic, supported by an active community of modders, ensuring the game stays relevant.

DOOM (photo: Gamerant)

Crash Bandicoot

Crash Bandicoot was the first game developed by Naughty Dog for a Sony platform, marking the beginning of an incredible partnership that would yield success for many years. The game follows the main character, Crash, as he runs, jumps, and spins through levels to defeat his nemesis, Dr. Neo Cortex.

The game is known for its vibrant graphics, engaging gameplay, and challenging difficulty. Crash Bandicoot became popular with gamers of all ages, spawning numerous sequels and helping solidify the platformer genre on PlayStation. The N. Sane Trilogy allows players to relive this classic game along with other titles in the series.

Crash Bandicoot (photo: Gamerant)

Mortal Kombat

The 1992 Mortal Kombat is a fighting game similar to Street Fighter and Tekken, which launched a franchise that is still popular today. The core gameplay follows the typical 2D fighting format where two players choose characters to battle, with victory determined by reaction time and the ability to execute combos.

Mortal Kombat's brutal approach to combat sets it apart, a feature few developers dare to replicate. The ability to rip out an opponent's organs is a unique trait of the franchise. The infamous "Fatality" moves, which allow players to perform graphic finishing blows, have made Mortal Kombat one of the most distinctive and controversial series in gaming history.

Mortal Kombat (photo: Gamerant)

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