12 Nostalgic 90s Video Games

When the earlier generation was skipping rocks and going on forced camping trips, 90s babies like myself were privileged to witness the birth of one of the purest forms of entertainment, VIDEO GAMES. video game CDs, PlayStation, and GameBoy consoles were a few of the adolescent pass time that changed the world, and my world.

While these are only relics of the past now and video gaming these days is making nerds rich (super jealous), the happiness and experiences these games brought us are forever etched into our hearts and minds.

Here are a few games that a few of us millennials might remember.

Super Mario World (1990)

Super Mario is a mammoth video game as it transcends any generation, and it’s only appropriate that it be the first on the list.

Kids 20 years from now will definitely know the bouncy Italian superhero and his compatriots as they go on their quest to save Princess Peach from Bowser’s castle. It is a colorful, fun-filled experience that guarantees to get you in the best of moods every time. It was produced by Shigeru Miyamoto and developed by Nintendo

Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)

Similar to the Super Mario franchise, the Sonic series is also one of great renown in the gaming world.

The lovable blue hedgehog has been running through our hearts for the better part of 30 years. And the battle between his team and the evil Dr. Egg Man is a storyline embedded in the hearts of many. The movie adaptation that starred James Marsden, Ben Schwarts, and Jim Carrey was created in 2020 and it shows the younger generation a more modern look at Sonic and his adventures. The first game was developed and published by Sega.

Chicken Invaders (1992)

In the category of Shoot ’em up video games, Chicken Invaders stands tall as its popularity till present dates supersede most others in that category.

The first installment was created 22 years ago - makes you feel old doesn’t it. It was created by Greek Indie developer Kostantinos Proushas, owner of InterActions Studies. The Chicken Invaders series is one of the longest-running video games developed in Greece. The absurd premise of killing loads of evil space chickens to save the world is one no kid could and would ever pass up.

Mortal Kombat II (1993)

MK2 is the first installment of the famous fighting tournament that holds the fate of different worlds (yes, other worlds exist, the world doesn’t revolve around you).

With its relevance to the present day's numerous adaptations and many video game series, it’s no surprise that it is considered one of the greatest video games of all time. It is also currently the best-selling fighting game in the genre’s history. With its ever-evolving storyline, growing diverse characters, and gory fatalities, it’s fun to look back at how it all started. Back in the early 2000s, MK had boys yelling “get over here!” everywhere they shouldn’t.

Tomb Raider (1996)

Angelia Jolie might have propelled the name “Lara Croft” to a more mainstream audience with her remarkable rendition of the iconic character but before falling in love with Jolie, we were head over heels for the pixelated low-resolution version that caught our hearts in 1996.

The British aristocrat who found love in exploring and surviving dangerous parts of the world — sort of like Indiana Jones but without a hat, whip, and looks better in khakis — decides to use her skills to save her father and learn survival lessons along the way in. The Game was developed by Core Design and published by Eidos Interactive.

Tony Hawk’s: Pro Skater (1999)

For a lot of us who weren’t into the punk rock skateboarding scene in the 90s, the Tony Hawk games were a way to live vicariously. The game allows players to take control of a variety of famous skateboarders who must complete missions by performing tricks, passing obstacles, and winning points. This kept a lot of young men glued to their screens and eventually motivated them to give skateboarding a try ultimately resulting in scoffed knees and bruised elbows, but all worth it.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2003)

Prince of Persia was not released in the 90s but it was appreciated all the same by millennials.

It is an action-adventure video game that follows an unnamed prince as he uses a magical dagger that allows him to rewind time to battle villains and monsters in his quest to save his country. The game was developed and published by Ubisoft. Ubisoft is widely known for developing franchises like Assasins Creed, Far Cry, and Tom Clancy video games. If you’re wondering if Ubisoft is obsessed with vertical movement, you’re probably right.

Contra: Hard Corps (1994)

Contra was published and developed by gaming powerhouse Konami. It’s a side-scrolling run and gun shoot ’em up style that puts it in the Chicken Invaders category and Arcade origins.

However, in this game, you’re not shooting at chickens, eggs, or anything fowl-related. It’s a fast and fun game with great graphics for its time. PS, if you’re looking to play this game again, I suggest the US version. The Japanese version was terrible. You’re welcome.

Virtua Cop (1994)

Originally an arcade game on the Sega Model 2 system but was thankfully ported to the Sega Saturn in 1995 and Windows in 1997. Designed by Yu Suzuki who created the sister game Virtua Fighter, Virtua Cop requires a light gun to play and its 90s back-to-back police partner style gives off the Lethal Weapon, Tango and Cash, Rush Hour, and Bad Boys energy that our generation adores.

Simcity 2000 (1993)

Simcity 2000 was our first introduction to a city-building video game. Kids these days might find it weird that we loved a game like this one, but we did. Its objective was to create a city, build infrastructure, develop the residential and industrial areas, and collect taxes from citizens. It was vibrant and detailed and doing all this in an isometric perspective makes you feel like a supreme being creating a world, maybe that is why we loved it so much.

GoldenEye 007 (1997)

The GoldenEye 007 game is a widely appreciated first-person shooter game centered around the Pierce Brosnan James Bond character. It introduced game lovers to a POV shooting style of gaming that put players in a front row to action, literally. The 007 franchise is arguably the most popular spy movie, starring Sean Connery, Pierce Brosnan, and most recently Daniel Craig; they all play the role of James Bond in different eras.

Need For Speed III: Hot Pursit (1998)

You’re probably saying, “finally a racing game,” well we had a lot of good ones back in the day so it was difficult to decide. However, this one is especially nostalgic. This NFS installment included the police pursuit as a major part of the gameplay and most kids found this to be the coolest part of the game. The crash scenes and variety of exotic cars were also features that were a big attraction.