While the 80s are often credited as the decade that helped massively popularize video games for players around the world, the 90s were a monumental step forward for the medium with countless leaps forward in the first major step for treating them as works of art. With ever-growing technologies and approaches to game design, many of these titans of the decade are some of the most influential and important video game releases of all time.
Even more impressive is just how many of these games still hold up tremendously under a modern lens, able to be continously played time and time again without ever being tired of their seamless gameplay and impactful strengths. From top-notch multiplayer experiences that can be shared with friends to engaging single-player worlds filled with depth and intrigue, these games have maintained their strengths decades after their release and will forever be timeless classics of the medium.
10
‘Tekken 3’ (1997)
One of the biggest leaps that fighting games made during the 90s was the leap into the third dimension, and while games like the original Tekken and Virtual Fighter were vastly important for the genre, Tekken 3 still stands as one of the absolute greatest 3D fighting games of all time. The game sees the Tekken franchise truly hitting its stride in terms of great graphics, seamless and fluid gameplay, and a vast cast of memorable characters to create one of the definitive fighting game experiences of the decade.
It speaks volumes to the fact that even decades after the game’s release and a multitude of other Tekken sequels that have pushed the genre forward, there is still something compelling and energetic about Tekken 3 that makes it a great game to simply pick up and play with friends. Many inherent staples of the series would find their start in this game, largely paving the way for the success of the rest of the franchise and 3D fighting games as a whole.
9
‘Super Mario World’ (1990)
There is an inherent timelessness and passion placed into each of the main series Super Mario titles that make them some of the most celebrated and masterful platformers of all time. Super Mario World still stands as one of the defining 2D platformers and overall greatest games that Mario has ever been a part of, with a massive increase in scope and scale provided from the jump to the SNES from the NES. With more personality in the levels and a great mixture of difficulty and fun, Super Mario World still holds up tremendously as a top-notch platformer.
Especially with the game frequently being rereleased on the likes of the virtual console and Nintendo Switch Online, there are a multitude of ways for modern-day gamers to experience this timeless 90s platformer in all of its greatness. Nearly every modern 2D Mario game finds a lot of inspiration from this legendary title, as it pushed the needle forward for 2D platformers more than any other game of the decade.
8
‘Doom’ (1993)
First-person shooters continue to be one of the most popular styles of video game released in the modern age, with the Call of Duty and Halo franchises still selling millions of copies to dedicated fans time and time again. However, among all the classic FPS games that helped push the genre forward, Doom is still an absolute blast that is just as fun today as it was when it first released. Even with it not having a lot of the same quality of life elements of later FPS games, there is an untold catharsis of laying waste to demons that is unmatched by other shooters.
It’s this mixture of top-notch action with effective level design that has made the game a timeless classic and one of the most important games in the fps genre. There’s a reason that fans are so dedicated to the game that they find ways to get it to run on just about every piece of technology imaginable. Even with a myriad of great sequels to choose from, Doom is still a blast to play time and time again.
7
‘Street Fighter III: Third Strike’ (1999)
It might seem sacrilegious to not include Street Fighter II on this list, considering just how often the game is attributed to helping massively popularize fighting games as an entire genre. However, even within the 90s, Street Fighter and fighting games massively evolved to better hone in on their strengths, with the culmination of this brilliance coming in the form of Street Fighter III: Third Strike. This third iteration of the third Street Fighter game is so beloved and appreciated by players that several still consider it the greatest fighting game of all time.
It has a diverse and incredibly fun cast of characters to play as, while the core gameplay tailors itself to player expression and fluidity above all else. There is a reason that even after various other main-series sequels, Third Strike continues to be played at a competitive level, with it even being a main stage game at EVO as recent as 2024. While Street Fighter II may have the influence and legacy on its side, Third Strike is infinitely more fun and replayable to dedicated fans of the franchise.
6
‘Mario Kart 64’ (1996)
Mario Kart has been a staple of simple multiplayer fun for decades now, with nearly every entry in the franchise having the simple pick-up-and-play appeal that makes them always a blast to play with a group of friends. Even the very first game in the series to have 4-player multiplayer, Mario Kart 64, is just as fun and high-energy to play nowadays as it was when it first released. It stays true to the timeless strengths of the franchise, popularizing many of these strengths and cementing Mario Kart as an addicting multiplayer party experience.
This legendary racing game continues to be a blast thanks to its wide array of memorable and fun courses, as well as tight-knit controls that make it very easy to understand and get a handle on. Even non-gamers can very easily catch onto the fun and energy that Mario Kart provides, continuing to make this one of the strongest multiplayer experiences that the 90s has to offer.
5
‘Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings’ (1999)
Real-Time Strategy games really hit their stride in the 90s with a multitude of exceptional games that helped push the genre forward to new heights, with games like Starcraft and Command & Conquer still being massively celebrated by fans to this day. However, in terms of lasting legacy and continued playability in the modern era, nothing comes close to the masterful scope and gameplay of Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings. The game sees players gathering resources and building up their towns and armies to defeat opposing civilizations.
While the wide array of great single-player content helped give the game hours of content and impact, its the competitive multiplayer and online matchmaking that truly made Age of Empires and icon of the RTS genre. The craft and exceptionally balanced impact of building up a civilization against a seasoned opponent is still one of the best, most satisfying and high-level competitive multiplayer experiences of the RTS genre. Still being played by a dedicated player base to this day, Age of Empires II is one of the greatest RTS games of all time.
4
‘Super Metroid’ (1994)
The initial games in the Metroid franchise were certainly well-made for their time, but Super Metroid‘s exceptional sense of scale and gameplay improvements not only cemented the franchise as one of Nintendo’s best, but it helped pave the way for an entire genre in its namesake. The pure catharsis of exploring a vast map, picking up upgrades and exploring every nook and cranny for secrets makes Super Metroid a truly special experience for the era.
This gameplay loop proves to be so effective that it acts as one of the core namesakes for the Metroidvania genre, an entire genre of exploration adventure games created in the wake of both Super Metroid and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Even after the Metroidvania genre has massively grown and evolved in the decades since its release, Super Metroid is still a blast to play, as the core tenets of its strengths stay true and timeless in their execution.
3
‘The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time’ (1998)
The largest and most important trend and evolution for gaming in the 90s was easily the jump to 3D technology and gameplay at home consoles, with many of the most iconic and revolutionary games of the era making use of the new potential of 3D. As such, it isn’t a surprise that The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, the first 3D Zelda game, elevated the legendary adventure series to untold new heights, still being considered one of the greatest games of all time.
From the vast open world of Hyrule to an array of memorable dungeons to explore, Ocarina of Time distills the pure magic of a fantasy adventure into its purest form, being one of the absolute best fantasy games of all time in its execution. With so many side-quests, collectibles, and secrets to uncover, it’s a game that will always be a blast to play from beginning to end, as a core fundamental experience for many games.
2
‘Final Fantasy VII’ (1997)
Final Fantasy was already the absolute face of JRPGs during previous generations, although Final Fantasy VII proved to be such a monumental step forward not just for the franchise, but for video game storytelling as a whole. It’s an exceptional story of freedom fighting against a ruthless corporate entity, siphoning the resources of a magical world, which is still incredibly compelling all these years later, made all the better by the cast of great characters and an engaging, nearly 100-hour gameplay experience.
The game has grown not just into being the most recognizable and iconic Final Fantasy game, but the most recognizable JRPG of all time, having a massive influence across the entire genre and furthering its icon status with a multitude of remakes and spinoffs. There’s simply so much content within the game that it’s impossible to experience everything on a single playthrough, making the game perfect for being replayed and reexperienced to see what all the game has to offer.
1
‘Super Mario 64’ (1996)
While Mario had already proven himself to be an absolute titan of 2D platformers in the years before, Super Mario 64 was a major test for not just the franchise, but the longevity and possibilities of 3D platformers as a subgenre. Needless to say, Super Mario 64 proved to be so whimsical and exceptionally crafted that it helped fully establish Super Mario as the king of 3D platformers just as much as 2D platformers. With so many wild worlds to explore and fun around every corner, Super Mario 64 is one of the definitive gaming masterpieces of the 90s.
Its greatest strength, however, comes from just how easy it is to pick up and have a blast with it, whether a player is fully experienced with the game’s world and secrets or playing a 3D platformer for the first time. Its strengths are core to the wonder of video games as a whole, giving greater attention to the joys and feelings felt by the player as they control Mario through its various platforming challenges and puzzles.
