15 Console Games From the '90s You Need to Play Again Right Now
1. Super Mario 64
Once Mario jumped into that painting, grabbed a mushroom and put on those heavy iron boots, and all in newfangled-looking 64-bit graphics, there was no going back.
2. Final Fantasy VII (1997)
Who can forget when Spikey-haired Cloud joined a terrorist faction (pre-9/11) that turned out to be a bunch of world-saving heroes? Everything--the music, the gameplay, the characters--was top notch.
3. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (1991)
The third installment of the mega-successful series is still considered one the best games of all time.
4. Metal Gear Solid (1998)
Hideo Kojima’s masterpiece about a Snake Plissken-inspired soldier had everything: a twist-filled plot, fantastic characters, an impressive arsenal, and an actual character named Snake.
5. Resident Evil (1996)
Who knew this one little game would single-handedly create not only the survival horror game genre, but also a parade of sequels, merchandise, and movies? The first in the series is still one of the best in terms of story and cheesy dialogue.
6. Half-Life (1998)
Do we even need the long-delayed third part of the Half Life 2 trilogy, given that other installments in the story have been so satisfying to play? Yes, Mr. Freeeeeeman, we do.
7. Goldeneye 007 (1997)
By today’s standards, the controls are wonky and the graphics less than great, yet Nintendo 64’s James Bond multiplayer shooter was still way more fun than the Pierce Bronson film of the same name.
8. SoulCalibur (1998)
It was released 16 years ago, but it’s still the most fun you can have with a fighting game, thanks to a nunchuck expert named Maxi.
9. Shenmue (1999)
Originally planned as a trilogy, lukewarm sales led to just two installments in the franchise. Much of what would later be perfected in the Grand Theft Auto series was done here first: day-to-night time passing, the ability to interact with nearly anything, and a crime drama that was epic in scope.
10. Mario Kart 64 (1997)
This game was first of the best-selling racing series to include sounds bites by Mario & friends, and it’s still the most fun.
11. Diablo (1996)
Get into that dungeon! Kill! Kill! Kill! Rake in that treasure! This is the action role-playing game that made looters of us all.
12. Chrono Trigger (1995)
This Japanese RPG, which debuted on Super Nintendo, is just as much a weird, wonderful time-sucker as any title in the popular Final Fantasy series.
13. Parasite Eve (1998)
To this day, this action-horror RPG tale has one of the most talked-about finales in gaming.
14. Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)
Sega’s answer to the Italian plumber, the game starring a tiny blue streak was the fastest side-scroller the world had ever seen.
15. Doom (1993)
The first-person shooter genre bloomed with the release of this sci-fi horror title. So did the luck of the game’s creators at id Software.
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