Introduction
This list contains games that have stood the test of time, and have proven themselves to be timeless classics. These are games that you can play today and still hold their own against more modern releases. Most of these titles were released in the 1990s or early 2000s. But some were released even earlier than that! And there’s definitely at least one game on this list that was originally released in 2017 but has been discounted because it’s still enjoyable by today’s standards (which makes it a classic). While every gamer has a different opinion about which games are the best, here is my personal top ten list of retro video games:
Deus Ex
Deus Ex was a game that revolutionized the stealth genre. It was one of the first titles to have multiple endings and a large variety of ways to play through it. The main character, JC Denton, can choose to be a silent assassin or an action hero. He can also choose whether or not he wants morality points and how they are used in conversations with other characters.
If you don’t want to play as JC Denton, there are many other options available. You can play as any number of supporting characters throughout the entire game! This upsets some people because they feel like their choices aren’t meaningful enough if they aren’t playing as JC Denton but I think this gives you more freedom than many games have ever had before (and even most modern ones).
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind is one of the best role-playing games ever made. I’m not just saying that because it was my introduction to the genre, but because it has a lot of things going for it. The game builds an open world with a great story and characters, amazing gameplay, graphics that are still impressive today, music that permeates every aspect of your adventure and voice acting so good you won’t believe they used real actors (even though they did). You could get lost in this game forever as there are hundreds of hours worth side quests to complete or explore: caves with treasure chests full of loot; treasure maps leading you on wild goose chases; Ayleid ruins filled with puzzles; random encounters along roads where you can collect ingredients or gold coins; bandit camps where you can earn some extra cash fighting enemies or completing quests given by NPCs (non-player characters).
Super Mario Bros. 3
Super Mario Bros. 3 is a platform video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Entertainment System home console. The game was released in Japan and North America in 1988, and in the PAL region the following year.
It’s not hard to see why Super Mario Bros. 3 is considered one of the greatest games ever made; it’s pretty much flawless from start to finish! There are so many things about this game that make it special: its music, its graphics, its level design… It’s just phenomenal overall!
Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows Of Amn
If you’re looking for a great story, look no further than Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows Of Amn. This game can be played on the PC, Mac and Linux.
Baldur’s Gate II is set in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. The game features an enhanced version of the Infinity Engine, which was used for the first game as well. The title takes place in Faerûn, where players control six different characters (eight during some points in the story) from diverse backgrounds who each have their own agenda and goals that they strive to achieve.[2][3]
GoldenEye 007
GoldenEye 007 is a first-person shooter game that was released for the Nintendo 64 in 1997. It was developed by Rare, who were also responsible for games like Donkey Kong Country and Banjo-Kazooie. The game is based on the James Bond film GoldenEye and its plot revolves around an evil Russian scientist named Dr. Doaklov trying to cause global warming with his weather satellite called GoldenEye (hence the title). The player takes on the role of James Bond as he tries to stop Dr. Doaklov’s plan, while also dealing with various other villains along his journey such as Xenia Onatopp and Alec Trevelyan (aka Janus).
Sid Meier’s Civilization IV
Sid Meier’s Civilization IV is the right game for you if:
- You love strategy games and want to play one that’s easy to pick up, but still has enough depth to keep it feeling fresh over many years of play.
- You’re going on a long bus trip and want something that will be both entertaining and educational — like all of the games in this list, Civilization IV has a lot of history lessons embedded within its gameplay.
- You have friends who want to get into tabletop gaming but don’t know where to start. Instead of recommending Risk or Monopoly (which are great classics), tell them about your beloved Civilization series!
- You’re sick and need something soothing yet engaging — there’s nothing quite as comforting as imagining yourself conquering an entire continent while taking care not to catch any disease from steamy jungle hexes!
Grand Theft Auto V (for a sense of nostalgia)
Grand Theft Auto V is a good choice for someone who grew up playing games in the 90s. The game is still relevant today, and it’s still fun to play. The story isn’t as great as other games, but it is still worth your time if you want to relive the glory days of gaming. If you’re looking for something more modern or interactive, look elsewhere!
Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back
Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back is a platform video game developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment.
The game was released on the PlayStation in North America on September 30, 1997 and in Europe on October 7, 1997. It follows the adventures of Crash Bandicoot as he attempts to save his world from Doctor Neo Cortex, who creates an army of monsters to destroy Crash. Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back follows directly from its predecessor, which was released in 1996 for the PlayStation console system. In this sequel, Crash must once again avoid being captured by Dr. Neo Cortex’s forces while travelling through time to stop them from taking over his world at all costs
Final Fantasy VI
Final Fantasy VI is a role-playing video game developed and published by Square (now Square Enix) in 1994 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It is the sixth game in the Final Fantasy series, and is considered one of the best games of all time.
The game takes place on a world where magic has been banned due to its misuse during an apocalyptic war 1,000 years before. However, an evil Empire named Gestahl has revived this forbidden art with his plans to conquer all nations on Earth using Magitek devices powered by magicite, which can only be used by those who have mastered black magic and monsters summoned through espers (creatures that are born from human beings). A rebel group called The Returners fight against Gestahl’s empire while attempting to stop him from obtaining more power through their own means like stealing artifacts or recruiting allies such as General Leo who was once a general in Gestahl’s army but defected because he disagreed with his methods.
The Legend Of Zelda
The Legend of Zelda is an action-adventure game that was developed and published by Nintendo. The game was originally released for the Famicom Disk System in Japan in 1986, and ported to cartridge format for the NES (Nintendo Entertainment System) later that year. In this game, Link has to rescue Princess Zelda from Ganon’s clutches after he kidnaps her.
The gameplay involves exploring dungeons, fighting monsters and solving puzzles to advance through the story. The player controls Link from a top-down perspective as he explores Hyrule while collecting items such as weapons, bombs and food which will help him defeat enemies or find secrets located within dungeons filled with puzzles.
These are the best video games from the era before HD graphics.
The world of video games has changed a lot since the days when you couldn’t have more than 128 colors on-screen at once. But there’s something special about retro games that can’t be replicated in modern titles, and when it comes to those old-school experiences, there are some rare gems that still deserve your attention today.
The following are 10 of the best retro games you can still play today—and they’re worth every minute!
Conclusion
So there you have it. These are the best retro games that still kick ass today! We hope this list helps inspire you to revisit some of these great old classics and experience them anew. Who knows, maybe one day we’ll get a sequel to one of these popular titles that lives up to its predecessor. Until then, though—enjoy your weekend with some good old-fashioned gaming!
