When it comes to video games from our childhood, we’re all prone to a bit of nostalgia blindness. In contrast to some of the enormous open-world games that are currently taking up our screens, it is difficult to make a convincing case for why Super Mario and Solitaire are true gems, no matter how much you may have enjoyed them as a kid. Many retro games have stood the test of time and are still entertaining to play years after their initial release. These classic video games can occasionally be superior to some of the money-grabbing titles that have flooded the gaming industry in recent years. We have put a lot of effort and time into narrowing down all the retro games in the world to only ten of the greatest. So get ready for a trip down memory lane as we explore the top 10 classic retro games of all time!
1. Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Being the first 3D Zelda game, Ocarina of Time featured a sizable semi-open world that players could explore at their leisure. The game was the fifth entry in the Zelda series and also the first to launch on the Nintendo 64. With a plot so amazing that Twilight Princess practically seems like a big imitation of it, Ocarina features the best rendition of Hyrule in any Zelda game. This retro game was among the most immersive on any console, thanks to all the characters, including the Gerudo guards and cheerful carpenters. Similar to its prequel, it revolves around Link, who is on a quest to save Hyrule from the evil wizard Ganondorf in a fantasy landscape. Nearly every Zelda game after this iconic title has boldly sported the game’s impact on its sleeve as it set a completely new standard for the subsequent addition to the series. Its level design and battle mechanics were both so brilliant that it became the pinnacle of the Zelda franchise (only surpassed by Breath of the Wild).
2. Klondike Solitaire
While traditional Solitaire was already popular among card game enthusiasts, it became a global sensation after Microsoft made it available for free on its Windows 3.0 operating system in the 1990s. Klondike Solitaire was the first version of Solitaire on computers that was mirrored on a green felt background without sacrificing the game’s thrill and enjoyment. Over time, Klondike’s success fuelled the popularity of the card game subgenre, paving the way for other versions like FreeCell, Mahjong Solitaire, and Spider Solitaire. While many games in the same genre were released year after year to challenge Klondike Solitaire’s dominance, no other game has ever attained the kind of ubiquity and adoration that this pioneering title had among the players in the ’90s.
3. Donkey Kong Country
Donkey Kong’s pastel blue cabinet, which is a little bit shorter than the others, a little bit rounder, and a little friendlier than the others, is what sets it apart from other arcade games. Even though the 1990s were a vibrant time for the genre, Donkey Kong’s graphics were more refined than many of its contemporaries, developing a look that would propel its sequel to incredible heights. The title features straightforward controls, nostalgic theme music, and a boatload of excitement. Even on Switch, as you get closer to a barrel jump in Donkey Kong, your hold on the controller gets tighter. When you finally reach Donkey Kong after a long, hard struggle, that sensation and the sigh of relief is what keeps us coming back for more.
4. Space Invaders
The game that got it all began! With its straightforward aesthetics and action, Taito’s 1978 introduction of Space Invaders helped to establish the video game industry. The goal is to use a laser cannon to obliterate each wave of falling aliens. As they approach the bottom of the screen, they begin to counterfire at you. The creatures’ movement quickens when more of them are destroyed, making it harder to target them and survive. It became one of the most iconic shooter games of all time as it laid the way for the subsequent generation of shooter titles. The golden age of video games, which spanned the 1970s and 1980s, is also credited to Space Invaders as its innovator. During this time, the global video game industry experienced an amazing boom and rise in popularity.
5. Super Mario 64
Mario games are known for being entertaining and innovative, and Mario 64 is arguably the best example of these qualities. It took the best parts of Mario’s 2D side-scrolling adventures and figured out how to make them work in a revolutionary 3D environment. Although he still collected mushrooms, sprinted, and hopped his way to victory, Mario was no longer the same. He was actually more proficient because he could backflip, triple jump, and long jump. The change in perspective revolutionized everything, even if the challenge remained the same and the surroundings were comfortingly familiar. Though it may now appear a little old, Mario 64 is nonetheless a bold and classic title.
6. Mahjong Solitaire
Mahjong Solitaire is one of the most-played tile games worldwide thanks to its straightforward rules and entertaining gameplay. Its name is derived from the classic Mahjong game for four players, but the two games have very different structures and gameplay. Mahjong’s objective, as with all solitaire games, is to completely clear the playing field by removing all of the tiles. The player wins the game after the tableau is cleared, but the game is lost if players are unable to make any additional movements or reshuffle the tiles. It is also known as Mahjong Online, Taipei Mahjong, Mahjongg, Shanghai Mah-Jong, Shisen-Sho, and Kyodai, but all of these games have the same objective: to remove every single tile by matching pairs of identical Mahjong tiles.
7. Tekken 3
Even though it wasn’t the first game in the fighting game subgenre, Tekken 3 perfected the 3D fighting game genre, proving that console adaptations of arcade games could be equally as good as the originals. It provided one of the finest and most enjoyable formulas ever, with a design structure so effective that it hasn’t undergone much change in decades. No matter if you played Tekken 3 on the original PlayStation, in arcades when it was released, or on a broken machine at your local bowling alley after a few years, it must have made an imprint on you that is probably still vivid in your memories. All of the fighters in Tekken 3 looked as cool as the lightning and flame effects that flowed off their punches and kicks.
8. Doom
The storied game revolutionized first-person shooters and inspired a string of (usually) fantastic sequels. The original title had everything, from John Romero and American McGee’s brilliant map designs to John Carmack’s original Doom Engine, which is widely regarded as the initial iteration of id Tech. Through new mods and user-generated content, this technology allowed the game to live on decades after its original release. Each weapon in the game feels unique, and each level challenges the player in new and unexpected ways. Regardless of whether you’re on a breakneck combat arena or a brain-testing level, Doom constantly varies its challenge. Today’s version of the classic first-person shooter is still quick, difficult, and pretty much accessible on all platforms.
9. Banjo-Kazooie
Banjo-Kazooie demonstrated what makes a great 3D platformer after Super Mario 64 set the standard. Yes, Banjo-Kazooie is superior to Super Mario 64 as the best 3D platformer to ever appear on the Nintendo 64. The protagonists of Rare’s masterwork were a bear named Banjo and the bird Kazooie, who resides in his backpack. Bear and bird must work quickly to free Banjo’s sister, who was kidnapped by the local witch Grunty. The bear and bird only had two mainline games, but it had such an impact on fans that it continues to be felt today. This fantastic game features excellent worldbuilding, inventive mechanics, distinctive realms, and amusing scripting. Along with some timeless humor and a piece of fantastic music by Grant Kirkhope, Banjo-Kazooie offers a tonne of entertaining moves to learn.
10. Chrono Trigger
Although Chrono Trigger has been out for a long 25 years, it hasn’t aged at all. Not only did it begin a series that is desperately in need of a reboot, but it also established a high standard for later games to meet. During the fifth generation of consoles, Chrono Trigger set standards for role-playing games utilizing 16-bit technology. It helped usher in a golden age for the genre that has been enjoyed ever since. Along with its stunning visuals, it also put a lot of emphasis on side quests that expanded on the backstories of the side characters. It offered 13 different possible outcomes, giving it a distinct advantage and increasing the replayability value. Although it didn’t enjoy the same commercial success as the SNES’ Nintendo-published games, it still managed to outsell most of them. Chrono Trigger sold over two million copies worldwide, making it the 20th best-selling SNES game of all time and the ninth-best-selling game that wasn’t included with the console.