It would have been helpful if, back in the 80s, there had been an aggregate like OpenCritic to track reviews. The bigger video games got, the more magazines appeared, each with its own different rating styles. What was once thought of as a kid's form of entertainment has now become more acceptable for adults, too.
10 Classic Games That Are Still Active
These iconic video game classics are still active today due to the timeless nature of what they have to offer.
They are the ones who grew up playing games on the NES, PS1, original Xbox, and so on. OpenCritic does have retro games with scores on their website, but they can’t do a good job archiving the mindset of 80s and 90s reviewers because a lot of these reviews are lost to time. So, let’s imagine that some of the most celebrated games of all time probably would have scored a 95 or higher.
Street Fighter 2
A Combo Breaker
Street Fighter 2
- Released
- March 7, 1991
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
Street Fighter 2 changed fighting games forever in arcades and in the home console market, like on the SNES. With every iteration, Capcom added more fighters to the mix, so it’s hard to say which version would have gotten higher marks.
That said, the core Street Fighter 2 experience wowed everyone in the 90s thanks to its character roster, tight controls, special moves, and the combo meter that made the fighting more visceral. It was a game-changer that is still felt to this day and is even a fun fighting game to keep playing to this day in any iteration.
Chrono Trigger
Subverting RPG Expectations
Chrono Trigger
- Released
- March 11, 1995
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Chrono Trigger is an SNES game that was ahead of its time as an RPG because of its forward-thinking ideas. For example, the world map did not have random encounters, and dungeon locations also had no random encounters; instead, monsters appear freely.
The three-party character system was more active during combat as they moved upon given commands, and attacks took into account enemy placement. Plus, there was the overarching time-traveling aspect, which took players to new periods and even let them affect outcomes, which was a wild idea for an SNES game that assuredly blew minds in 1995.
Super Mario 64
The Gold Standard For 3D Platformers
Super Mario 64
- Released
- September 26, 1996
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E for Everyone
- Genre(s)
- 3D Platformer
Mario was a huge franchise on the NES and SNES in terms of 2D platformers, and Nintendo reinvented the wheel by creating the 3D gold standard via Super Mario 64. Instead of giving players dots on a world map to select levels, they could explore the castle grounds to find secrets and levels.
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Once players jumped into a painting, it was a whole different ballgame as the levels were reused for several activities, from normal playthroughs to races. Thanks to the variety and the 3D controls, Super Mario 64 became the blueprint for 3D platformers to follow, and everyone in the '90s knew it was groundbreaking.
GoldenEye 007
Licensed To Kill
GoldenEye 007
- Released
- August 25, 1997
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Animated Blood, Animated Violence
- Genre(s)
- Shooter
Licensed-based games were usually not great in the 80s and 90s, and first-person shooters weren’t beloved on consoles either. GoldenEye 007 changed all that on the N64, which delivered an unbelievable Bond experience. The campaign was solid thanks to the gadgetry and the decent shooting at the time, allowing players to immerse themselves as the debonair super spy.
What really sold the game was the four-player multiplayer, which became a staple for slumber parties for years as players couldn’t get enough of the maps, characters, and bragging rights upon victory.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time
A New Link
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
- Released
- November 21, 1998
WHERE TO PLAY
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was one of the first big open-world games to explore, which is a bit laughable by today’s standards. But in 1998, players got to explore Hyrule like never before with big open fields they could ride around in, along with a handful of big dungeons to explore.
The time aspect was also mind-blowing, which transformed the child Link into an adult, and also presented Hyrule in a new light. It’s easy to see why the game ranked so high for many Zelda fans for years, and even though it has been surpassed, it will remain a legend.
Metal Gear Solid
Stealth Espionage Action
Metal Gear Solid
- Released
- October 20, 1998
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Stealth
Metal Gear Solid doubled down on what the MSX games started with in Japan by offering players a top-down stealth game like no other. Every mechanic and story beat was seemingly handcrafted to make players feel immersed, from seeing their footprints in the snow to having their Codec contacts live react to any given situation.
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The story and voice acting were also big highlights, as nothing had been done to this degree before on the PS1. Finally, the puzzle-like boss battles were inventive, and they helped establish Metal Gear as a franchise known for larger-than-life bosses that are still fun to play through.
Super Smash Bros. Melee
A Defining Moment For Nintendo
Super Smash Bros. Melee
- Released
- December 3, 2001
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Comic Mischief, Mild Violence
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
Super Smash Bros. Melee was a bigger version of the N64 game that started it all, but now better on the GameCube with more fighters and modes. Even though sequels came out after, this was the game traded around at fighting tournaments for over a decade because fans thought it was perfectly balanced.
From Mario slinging fireballs to Link slashing opponents, fans couldn’t get enough of the action. Besides some outdated graphics, Super Smash Bros. Melee remains just as playable today as it was in 2001.
Half-Life 2
Physics-Based Storytelling
Half-Life 2
- Released
- November 16, 2004
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence
- Genre(s)
- Shooter
Half-Life developed environmental storytelling, which allowed developers to present their narratives without pausing the action for cutscenes. Half-Life 2 had even better environmental interactions, plus it added physics-based puzzles.
The areas were now more open to explore, and sometimes there wasn’t a set solution to get past guards or how to vault over a wall. While the action wasn’t as intense as other shooters at the time, Half-Life 2 was award-winning because of how atmospheric it was, setting the mood for an unforgettable sci-fi adventure that fans still discuss decades later.
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