I thought it would be kind of fun to write a list of what I consider to be the 39 best games from the 80s and 90s. Why 39? I originally was going to do 25, but there were just too many great games. This is completely subjective and is based on my own personal tastes which apparently tend to favor really difficult action platformers with science fiction themes. I didn’t consciously seek out those types of games, but I guess the gamer’s heart likes what it likes. I hope you enjoy reading through them!
39. Turrican II: The Final Fight (1991)
Preferred Platform(s): Amiga, Commodore 64
I loved the first Turrican. I loved the sequel even more. In this Metroid-inspired action platformer there are huge, complex levels to explore. Combine that with top notch graphics, smooth gameplay and super tight controls and you have yourself a recipe for an awesome gaming experience!
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38. R-Type (1987)
Preferred Platform(s): Amiga, Commodore 64
This fantastic horizontal space-shooter truly set a new bench mark for how shoot-em ups should be done. Inspired by Gradius with themes reminiscent of Aliens, you guided your star ship through the various terrains and hostile environments with endless swarms of aliens on the screen. The power-up system is similar to early shooters, but they were memorable and powerful. I first played this on the Amiga, which was very well done. The game was merciless, but we kept coming back for more.
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37. Moai-Kun (1990)
Preferred Platform(s): Famicom
The good folks at Konami decided to leave this gem in Japan. In Moai-Kun, you play as an Easter Island statue who must rescue all his buddies while solving the increasingly complex puzzles thrown at you in each level. Your only attack is to thrust your rock head into your enemies before they get you. You will acquire bombs that need to be strategically placed to access certain sections. In later levels, you need to be super precise about this. It is a quality game that takes it roots from earlier puzzle games like Sokoban and Uoovoy. I discovered this game around 2010 when I went searching for fun Famicom and PC88 Japanese games that I finally got the chance to play. There are many more to come.
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36. Worms (1995)
Preferred Platform(s): Amiga, Amiga CD32, IBM PC
This is a turned-based artillery tactical game in which you control a team of worms who must wipe out all other worms using a variety of weapons. It has stood the test of time and is just as much fun to play now as it ever was. There have been about 2 or 3 dozen sequels made and the ones I have played are actually pretty good. However, this was the one that started it all and in its purest form.
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35. Apidya (1992)
Preferred Platform(s): Amiga
I love cool and unusual games as you will discover as my list continues. Apidya is certainly a unique game. It’s a space shooter like R-Type, except instead of a space ship, you are a bee and instead of outerspace attacking aliens, you are on Earth attacking other insects and as well as pike, robots and dolls. The soundtrack is legendary and I’d almost play it just for that, but the game itself also just happens to be one of the best shooters out there.
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Preferred Platform(s): SNES
My appreciation for just how amazing this game is didn’t come until later when I started to play RPGs. As a kid, I was strictly an action and adventure gamer. A Link to the Past improved on the original in many ways and had this perfect way of telling a story as you progressed through the game. While I still prefer the original Zelda due to its more pure form and the sense of awe it inspired with its seemingly endless world of exploration and secrets, I still appreciate just what a Link to the Past accomplished.
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33. Lemmings (1991)
Preferred Platform(s): Amiga, IBM PC, Apple IIGS
The concept was simple and so were the brains of the stars of the game in Lemmings. They walked in a straight, single file line until they either died or you managed to quickly build a safe passage for them the exit and move onto the next level. There were different jobs you could assign to each lemming, such as digging a tunnel or building a staircase. As expected, the later levels get intense and you have to save a certain percentage of them to move onto the next stage.
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32. Nebulus (1987)
Preferred Platform(s): Commodore 64, Gameboy
I first played Nebulus on the US Gameboy version called Castelian in 1991. It was a difficult puzzle action platformer with a really cool pseudo 3D effect. You had to guide your cute frog-like alien character to the tops of 8 different towers. The game was just too hard for me at the time, but I remember my friend getting to like levels 4 or 5, so I knew it was possible to get good at it. Later in life I started playing it again and finally was able to beat it which gave me great satisfaction.
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31. Tomahawk (1985)
Preferred Platform(s): Apple IIGS
Tomahawk was my first helicopter simulator I can recall playing. The controls and sound effects were extremely realistic for the time, while the graphics were vector-based in order to have the game play at a reasonable frame-rate. I have heard from several pilots that say playing this and its prequel Fighter Pilot made them want to become pilots. The Tomahawk was an Apache helicopter and in this game you are tasked with taking out enemy ground forces and other choppers who are occupying allied territories. This is a game that you want to take your time with, where each attack should be planned ahead of time rather than just going in full guns blazing. In the original 1985 ZX Spectrum version you could actually play with dual joysticks just like a real chopper. I love this game very much and come back to it every now and then to test my piloting skills.
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30. Alisia Dragoon (1992)
Preferred Platform(s): Sega Gensis
The guys at Game Arts really were masters of the craft. With Alisia Dragoon, they took the concept of Firehawk and applied it to the mythological past in this fantasy epic. You play as Alisia, the daughter of a Sorcerer, who can harness electrical energy and blast it through her hands while taking on mythical beasts with the aid of her dragons and other creature companions.
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29. Solomon’s Key (1986)
Preferred Platform(s): Arcade, NES
There are so many puzzle games available, that it takes a really good one to stand out from the crowd. Solomon’s Key is among the best of them. It combines puzzle-solving with strategy and action. You play as a sorcerer named Dana who must retrieve Solomon’s Key to restore the light to the World. You do this by finding the keys to each level, unlocking the door and exiting it. There are fairies than can be summoned by chiming a bell and fireballs you can acquire that should only be used sparingly when you are in a pickle. All in all, this a fantastic single screen puzzle game.
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Preferred Platform(s): SNES
The iconic racing game that spawned many sequels and countless knockoffs was and still is truly a perfect racing game. It featured a who’s who of famous Nintendo characters who all had unique personalities on the track with strengths and weaknesses that had to be carefully considered before your selection. Of course everyone had a favorite, mine was Bowser, and we all took great pride in that. Whether you were playing the Mario Kart GP, Match Race or Battle Mode, you were guaranteed a good time.
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Preferred Platform(s): SNES
I consider the original NES trilogy a classic series and I put more play hours into Simon’s Quest than any other game from the series; however, with Super Castlevania IV the level of quality rose ten-fold. Suddenly you felt like you could fully control your character. You could swing your whip in any direction, you had an amazing soundtrack including a greatest hits from the original series and you had a sense of where to go since this was a straight forward action platformer. A brilliant game.
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26. Super Mario Bros. 3 (1991)
Preferred Platform(s): NES
It almost feels cliché to add this game to a top games list, but it more than deserves that spot. I can still remember buying this game at Toys ‘R Us in 1991 and being instantly addicted. Mario is better than ever with new power-ups, including the iconic tanooki suit, as he travels through the Mushroom World jumping on Koopa Troopas and playing his magic flute.
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25. Galaga (1981)
Preferred Platform(s): Arcade
Perhaps the most recognized and beloved space shooter ever made, Galaga has stood the test of time. In December of 2008 I had just watched a Fistful of Quarters and decided I must own a standup arcade. I knew if I could only own one that it would need to be Galaga and as luck would have it there just happened to be one for sale in my area. I was living in a small apartment and the only place to put it was in the kitchen, but I didn’t care. It was mine! I consider myself a pretty decent player, although I tend to only get 39 out of the 40 bugs on the bonus stages with good regularity. I call myself the Master of 39! Playing Galaga can be a magical, almost hypnotic experience. When you play it as much as I did, you memorize every bonus stage, you learn all the alien formations, you perfect the timing to just avoid a charging bee so as to not give up your strategic position, but then there are moments when you kind of get in a trance and almost run on auto-pilot and you become one with the machine. That is when you have truly played Galaga.
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24. Metroid (1986)
Preferred Platform(s): NES
Like Zelda, Metroid was a game that I liked to play as a kid, but I couldn’t get very far in. I had always played linear platformers up until then, so the idea of being able to go in any direction and explore on a platform-style game was new to me. What it really needed was a map system, although a lot of us just drew our own. As an adult I did finally beat it and learned to appreciate just how far ahead of its time it was with the only other similar game before it being Thexder.
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23. Zelda (1986)
Preferred Platform(s): NES
I have fond memories playing the original Zelda and its sequel, The Adventure of Link, on the NES. It was too complicated and difficult for me to beat back then, but eventually I did. It is hard to articulate just how groundbreaking this game was to people who grew up with solid action RPGs already around. The idea of being able to travel across this ancient land of Hyrule completely on your own in an open world format was just insane. Of course it helps the game has an amazing story, a memorable character, iconic music and is just a joy to play. Yes, it is difficult, yes, it is too cryptic in places (e.g., random rocks and bushes to destroy to reveal crucial areas of the game), yet somehow that didn’t bother us. Back then, before the internet and even before Nintendo Power, kids would draw maps on paper, they would have patience and they would share their findings with each other at school. It was so exhilarating to finally discover the secret you’ve been stuck on for days that leads to the next stage of the game.
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22. Tournament Arkanoid (1987)
Preferred Platform(s): Arcade
I had always loved playing the computer port of Arkanoid II: Revenge of Doh with the mouse. Then one day, I saw an ad for a “space game” from a restaurant/bar in the area. That game was Tournament Arkanoid. It was my first time playing the game properly using the spinner. What a difference! You have so much control over the paddle and can move and stop it with so much precision that the game truly shines. My particular game is an arcade cocktail machine and it is extremely satisfying as both a 1 or 2 player game. Tournament Arkanoid is identical to the original in terms of gameplay and power-ups with the only difference being the level designs and the fact it is insanely hard and extremely fast, hence the word Tournament. This is for the best of the best Arkanoid players to test their skill.
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21. Rastan (1987)
Preferred Platform(s): Arcade, Apple IIGS
In this fantasy-themed arcade game, you play as Conan, ahem… I mean Rastan, and must slash your way through all kinds of mythical creatures, such as chimeras, harpies and minotaurs. The historical setting reminds me a little of Altered Beast, although Rastan predates that and really exemplifies how a game of this genre should be done. In 1990 the 16-bit Apple IIGS port was released and is the best home version of the game.
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20. Solbrain (1991)
Preferred Platform(s): Famicom, NES
As Solbrain you play as a cool-looking mech that punches his way through the hoards of enemies, similar to Batman for the NES. The difference here is that you can acquire weapons upgrades via the drone who hovers around you. It has a strong Megaman vibe with the level-selection capability. The game is the japanese version of the American game Shatterhand, with the only differences being sprite swaps and a circus stage. Both games are great, but I prefer Solbrain purely for the asthetics which seem to fit better with the overall vibe.
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19. Fire and Ice (1992)
Preferred Platform(s): Amiga, Amiga CD32
I saw this game reviewed online and had never heard of it before. It looked fantastic and I soon tried it out. An instant classic! You play as a cute little coyote named Cool Coyote who must travel through 8 worlds that start in the frozen artic and gradually get hotter and hotter. Your main weapon is ice pellets that freeze the enemies, allowing you to shatter them. The game is deceptively difficult, which reminds me a bit of Nebulus in that way, where you have this cute little character that would appeal to little kids in a crazy challenging game that only the most accomplished gamers can beat.
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18. Space Quest II (1987)
Preferred Platform(s): Apple IIGS
In the 80s, Sierra released some of the best adventure games ever. I can still remember playing King’s Quest for the first time and after hours of playing I was convinced I was playing a boundless open-world game, despite having only like 48 unique screens. It honestly felt like I could do anything and say anything and it was a feeling that I’ll never forget. I could almost name any random title from the King’s Quest or Space Quest series, or even mention the insanely ambitious Gold Rush! to be added to this list. However, I’d have to say the best title from all of them is Space Quest II. You play as Roger Wilco, the well-mannered head Janitor of a spacecraft, who crash lands on a planet where he was sent to work the mines as a prisoner for thwarting the evil Sludge Vohaul in the first game. In this sequel there is more to do and much more charm and humor over the original. It still has some spots where you get stuck and type in every conceivable phrase until you get lucky or look it up in a Sierra hint book (this was in the days before the internet). Just a great, fun-filled adventure!
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17. Crystal Quest (1987)
Preferred Platform(s): Apple IIGS, Macintosh
Originally a Macintosh game, I discovered the amazing Apple IIGS port and immediately fell in love. Using a mouse, the object is to collect crystals and make your way to the “climactic” portal doors. Hoards of enemies and mines await, but luckily you have some powerful tricks up your proverbial sleeves if you had sleeves. The main character is a white orb and the game takes place in outer space. Great fun!
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16. Ghosts ‘N Goblins (1985)
Preferred Platform(s): Arcade, NES
As Sir Arthur, you must vanquish all of the zombies, ogres and “Ghosts ‘n Goblins” in order to rescue Princess Prin Prin. The level map shown before each stage makes the game seem small, but the levels are brutal. They are also extremely fun to play. The NES port is the one I play most, but the Arcade version reigns supreme. Even the abbreviated Commodore 64 version is cool thanks to its groovy Chopin remix.
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15. Defender (1981)
Preferred Platform(s): Arcade
My first experience playing Defender was on the LED Entex handheld version which I picked up at a garage sale in the 80s. It was sweet for a handheld and I could play in the dark, so it got a one up on my Gameboy. Then years later, I played the real thing. My draw dropped. This thing was one of the fastest, coolest, most difficult games I had ever played. And the sounds… those eerie outer space sounds (if sounds existed in space). I was hooked. I played it almost everyday after work until I started getting pretty decent at it, e.g., lasted more than 3 minutes. The arcade cabinet was the most complex ever made at that point with 5 buttons and a joystick.
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14. Contra (1987)
Preferred Platform(s): NES
As the best 2-player game on the NES, Contra achieves the perfect balance of difficulty and fun. You had tight controls and guns that could fire in all 8 main directions. The game has amazing staying power as just about every retro gamer raves about it and the Konami Code is now part of the common lexicon. The overall vibe and characters remind you of the movie Aliens, a theme that lends itself very well to platform gaming. The weapon upgrades are so cool and desirable, you may even risk your life just for the spread gun.
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13. Megaman 2 (1988)
Preferred Platform(s): NES
With arguably the best NES soundtrack of all time, it helps that the game itself is also the best Megaman game on the NES platform, some might even say on any platform. The idea of acquiring your enemies power and using it to exploit the vulnerabilities of other enemies was a novel concept and one that has been used much since then. It offers a good replay value to play in different orders. Overall, a relatively easy, but fun-filled time.
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12. Holy Diver (1989)
Preferred Platform(s): Famicom, NES
Around 2009 or so I started exploring the Famicom library and was amazed how many awesome games there were that were exclusive to Japan. As a heavy metal fan who saw Dio in concern with Deep Purple and the Scorpions, I was very much curious about Holy Diver: The Game. Turns out it’s a top notch Castlevania style platformer, only faster, harder and with a metal theme. Did I mention there’s a part where your character, named Ronnie, turns into a freaking Dragon? It doesn’t get much more metal than that.
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11. Donkey Kong Country (1994)
Preferred Platform(s): Arcade, Apple IIGS
Upon its release, Donkey Kong Country was perhaps the best-looking console platformer ever made. The unique atmosphere, the great variety of levels, enemies, bosses and of course the buddy-tag system all helped to make this game a cut above the rest. Of course what many best remember about Donkey Kong was its soundtrack, which I still jam to every now and then.
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10. Ancient Land of Ys (1987)
Preferred Platform(s): NEC PC-8801, MSX2, Apple IIGS
I am an action platformer fan more than anything else and this list makes that quite obvious; however, once in a while I play an RPG that blows me away. Ys did that. It has a good story, but most classic RPGs do. What this also does is deliver an amazing gaming experience with a world to explore that is complex enough to challenge the player, but not too intimidating (e.g., where the heck do I go?). The cast of characters are memorable and their side quests tie perfectly into the overall story. The weapons, health system and unique features make it easy to learn. The attack system, which essentially just has you bashing into your enemies, works surprisingly well. While early Zelda games are among the greatest Action RPGs of all time, I find that Ys is more approachable for action gamers since it is more intuitive, just as fun to play and arguably has even has better music.
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9. Silpheed: Super Dogfighter (1986)
Preferred Platform(s): NEC PC-8801, Apple IIGS, IBM PC with Roland MT-32
7 years before Star Fox, there was another vertical shooting space shooter with polygon graphics and a sense of depth. That game was Silpheed. Created by the same guys who did Thexder, this game really took space shooters to a whole new standard. I could talk about the impressive 3D flat-shaded polygon graphics, the stellar soundtrack, the ability to choose which weapons to use for different parts of the spaceship, the seemingly limitless upgrade options, the perfect difficulty curve, but I will just say the game is just a joy to play and you should play it now.
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8. Another World (1991)
Preferred Platform(s): Commodore Amiga, Apple IIGS, 3DO
There are certain games that are more than games, they are cinematic experiences that leave you spellbound. That is Another World, later called Out of this World in North America. You play as a young scientist who is inadvertently sent to another world in another dimension. Here you are the only human and seen as a threat and almost immediately are imprisoned in a cage. You must escape with only your wits and the aid of your new cell mate. While the plot is nice, it is the execution and the graphics that leave you speechless. The animation is so fluid and the movements are so realistic that you wonder how on Earth a game like it could exist on a 16-bit console or computer of that era.
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7. Firehawk: Thexder the Second Contact (1989)
Preferred Platform(s): NEC PC-8801, MSX2, IBM PC with Roland MT-32
With such a classic and iconic first entry in the series, Firehawk had much to live up to. It did not disappoint. The original game designers returned and knocked it out of the park. Here the main character is the smoking hot engineer Joanna Johnson who builds and wears an armored exoskeleton suit called Firehawk, a more improved version of Thexder that is equipped with lasers and able to convert into a fighter jet. The levels are more massive with better graphics, a fantastic soundtrack with 23 unique tracks, weapon upgrades and true level bosses. While a relatively difficult game, nothing comes close to the original in that department. Still, a fantastically designed game.
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Preferred Platform(s): SNES
The perfection of fighting games. It had a memorable ensemble of characters, a moves list that was actually easy to master, kick-ass music and a high standard that is still being followed to this day. You know it is a standard when you ask your friend while playing some new random fighting game, “How do you do that move”? and they respond, “Just do a Hadouken” and you know exactly what to do. There have been many great fighting games since this one: Mortal Kombat, Killer Instant, Dead or Alive. Street Fighter II Turbo is still the best.
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5. Drelbs (1983)
Preferred Platform(s): Atari 400/800, Commodore 64, Apple II
In this quirky, but well designed arcade/puzzle game, you are the last free Drelb who must rescue his fellow Drelbs and the Mystery Lady from the evil Trollaboars and Gorgolytes by creating squares on the atomic flip grid and warping to the advancing stages. The design is so simple with just 2 alternating types of stages: a grid stage and a rescue mission stage. Yet, it is so addicting and the colors and sounds so full of 80s psychedelic awesomeness that I come back to it again and again.
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4. Tetris (1984)
Preferred Platform(s): Gameboy, NES
Super Mario Land was the first game I ever saw played on the Gameboy. Tetris was the second. It seemed fun, but was just a silly puzzle game, so I usually put in something with more action. Now I sit here writing this and can say without question, Tetris is the best Gameboy game, period. It is simple, addictive, has spawned hundreds of knockoffs, has awesome music and the most satisfying sound effect whenever you make a Tetris by forming 4 consecutive rows. The Gameboy version also has a 2 player mode using the game link cable with you and your friend playing a competitive versus mode as Mario and Luigi. The NES version is also equally nice if just playing alone. A timeless classic.
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3. Thexder (1985)
Preferred Platform(s): NEC PC-8801, Apple IIGS
Thexder blew me way when I first played it back in the day as it was the first computer game I can remember that felt like an arcade game. Little backstory is told before you start the game, trapped in an alien world, forced to move forward into the unknown depths of the forbidden zone. The game was quite merciless with certain sections having about 30 alien enemies on screen chasing after you. Luckily, you are a mech who can transform into a fighter jet and shoot lasers from your head. Although linear with 16 levels to complete, it felt more like an open-world type of game with massive maze-like stages. There is an obvious resemblence to later games like Metroid and Turrican, which were likely influenced by Thexder.
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Preferred Platform(s): SNES
I have always enjoyed Metroid, but I wasn’t crazy about it like some of my friends were and only decided to try out the sequel as an adult. I was quickly immersed in the large and dangerous world of Zebes with its mysterious vibe, beautiful set and an open-world design that is as close to perfection as one can hope for. When compared to the original, Super Metroid is better in almost every conceivable way with Samus having more areas to explore, weapons to acquire and a smart map feature.
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1. Robotron: 2084 (1982)
Preferred Platform(s): Arcade
The greatest game of all time is the fast-action, futuristic, post-apocolyptic, robot-slaying Robotron! It’s notoriously difficult and perfects the classic arcade formula of easy to learn and difficult to master. If you can survive longer than 5 minutes, consider yourself in the upper 1% of players who have played this game. As the last hope for mankind, you must save as many humans as you can while blasting away at the neverending onslaught of menacing robots with your lasers. Eugene Jarvis and Vid Kidz were on fire in the early 80s and in Robotron, they achieved perfection. A unique feature of the controls was the dual joysticks allowing the player to shoot in one direction and move in another. I could play this game everyday and never get bored of it. It’s that good.