Compared to the games today, those video consoles from the 90s and early 2000s we were all crazy about look gawky and unfinished. However, kids of that era went through a real technological revolution, and surely, they don’t regret a minute spent playing the first-ever real-time strategies, first-person shooters, RPGs, and action adventures. Equipped only with DOS computers with a few megabytes of RAM, we felt really happy. The big surprise is that most of those classic titles are still playable today, and the millennial generation’s interest does not seem to wane. So, here are some of the biggest hits of the 90s!
Tomb Raider
The original Lara Croft: Tomb Raider movie went to cinemas in 2001, five years after the tremendous success of the Tomb Raider action-adventure video game. The developing companies Core Design and Aspyr hardly suspected that a paid version of their game would still be in demand almost 30 years later. The plot is simple but engaging, and there are plenty of missions to play and help the archaeologist Lara Croft to obtain various pieces of ancient artifacts. If you feel nostalgic about the old times, try this masterpiece on any machine running at least under Windows XP.
Mortal Kombat
Well, this title does not need a presentation as it became a major franchise after the release of the game’s OG version in 1993. Since then, 23 new variants have been released, including fighting consoles, action adventures, updates, and re-releases. The newest one, Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate really brings the action to another dimension! However, the 1993 release’s simplicity is somehow mesmerizing! Players don’t have to bring too much effort in the fights, something that is totally changed with the newest upgrades. The beginning of the sage is also suitable for inexperienced gamers who just want to feel like back in the days!
Half-Life
Despite its clunky graphics, Half-Life from 1999 will never be forgotten by the fans of the first-person shooters. Some visuals are really funny, just like when you make a kill, and the body of your opponent gets shattered in pieces of meat. This was the first FPS that had the resources to support a multiplayer game of more than several players. The aggressive campaign, fiction theme, and large list of weapons helped the title to climb and stay on top of many rankings. That didn’t change for some time, even after the Counter-Strike release in 2000.
Diablo
If you are a child of the 90s, you must have heard of Diablo, even if you preferred another type of entertainment. This was the first action role-playing video game that actually had success. Blizzard has added several avatars – Amazon, Assassin, Barbarian, Druid, Necromancer, Paladin, and Sorceress, to choose from and follow a different storyline. Actually, maps and battles were the same, but each character has its own strengths and weaknesses, which implies that a different approach must be chosen. The Diablo land is so vast and boss creatures so hard to kill that you can really lose yourself there!
Counter-Strike
Here comes one of the most thriving video games ever, which originally hit the shelves as a more realistic Half-Life mod. It’s a pure multiplayer FPS with three main scenarios – Bomb Defusal, Assassination, and Hostage Rescue. At a later point, AI bots were developed to fill the gaps or allow gamers to enjoy their time in a single-player mode. Anyway, the game not just survived until today, but it was heavily upgraded with better skins, 4K graphics, and improved sensitivity. The latest version of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS: GO) gave rise to many live tournaments, some of which with prize pools exceeding millions!
Age of Empires II
It took 20 years for Age of Empires II fans to get a decent sequel to the 1999 all-time RTS masterpiece. The AOE2 is one of those rare moments when the second version of a game is far better than the opening one. Players can choose from different civilizations and run through various expansions and campaigns. The variety truly is enormous, and pretty much every nation has its unique buildings, civil and military units. The multiplayer functionality is also fantastic, allowing players to avoid the sometimes predictable AIs. Age of Empires II is still easy to find, but we recommend you try the Definitive Edition as well!
Warcraft
Warcraft: Orcs and Humans is another iconic video game from our childhood! It was actually a predecessor of Age of Empires II as, being released in 1994. This cult classic, however, brings another storyline and can’t really be compared with the other RTSs. Choose to be a fictional hero from Azeroth or a bloodthirsty Orc. It doesn’t really matter because the experience is totally captivating. Blizzard Entertainment has released four core updates so far, with new campaign missions, units, brilliant graphics, and visuals. The franchise also includes novels and cinema movies!
Command & Conquer: Red Alert
The last pick in our selection is the famous Red Alert, one of the most successful Command & Conquer brands. Although with too basic graphics, the first game quickly became an absolute sensation. It came live in 1996 specifically for Cold War fans. At the heart of the title is the opposition between the Soviet Union and the Allies. Both campaigns are really engaging despite the few-pixel large units. The 2000 Red Alert 2 was a total hit, including Yuri as a separate side in the conflict and uniting the former enemies against the new evil!