Best games released in the years 1991-2000

I don't know, for me, I don't think it's nostalgia. There was such a good variety of games at that time that we don't see anymore. Yes, the quality of games has obviously gone up. But for me, that era had a variety of games that are just fun to play. We had platformers, shmups, FPS's, RTS's, fighters, etc... Now, whether the game is technically an FPS or not, it's mostly presented in the same way. 3rd person games are now viewed close to the character, over the shoulder - it might as well be 1st person game. Again, for me, today's games lack variety. And color!

I'm not taking anything away from modern games, I love them. I'm currently playing through Infamous: SS and enjoying a lot.

But where are today's more lighthearted and fun games? I feel like every game now takes itself so seriously. Where is Road Rash with it's cartoon-like characters and over-the-top combat and crashes? NBA Jam's big heads and it's color commentary? What happened to "action" sports games like the Mutant League games and Nintendo World Cup?

My short list of '90s games: Act Raiser, F1 ROC, Wipeout, Destruction Derby, Doom, many PS1 RPGs (Legend of Legaia has interesting battle mechanics)

That is indeed nostalgia - and a form of it which I personally am not comfortable with, i.e. comparing games from past eras with today's, which were made in very, very different circumstances.

It's not nostalgia, it's a taste in a type of game. It's why I bought Octodad. It's just a fun, silly game. I'm not saying yesterday's games are better. I'm saying I miss those types of games, especially because they're not done anymore. And if I don't compare old games to new ones, what am I supposed to compare them to?

More awesome games for the OP: Street Fighter Alpha, Ridge Racer, Tenchu, Donkey Kong Country, Star Fox

Nostalgia is always used as the default 'I'm out of valid arguments' rebuttal by people who don't understand what made a genre/game popular or loved by the people discussing it.

@faizanhd: Those were the systems I had. I didn't have a PS1 or a Sega Saturn to play games on. But those were all excellent games with very high levels of quality, so they would always be on this list even if I had also played games on other systems. It seems to me that Nintendo was the best gaming developer of the 90s, which I think was the company's best decade in terms of number of superb quality games. Thanks for your contribution! =)

@thehig1: Great list! But only 2 SNES games? Why? Thanks for your contribution! =)

I was very young when the SNES was out, and my parents bought me one late into its life cycle, that and I only got a game for Christmas or Birthday. So I didn't get to play many games for it.

I only owned about 10 games for it, and most those games sucked apart from Super Mario World and Street fighter 2 Turbo. That was because there was no way to know what games were good then outside of word of mouth or monthly magazines, I'd often gamble on what I thought looked good on pictures of the Argos catolouge.

I often got it wrong.

For example I actually got Mario Is Missing and didnt know it was an educational game. I also had American Gladiators and Bubsy to name a few more.

I got a Sega Saturn when I was 14 and I had a paper round so I got a new game for it pretty much every week from used games shops. A few later I got the Ps1 and it was chipped, so infinite games for that.

Xcom: UFO Defense
and
Chrono Trigger.

BG, Fallout. planescape, Deus Ex.

Super Metroid. there are many others of course but that is the one game that without any nostalgia at all( a concept I have mixed feelings about. I don't think the classics are usually nostalgia, I think the effects of nostalgia are more commonly thinking a previous gen only had classics instead of remembering that there was just as much shit then as now, and only the classics are worth remembering.) still holds up in pure game design, to the point that it is still being played and new stuff being discovered at this moment. Just look at youtube where there is just as much play, footage , and reviews of this game as there is anything modern.

Actually the SNES Bubsy was really good, it was the abomination in 3D that is best not remembered.

@mattykovax: It was playable, I wouldnt call it good the jumping on that game gave me fits of RAGE!!!!!!

Some of my favourites from that decade (including year 2000 releases):

- Deus Ex
- Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II
- Half-Life
- The Operative: No One Lives Forever
- Thief: The Dark Project
- Fallout 1 & 2
- Planescape: Torment
- Unreal
- System Shock 2
- Sanitarium
- Rune
- Ultima Underworld II
- Eye Of The Beholder II: Legend Of Darkmoon
- Age Of Empires
- Outcast
- American McGee's Alice
- Hexen
- Unreal Tournament
- Lands Of Lore: Throne Of Chaos
- Broken Sword 1 & 2
- Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Rogue Spear
- Betrayal At Krondor
- Outlaws

I'll leave it at 25 games, or I'll be here all day.

Final Fantasy VI

Chrono Trigger

Super Mario Bros 3

Super Mario Kart

GoldenEye

Mario 64

Aladdin (SNES)

@Threesixtyci: Thanks for your contribution! =)

@donmuath: Thanks for yourcontribution! =)

@mattykovax: Unfortunately I never played Super Metroid =( Thanks for your contribution! =)

You really should find a way to play it, I am not exaggerating how good and influential it is on game design.

Need more time to play all those games before I can sum up a list.

this is a crappy list .. but tomb raider 2 was nice

MDK (1997, Shiny Entertainment PC)

@dennysinny: what??? Duke nukem, ff6, system shock 2, chroni trigger, half life, age of empires crappy???

@AutoPilotOn: as individuals games they are okay/good but as a whole and being the top 10 yes its crap... just games way better then those.....

Go home sir, you're obviously drunk.

no just i didnt find them that good nor did people i have talk to did....

@dennysinny: No freankin way. System Shock 2 was amazing. Half life was like game of the century back then. Your crazy! Duke Nukem was awesome, Chrono Trigger is still one of my favorite RPGs I have it on DS and play it still.

I'd go with....

Falcon 3.0

Aces of the Pacific/Aces Over Europe

Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe

Dune 2

Star Control 3DO

Road Rash 3DO

Need for Speed 3DO

Madden 3DO

Steel Panthers

Steel Panthers 2

1942: Pacific Air War

Warcraft 2

Crusader: No Remorse

Wing Commander IV

X-Wing

Tie Fighter

Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis

Doom/Doom 2

Wave Race 64

Mario 64

GLQuake

Tomb Raider

Dungeon Keeper

Curse of Monkey Island

Close Combat 2: A Bridge Too Far

Final Fantasy VII

Jane's Longbow 2

Quake 2

Red Alert

European Air War

Jane's World War 2 Fighters

Dungeon Keeper 2

Falcon 4.0

Battlezone

Combat Flight Simulator 2

Ah. WW2 Fighters and Combat Flight Simulator 2. Wonderful times.

@behardy24: Or just do a list with just the games you already played. Just a thought. Thanks for your contribution! =)

@jun_aka_pekto: Great list! Thanks for your contribution! =D