Games tend to age worse than other media, mostly due to its relatively young age and the advanced rate at which the technology progresses. However, that does not mean many old games are not still worth playing. It is almost difficult to believe, but 1991 was thirty years ago, and numerous classic games people revere today are now hitting the three decade mark.
The ten games below all have value past being a historical curiosity. Most of these are relatively easy to play today without having to hunt for the original hardware, so think about adding a couple of these to your backlog.
10 Final Fantasy 4
While not the first Final Fantasy to put more focus on a narrative - Final Fantasy 2 had a relatively deep plot for the time - it was the first one that really did it right. The characters are memorable, and the pacing does a great job of organically shuffling players from location to location. Few of its contemporaries put party members’ lives in danger the way Final Fantasy 4 does, and the multiple world maps help it feel more epic than other SNES games.
9 Metroid 2
The original Metroid was on the NES, but it took a long while for Samus to make her way to the SNES. Before Super Metroid, Metroid 2: Return of Samus hit the Game Boy in 1991. It is surprising to see such relatively large adventure hit Nintendo’s handheld device. A remake was released for the 3DS in 2017, but it disappointed fans by coming out when the Switch was already on the market, making it feel like Nintendo was not giving the franchise the attention it deserves.
8 Super Castlevania 4
Any older gamer will remember the days they spent trying the best any of the Castlevania games for the NES and SNES. They are all extremely difficult and no doubt the cause of many temper tantrums and broken controllers.
The challenge is not the only reason to play these games, however. Super Castlevania 4 is a near perfect 2D side-scrolling action game due to its level design, enemy variety, and gameplay. Fortunately, you can save scum to make the game easier on Konami’s Castlevania Collection.
7 Sunset Riders
While it took a little bit longer to make its way to the SNES, Sunset Riders came out in the arcades in 1991. The side-scrolling western shoot ’em up is a thrilling ride with a friend. Any retro gamer fondly remembers killing a boss and hearing “bury me with my money” a quote many other titles have riffed on, including Borderlands 3. There are some aesthetic choices that haven’t aged well, but the gameplay is still worthwhile.
6 Monkey Island 2: Le Chuck’s Revenge
Before Tim Schafer founded Double Fine and made cult classics like Psychonauts, he was a part of LucasArts and helped make some legendary adventure games. The first two Monkey Island games are perhaps the most revered among them. The sequel, released in 1991, has the perfect mixture of odd humor and a story with genuine mystery. It also ends with a particularly wild cliffhanger that would not be resolved for another six years when The Curse of Monkey Island released in 1997.
5 Street Fighter 2
The first Street Fighter is completely forgettable and mostly lost to time, but Street Fighter 2 has carved a legacy ensuring the series will live on forever. While the original release was in 1991, Street Fighter 2 has had an almost comedic amount of re-releases.
Street Fighter 2 certainly is not the easiest fighter to get into, but the complexity has ensured its longevity and made it popular among hardcore fighting game enthusiasts.
4 Sonic The Hedgehog
Most people do not even realize Sega had a console before the Genesis called the Master System. It is forgotten mostly because it did not have Sonic the Hedgehog as a mascot, which helped make the Genesis a worthy competitor to Nintendo. 1991’s Sonic The Hedgehog differentiates itself from Mario by focusing on intense speed, and the marketing tried to appeal to edgy 90’s teenagers instead of little kids. While the two once had a rivalry, they are now buddies and have starred in games together.
3 Battletoads
Of all the games on the list, Battletoads has probably aged the worst. Most people who played it probably never beat the infamous bike level. Even by the standards of the time, Battletoads is needlessly difficult. Still, it manages to remain a classic and made its way to Rare Replay on the Xbox One, a collection of classic titles from the developer. The sequel was less beloved than the original, but at least the first game is easy to access.
2 Streets Of Rage
In terms of beat ’em ups, it is hard to get any better than Streets of Rage. The gameplay is easy to understand, yet there is a hidden depth to the combat which encourages players to constantly hone their skills. The two sequels were equally as compelling, but the series went dark for more than two decades before coming back in 2020 with Streets of Rage 4. Even thirty years later, going through the original is still a blast.
1 Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past
Fans can argue all night over what the best Legend of Zelda game is, but few would argue about A Link to the Past being one of the five best games for SNES. It is a good thing, too, because it is all Zelda fans got for the console. It adds a more concrete structure to the Zelda formula and a deeper story. While the 3D games took precedent once Ocarina of Time came out, you can still find plenty of enjoyment out of Link to the Past.
