Since video games were first created in 1958, some experts estimate that around five million individual titles have been made, and today, there are over 830,000 games to suit all tastes and skill levels, from novices to professionals. Throughout video games, a handful of titles have stood the test of time and can still be enjoyed today in various formats and across multiple gaming devices. This page will reveal the names of eight classic games that every gamer should experience at least once. We will also explore exactly what makes these games resonate with a broad audience.
If you are looking for a sense of nostalgia or want to step back to find out what games have stood out from the crowd more than any others at certain periods in the history of video games, you’ve come to the right place.
Here, you can rediscover these timeless classics that evoke a sense of history and nostalgia. Let’s dive straight in and look at several must-play titles for those who appreciate video games’ history and evolution and seek timeless recommendations.
Nostalgia: 8 Classic Games That Made an Impact
Many people will always say that the hit video game ‘Pong’ from the 1970s is a great place to start if you are looking for a nostalgic video game experience or to take a trip down memory lane, which cannot be argued with. Pong was the world’s first true game that interested everyone in video games.
However, instead of listing Pong in our top 8 list, we have decided to go for other classic games released many years after Pong was first introduced to the world.
These games have more immersive storylines and likable characters than most other games, ranging from the action and adventure genre to the platform shooter/fighting game. Although each game is completely different from the next, they all have one thing in common: they continue to captivate audiences today just as much as they did when they were first released.
Let’s discover eight classic games that have greatly impacted the video game industry. Some games are less than five years old, and others are over thirty.
The timeless classic games evoke gamer nostalgia in most gaming aficionados; all gamers should know about and perhaps play at some point or add to their collection are the following:
- Year: 1991. Game: Street Fighter 2: The World Warrior
- Year: 2001. Game: Final Fantasy X
- Year: 1992. Game: Sonic The Hedgehog 2
- Year: 1996. Game: Crash Bandicoot
- Year: 1998. Game: The Legend of Zelda – Ocarina of Time
- Year: 2011. Game: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- Year: 2008. Game: Fallout 3
- Year: 2000. Game: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2
However, many other hit titles that could also just as easily have made it into the top 8 list above, such as Mortal Kombat (1992), Soulcalibur (1999), Rogue Galaxy (2005), Ryse: Son of Rome (2013), Super Mario Kart (1992), and Half-Life 2 (2004).
If that’s not enough to keep you going, there’s also The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015), Tetris (1984), Super Mario Bros. (1985), Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988), and Civilization V (2010). Other unforgettable video games include Doom (1993), GoldenEye 007 (1997), and Horizon Zero Dawn (2017), to name a few.
Some of you will already be familiar with one or more of these games, having perhaps just heard of the name or from actually playing them. These games have had more of an impact than many other games.
Many of the most iconic games in the history of video games include the best-selling Super Nintendo games, which can only be played on specific consoles/gaming devices, such as the Nintendo 64, Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), Nintendo Gameboy, Nintendo Switch Lite or Nintendo Switch.
In comparison, many ‘newer’ classic games can also be enjoyed on desktop computers, laptops, smartphones, tablets, and other modern handheld gaming devices, such as the Valve Steamdeck and Super Pocket.
Setting the Stage: Brief Historical Overview of Each Title
When Street Fighter 2: The World Warrior was released, it helped solidify the popularity of the platform fighting game and remains a firm favorite with players of all ages.
Final Fantasy X also broke the mold when it arrived. It appealed to a broad range of players and crossed boundaries like few games before had managed, mixing magic and technology in a truly mystical and enchanting world. The visually impressive 3D-rendered graphics and captivating storyline took video gaming to the next level.
When Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was released, its fast pace, likable characters, and fun animations instantly appealed to almost everyone who played, and it is still just as popular today.
When Crash Bandicoot was first released, no other game was quite like it. This simple but fun game involved mainly jumping over obstacles or moving out of the way. Still, the visuals, character, colors, sounds, and simplicity combined to make it the memorable title it is today, spawning games like Subway Surfer and Temple Run.
The graphics and animated sequences in The Legend of Zelda – Ocarina of Time may not have stood the test of time, but the game is still playable today and has stood the test of time. It’s one of the most adventurous and immersive games and was unrivaled at its release.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is still regarded as a true masterpiece that every player should try at some point. It offers something new each time you play.
It raised the bar for what video games should be like and introduced so many different facets that are now commonplace in video games released today, such as levelling up skills, being able to interact with non-player-characters (NPCs), the ability to choose their paths, etc., exploring dungeons, completing quests, and so much more.
According to players, experts, and even critics, Fallout 3 is one of the best video games ever made, so you should check out this iconic open-world game when you next get a chance.
Like The Elder Scrolls, each time you play Fallout 3, there’s always something new to discover. It introduced new gaming techniques to give players more strategic advantage, and the amazing graphics/animations and sound effects/background audio helped make this game even more impressive.
Finally, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 is one of those games that resonated with almost everyone who played and continued to captivate audiences long after it was released. It’s also one of those games that players could spend hours playing and not get bored, and many people argue that it was/still is the best skateboarding video game ever made. It also had an unforgettable soundtrack.
Unforgettable Experiences: Reasons to Play Each One
There are many different reasons for playing each of these games, but the main reason that most gamers who have tried them all can agree upon is that they will give you an unforgettable experience that simply cannot be replicated in most other games.
Some players will want to play them to be transported back to their youth, and others will want to try them to see what it was like when those games were first released, searching for a similar feeling those players must have had at the time. Each game is unique and brings its magic, which is why you should explore them all.
Ongoing Relevance: How These Games Shaped the Current Industry
Playing them in chronological order, starting with the oldest video games, can also give you a better understanding of the evolution of video games and the key game-changers that helped shape the world of video gaming.
These must-play titles are more relevant today than ever, and they will continue to shape the gaming industry’s future in many ways. As artificial intelligence gathers more data about what made these games so important in the first place, it will help develop future games.
AI-powered tools can determine which parts of games players get bored of or frustrated with, which parts they enjoy the most, and how players generally interact with the games to make even better games in the future.
