There are so many iconic retro games of all time, creating a top list will always be a challenge. For those of you who lived through the retro-gaming era, you probably already know that this is a hotly debated topic. Multiple retro consoles contributed games that have influenced today’s modern gaming arena. However, we’ve taken the plunge and feel brave enough to pick 10 retro games we feel, from our retro gaming experiences, have helped shape the retro era and today’s gaming genres.
The 10 Most Iconic Retro Games
We are not claiming our top 10 most iconic retro games are the defining list of all lists. We’ve simply put together the games we feel have undeniably influenced today’s gaming culture. Even decades after each one was released, they are still remembered, and some are still being released as new games in today’s modern gaming era.
1. Tetris
Tetris may not be the most glamorous of games in terms of graphics, but we can all agree that it is one of the most well-known. When you think about it, it’s pretty amazing that a game of such simplicity with no storyline and no mascot has stood the test of time. That’s exactly why this no-frills-or-spills game with no real backer is one of the most impressive retro games of all time.
2. Super Mario Bros.
In 1985, the release of Super Mario Bros. on the NES marked the beginning of what has become an iconic journey for Mario and Luigi. Its 2D block graphics and side-scrolling gameplay were revolutionary at the time of its release. It took skill and pinpoint timing for players to navigate obstacles, making the game arguably the most engaging of its era.
This retro game’s popularity also helped sell millions of Nintendo consoles, and today the theme music is recognized in and outside gaming circles. Today, the brothers have become film stars and are the faces of merchandise sold worldwide.
3. Sonic the Hedgehog
The 1991 Sonic Origins was practically the icon for the Sega Mega Drive, also known as the Sega Genesis. As the game’s popularity grew, every gamer wanted a piece of the action, making it a perfect example of a game that helped sell Sega consoles. The smash hit game was built on speed, bold level design, and personality.
Sonic was not simply a great platformer; he was Sega’s direct answer to Mario and one of the clearest cultural symbols of the 16-bit era. Green Hill Zone, loop-de-loops, and an aggressive style of gameplay, it was the release of Sonic the Hedgehog that gave the Mega Drive its identity.
4. The Legend of Zelda
1986 was another turning point in retro gaming folklore when Zelda hit the Famicom Disk System, and in 1987, the game was released on the NES. It was one of the earliest console games built around open-world exploration, giving players a large map to explore at their own pace, uncover secrets and complete challenges.
The ‘at your own pace’ gameplay and progression showed how rewarding this style of gameplay could be. So much so that Zelda influenced the rise of the nonlinear exploration genre in gaming, and therefore, we hope you’ll agree it deserves its spot on our list of the top 10 most iconic retro games of all time.
5. Worms
Worms was first released by Team 17 on the Commodore Amiga, which was a desktop computer and gaming console released in the same year as the NES and Sega Master System. The game was one of the fastest-selling games of its time, selling over 250,000 copies in 6 months. It was a simple concept of all-out warfare using an army of worms, and it came with single and multiplayer modes.
It was the multiplayer mode that gave Worms notoriety, creating a fresh, out-of-the-ordinary social gameplay experience with friends, where up to 16 players could battle it out for bragging rights. Players could take turns waging war on their opponent by blowing up their team and the terrain with them, using absurd weapons. Worms later appeared on the Nintendo 64, where its retro-gaming appeal also exploded in popularity.
6. Ms. Pac-Man
Ms. Pac-Man is one of the true retro games on our list because it was launched in 1981 by arcade game developer General Computer Corporation (GCC), before at-home game consoles were a thing. It is one of the original arcade games, as was Pac-Man, but we’ve decided Ms. Pac-Man trumps the original and here’s why.
Most people thought it would be a cash-in sequel, but it turned out to be much more than that. It soon gained a reputation as Pac-Man on steroids, with smarter opponents and more varied mazes. Once word spread that Ms. Pac-Man offered serious gamers a run for their money, arcades rushed to get the sequel.
Now, this might not sound like a lot in terms of video gaming, but 125,000 cabinets were sold over five years, which, given it was only available in retail arcades, is no small feat. It also became one of the first widely recognized female video game characters.
7. GoldenEye 007
When we introduced our top 10 most iconic retro games of all time list, we said there might be a couple of games you disagree with. However, GoldenEye 007, released on the Nintendo 64, earns its place because, like Worms, it turned multiplayer gaming into a social event. Plus, the single-player version of the game takes you through a multi-level game that replicates the movie and its characters.
However, the four-player mode is what counts here because it directly influenced many of the multiplayer shooters that followed. Moreover, for those who played GoldenEye, we are sure that you will agree that this game defined your weekends, house rules, and caused quite a few arguments in a way very few games from any era have managed. Worms being the exception, as its multi-player features were also capable of creating a stir among friends.
8. Super Mario Kart
Super Mario Kart on the SNES couldn’t be left off the list, and we hope you’re glad to see it earn its place as one of our top 10 iconic retro games. The idea of combining a racing game with power-ups and bubbly features from the original Super Mario Bros. across multiple race tracks is iconic in its own right.
Not only that, Nintendo used go-karts, giving racing fans an alternative to supercars, motorbikes and monster trucks, which were the predominant themes in racing games of that era. Add in some of the most popular retro gaming characters, pitting them against each other, and you have the perfect ingredients for a gaming genre crossover where no one race is ever the same on the chaotic Mario Kart track.
9. Super Mario World
Nintendo released Super Mario World in 1991 and identified it as Yoshi’s debut. For many players, and you may or may not be in agreement, this version of Mario is remembered as the defining SNES game of all time. Secret exits, layered map design, the cape, and Yoshi added depth without losing the directness that makes the Mario series work. Overall, it’s been rated among the most complete retro gaming platformers ever released.
10. Sensible World of Soccer
Now for our wildcard game. Not everyone is a fan of soccer, or football as it is mostly referred to across Europe, so our number 10 spot could easily be swapped out for something like John Madden Football or the Commodore Amiga’s Winter Olympics. However, as soccer is the world’s most popular game, we went with Sensible World of Soccer.
Sensible World of Soccer arrived in 1994 with approximately 1,500 teams and 27,000 players wrapped around a fast, readable 2D football game. Wired’s Amiga retrospective highlighted Sensible Soccer for its pinpoint gameplay and lasting influence on arcade football. Its commercial reach was smaller than that of Mario or Sonic, but in retro football, it remains the benchmark.
What’s Your Most Iconic Retro Games
These ten retro games span multiple platforms, genres, and decades. Although we didn’t place Mario or Sonic in the number one spot, these two games are almost unquestionably the most iconic in terms of influencing multiple generations. The characters are still featured in movies, TV series and on merchandise today, so much so, they give Transformers, an iconic retro cartoon, a run for its money.
As for our list, we have done our best to include global commercial giants and cult titles from the Amiga, as well as Sega and Nintendo game consoles. We also hope we’ve given you something different, as our list avoids being a Nintendo-only roundup while still covering key game releases from the Japanese company that has undoubtedly released some of the most iconic retro games of all time!
