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10 Video Games From the ’90s That Are Now Considered Classics
The article identifies ten 1990s video games now regarded as classics, arguing that the decade transformed gaming through 3D graphics, optical discs, richer storytelling and new genres. It highlights the games’ lasting influence, cultural importance and continued playability.
– Pokémon Red and Blue (1996): established enduring RPG mechanics and launched a global multimedia phenomenon.– Metal Gear Solid (1998): combined cinematic presentation with experimental design, cementing Hideo Kojima’s reputation.– Super Mario World (1990): widely regarded as a peak of 2D platforming and a refinement of the genre’s core formula.– Final Fantasy VII: a landmark JRPG and industry milestone, later expanded through a major three-game remake project.
In short
- The 1990s produced many of gaming’s most influential classics.
- Pokémon, Metal Gear Solid and Super Mario World remain highly replayable.
- Final Fantasy VII became a defining JRPG and industry landmark.
Explained simply
The 1990s were a period of rapid change for video games. Wider use of 3D graphics and CD-ROMs allowed for larger worlds, more detailed sound and stories told in new ways, while established genres such as platform games and role-playing games continued to develop.
Several games from the decade helped shape what followed. Pokémon Red and Blue introduced many players to collecting creatures and battling them in a role-playing game; Metal Gear Solid blended stealth gameplay with cinematic scenes; Super Mario World refined side-scrolling platforming; and Final Fantasy VII brought a Japanese role-playing game to a much wider audience.
Their influence can be seen in later games and in the franchises and characters that remain familiar to players. They also show how the medium was changing, as developers explored new technology and ways to tell stories while building on existing forms of play.