Looking for the best retro games? We’ve reviewed the top 20 classic titles, first released on NES, Game Boy, SEGA Mega Drive, N64, PC, and in arcades…

1. Super Mario Bros.

Super Mario Bros Reviewed: Outstanding Platformer

I have a strained relationship with Mario, but he’s grown on me in recent years. While the old NES game irritated me considerably, it seems that the controllers were the real issue. However, playing on Nintendo Switch and the Super Mario Bros. Game & Watch handheld has revealed that I’m actually quite good at the game.

Who knew that ergonomic design would be so important…?

I should add, that “secret” continue play has proved helpful…

2. Tetris

Tetris – A classic unfazed by the passage of time

Of the games in this list that impressed me most, Tetris is probably it. Although I spent many years dismissing the Game Boy as little more than a Tetris machine, I was fortunate enough to play the game on many platforms. Its simplicity, and the fact that every version is relatively identical (save the resolution, palette, and interface differences) makes this language-free endless puzzler probably the most universal video game ever.

3. Donkey Kong

Donkey Kong Review: Hard as Nails, Full of Surprises

Like many, Donkey Kong was one of my first arcade games. The identity of the moustachioed rescuer was irrelevant, as the gorilla was the star, strutting around and throwing barrels. That the guy in red would be the star of a massive video game franchise that shows no sign of ending 45 years later is pretty astonishing.

Donkey Kong itself is a solid challenge, and spawned numerous clones and copies.

4. Sonic the Hedgehog

Sonic the Hedgehog Review – Did I Really Beat This Game as a Kid?

If you asked me to play Sonic the Hedgehog, my answer would probably be “no.” Happily, that wasn’t the response from our reviewer, who produced a frank reflection of the game. It’s a tough one to play, something mitigated by the fact that the graphics are among the best of the 16-bit era.

(On my part, I’ve come to admire Sonic thanks to its presence on the SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive app on Nintendo Switch Online, but still find it needlessly frustrating at times.)

5. Street Fighter

Is it worth playing today? Street Fighter 2 revisited

From my point of view, the world of fighting games ended with International Karate+ on the Amiga. Arcade brawlers never really did it for me back in the day, but fortunately our reviewer loves them, and this review of Street Fighter 2 demonstrates not just how important the genre is, but how the game evolved from the first title in the series.

6. Mega Man

Mega Man review: Blast from the past, still a classic

Now, here’s an interesting thing: I was completely unaware of Mega Man — both as a character and a game — until I played Super Smash Bros. on the Nintendo Wii U. Playing C64, then Amiga, then PC games primarily (with a little bit of N64) left me completely ignorant to many of the premium gaming franchises of the retro era.

But based on our review which rates the game highly, I need to check out Mega Man in some depth.

7. Mortal Kombat

Mortal Kombat: How Does It Stack Up Today?

There may well come a time when I spend time on fighting games just to entertain my kids, and if that ever happens, it will probably be Mortal Kombat. In the days immediately prior to Virtual Fighter (and beyond), THIS was the fighting game people wanted to play in the arcades. What seemed to be photo-based characters and real-seeming blood splatters really sold the violence!

8. Doom

Original DOOM Review: It’s All Kicking Off on Mars

You don’t end up playing a game into the small hours (or the next day at work) if it’s no good. You don’t network your work PCs together to play LAN deathmatches on a game that sucks.

And you don’t try to install a game on a LEGO brick if no one cares.

DOOM is one of the most significant games of all time, and as such sits high on our list of the best retro games of all time. It is absolutely superb, and whether you play the original, DOOM II, or add WADs and mods, you know that in many ways, it is the pinnacle of FPS games.

Yeah, it’s 30+ years old — so what?

9. Wolfenstein 3D

Wolfenstein 3D Review: More Than Just DOOM With Nazis

Incredibly, I didn’t know about Wolfenstein 3D until I stumbled across a secret level in DOOM II. Its influence on me at that point resulted in a quick purchase of a collection of PC games that included Return to Castle Wolfenstein, and while that is one of my favourite classic FPS titles, I go back to the full Wolfenstein 3D more often.

10. Space Invaders

Space Invaders (1978) and 3 sequels you never knew existed

For many of us, this is where it all began. I’ll be honest, I don’t know whether the first Space Invaders I played was black and white or colour, but I suspect the former. What I do know is that it was an upright arcade machine, a chair was involved, and a trusted adult was helping me.

Did Space Invaders hook me onto video games? Undoubtedly. While the hardware isn’t capable of the evolved gameplay you might see on later and modern shoot ’em ups, what it has is compelling, memorable audio and (literally) iconic graphics. The gameplay is simple, but immediately accessible — exactly what is required for a game that kickstarted an entire industry.

These are our best retro games — what are yours?

We’ve compiled this list over several years, based on the ongoing popularity of the games and their ongoing importance. But everyone’s personal list is different; mine would comprise mostly arcade, C64, Amiga, and PC titles, for example.

We’d love to know your best retro games, so drop us a reply below.

For reference, here is a list of our reviews.

10/10

9/10

8/10

7/10

6/10

4/10

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