The Best Video Games of 1990s

High-tech graphics, creative characters, and big bosses defined the games of the 1990s. That’s not all though. This era marks the start of the video game voice over. 

But before we take a deep dive into all that, let’s reminisce about the games that shaped our collective gaming experiences. 

In this article

1. Battle of the ‘90s Gaming Giants
2. Best Games of the 1990s
3. Super Mario Kart 
4. Final Fantasy VII
5. Most Popular E For Everyone Games of the ’90s
6. Super Mario World (1990) 
7. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (1991)
8. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992): 
9. Donkey Kong Country (1994)
10. Super Mario 64 (1996)
11. Pokemon Red and Blue (1998)
12. Banjo-Kazooie (1998)
13. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island (1995)
14. Kirby Super Star (1996)
15. The Best Voice Acting in ‘90s Video Games
16. Where Gaming is Going

Battle of the ‘90s Gaming Giants

There was a frenzy of activity in the video game industry in the 1990s. Fierce competition between Nintendo, Sega, and Sony led to the sale of over a billion games. At the beginning of the ‘90s, Nintendo was the industry leader, thanks to the popularity of Super Mario Bros and the introduction of the Game Boy. 

That dominance was challenged when Sega came out with Sega Genesis/Mega Drive and Sony launched PlayStation in 1994. With its advanced graphics and CD-ROM technology, PlayStation became one of the best-selling consoles worldwide. 

In a way, the gaming industry was playing its own game to see who’d come out on top. The result of this competition was the creation of a collection of awesome, addictive games that we just couldn’t stop playing. Here are some of our favorites:

Best Games of the 1990s

Get ready for our list of the best video games of the 1990s. Great graphics, fascinating characters, and detailed worlds made it impossible for us to put down our controls. We spent many hours playing these games:                       

Super Mario Kart 

This racing game released on Super Nintendo is considered one of the top 10 video games from this period, due to its innovative gameplay mechanics. Its split-screen play, crystal clear graphics, and tons of new characters influenced countless titles. 

Final Fantasy VII

As part of the Final Fantasy series, this role-playing game won numerous awards upon release, including Best Console RPG and Best Graphics in a Console Game. It is still considered one of the best games ever made.

Most Popular E For Everyone Games of the ’90s

This era introduced some of the most memorable video games that have thrilled gamers worldwide. 

These classics set benchmarks within their respective genres and inspired modern-day game development trends decades after their initial release. Some of the biggest E for Everyone Games of the era include:

Super Mario World (1990) 

A platformer game from the Super Nintendo Entertainment System that featured tight controls, colorful graphics, and memorable music. Super Mario World is widely considered the best game of all time. 

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (1991)

This action-adventure game set the standard for the Zelda series. Gamers could explore huge worlds, play inventive puzzles, and become memorable characters.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992): 

This platformer game introduced Sonic’s sidekick, Tails, and added a new spin dash move. Fast-paced gameplay, catchy music, and colorful graphics made it impossible to stop playing. 

Donkey Kong Country (1994)

Pushed the limits of Super Nintendo’s hardware with its pre-rendered graphics, Donkey Kong Country rebooted the iconic, larger-than-life gorilla. Inventive design and memorable characters made it a classic.

Super Mario 64 (1996)

Super Mario 64’s 3D graphics and open-ended structure revolutionized the platform genre. Innovative controls, memorable levels, and charming characters have made it an enduringly iconic title.

Pokemon Red and Blue (1998)

Pokemon Red and Blue introduced the world to collecting and battling Pokemon. Addictive gameplay, cool creatures, and social aspects turned it into a cultural phenomenon.

Banjo-Kazooie (1998)

Developed by Rare and published by Nintendo, Banjo-Kazooie brought a bizarre world to life with colorful graphics, creative levels, and imaginative characters. It followed the trials and tribulations of a charming bear (Banjo) and his faithful bird sidekick as they fought against the evil witch Gruntilda in one of the best platformers of the 90s.

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island (1995)

Another impressive Super Mario game, this platformer followed the loveable Yoshi as he protects baby Mario and Luigi from the evil Kamek. The game’s charming art style, level design, and absorbing platform mechanics have made it a gamer favorite.

Kirby Super Star (1996)

This platformer game featured multiple games in one, each with unique gameplay mechanics and characters. The plethora of mini-games, such as solving puzzles and racing against the clock, injected plenty of variety into Kirby Super Star. Combined with bright graphics and fun music, it quickly became a classic in the Kirby series.

The Best Voice Acting in ‘90s Video Games

What makes the gaming world of the ‘90s so distinctive is the introduction of mesmerizing voice acting. To create truly immersive experiences for gamers, developers began focusing on delivering high-quality voice acting performances that could bring their characters to life.

That was crucial for games released during this time because they relied heavily on narrative-driven gameplay and character development. 

The quirky personalities of the lovable duo Banjo and Kazooie were created through clever sound design and charming voice work. Square Enix’s Final Fantasy VII achieved acclaim for its engaging storylines and iconic characters, expertly performed by vocal actors.

Where Gaming is Going

The nineties were an era of gaming that gave us some classic titles that are still cherished. From Super Mario 64 to Final Fantasy VII and Pokemon, E for Everyone games captured our hearts and imaginations while paving the way for future gamer generations. 

As tech progresses, top-notch voice acting will be essential in creating vivid worlds for video gamers. 

Gamers took to personalizing their characters or avatars with clothing, equipment and weapons. People began imaging the ability to change a characters voice, what soon became known as voice changers.

If you want to add voice overs to your next gaming venture, Voices.com can provide experienced voice actors that will create a captivating narrative experience. Our talented voice actors enhance storytelling to keep players engaged from start to finish.