15 Nostalgic Video Games That Will Remind You of the Good Old Days 2023

Retro games are all the rage these days. After years of gamers seeking out video games with high-tech graphics and all the latest technological advancements, everything has come full circle with nostalgic video games back in vogue. These classic titles from yesteryear might not be as visually groundbreaking as modern games, but they appeal to our nostalgic side. They remind us of our young days playing video games and the titles that got us into gaming in the first place.

It’s crazy to think the likes of Sonic the Hedgehog and Streets of Rage were huge games that blew everyone away when they first hit consoles over three decades ago. That was a time when the big battle was between the SEGA Genesis and Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), long before the Sony PlayStation and Microsoft Xbox became the leaders in video games.

The pull of nostalgia we get from playing old games is often due to the social networks and bonds we formed in our youth. It reminds us of those friends and the good times we had together, something Nick Bowman, an associate professor of journalism and creative media industries at Texas Tech University, has been researching.

“We already know that games are a source of psychological well-being,” says Bowman. “…with nostalgia you get sort of a bonus relatedness because you get to connect to yourself. You’re replaying a game from a positive childhood memory. Those things can be particularly powerful for short-term stress release. It’s almost like a digital smoke break. Return to this past life, play through it, and reconnect with yourself, literally. In our research, we found that people who have social nostalgia memories – memories of playing games with friends in the past – they feel connected to themselves and their friends in the past, and they also feel connected in the present.”

To feed your feelings of nostalgia, we’ve put together this collection of nostalgic video games that will bring back happy memories from your childhood and possibly spur you to get back into video games.

15 Nostalgic Video Games That Will Remind You of the Good Old Days

1. Tetris

Is there a better puzzle game than Tetris? Created by Soviet software engineer Alexey Pajitnov in 1984, this simple game involves positioning differently shaped and colored blocks to create lines that then disappear and give you points. The more lines you create, the faster the blocks drop until things get supersonic.

Tetris is one of the biggest-selling games in the world and is available on most platforms. There’s even a multiplayer version so you can go up against people from around the world. A classic video game still played by hardcore gamers today.

2. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

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This retro game changed gaming as we know it and is still loved by people some 25 years after it first hit shelves. Released on the Nintendo 64 as a flagship title, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is the first in the series to utilize 3D graphics.

Playing as Link, you must navigate the fantasy land of Hyrule on a quest to defeat the evil king Ganondorf. Traveling through different lands and times, this game has an engaging storyline, incredible visuals (for the time), and a fantastic soundtrack. Universally praised and having sold hundreds of thousands of copies worldwide, Ocarina of Time is a true nostalgic video game that will give you all the feels.

3. Super Mario Bros.

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Another Nintendo classic, Super Mario Bros. is a frantic platform adventure and the first game in the Super Mario franchise. From the iconic theme song to the timeless graphics to the secret levels, Super Mario Bros. is in a league of its own. Many nights were spent trying to guide plumber Mario through the various side-scrolling levels in the Mushroom Kingdom on a mission to save Princess Toadstool.

The game helped breathe new life into the video market that was struggling at that time and set the bar for side-scrolling platform games moving forward.

4. Sonic the Hedgehog 2

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While the first game introduced gamers to the blue hedgehog and his enemy Doctor Ivo Robotnik, it’s the sequel that stands out as a classic retro game. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is similar to the first, just bigger, bolder, and better. The levels are better designed, the visuals more spectacular, the soundtrack less annoying, and the gameplay amped up to 11.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 also introduces the new character Miles “Tails” Prower, Sonic’s sidekick, and is set at a much faster pace than the original.

5. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2

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Recently re-released for modern consoles with better graphics and gameplay, the original Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater titles are a real trip down memory lane. The first game laid the platform for what would become Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2, hands-down one of the greatest skateboarding video games of all time.

The game combines levels based on real-life areas, a stack more tricks to pull off, a huge roster of the best skaters going around (such as Tony Hawk, Rodney Mullen, Chad Muska, and Bob Burnquist), and a killer soundtrack featuring the likes of Papa Roach, Rage Against the Machine, Bad Religion, and Millencolin. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 is an all-timer.

6. Donkey Kong

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Donkey Kong is another game where there are several different versions that have had a cultural impact over the years. The first title was an arcade game released in 1981 that was a big hit with kids across America. The game is pretty simple and involves moving Mario through different levels while staying out of the clutches of the title character.

The game got another lease of life in 1994 when it was released on the Nintendo Game Boy and became a hit all over again. This version follows the original closely, just with improved graphics and gameplay. The third and arguably best version is Donkey Kong Country on the SNES. This transformed the game into a side-scrolling adventure with colorful visuals, jumping features, and bonus stages

7. Duck Hunt

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One of the launch titles that accompanied the NES, Duck Hunt will go down as an all-time classic. It’s also the first game to make use of the NES Zapper, essentially a handheld controller shaped like a gun that makes you feel like you are playing an arcade shooter.

The game itself is basic and involves shooting ducks as they pop up on the screen, getting progressively harder with each level. That said, it is hours of fun and is a big reason the NES sold so well.

8. GoldenEye 007

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There have been other video games based on the James Bond character, but none capture the essence of the British secret agent like GoldenEye 007. Based on the 1995 Bond film of the same name, this video game, released on the Nintendo 64, is a first-person shooter that replicates the best parts of the movie. It has realistic combat, eye-catching graphics, and another tremendous soundtrack.

But what really sold GoldenEye 007 to most gamers was the multiplayer deathmatch modes where up to four people could play split-screen and roam through various levels trying to shoot each other. It has an arcade feel with modern graphics and remains one of the great video games of the 90s.

9. Space Invaders

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The game that opened the doors to the video game market, Space Invaders is an iconic title. Compared to modern games it’s pretty boring and basic. It involves you shooting alien spacecraft as they slowly get closer and move down the screen. Any kid playing this today would turn it off after several minutes. It’s not great to look at but the gameplay remains addictive. Plus it’s one of the most influential games in video game history.

10. Super Mario Kart

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There is no doubting the Nintendo 64 version helped bring Super Mario Kart to a new generation of video game players, but when it comes to nostalgia, it’s hard to look past the original. Released in 1992 on the SNES, this simple racing game is a total blast to play with friends. The multiplayer mode is tailored to keep you coming back, with a great selection of diverse tracks and characters to choose from.

The graphics might not stand up against the modern versions, but the same can’t be said about the gameplay that will have you coming back again and again.

11. Gran Turismo

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When you talk about iconic car racing games, Gran Turismo is always part of the conversation. Since first appearing on the Sony PlayStation in 1997, the video game has turned into one of the longest-running franchises, with eight official titles and eight spin-off releases.

Universally praised by critics, the game lets you get behind the wheel of actual cars found in the real world and race them around life-like circuits. Gran Turismo made an impact as the cars responded like they would if you were actually driving them, adding an authenticity to the game most racers don’t possess.

12. Street Fighter II

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There are so many different versions of Street Fighter II it’s hard to know where to start. There’s the arcade original, the first SNES version (Street Fighter II: The World Warrior), the SEGA Genesis port (Street Fighter II: Special Champion Edition), and the second SNES title (Street Fighter II Turbo).

All versions have the same gameplay and involve you picking a fighter and taking on various opponents in combat around the world until you are faced with the final confrontation against big bad M. Bison. Street Fighter II revolutionized the fighting game, adding wild combos, giving characters interesting backgrounds, and increasing the difficulty level with each fight. A true classic.

13. Doom

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Laying the foundation for all future first-person shooters, Doom is a magnificent game that still holds up today. Along with Wolfenstein 3D (released a year earlier in 1992), this helped define the FPS genre. While there have been countless sequels and remakes, nothing beats the chilling thrill of the original.

Split into several episodes, you play an unnamed Marine on Mars who discovers that a door has been opened between our world and hell. Looking for revenge, you must take on the forces of hell while trying to stay alive and make it off the moon. Bloody, brutal, and funny, Doom is a hypnotic game that still packs a punch today.

14. Streets of Rage 2

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This side-scrolling beat ’em up is another classic game that helped the SEGA Genisis during its console war with Nintendo. Players choose from characters Axel Stone and Blaze Fielding from the first game and new characters Max “Thunder” Hatchet and Eddie “Skate” Hunter as they embark on a mission of vengeance through the streets, culminating in a final fight against the mysterious Mr. X.

This is a super fun game hailed as one of the great beat ’em ups of the 90s. It has solid visuals, a well-written storyline, and plenty of action. It’s a retro classic that continues to be shown love today, with a soundtrack that is unmatched.

15. Out Run

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Before Gran Tourismo, there was Out Run. This 80s car game is a first for its time and a major influence on all racing games that came after. You control a Ferrari Testarossa Spider in third-person view as you race against a timer to complete different circuits. The graphics are a little old by today’s standard but the gameplay still stands up, making Out Run one of the great retro video games.

Categories: Entertainment
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