Mar 19
Super Metroid 1994
Why it still holds upThe world is still the reason to go back today, made to be explored from its silent, empty start.
1994 games that still hold up
Games
Mar 19
Super Metroid 1994
Why it still holds upThe world is still the reason to go back today, made to be explored from its silent, empty start.
Apr 2
Final Fantasy III 1994
Also known as Final Fantasy VI
Why it still holds upPlaying it now means choosing your party: with fourteen characters, each with abilities of their own, who you bring is up to you.
Aug 27
EarthBound 1994
Also known as Mother 2
Why it still holds upIt still respects your time, with visible enemies and that slow HP drain, and its humour gets wackier as you go.
Nov 18
Donkey Kong Country 1994
Why it still holds upLevels that keep changing how you move, with vines, barrels, mine carts and animals, and a difficulty that rises steadily, are the reason to play it now.
Oct 10
Doom II: Hell on Earth 1994
Why it still holds upEach map is a place to explore, with its own layout, secrets and mix of enemies, and the three settings give each stretch its own look.
Sep 23
System Shock 1994
Why it still holds upWeapons that suit different enemies, and cameras you can disable to lower SHODAN's security level, still leave the station open to your own plan today.
Mar
X-COM: UFO Defense 1994
Also known as UFO: Enemy Unknown
Why it still holds upTwo linked layers, where what you research and capture changes your options in battle, and no one strategy that always wins, still invite experimenting today.
Feb 2
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 1994
Why it still holds upA second player who flies and swims as Tails shares the same stages, so it is still a game for two.
Sep 14
Contra: Hard Corps 1994
Why it still holds upDifferent characters and different routes still give each new run its own shape today.
Dec 16
Mega Man X2 1994
Why it still holds upBosses that are weak to each other's weapons make the order you choose the main puzzle, so a second run is still worth a try.
Jul 20
Star Wars: TIE Fighter 1994
Why it still holds upPower shared out as you fly still keeps each dogfight a matter of choices today.
May
Sensible World of Soccer 1994
Why it still holds upFootball and management that feed each other still carry a career across twenty seasons today.
Sep
Master of Magic 1994
Why it still holds upA choice of magic made at the start, on a world drawn fresh each time, still shapes every campaign today.
Nov
Transport Tycoon 1994
Why it still holds upEach map is still an economy to work out today, from where a station goes to when a train is replaced.
Dec
Panzer General 1994
Why it still holds upA whole war of combined arms, with an army that carries over from battle to battle, still gives plenty to plan today.
May
Sid Meier's Colonization 1994
Why it still holds upColonists you can train into specialists, and prices in Europe that keep moving, still turn every colony into a small economy to tune on the road to independence.
Oct 27
Tex Murphy: Under a Killing Moon 1994
Why it still holds upYou are still the one searching a 3D world for clues, at your own pace.
Feb 17
Windjammers 1994
Why it still holds upA rally that gets faster with every throw still makes each point a test of reflexes today.
May
RoboCop Versus the Terminator 1994
Why it still holds upIt is still a clean run and gun today, because the controls answer at once and the scenery gives you a reason to keep shooting.
Feb 23
Super Street Fighter II Turbo 1994
Why it still holds upThe adjustable speed lets players set the pace of a match, which still helps today.
May
Alien vs. Predator 1994
Why it still holds upFour fighters who reload in different ways still make the choice of character matter.
Nov
Micro Machines 2: Turbo Tournament 1994
Why it still holds upRacing toy cars through a bathroom is still a good time with friends.
The Incredible Machine 2 1994
Why it still holds upBuilding a puzzle and then solving it still makes the parts a toy box to play with.
Jun 14
Donkey Kong 1994
Why it still holds upA key, a door and a clock turn every screen into a small puzzle, and Mario's acrobatics are still the tools you solve it with.
Oct
Twinsen's Little Big Adventure Classic 1994
Why it still holds upA world to roam at your own pace is still a good reason to start it.
Jan 28
Ninja Warriors 1994
Why it still holds upThree androids with their own moves and a meter that clears the screen still give each stage a choice of how to fight.
Jul
Disney's The Jungle Book 1994
Why it still holds upA film-based adventure with its own mix of jumps and projectiles remains a lively choice today.
Ecstatica 1994
Why it still holds upReading each scene for yourself, with nothing to lean on, still makes this cursed and oddly funny town worth exploring now.
Aug 12
Wild Guns 1994
Why it still holds upYou still keep moving every second, dodging in the foreground while you shoot into the background.
Dec 2
Breath of Fire II 1994
Why it still holds upToday, a Monster Meter that warns you of fights lets you decide how far to push on.
Oct 28
Mickey Mania: The Timeless Adventures of Mickey Mouse 1994
Why it still holds upCartoon settings from across Mickey's career are still an inviting place to spend an afternoon.
Oct 21
Demon's Crest 1994
Why it still holds upA few hours of action that keeps rewarding a return visit makes it an easy pick up now.
Jan 21
Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 1994
Why it still holds upA game built on smashing through things stays a fun way to spend a break now.
Nov 11
Dragon Ball Z: Idainaru Son Goku Densetsu 1994
Why it still holds upA set of Goku's biggest fights told by his family still makes the story easy to follow.
May 27
Tokimeki Memorial 1994
Why it still holds upThree school years to plan, with a few girls to win, still make it a game of schedules.
Jul 12
Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors 1994
Why it still holds upA super meter that drains if you hold it still pushes every fight toward spending it.
Apr 28
Super Bomberman 2 1994
Why it still holds upMatches with friends, with a multitap for four, still give a group of players something to play.
Nov 11
Sonic the Hedgehog: Triple Trouble 1994
Why it still holds upThe pace is slower than on the 16 bit consoles, which leaves time to look for hidden areas today.
Dec
Monster Max 1994
Why it still holds upRooms that reset when you leave still make each puzzle a matter of trying again today.
Mar 25
Disney's Aladdin 1994
Why it still holds upA short run through the film still makes it easy to finish in one sitting.
Dec
Heretic 1994
Why it still holds upAn inventory to use as you like, on top of keys to hunt for, still gives each level more to try today.
Mar 18
Streets of Rage 3 1994
Why it still holds upTeaming up to clear the streets is still a good reason to pass a controller around.
Oct 24
Super Punch-Out!! 1994
Why it still holds upEach opponent has a style and weaknesses you learn by watching, so patience still pays off today.
Dec 21
Rise of the Triad: Dark War 1994
Why it still holds upIts unpredictable fights are still the reason to play it now, even if those mazes can leave you lost looking for keys.
Mar 17
Castlevania: Bloodlines 1994
Why it still holds upTwo heroes with different ways of moving still give each stage two ways to be played.
Oct
Earthworm Jim 1994
Why it still holds upUsing a worm as a whip is the idea the game is built on, and it still stands today.
Nov 15
Warcraft: Orcs & Humans 1994
Why it still holds upA small force to manage and a clear aim still keep each mission easy to read.