The 90s Flashback We All Needed: 16 Ultimate Video Games That Slapped Harder Than a Blue Shell

If you weren’t screaming at your Box TV while mashing buttons in the 90s, did you even live through the golden era of gaming? Let’s count down the ultimate 15 flashback games from this list (and give Streets of Rage 2 the love it deserves).

Buckle up….it’s gonna get nostalgic, funky fresh, and totally rad. lol 😅

1. Streets of Rage 2

The Underdog We All Needed

Let’s address the obvious: how dare this glorious brawler not be center stage here! Streets of Rage 2 was peak co-op chaos. Axel, Blaze, and the gang gave us the gritty streets and the jazz-funk beats that still slap. Don’t even get me started on Yuzo Koshiro’s soundtrack—it’s practically a nightclub in 16-bit form. This gem deserves its own shrine in gamer heaven.

2. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Zelda’s Reign Is Untouchable

Between Ocarina of Time and A Link to the Past, Zelda was busy showing us what LEGENDARY truly means. Link, wielding his Master Sword, became the poster boy for adventure. Admit it: you’re still humming Saria’s Song, aren’t you?

3. Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Sonic and Tails were the duo before dynamic duos were cool. Zooming through Emerald Hill Zone while avoiding Dr. Robotnik’s chaos was the purest form of adrenaline. Let’s not even start on the nightmare that was the underwater levels.

4. Final Fantasy VII

The moment Cloud Strife stepped onto the scene, we knew we were in for the drama. A massive sword, complex storytelling, and the heartbreak of Aerith? Final Fantasy VII is still leaving us emotionally unavailable.

5. GoldenEye 007

Nothing says friendship like shooting each other in the face with pixelated guns.

The Birth of Couch Multiplayer Dramahad so many friendships ruined because someone picked Oddjob in multiplayer mode…Legendary. GoldenEye wasn’t just a game; it was a competitive bloodsport. Those pixelated tuxedos will forever be burned into our memories.

6. Mario Kart 64

If you weren’t screaming, “Who threw that blue shell?!” at your siblings, were you even playing this right? Mario Kart 64 was the ultimate test of skill, luck, and pure chaos. RIP to all the friendships it destroyed.

7. Chrono Trigger

This game was a time-traveling fever dream of epic storytelling and battles. Let’s be real: if you didn’t cry during its 13 possible endings, you have no soul.

8. Resident Evil

Welcome to survival horror, where every creaky door and zombie moan made you wish you saved more ammo. Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield are still icons. And let’s not forget those tank controls. Yikes.

9. Crash Bandicoot

PlayStation’s Chaos King

Crash didn’t just spin into our hearts—he body-slammed the competition. This wacky marsupial was all about speed, bananas, and TNT boxes, and honestly? We stan his audacity.

10. Doom

Nothing like pixelated demons and a shotgun to make a gamer’s day. Doom was brutal, bloody, and oh-so-beautiful. It didn’t just define the FPS genre—it created it.

Doom taught us one thing: If it moves, it’s probably evil, so shoot it.

11. Donkey Kong 64

Chunky Kong. That’s it. That’s the tweet. But seriously, DK and his squad swinging, smashing, and puzzle-solving gave us endless joy. The DK Rap? Absolute fire.

12. Metal Gear Solid

Tactical espionage action with Snake crawling around like a boss. Kojima gave us plot twists, crazy villains, and codec calls we didn’t understand but loved anyway. Metal Gear?!

13. Super Mario 64

The leap into 3D wasn’t just groundbreaking—it was galaxy-shattering. From racing penguins to punching Bowser, Mario 64 set the standard for platformers forever.

14. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater

Kickflips, ollies, and the Goldfinger soundtrack? This game was a vibe. If you didn’t break every bone in Free Skate mode trying to land tricks, were you even trying?

15. StarCraft

The ultimate PC showdown of Zerg rushes and Terran turtling. This game was strategy perfection wrapped in intergalactic drama. To this day, it’s a lesson in multitasking under pressure.

16. Mortal Kombat on Sega Genesis

Let’s be real—if you didn’t grow up trying to master Scorpion’s “Get over here!” or sweating over Sub-Zero’s icy combos, were you even a 90s kid? Mortal Kombat on Sega Genesis was the ultimate playground flex. From the pixel-perfect gore to the controversial fatalities, it redefined what it meant to be a badass gamer. Sega’s blood code? Legendary. And let’s not forget those hours spent yelling, “FINISH HIM!” at your friends, only to mess up the input and accidentally punch them instead. Classic.

Honorable Mentions: Tomb Raider (Lara Croft was THE moment), Diablo (dungeon-crawling delight), and Super Metroid (queen of sci-fi vibes).

Honorable Sass Mention: Where’s Chun-Li’s Flowers?

Street Fighter II’s Chun-Li deserves a whole award for being the first character who made us say, “Strong thighs save lives.” Fight me (but not with Ryu’s Hadouken).

Final 2 Cents

The 90s didn’t just give us games—they gave us culture. Dust off your consoles, find your nearest Box TV, and relive the glory days. Now excuse me while I channel my inner Blaze and head back to the Streets of Rage.