The ’90s were a great time to be alive. It was the era of the internet when we first saw a glimpse of what was possible online. And it wasn’t just for buying pizza on-demand (who does that?). It was also the golden age for video games. Before Call of Duty and FIFA came along, plenty of other titles dominated our PC screens every day after school. Or work. Or whatever you did as a kid. So join us in this stroll through retro games titles you can play today.
Shadow Warrior Classic
Shadow Warrior is a first-person shooter released in 1997 and developed by 3D Realms. It’s available on Steam and can be played with either mouse and keyboard or a controller, depending on your preference. The game takes place after the events of its predecessor, Shadow Warrior (1995). You play as Lo Wang. An assassin who must stop an evil spirit from taking over the world by killing its high priestess with his katana sword.
We recommend this game for retro shooters like Doom or Duke Nukem 3D fans. It has similar gameplay mechanics: you’re placed in various locations filled with enemies trying to kill you. Plenty of weapons are at your disposal, including rifles, rocket launchers, and grenades. Most importantly, though, it’s fun!
Sonic the Hedgehog Classic
Sonic, the Hedgehog Classic, is a 2D platformer released in 1993 by Sega. It’s a remake of their first Sonic series game, free on Steam. In this game, you play as Sonic, who must defeat Dr. Robotnik (Eggman) and save his friends who he has kidnaped. You can do this by running through high levels and collecting rings along the way to keep yourself safe from harm!
Pinball FX2
Pinball FX2 is a game that features ten tables and can be played on Steam. The game has a 4.5-star rating and has been downloaded over 2 million times. This makes it one of the most popular retro games available today. The variety of pinball tables available in Pinball FX2 makes it easy to find one you enjoy playing. If you’re looking for something simple or more challenging with lots of different modes and features, there’s sure to be something for everyone!
Pac-Man
Pac-Man is one of the most iconic and beloved retro games in history. Developed by Namco and released in 1980, it’s widely credited with saving the arcade industry from financial ruin and paving the way for future titles like Mario and Sonic.
The original Pac-Man was first released in Japan under Puck Man (or Pakkuman) and gained popularity quickly thanks to its simple but challenging gameplay. You control a yellow circle named Pac-Man, who has to eat all of the dots on each level while avoiding ghosts that chase after him/her/it (the gender of your chosen character is up to you). If you get caught by one of these ghosts, they’ll eat your character whole until there’s nothing left but bones!
If all this sounds familiar, it should: Pac-Man has been adapted into multiple sequels over its 35+ years as a gaming franchise, including Ms. Pac-Man, Super Smash Bros., and Pokemon Go!
1943: The Battle of Midway
1943: The Battle of Midway is a classic arcade game you can play for free on Steam. The game was developed by Midway Games and released in 1991 as part of their “Arcade’s Greatest Hits” series.
It’s easy to start with 1943 since all you need is an internet connection and a controller or keyboard (although we recommend using controllers). You’ll also want friends to join in on the fun!
If you’re looking for an exciting multiplayer shooter that’s different from Call Of Duty or Battlefield, this is it! It has fast-paced action and explosions galore, making it perfect for when you want something more than just relaxing at home with Netflix or Hulu Plus streaming services.
Conclusion
These are just a few classic retro games you can play for free, but they’re worth checking out. Whether you want to relive the glory days or experience something new in an old format, these five games will keep any gamer busy for hours on end.