The Most Important Video Games of the Nineties

The 1990s were a defining decade for video games. The gaming industry saw significant growth during this time, with the introduction of new technologies, improved graphics, and more immersive gameplay experiences. The nineties gave birth to some of the most iconic video games that have since become classics. Let’s take a look at the five most important video games of the nineties and their impact on the gaming industry.\r \r 1. Super Mario Bros. 3 (1990)\r \r Super Mario Bros. 3 is a platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). It was released in Japan in 1988 and later in North America in 1990. The game is the third installment in the Super Mario Bros. series and is considered one of the best video games of all time. Super Mario Bros. 3 introduced new gameplay mechanics, such as the ability to fly and slide, and included a wide variety of power-ups, enemies, and levels. The game also introduced a world map system, which allowed players to navigate through various stages and choose different paths to complete the game. Super Mario Bros. 3 was a critical and commercial success, selling over 18 million copies worldwide. The game’s success helped to establish Nintendo as a dominant force in the gaming industry and set the standard for platform games for years to come.\r \r 2. Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)\r \r Sonic the Hedgehog is a platform game developed and published by Sega for the Sega Genesis. It was released in North America in 1991 and quickly became one of the most popular games of the decade. Sonic the Hedgehog introduced a new character to the gaming world, Sonic, who became an instant icon. The game’s fast-paced gameplay, colorful graphics, and catchy soundtrack helped to differentiate it from other platform games on the market. Sonic the Hedgehog was a major success, selling over 15 million copies worldwide. \r \r 3. Doom (1993)\r \r Doom is a first-person shooter game developed by id Software and published by GT Interactive. It was released in 1993 for MS-DOS and quickly became one of the most popular games of the decade. Doom was groundbreaking in many ways. It was one of the first games to use 3D graphics, allowing players to move and interact in a fully 3D environment. It also introduced multiplayer gameplay, allowing players to compete against each other over a network. Doom was a critical and commercial success, selling over 10 million copies worldwide. We saw first-person shooters as a popular genre in the gaming industry and it paved the way for future games like Quake and Half-Life.\r \r 4. Final Fantasy VII (1997)\r \r Final Fantasy VII is a role-playing game developed and published by Square (now Square Enix) for the PlayStation. It was released in 1997 and quickly became one of the most popular games of the decade. Final Fantasy VII was groundbreaking in many ways. It was one of the first games to use 3D graphics extensively, allowing for more immersive gameplay experiences. It also featured a complex storyline and well-developed characters, which helped to distinguish it from other role-playing games on the market. Final Fantasy VII was a critical and commercial success, selling over 11 million copies worldwide. \r \r 5. Street Fighter II (1991)\r \r Street Fighter II was a fighting game developed and published by Capcom. It was released in 1991 and was an immediate sensation, spawning numerous sequels and spinoffs. Street Fighter II introduced the concept of combos, which allowed players to perform multiple moves in quick succession. Street Fighter II was a massive commercial success, selling over 15 million copies worldwide. It was also critically acclaimed and is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential video games of all time. Street Fighter II's impact on the fighting game genre is still felt today, and it remains a favorite among competitive gamers and fans of the genre.