5 Video Games From The '90s That Hold Up Today

Over the course of the '90s the video game industry changed dramatically, from the decline of arcades in North America to radical advances in home console and PC gaming hardware. This meant that gameplay experiences and technical presentations of games changed radically, coming a long way from the decade's initial 8-bit capabilities. Many '90s games feel very much of their era, but there are several that continue to stand the test of time. Whether playing them on their original platforms or through re-releases and emulations, there are '90s classics that stand on par with their modern successors.

Whether it's offering gameplay that remains effortlessly accessible and visuals that are timeless instead of dated, there are games that just grow stronger over time. We've included a healthy mix that each still maintain an enduring appeal in their own way. Whether it's fighting games, RPGs, and more, these games are not only foundational but are still a blast to play decades later. Here are 5 video games from the '90s that hold up today and are readily available for you to revisit.

Throughout the '90s, Square was really hitting its stride as the premier developer of turn-based role-playing games, developing acclaimed titles like "Final Fantasy" and "Super Mario RPG." One particular Square game that continues to resonate today, without the extensive remasters or remakes like its other titles from the decade, is 1995's "Chrono Trigger." The game's protagonist Crono and his friends discover time portals that let them access the world's past and distant future. Recruiting a small party, Crono moves to prevent the apocalypse by traveling through time to stop the villainous Lavos.

There are several Square-developed RPGs from the '90s that have endured, but "Chrono Trigger" always holds a particularly special place. The game provides players with a memorable cast, an immersive time travel premise, and 12 different endings, including a wild ending that you probably didn't see. By this time, Square had significantly refined its RPG acumen on the Super Nintendo, making this game stand above its genre counterparts. One of the greatest RPGs made, "Chrono Trigger" is Square's ultimate SNES masterpiece.

At a time when so many established franchises were making their big push to 3D gameplay, "Castlevania" stayed 2D — at least for a while. 1997's "Castlevania: Symphony of the Night" for the original PlayStation incorporated "Metroid" style exploration and progression, something that it hadn't attempted in years. The majority of the game takes place four years after the events of 1993's "Castlevania: Rondo of Blood" in the greater "Castlevania" timeline. Awakening from his lengthy slumber, Dracula's son Alucard sets out to learn what happened to the vampire-hunting Belmonts and prevent his father's latest attempted resurrection.

With its use of sprites instead of polygonal character models, "Symphony of the Night" has aged way better than many of its contemporaries. The game remains richly realized, from its atmospheric castle setting to its evocative musical score blending operatic melodies with hard rock energy. On top of the nonlinear exploration, "Symphony of the Night" also features action RPG elements as Alucard grows stronger and acquires more powerful gear as he progresses. When revisiting "Symphony of the Night," just be sure to avoid versions with re-recorded dialogue, as this loss of the original charm is one of the worst crimes committed against "Castlevania."

Real-time strategy games were popularized in the '90s, with Blizzard titles like "Warcraft" among the best-selling in the genre. After its RTS foray into the high fantasy space, Blizzard turned its attention to futuristic sci-fi with "StarCraft" in 1998. Players are given the choice between three different playable factions: the human Terrans, the monstrous Zerg, and the psionic Protoss. In addition to competitive multiplayer modes, the game has a campaign for each faction that chronicles the StarCraft story and the ongoing battle for galactic supremacy.

Even following the release of the popular "StarCraft II," the original "StarCraft" still brings its own unique charm to the franchise. The game's balance between its three playable factions provides plenty of strategic depth and the multiplayer scene is still well-populated. Moreover, the game is just a blast to pick up and play, either solo or with friends as a perfectly crafted RTS experience. As fans await a hopeful word for the future of "StarCraft," the original game remains an enduring favorite.

"The Legend of Zelda" lit the gaming industry ablaze with its leap to 3D gameplay and 1998's "Ocarina of Time" was almost even more revolutionary in that regard. The version of the game that we did get was still a groundbreaking classic, recounting Link's eternal battle with Ganondorf for the fate of Hyrule. More than just offering an immersive change in perspective, the game has Link travel between the present and a dark future where Ganondorf has already conquered Hyrule. Armed with the Master Sword and support of elemental sages, Link and Princess Zelda take on the evil wizard to save their kingdom.

There is still a charm to the Nintendo 64's polygonal characters and early 3D environments that endures decades later. The game is as immersive and awe-inspiring as ever and its big moments retain a triumphant quality. But what really elevates "Ocarina of Time" is a more intuitive camera system where contemporaries like "Super Mario 64" and "Banjo-Kazooie" fell short. Still the bar against which all subsequent "Legend of Zelda" games are judged, "Ocarina of Time" is the definitive entry in the franchise.

Truth be told, many fighting games from the '90s actually have a lasting appeal that endures, be it "Tekken" or "Fatal Fury." But 1999's "Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike" stands above the rest, even if it wasn't as successful in the grand scheme of the "Street Fighter" story at the time. A continuation of the preceding two installments of "Street Fighter III," the game has martial artists from around the world battle each other before facing the demigod Gill. "3rd Strike" brings even more fighters to the mix, including the return of Chun-Li, along with new characters like Remy and Q.

Capcom revolutionized fighting games with "Street Fighter II" at the start of the '90s and they perfected it with "3rd Strike" by the decade's end. The gameplay is fast and furious, the parry system has been optimized, and the roster is the most balanced for any of the "Street Fighter III" titles. "3rd Strike" is also one of the last Capcom fighters to use sprites and conventional backgrounds and the developers spared no expense in making them visually stunning. One last celebration of classic "Street Fighter" before the mainline series shifted to 3D, "3rd Strike" remains a tournament favorite years later for a good reason.