Gaming has reached new heights during lockdowns all over the world. Hundreds of millions of players gathered online to battle boredom by playing their favorite games. Sure, the most popular titles are always a good choice, but millions of old-school gamers prefer playing classic retro games.
The rising popularity of classic titles like Super Mario Bros, Lara Croft 1 and 2, and Super NES Classics collection gave them a new life. It seems that a considerable portion of active gamers likes to go back in time rather than play the current hits. Let’s take a closer look at the most popular nostalgic titles and why you should give them a try.
1. Crash Bandicoot Series
The Crash Bandicoot Series is one of the most popular games played on the PlayStation 1 console. It’s a 3D platformer where you take the role of a rogue fox called Crash. As you battle your way to the final boss one level at a time, you do everything you can to stop his plan of taking over the world.
The game offers plenty of fun levels, all kinds of cool obstacles, and a few bosses, all ruled by the same evil mastermind. You can expect a lot of jumping, sliding, running, and a healthy dose of humor too.
2. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 and 2
Known as one of the best PS1 games of all times and as titles that brought skating into gaming, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 & 2 are classics. These two titles have popularized skating more than ever before, and they were the favorite video games for an entire generation.
Even though you can try a complete THPS remake these days, there is simply something special about the old-school version. Almost 20 years have passed since their release, but these games will remain as some of the best games of the early 2000s.
3. Super Mario 64
Super Mario games have been around for quite some time, but none of them are as fun as Super Mario 64. It was the first Super Mario game with 3D graphics, and it changed the world of gaming forever. Just like the original 2D title, this one puts you in the role of Mario and his brother Luigi.
Your task is to reach the castle and free the princess from the fire-breathing dragon. The game offers the best platforming action, and it’s one of those titles that will never get old. Give it a try, and you’ll feel like a kid once again. Thanks to the new ray tracing mod, Super Mario will look better than ever!
4. Diablo II
Diablo II is still regarded as the best hack & slash RPG of all time by millions of players all over the globe. It has literally changed the gaming world forever with its excellent leveling system and iconic level design. In fact, it is so popular 20 years after its original release that developers are making a revamped version of the game.
It’s a game that inspired many other RPGs in the past two decades, and it’s still worth playing, over and over again.
5. Age of Empires
Known as the best RTS of all times, the Age of Empires had a massive impact on the gaming industry. It’s a strategy game that taught us how to organize an army while learning more details about our ancient history.
The game requires you to gather resources, build an army, develop your civilization, and conquer everyone who stands in your way. It never gets old, and it’s still one of the most popular RTS games, over 20 years after its original release.
6. Black & White
Black & White is another exciting title that brought an entirely new gaming experience. The game puts you in the role of a God taking care of a small island civilization. As you progress through the game, you will encounter all kinds of choices. Everything you do has a consequence on the world, and you can choose to be a good or a bad god.
Apart from taking care of the tribesmen, you’ll also get a huge “pet” creature used to defend your village. It’s a fantastic game that really brings back those feelings of nostalgia.
Final Words
These are just some of the iconic games that will definitely make you feel like a kid once again. However, many other titles were released between 1997 and 2003, which have changed the way we think about gaming forever. So, if you’re tired of modern video games, just go back in time and experience the best games ever released.
However, there can be an issue: many nostalgic games are no longer available online. The only way to play them is by acquiring the original discs. Thus, visit pawn shops or second-hand stores that might have some titles to give you a blast from the past.
However, it is common to find torrents that allegedly offer Black & White or the first game in the Sims series. In many cases, these are fake torrents that install malware instead of the promised games. If you wish to stay safe, try to avoid such downloads. You can also install a gaming VPN to give you access to more resources for retro games. How? Simply change your IP address and connect to a website featuring a geo-block you wish to bypass. However, always be vigilant when installing or downloading new games.
