Spider Man (2000)

Swing through the streets of New York City as Spiderman as you fight to stop Doctor Oc from taking over the city. This is a level-by-level game where you get to square off against other villains such as Rhino, Lizard and even Carnage! Being the first 3D game of the series, this was so much fun to play and was the start for superhero games to come.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)

Modeled after the first book and movie that came out around the same time, the game was better than most had anticipated. You’re able to roam around Hogwarts at Harry Potter completing quests and solving fun puzzles from the beginning of the traditional story until the very end. Of course, they added some parts of it to be more interactive, but all in all, this was a great game to play, especially for children at the time.

Mega Man X4 (1997)

Mega Man X4 was one of the earlier games to be released for the original PlayStation and became a pretty tough act to follow. You can play the story mode as either Mega Man X or Zero (this is an X, after all), where you take part in the war against the hunters. Level by level, this game was filled with action and even though it was a platformer, they always found a way to keep the gameplay fresh and never repetitive.

Ape Escape (1999)

Ape Escape is about a monkey (Specter) that lives in a family fun amusement park who is given a helmet designed by a crazy scientist that gives him super monkey powers. As cool as the powers are, the helmet also turns him evil. So you, Spike, must rally all the other monkeys to stop Specter from rewriting history. It sounds wild, but Ape Escape was one of the best family-friendly games of its time, introducing a fun plot, dynamic gameplay and excellent graphics for its time.

Tomb Raider (1996)

The start of an era, you can start your adventure as Lara Croft in what were the best graphics at the time. Explore caves, tombs and crypts to find a special artifact in the mountains of Peru. This game was successful enough to sell over 7 MILLION copies, which was crazy at the time.

Crash Bandicoot (1996)

Naughty Dog’s first hit was none other than Crash Bandicoot where you must get through each level to stop the evil Doctor Neo Cortex from taking over the world. With the help of Aku Aku, a floating magic mask who sometimes takes damage for you, you must get through each stage, collecting apples and defeating enemies in the process. As much fun as this game was, it was equally (if not more) frustrating. Beware of the boulders.

Spyro the Dragon (1998)

One of PlayStation’s most iconic franchises started here. Play as Spyro, the small, yet powerful dragon who learns more abilities as you go to defeat Gnasty Gnorc and rescue all the other dragons and dragonflies from his reign of terror. The game consists of multiple worlds where you meet friends, collect valuables and are tested in many different facets.

Metal Gear Solid (1998)

The ultimate game for 3D stealth missions and combat-related tasks was, of course, Metal Gear Solid and it all started here. You play as Solid Snake as you navigate through a nuclear weapons facility to neutralize the threat of war… nuclear war.

Spyro the Dragon: Year of the Dragon (2000)

The best of the entire series (in our opinion), Year of the Dragon takes Spyro to a whole new level. Actually, there are 37 in which you have to collect dragon eggs that have been stolen by a thief. Among the many fun adventures involving ‘out there’ themes like gliding, swimming and even skateboarding, you also meet a lot of recurring characters like Hunter and Sheila the Kangaroo to help you with your quest. This is especially fun for kids!

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (1997)

Considered to be the best Castlevania game, you play as Alucard (Dracula’s son) to fight through Dracula’s castle in an attempt to defeat the possessed Richter Belmont. While still 2-dimensional, this game offered a lot to explore, so many monsters to fight, surprising adventures within the initial quest and so much more for it’s time to the point that it’s still considered to be one of the best PlayStation games, period, not just from the original.

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Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards (2000)

The first full 3D adventure in the Kirby franchise was a total hit. The side-scrolling 3D platformer has players fighting through Dreamland as none other than Kirby in an act to retrieve the sacred crystal shards to defeat Dark Matter. This was the first game where Kirby actually teams up with King Dedede. Between the unconventional teamwork and the tons of challenging levels, this game was amazing.

Bomberman 64 (1997)

We’ll be totally honest with this one. Bomberman 64 was a pain in the you know what because of all the fun puzzles and (sometimes) time restraints. As annoying as these parts were, it was all the more rewarding as you work through each level and defeat dangerous space pirates every step of the way.

Yoshi’s Story (1997)

This was the first N64 game that focused on Yoshi, who was previously known as basically Mario’s horse. The graphics of this game weren’t the best of its time, but the gameplay more than made up for it. The side-scrolling platformer was a classic as you fought to protect the fruit-bearing super happy tree from the likes of the super jealous Baby Bowser.

Star Fox 64 (1997)

The source of the infamous “do a barrel roll” meme, Starfox 64 was ahead of its time in a dogfight-style aerial battle. The only game of it’s time that even compares was Star Wars: Rogue Squadron. There were countless levels as you played as Fox McCloud and his team of fighter pilots.

Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask (2000)

The second Zelda installment for the N64, Majora’s Mask picks up after Ocarina of Time. You play as Link in an alternate reality from that of the Ocarina where you have to save the moon from complete destruction. The graphics were totally ahead of its time, which was surprising considering it only took Nintendo 2 years to make and develop it.

Rayman 2: The Great Escape (1999)

Rayman 2 was so much fun! The plot begins when you find yourself (Rayman) and a couple of allies in a prison aboard a giant ship. Shocker, you eventually escape from your cell and retreat deep into the forest to reconnect with Globox, Rayman’s trusted guide. From dashing through swamps to swinging on vines, this action-packed game was arguably the best of the series.

Donkey Kong 64 (1999)

If there is one lesson to take away from Donkey Kong 64, it’s not to mess with a monkey’s bananas. You play mostly as Donkey Kong on Donkey Kong island where you fight the likes of King K Rool to retrieve your stache of delicious bananas and free Diddy Kong from captivity. This game was full of fun puzzles and mini-games that really spiced things up and made for an excellent sequel to Donkey Kong Country.

Banjo-Kazooie (1998)

We’re not going to lie, Banjo-Kazooie is tough, even for adults. There are 9 worlds in total where you have to complete (sometimes annoying) puzzles to collect musical notes and advance to the next world. Like Super Mario and Donkey Kong 64, it was the closest thing to being ‘open-world’ at the time, meaning you could go back and try old missions, meaning not everything had to be completed in linear order. The uniqueness of the story and gameplay made this game a major hit.

Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Considered one of the highest-rated games of all time, Ocarina of Time is a staple in the Zelda franchise. You play as both young and adult link as you move throughout time to help Zelda defeat the sinister Gannondorf. This game allowed for a lot of flexibility for its time, like playing special songs to give you unique power upgrades to help you advance through the story.

Super Mario 64

The game that everybody (and we mean everybody) had was Super Mario 64. The entire game takes place in the Mushroom Kingdom (mostly within Peach’s castle) where Mario must collect stars to advance throughout the castle and defeat bowser. Getting to explore the castle and play levels ranging from haunted houses to lava fields, ice worlds, and carpets in the clouds – it really felt like this game had no limits. This game set the standard for not only Super Mario, but all other 3D adventure games to come.

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Tomb Raider: Raider Chronicles (2000)

Embark on another adventure as players could fight through temples and jungles as none other than Lara Croft. While this was considered to be one of the weaker games from the Tomb Raider series, it was still strong enough to make the list and was known for giving Lara many of the tools in her arsenal that made the series iconic, including her ability to walk the tightropes and swing on horizontal bars.

Shenmue (1999)

Shenmue was one of the first games to merge 1v1 platform fighting games with gut-wrenching adventures, making it a storied franchise in Japanese gaming. You play as a teenage martial artist seeking revenge for his dojo, as you investigate and fight through the streets of Hong Kong. The game featured a great balance of action, story and adventure that kept it from getting stale.

Nightmare Creatures 2 (2000)

One of the first successful horror adventure/survival games was the Nightmare Creatures series, with the second installment being considered one of the best. Here you play to stop an occult from taking over the world. The overall style was so unique and fun for the time that we just had to add it to the list. It almost gives you the feel of exploring a fun haunted house.

Stupid Invaders (2001)

Fun for the entire family, Stupid Invaders is something of a cartoon parody that adds a level of comedy to your adventure. The plot involves you and your alien friends literally just trying to get back into space, but of course, you run into problems along the way. It’s a fun, almost-spoofy kind of game that has aged fairly well.

Shadow Man (1999)

Play as the “Shadow Man” where you possess the voodoo magic that originally spawned in the 1880’s with Jack the Ripper. The protagonist is Michael LeRoi, who is set to protect the living from the monsters and demons that walk the earth in an attempt to cause harm to the innocent.

Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver (1999)

The Legacy of Kain was riveting at the time, acting as a dungeon crawler meets RPG at a time where this was brand new. You act as a sort-of nephalem and fight through vampires, werewolves and all other kinds of monsters to progress through Nosgoth and defeat Kain to save the world. The graphics and gameplay were innovative, making this a great addition to our list.

The Nomad Soul (2000)

Taking place sometime in the future, in The Nomad Soul, you play as an ex-police officer to combat the “The Awakened”, a governmental group of religious zealots. You fight through the streets of Omikron, fighting everything from gangsters to demons to strip the power from the group of power-hungry monsters looking to take over the world. In addition to battling, there are also other fun things to do in the city. The 3rd-person perspective was perfect because it gave players the energy of an adventure with the plot of a fantasy.

Fun fact – David Bowie created and put the soundtrack together!

Sonic Adventure 2 (2001)

The Sonic Adventure series took the franchise to a whole new level! The 3D effects were amazing, as you speed through cities with multiple playable characters. The story is split into two parts, Eggman and Shadow. There are 3 unique game modes, including fast-paced plat forming, multi-directional shooting and our personal favorite, action-exploration.

Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1999)

Arguably the best Tomb Raider game of all time, The Last Revelation featured the best of its core specialty – exploring. The caves, temples and ruins were so cool for the time and the combat portion was so unique. There’s a reason why so many are skeptical as to why it hasn’t been remastered yet.

Sonic Adventure (1998)

A lot of us remember Sonic Adventure for it’s introduction to Shadow, probably still the coolest character of the franchise 20+ years later. But it’s also the first real 3D adventures that totally reimagined the series entirely. It was also the first to incorporate the slight RPG elements, making the game fun for longer.

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Batman: Arkham City (2011)

We name Arkham City not only the best Batman game ever, but the best superhero game ever – period. You’re no longer confined to Arkham Island… you have the whole city to explore and fight crime in. There’s an extensive main story filled with high-profile villains such as The Joker, Killer Croc, Scarecrow and more, plus tons of mini-games and side quests to feed your craving. Oh – and there are additional heroes you can play as, such as Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl and more!

Toy Story 3: The Video Game (2010)

Did you like the Toy Story 3 movie? If so, you’ll love the game! It’s a platform-adventure game that is based on the movie, but with more included. Play as Woody, Buzz, or Jessie in multiple game modes, including multiplayer, where you explore everything from Andy’s room to the outside world.

Ori and the Blind Forest (2015)

Left to explore the dying forest alone, you play as Ori and are accompanied by Sein, a spirit that guides you through your adventure. Your goal is to restore the forest, along with those who you lost within it. The beautiful, natural-looking graphics add an aesthetically pleasing tribute to the Rayman games while demonstrating some originality of its own. The story and gameplay are truly loads of fun for the whole family.

Doritos Crash Course (2010)

Have you ever watched shows like “American Ninja Warrior” or “Sasuke” (in Japan)? They have people attempting crazy-timed obstacle courses that require immense physical strength and durability. Well, this was re-animated with a super fun platformer-adventure game sponsored by Doritos. There are various stages across 5 countries, each more difficult than the last. You can play alone, competing against your past times, or challenge friends in real-time. Tons of fun, and even better it was free!

Sonic Generations (2011)

The modern Sonic of today (well, of 2011) collides with the vintage Sonic of the Sega Genesis era, creating a wild adventure for all. This happens because Dr. Eggman tries going back in time to defeat a more vulnerable Sonic, but it backfires because the two just unite for some extra action. You get the best of both worlds, with a combination of nostalgia and modern action that anyone can enjoy.

South Park: The Stick of Truth (2014)

If you’re a fan of South Park, there’s no way you won’t love this game. It takes place following the Game of Thrones gag trilogy from their 14th season, where you play as your own character. As the “new kid”, you embark on a fantasy quest with the kids in South Park, defining your role and backstory along the way. Warning: the contents of this game aren’t ideal for younger audiences.

Alan Wake (2010)

Playing as the famous author, Alan Wake, you embark on a journey to find your missing wife. During this process, you notice something weird going on in town. Like his books, the plot consists of 6 episodes, each loaded with plot twists and cliffhangers. It’s very creative, and a great way to combine action with mystery for a ton of fun.

Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts (2008)

The fifth installment of the series was not a disappointment. Your team has to compete in a long set of difficult challenges to win the L.O.G. (Lord of Games) competition. There is a lot to unwrap here, tons of game styles and mini-games built for both single and multiplayer – lots of fun! Though we have to admit, while the graphics were great, we thought the animations were a bit… awkward.

Red Dead Redemption (2010)

This open-world adventure is like Grand Theft Auto meets the Wild West. As a super cool cowboy, you engage in revolver combat on horseback. There are hundreds of bounties to finish that you can complete alone or with friends (up to 15 of them). The story is solid, graphics were ahead of its time with years with an impressive budget to boot.

Assassin’s Creed 2 (2009)

It’s time to get back into the animus, but instead of playing as Altaïr during the crusades, you’re playing as Ezio in Italy during the Renaissance era. Haven’t you always wanted to travel to Italy? Here’s your chance – battle the Knights Templar and assassinate corrupt world leaders for the greater good. Here you’re equipped with new tools and gadgets, including flying machines designed by Leonard Di Vinchi himself! In our opinion, this is the best from the entire Assassin’s Creed series.

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Kirby Super Star (1996)

The platform-style was one of the first to take place in Dreamland. You play as Kirby through 8 unique game modes, that include mini-games, racing and adventure modes. It offered quite a bit of content, including boss battles against the likes of King Dedede and Metaknight, the 2 main antagonists of the series.

Super Ghosts ‘n Ghouls (1991)

One of the darker-styled games of the Super Nintendo, you play as the Knight Arthur in a quest to rescue a princess from an army of zombies, ghosts and ghouls across large graveyards, castles caves, temples and other maps. We loved this game because it found a way to stay fresh relative to other games of its genre, as it remained just as fun at the end as the first level. The boss battles are tough, but very rewarding when you finish it all.

Donkey Kong Country (1994)

A lot of people remember Donkey Kong Country for how innovative its graphics were for the time. The platform game was almost telling for what the graphics would begin to look like for the Nintendo 64, just a few notches below. It truly started a new chapter in gaming design that would only continue to get better.

The platform game has you play as Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr as you fight through 40 levels of Donkey Kong Island to stop King K Rool from getting away with the precious banana hoard. You have to swing through trees and shoot through barrels to get through each checkpoint. It’s challenging, without being too difficult for the children playing.

Mega Man X (1993)

Mega Man X represented a new era in the Mega Man series. Players could play as Mega Man alongside Zero to fight the AI-powered evils of Dr. Thomas Light. Mega Man X featured enhanced graphics and gameplay that you just didn’t see from the older, more simplistic Mega Man games, which made it that much more fun and exciting.

Star Fox 2 (1993)

The sequel to Star Fox met and exceeded expectations. The 3D motions made it somewhat unlike any other game from it’s time, which later gave rise to other popular ‘aero dogfighting’ games like Star Wars Rogue Squadron and Ace Combat. The added story and intense gameplay made Star Fox 2 a real keeper.

Super Castlevania IV (1991)

Castlevania did an unbelievable job of kicking things up a notch after the notorious Castlevania Dracula game. Here you play as Simon Belmont with a twist – this was the first game that let you control the vampire-slaying whip in any direction, giving the player more control in mobility and combo building.

Batman Returns (1992)

Based on the blockbuster movie, Batman Returns takes players through the streets, parks and sewers of Gotham City. The game was pretty much undeniably better than the movie, with a dark theme that later became “The Dark Knight”. This game was seen as more thrilling because of how many enemies and boss fights there were versus the previous games.

Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1994)

The force was with this game, as players hacked and slashed through multiple levels as many players including Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca and more, which was new. To make things even better, they mixed up the playstyle by adding 7 vehicle levels, letting players pilot iconic ships such as the Y-Wing and even Millenium Falcon!

Super Metroid (1994)

The first battle between Samus Aran and Ridley on the SNES was seen on Super Metroid, as you fought through space as Nintendo’s favorite intergalactic bounty hunter. Between the super creative aesthetics and interesting gadgets, it’s no wonder Metroid went on to become one of Nintendo’s highest-rated series.

Super Mario World (1990)

We still get the occasional bad dream from the original Super Mario World. It’s difficulties and sometimes-unnecessary time limits probably weren’t ideal for younger audiences, but nevertheless made for the best adventure game from the SNES. When many think retro gaming from the 1990s, Super Mario World always comes to mind. Fun fact: this was the first Mario game that let you ride Yoshi and also introduced many of the common villains like Hammer Bro and Monty Mole.

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Far Cry 3 (2012)

Here you play as someone stranded on a fictional tropical island. You notice your girlfriend is gone (later to find out she’s been kidnapped), so you accept numerous missions in an act to gather intel and rescue her. The game focuses on the exploration of the island, where you battle people and wildlife – it’s much like Far Cry 2 (which took place in Africa), but it has a lot more added to it.

Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction (2007)

The dynamic duo is back together, but at the beginning of the story, you realize there’s something up with the hovercraft. While working on it, you get a call from Captain Qwark and have to go fight an army of commandos. From here, you get word of a bigger war at stake – this story takes place after Up Your Arsenal and Going Commando – but with more gadgets and battles than ever!

Crash of the Titans (2007)

With twenty full levels of boss-battling fun, Crash of the Titans decided to add a new “punky” look to their game. This was the first Crash game that enabled co-op, which allowed people to play together, instead of taking turns. While still challenging, this wasn’t quite as frustrating as the original 3 Crash games, making it less inclined to drive you crazy.

Grand Theft Auto 5 (2013)

To this day, it’s the highest-rated Grand Theft Auto game, as well as any game published by Rockstar. You play the story mode alternating as 3 protagonists, Michael, Franklin and Trevor who have been involved in heists together. They find themselves crossing paths in an open world that allows players to do just about what their imagination lets them. Online and off, you’ll find there are tons of fun things to do in San Andreas.

Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009)

The Arkham series brought the darker side of Batman to home gaming consoles everywhere. It all starts with Arkham Asylum, where the Joker finds a way to escape and hold Gotham City hostage, telling Batman he can’t leave Arkham Island without bombs destroying the city. You have to fight through a prison filled with bad guys, all while uncovering clues in furthering your mission to rescue Commissioner Gordon and save the city. Oh, and getting all the inmates back in prison where they belong.

God of War 3 (2010)

About an epic of a game series as it gets – you play as Kratos (son of Zeus) in the world that’s loosely based on Greek Mythology. You fight armies of soldiers and in some cases, Greek Gods. The combo-style button masher has been praised for its playstyle and graphics, not just the third installment, but all of them. However, God of War 3 is considered to be the best of them all.

LittleBigPlanet (2008)

Sony’s favorite platformer adventure game was a smash hit for good reason. You play as Sackboy in a 2-dimensional world where you try to help the 8 creators fix their own issues and stop the collector from taking over. You can also create your own worlds and share them with your friends, making this the game that keeps on giving.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (2009)

The sequel to the original Uncharted was even better than the first. You embark on a quest as none other than Nathan Drake to find special treasure in the Middle East. But in the process, you find a lot of double-crosses and issues that make for a really fun and interesting story.

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (2008)

The decorated Solid Snake has aged but must return from retirement. You team up with a genius kid to battle cyborgs and corrupt soldiers with the fate of the country in your hands. The in-depth story and state-of-the-art graphics were considered ahead of its time – making this a must-play!

The Last Of Us (2013)

Following an outbreak of mutant fungus, you find yourself in something of a post-apocalyptic world just trying to make it to tomorrow. Joel (the main protagonist) teams up with a child, Ellie to gather supplies and… survive. The story of this one tugs at the heartstrings and the gameplay makes you feel as if you were there. This is truly a game for the ages.

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Tomb Raider: Underworld (2008)

The ninth installment of the Tomb Raider series was a doozy (in a good way). You play as Lara Croft, right after the events from Tomb Raider: Legend. You adventure through Northern Europe, into the Mediterranean Sea all the way into parts of Asia with the intent of finding new information about Lara’s missing mother. The maritime exploration was a really nice touch! This game gets pretty mythical, dealing with Nordic Mythology and its DLC expansions Beneath the Ashes and Lara’s Shadow add additional light to the plot.

Cave Story (WiiWare) (2010)

Created as an expanded port of the original hit from 6 years earlier, this version of Cave Story offered enhanced graphics, new soundtracks and a few extra levels. This includes the addition of Curly Story and Boss Attack, which just added more depth to the already awesome adventure platformer. We love how your character has no memory of where they came from, so you relate to them as you play through many areas of the game.

Wario Land: Shake It! (2008)

The sequel to the classic Ware Land game hit the shelves in 2008 and it definitely didn’t disappoint. It gave users a similar experience to the original Wario Land games they loved for GameBoy but featured something special – the shaking/moving options of the Wii controls. This added the extra level of fun that really had people feeling like they were part of the game, enabling tons of fun for the whole family.

Rayman Origins (2011)

The jungle platform-adventure game returned with a twist – additional playable characters. Up to 4 people can jump on a game at once, playing as either Rayman, Globox or one of the Teensies where they can explore levels that take people from the seas to the skies. It had just enough of its old essence for the nostalgia people wanted, with better graphics and enough new features to freshen the game up.

Super Mario Bros. Wii (2009)

A lot of people were waiting for this and for good reason. Acting as a sequel to the previously successful New Super Mario Bros for Nintendo DS, the Wii version added new playable characters such as Luigi and Yoshi. It added a touch of Super Mario Land to the original platformer that people absolutely loved. With cooperative gameplay, people can play together with their friends to complete levels, which gave rise to special features in new Mario games such as Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Odyssey.

Lego Batman: The Videogame (2008)

Everyone’s (or at least most people’s) favorite character from The Lego Movie got his own game and like many of its kind – it was a great one! It takes an alternate twist on the infamous M-Rated Arkham series where the inmates escape and it’s up to Batman and Robin to stop them from wreaking havoc on Gotham. There are nearly a dozen villains to take on, such as the Joker, Man-Bat, Killer Moth, Penguin and more!

Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros’ Treasure (2007)

The animated pirate adventure became an instant classic among the Nintendo community. The plot is to find Treasure Island, in doing so Wiki and his crew has to explore jungles, volcanos, castles and island fun, all to find the maps. The game is filled with adventure for the whole family.

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (2006)

Taking place in between the Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask, Twilight Princess takes Link on a journey through the Twilight Realm, a parallel dimension to his own. The world design and unique characters were so innovative for its time, combined with surreal gameplay. As a result, it’s considered one of the best games from Nintendo.

Super Mario Galaxy 2 (2010)

The sequel to Super Mario Galaxy was perhaps one of the best… ever! You pick up where you left off from the original, only this time each planet has you transforming like never before, including bumblebee, rock, fire and so many other Marios. You even get to ride Yoshi like the good ol’ days!

Super Mario Galaxy (2007)

On your way to celebrate a once every century event Princess Peach is kidnapped, along with her entire castle. Mario fails to stop the event, and is stranded in space until he’s picked up Rosalina and her Lumas – those who watch over the cosmos. From here, you have to travel to different planets and galaxies to collect power stars so you can reach Bowser and rescue the princess. This game took all 3D Mario games to new heights, adding new transformations, play styles and missions that made it an all-time great.

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