Acclaimed Video Games
The top 1,400 most recommended games across 920 critic lists from 146 publications.
Updated: October 16, 2026
Most Acclaimed Video Games of the 1990s
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#1 The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998) (#3)
Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development
|
N64
|
Action-Adventure
|
~27h
|
90 lists
#2 Super Mario 64 (1996) (#7)
Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development
|
N64
|
Action-Adventure /
Platform
|
~12h
|
88 lists
#3 The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (1991) (#9)
Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development
|
SNES
|
Action-Adventure
|
~15h
|
86 lists
#4 Super Mario World (1990) (#10)
Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development
|
SNES
|
Platform
|
~5h
|
80 lists
#5 Final Fantasy VII (1997) (#16)
Square Product Development Division 1
|
PS
|
Role-Playing
|
~36h
|
85 lists
#6 Doom (1993) (#17)
id Software
|
DOS
|
First-Person Shooter
|
~5h
|
82 lists
#7 Super Metroid (1994) (#21)
Nintendo R&D1
|
SNES
|
Action-Adventure
|
~8h
|
84 lists
#8 Street Fighter II (1991) (#22)
Capcom
|
ARC,
SNES
|
Fighting
|
~1h
|
85 lists
#9 Metal Gear Solid (1998) (#24)
Konami Computer Entertainment Japan
|
PS
|
Action-Adventure /
Stealth
|
~11h
|
78 lists
#10 Half-Life (1998) (#30)
Valve
|
WIN
|
First-Person Shooter
|
~12h
|
61 lists
#11 Chrono Trigger (1995) (#33)
Bird Studio, Square
|
SNES
|
Role-Playing
|
~23h
|
72 lists
#12 GoldenEye 007 (1997) (#34)
Rare
|
N64
|
First-Person Shooter
|
~8h
|
83 lists
#13 Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (1997) (#36)
Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo
|
SAT,
PS
|
Action RPG /
Metroidvania
|
~8h
|
68 lists
#14 StarCraft (1998) (#43)
Blizzard Entertainment
|
MAC,
WIN
|
Real-Time Strategy
|
~25h
|
58 lists
#15 Super Mario Kart (1992) (#51)
Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development
|
SNES
|
Kart Racing
|
~2h
|
64 lists
#16 Final Fantasy VI (1994) (#52)
Square
|
SNES
|
Role-Playing
|
~33h
|
59 lists
#17 Pokémon Red/Blue/Yellow (1996) (#61)
Game Freak
|
GB
|
Role-Playing
|
~26h
|
51 lists
#18 Tomb Raider (1996) (#65)
Core Design
|
DOS,
SAT,
PS
|
Action-Adventure
|
~16h
|
56 lists
#19 Resident Evil (1996) (#78)
Capcom Planning Room 2
|
WIN,
SAT,
PS
|
Horror
|
~7h
|
39 lists
#20 SimCity 2000 (1993) (#81)
Maxis
|
DOS,
MAC,
AMI
|
City Building
|
~22h
|
46 lists
#21 System Shock 2 (1999) (#87)
Irrational Games, Looking Glass Studios
|
WIN
|
Horror /
Action RPG /
First-Person Shooter
|
~13h
|
36 lists
#22 The Secret of Monkey Island (1990) (#89)
Lucasfilm Games
|
DOS,
MAC,
3,
SCD
|
Point-and-Click
|
~7h
|
46 lists
#23 Sonic the Hedgehog (1991) (#92)
Sonic Team
|
ARC,
GEN
|
Platform
|
~2h
|
41 lists
#24 Grim Fandango (1998) (#93)
LucasArts
|
WIN
|
Point-and-Click
|
~11h
|
41 lists
#25 Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (1995) (#98)
Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development
|
SNES
|
Platform
|
~8h
|
41 lists
#26 Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings (1999) (#106)
Ensemble Studios
|
WIN
|
Real-Time Strategy
|
~41h
|
32 lists
#27 Planescape: Torment (1999) (#107)
Black Isle Studios
|
WIN
|
Role-Playing
|
~31h
|
28 lists
#28 Maniac Mansion II: Day of the Tentacle (1993) (#116)
LucasArts
|
DOS,
MAC
|
Point-and-Click
|
~5h
|
31 lists
#29 Shenmue (1999) (#118)
Sega AM2
|
DC
|
Action-Adventure /
Life Simulation
|
~19h
|
30 lists
#30 EarthBound / Mother 2: Gīgu no Gyakushū (1994) (#120)
Ape, HAL Laboratory
|
SNES
|
Role-Playing
|
~28h
|
34 lists
#31 Secret of Mana / Seiken Densetsu 2 (1993) (#122)
M2, Square
|
SNES
|
Action RPG
|
~22h
|
43 lists
#32 Final Fantasy Tactics (1997) (#124)
Square Product Development Division 4
|
PS
|
Tactical RPG
|
~39h
|
29 lists
#33 X-COM: UFO Defense / UFO: Enemy Unknown (1994) (#125)
Mythos Games
|
DOS,
AMI
|
Strategy /
Turn-Based Tactics
|
~39h
|
35 lists
#34 Quake (1996) (#132)
id Software
|
4
|
First-Person Shooter
|
~5h
|
31 lists
#35 Sid Meier's Civilization (1991) (#133)
MPS Labs
|
DOS,
WIN
|
Turn-Based Strategy
|
~13h
|
28 lists
#36 Quake III: Arena (1999) (#135)
id Software
|
3,
DC,
PS2
|
First-Person Shooter
|
~5h
|
28 lists
#37 Lemmings (1991) (#137)
DMA Design
|
DOS,
MAC,
5,
SMS,
GEN,
TG16,
SNES
|
Strategy /
Puzzle
|
~20h
|
34 lists
#38 Sid Meier's Civilization II (1996) (#141)
MicroProse Software, Inc.
|
MAC,
WIN
|
Turn-Based Strategy
|
~22h
|
28 lists
#39 Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge (1991) (#146)
LucasArts
|
DOS,
MAC,
AMI
|
Point-and-Click
|
~7h
|
29 lists
#40 Star Wars: TIE Fighter (1994) (#151)
Totally Games
|
3
|
Space Simulation
|
~28h
|
32 lists
#41 Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992) (#157)
Sega Technical Institute, Sonic Team
|
ARC,
GEN
|
Platform
|
~2h
|
29 lists
#42 Command & Conquer: Red Alert (1996) (#166)
Westwood Studios
|
WIN
|
Real-Time Strategy
|
~27h
|
25 lists
#43 Warcraft 2: Tides of Darkness (1995) (#176)
Blizzard Entertainment
|
DOS,
MAC
|
Real-Time Strategy
|
~21h
|
28 lists
#44 Fallout 2 (1998) (#181)
Black Isle Studios
|
WIN
|
Role-Playing
|
~30h
|
25 lists
#45 Gran Turismo (1997) (#182)
Polyphony Digital
|
PS
|
Racing
|
~22h
|
23 lists
#46 NBA Jam (1993) (#188)
Midway
|
ARC,
GEN,
SCD,
SNES
|
Sports
|
~12h
|
31 lists
#47 Soulcalibur (1998) (#191)
Project Soul
|
ARC,
DC
|
Fighting
|
~54m
|
25 lists
#48 Resident Evil 2 (1998) (#195)
Capcom Planning Room 2
|
WIN,
PS,
N64,
DC
|
Horror
|
~6h
|
27 lists
#49 Myst (1993) (#196)
Cyan Worlds
|
MAC,
WIN,
3DO
|
Adventure
|
~6h
|
24 lists
#50 Tekken 3 (1997) (#204)
Namco
|
ARC,
PS
|
Beat 'em Up /
Fighting
|
~2h
|
27 lists
#51 Thief: The Dark Project (1998) (#206)
Looking Glass Studios
|
WIN
|
Stealth
|
~20h
|
23 lists
#52 Fallout (1997) (#210)
Black Isle Studios
|
3
|
Role-Playing
|
~16h
|
19 lists
#53 The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening / DX (1993) (#212)
Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development
|
GB,
GBC
|
Action-Adventure
|
~15h
|
21 lists
#54 Duke Nukem 3D (1996) (#215)
3D Realms
|
DOS,
SAT,
PS
|
First-Person Shooter
|
~9h
|
22 lists
#55 Command & Conquer (1995) (#219)
Looking Glass Studios, Westwood Studios
|
3
|
Real-Time Strategy
|
~17h
|
23 lists
#56 Donkey Kong Country (1994) (#222)
Rare
|
SNES
|
Platform
|
~4h
|
28 lists
#57 Wipeout 2097 / Wipeout XL (1996) (#228)
Psygnosis
|
WIN,
SAT,
PS
|
Racing
|
~4h
|
21 lists
#58 Pokémon Gold/Silver/Crystal (1999) (#232)
Game Freak
|
GBC
|
Role-Playing
|
~30h
|
18 lists
#59 Mario Kart 64 (1996) (#233)
Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development
|
N64
|
Kart Racing
|
~4h
|
24 lists
#60 Another World / Out of This World (1991) (#240)
Delphine Software
|
3,
DOS,
GEN,
SNES,
3DO
|
Action /
Platform
|
~2h
|
20 lists
#61 Ultima Online (1997) (#245)
Origin Systems
|
WIN,
LIN
|
MMORPG
|
~77h
|
18 lists
#62 Diablo (1997) (#252)
Blizzard North
|
MAC,
WIN
|
Action RPG
|
~14h
|
20 lists
#63 Doom II (1994) (#262)
id Software
|
DOS
|
First-Person Shooter
|
~7h
|
17 lists
#64 Ultima VII: The Black Gate (1992) (#263)
Origin Systems
|
DOS
|
Role-Playing
|
~37h
|
18 lists
#65 Final Fantasy IV (1991) (#269)
Square
|
SNES
|
Role-Playing
|
~20h
|
18 lists
#66 Baldur's Gate (1998) (#270)
BioWare Edmonton
|
MAC,
WIN
|
Role-Playing
|
~44h
|
17 lists
#67 Star Fox 64 / Lylat Wars (1997) (#272)
Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development
|
N64
|
Shooter
|
~2h
|
25 lists
#68 Suikoden II (1998) (#278)
Konami
|
PS
|
Role-Playing
|
~34h
|
15 lists
#69 Sam & Max Hit the Road (1993) (#281)
LucasArts
|
DOS,
MAC
|
Point-and-Click
|
~5h
|
20 lists
#70 Wipeout (1995) (#284)
Psygnosis
|
WIN,
SAT,
PS
|
Racing
|
~10h
|
20 lists
#71 Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Restoration of Erathia (1999) (#291)
Loki Software, New World Computing
|
3
|
Turn-Based Strategy
|
~57h
|
15 lists
#72 Mortal Kombat II (1993) (#295)
Midway
|
ARC,
DOS,
AMI,
GEN,
GG,
SNES
|
Fighting
|
~2h
|
22 lists
#73 Street Fighter III (1997) (#298)
Capcom
|
ARC,
DC
|
Fighting
|
~42m
|
11 lists
#74 Contra III: The Alien Wars / Super Probotector: Alien Rebels (1992) (#301)
Konami
|
SNES
|
Run and Gun
|
~2h
|
22 lists
#75 Nights Into Dreams (1996) (#303)
Sonic Team
|
SAT
|
Action
|
~2h
|
14 lists
#76 Homeworld (1999) (#310)
Relic Entertainment
|
WIN
|
Real-Time Strategy
|
~16h
|
15 lists
#77 Unreal Tournament (1999) (#318)
Epic Games
|
3,
DC,
PS2
|
First-Person Shooter
|
~10h
|
15 lists
#78 Sega Rally Championship (1994) (#319)
AM3, AM5, United Game Artists
|
ARC,
SAT
|
Racing
|
~48m
|
18 lists
#79 Syndicate (1993) (#321)
Bullfrog Productions
|
DOS,
4,
GEN,
SNES,
3DO,
JAG
|
Real-Time Tactics
|
~12h
|
15 lists
#80 Wolfenstein 3D (1992) (#323)
id Software
|
DOS
|
First-Person Shooter
|
~6h
|
18 lists
#81 Star Fox / Starwing (1993) (#326)
Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development
|
SNES
|
Shooter
|
~1h
|
20 lists
#82 Super Castlevania IV (1991) (#328)
Konami
|
SNES
|
Platform
|
~4h
|
20 lists
#83 Banjo-Kazooie (1998) (#331)
Rare
|
N64
|
Action-Adventure /
Platform
|
~12h
|
17 lists
#84 Age of Empires (1997) (#332)
Ensemble Studios
|
WIN
|
Real-Time Strategy
|
~22h
|
14 lists
#85 EverQuest (1999) (#334)
989 Studios, Darkpaw Games, Sony Online Entertainment, Verant Interactive
|
WIN
|
MMORPG
|
~400h
|
13 lists
#86 Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (1996) (#335)
Square, Square Enix
|
SNES
|
Role-Playing
|
~18h
|
19 lists
#87 Sonic CD (1993) (#341)
Sonic Team
|
SCD
|
Platform
|
~2h
|
14 lists
#88 Mega Man X (1993) (#346)
Capcom
|
SNES
|
Platform
|
~4h
|
17 lists
#89 Streets of Rage 2 / Bare Knuckle II (1992) (#349)
Ancient, H.I.C., MNM Software, Shout! Designworks
|
GEN
|
Beat 'em Up
|
~2h
|
15 lists
#90 Super Bomberman (1993) (#351)
Produce!
|
SNES
|
Action /
Party /
Maze
|
~2h
|
16 lists
#91 Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis (1992) (#354)
LucasArts
|
DOS,
MAC,
AMI,
FMT
|
Point-and-Click
|
~8h
|
13 lists
#92 Wave Race 64 (1996) (#356)
Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development
|
N64
|
Racing
|
~3h
|
20 lists
#93 Panzer Dragoon Saga (1998) (#360)
Team Andromeda
|
SAT
|
Role-Playing
|
~15h
|
11 lists
#94 Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty / Dune II: Battle for Arrakis (1992) (#364)
Westwood Studios
|
DOS,
AMI,
GEN
|
Real-Time Strategy
|
~15h
|
13 lists
#95 Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium (1993) (#371)
Sega
|
GEN
|
Role-Playing
|
~20h
|
10 lists
#96 Final Fantasy VIII (1999) (#379)
Square Product Development Division 1
|
WIN,
PS
|
Role-Playing
|
~38h
|
11 lists
#97 Gunstar Heroes (1993) (#380)
Treasure
|
GEN,
GG
|
Run and Gun
|
~2h
|
11 lists
#98 Total Annihilation (1997) (#384)
Cavedog Entertainment
|
MAC,
WIN
|
Real-Time Strategy
|
~22h
|
10 lists
#99 Quake II (1997) (#385)
Hammerhead, id Software
|
MAC,
WIN
|
First-Person Shooter
|
~7h
|
13 lists
#100 Virtua Fighter 2 (1994) (#386)
Sega AM2
|
ARC,
WIN,
GEN,
SAT
|
Fighting
|
~48m
|
15 lists
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