Best Retro Video Games That Defined Gaming History

Before we dive in, let’s clarify what we mean by “retro.” Retro gaming refers to playing and enjoying video games from earlier generations of consoles, computers, and arcades. Retro games typically date back to the 1970s through the early 2000s—systems like the Atari 2600, Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Super Nintendo (SNES), Sega Genesis, PlayStation, and Nintendo 64.

What makes a game “retro” isn’t just that it’s old; it’s that it represents a significant technological or creative milestone. These games are celebrated for their gameplay purity, distinctive visual aesthetics, and for pioneering genres and mechanics we still use today.

1. Pong (1972)

Developer: Atari | Platform: Arcade, Home Console | Genre: Sports Simulation

Pong revolutionized gaming by proving video games weren’t just niche curiosities—they were commercially viable entertainment. Designed by Allan Alcorn as a training exercise, this simple table tennis simulation became wildly popular in arcades. The original arcade machine literally broke down from being stuffed with too many quarters.

What made Pong extraordinary was its simplicity: two paddles and one ball—gameplay anyone could understand instantly. This accessibility established one of gaming’s most important principles: easy to learn, difficult to master. By 1975, Atari released a home version, bringing arcade gameplay into living rooms for the first time.

Today, Pong resides in the Smithsonian Institution’s permanent collection. It remains on every retro games list for good reason—it started everything. The game’s simple yet engaging concept demonstrated how creative video game ideas could captivate audiences with minimal complexity.

2. Pac-Man (1980)

Developer: Bandai Namco | Platform: Arcade | Genre: Maze Action

Originally called Puck Man in Japan, Pac-Man was designed to appeal to women as well as men, a revolutionary concept for an industry dominated by space shooters. Designer Toru Iwatani created cute, colorful characters rather than violent imagery.

Players guide Pac-Man through mazes while evading four distinctly colored ghosts (Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Sue), each with unique behaviors. The distinctive visual style showcased early types of game art that prioritized charm and accessibility over realism.

Pac-Man generated over $14 billion in revenue and became a cultural icon, spawning merchandise, television series, and the hit song “Pac-Man Fever.” This is one of the most popular retro games that proved games didn’t need violence or complexity to captivate audiences—just smart design and appealing characters.

3. Super Mario Bros. (1985)

Developer: Nintendo | Platform: NES | Genre: Platformer

Directed by legendary designer Shigeru Miyamoto, Super Mario Bros. sold over 58 million copies worldwide and single-handedly revived the video game industry after the 1983 crash. Players control Mario (originally called Jumpman) through the Mushroom Kingdom to rescue Princess Toadstool from Bowser.

What made it revolutionary was Miyamoto’s attention to physics and control feel. Mario has weight—he doesn’t stop instantly, giving players genuine control over momentum. This “game feel” became a crucial game design elements for quality platformers.

The level design is a masterclass in tutorial gameplay. World 1-1 gradually teaches players every mechanic without a single word of instruction. Combined with Koji Kondo’s iconic chiptune soundtrack, Super Mario Bros. proved video games could be art. It’s consistently ranked among the top 10 retro games of all time for transforming level design and player experience.

4. The Legend of Zelda (1986)

Developer: Nintendo | Platform: NES | Genre: Action-Adventure

Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka created another masterpiece with The Legend of Zelda, selling over 6.5 million copies and launching one of gaming’s most enduring franchises. Players control Link exploring Hyrule, solving puzzles, defeating enemies, and collecting items to defeat Ganon and rescue Princess Zelda.

The Legend of Zelda was revolutionary for its non-linear world design. Unlike games that forced predetermined paths, Zelda allowed players to explore and solve puzzles in any order, giving them genuine agency. The game mechanics introduced—finding keys, collecting power-ups, exploring interconnected dungeons—influenced the entire adventure game genre and persist in modern titles.

5. Street Fighter II (1991)

Developer: Capcom | Platform: Arcade | Genre: Fighting

Street Fighter II didn’t invent fighting games, but it perfected them and created competitive gaming as we know it. Released in arcades in 1991, the game featured eight playable characters, each with unique movesets, special attacks, and fighting styles.

The breakthrough was the combo system—players could chain attacks through precise timing, rewarding skilled play. Players gathered in arcades to settle rivalries, creating a global competitive community that thrives to this day.

Street Fighter II: Hyper Fighting and Super Street Fighter II Turbo are still played in tournaments 30+ years later. The game established Capcom as the fighting game king and proved arcade games could drive passionate, long-term communities, earning its spot among the best retro video games.

6. Super Metroid (1994)

Developer: Nintendo | Platform: SNES | Genre: Action-Adventure / Metroidvania

While the original Metroid started the “Metroidvania” subgenre, Super Metroid refined it to near perfection. Players control Samus through planet Zebes, using new weapons like the grappling beam and X-ray scope to explore interconnected environments and defeat space pirates.

Super Metroid’s atmospheric design, challenging boss battles, and satisfying combat set the standard for exploration-based action games. Games like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Hollow Knight, and countless indie titles draw inspiration from Super Metroid’s formula. The game proved that 2D games could deliver cinematic experiences rivaling early 3D.

7. Final Fantasy VII (1997)

Developer: Square | Platform: PlayStation | Genre: Japanese RPG

Final Fantasy VII is a watershed moment in gaming history. This was the first numbered Final Fantasy with fully 3D graphics and pre-rendered backgrounds. The game’s scope was unprecedented: an epic 100+ hour narrative, memorable characters (Cloud, Tifa, Aerith, Sephiroth), stunning cinematic sequences, and the revolutionary Materia system.

Final Fantasy VII introduced millions of Western players to Japanese role-playing games, making anime-style storytelling and turn-based combat mainstream. The narrative explored themes of corporate corruption, environmentalism, and personal identity—proving games could tell stories as compelling as films.

The game demonstrated that PlayStation could deliver experiences Nintendo’s cartridge-based consoles couldn’t match, fundamentally shifting the console wars. This influence continues in modern mobile game development, where approaches prioritize expansive content and narrative depth.

8. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998)

Developer: Nintendo | Platform: Nintendo 64 | Genre: Action-Adventure
Released for Nintendo 64 in 1998, Ocarina of Time frequently tops “greatest games ever” lists even today. The game pioneered 3D action-adventure gameplay, just as the original Zelda pioneered exploration-based gameplay.

The innovations were profound: the Z-targeting system (locking the camera on enemies) became the gold standard for 3D action games. The control scheme proved that analog sticks could deliver precise, responsive action. Hyrule was expansive, detailed, and rewarding to explore. Dungeons featured intricate puzzles requiring genuine thought. The story, music, and characters created an emotional journey that resonates to this day.

Ocarina of Time proved 3D games could deliver the magic of 2D classics while offering new possibilities, inspiring countless 3D action-adventure games.

9. Grand Theft Auto III (2001)

Developer: Rockstar Games | Platform: PlayStation 2 | Genre: Action-Adventure

Grand Theft Auto III revolutionized open-world gaming when it was released for PlayStation 2 in 2001. The game placed players in a fully realized city (Liberty City) with freedom to explore, complete missions, or cause mayhem. The shift from mission-based linearity to sandbox exploration changed how developers thought about game design.

GTA III proved games could offer unprecedented freedom while maintaining engaging narratives. The game’s success spawned numerous sequels and influenced countless open-world titles. Modern game development services continue drawing inspiration from the innovations pioneered during this era, particularly in creating living, breathing game worlds.

10. Portal (2007)

Developer: Valve | Platform: PC, Xbox 360, PS3 | Genre: Puzzle-Platformer

Portal demonstrated that puzzle games could be original, funny, and innovative. Players use a portal gun to create portals through walls, solving physics-based puzzles by creatively using 3D space. The game’s humor (delivered by AI narrator GLaDOS) and surprising emotional depth made Portal a critical darling and cult classic.

Portal proved indie-style games (it began as a student mod) could achieve mainstream recognition with strong concepts and execution. The game influenced puzzle game design for years and showed that games could be artistically ambitious and philosophically challenging while remaining accessible and entertaining.

These popular retro video games remain relevant because they established fundamental design principles modern games still follow. Super Mario Bros. perfected level design and player feedback. The Legend of Zelda pioneered open exploration and puzzle-solving. Street Fighter II created the competitive gaming community. Final Fantasy VII proved games could deliver cinematic narratives. Ocarina of Time mastered 3D action-adventure controls.

The global retro gaming console market will reach $4.18 billion in 2026, growing at a 10% CAGR that significantly outpaces the broader gaming industry’s 3-5% growth, fueled by millennials and Gen X consumers seeking authentic nostalgic experiences through modern handhelds and re-releases. This surge reflects how classic design philosophies—tight controls, fair progression, satisfying mastery—translate directly to today’s mobile hits and indie successes that prioritize gameplay purity over graphical excess.

​Retro influence thrives through pixel art revivals in games like Celeste and Shovel Knight, chiptune soundtracks across platforms, and arcade-derived mechanics powering roguelikes and competitive esports titles. Developers embrace “easy to learn, hard to master” formulas while VR/AR recreates classic arcade cabinets, proving these foundational games continue shaping 2026’s innovations and ensuring their legacy drives both commercial growth and creative evolution.