As a 1990s kid, I grew up playing video games at my town's local video game shops. Those were not even exclusive video game parlors. Most of them were either stationary shops or small grocery stores that installed those big Nintendo or Sega gaming arcades for kids as a side business. They charged a few bucks for a certain amount of gaming time. In my area the charges were 1 buck for 10 minutes. You actually had to buy some virtual coins and then insert them in the arcade to play the games. It was like an addiction at that time and a major chunk of my pocket money would be spent at these video games parlors. Although there were hundreds of games launched during that time, a few of them became so popular that people even talk about them today. We have compiled a list of some of the games that took the 90s kids by storm.
Mario aka Super Mario Bros.:
The best video game that was ever launched. Period. Mario was developed and introduced by Nintendo and went through a lot of transformation during the 1980s and 1990s. The game had two major characters - Mario, a fictional plumber donned in red, and his brother Luigi who wore a white outfit. Their task was simple - to go through a series of "levels" and free the princess from the clutches of a dragon. These levels were broken down into sub-levels and included underground castles, secret passages and underwater pathways. There were hidden treasures and red-herrings in the levels, all contributing the to popularity of the game that was sky-high during that time.
Contra:
I am yet to come across a better action game than Contra - including games that came decades after it. Like most other popular retro games, Contra was designed and launched by a Japanese company. It was released in the late 1980s and became an instant hit. Although Contra could be played in the single player mode, it was best enjoyed with a co-player. The stages of the game were unique, creative and ahead of its time. My favorite level was the 1st one - Jungle, that would set the tone for stages to follow. Contra became extremely popular among kids and remains the most played video game in the 1990s along with Mario. The original series was followed by many sequels and all of them were welcomed by the fans.
Double Dragon:
Relatively lesser known, Double Dragon remains my all time favorite game and I play it on my laptop even today. It is a fist-and-kick fight game that set the tone for the future beat em' up action games. The game was not as popular as Mario or Contra, but was popular enough to inspire filmmakers to make movies based on it.
Circus Charlie:
At first glance Circus Charlie may look like a video game for 8-10 years old. However, don't let the look and feel of the game fool you. It becomes more challenging after you complete the first 2 levels. The game, like most other retro games, was introduced in 1980s and was well received by the gamers of all age groups. It features a circus clown named Charlie going through various stages based on circus events. From jumping through fire rings while riding a lion to rope tricks, this game was all about timing. You can still find this game on various online gaming websites.
Mortal Combat:
The only video game on our list that was not published by a Japanese company. Mortal Combat was developed and published by an American company Midway Games during early 90s. It's a fighting action game, said to be loosely based on another similar game Street Fighter. Mortal Combat was an instant hit upon it's release and all it's sequels received positive reviews. The game also served as an inspiration for a number of action movies over the years.
There were other popular games that rose to prominence during the 80s and 90s. These included Road Fighter, Excite Bike (both racing games), Islander (adventure), Macross (space action) and sports games like Tennis and Soccer.
I am sure you have played some of the games that we listed, specially Mario and Contra. If you haven't, search for these games in Google and you will come across sites that let you play them.
