A CBR retrospective argues that while many '90s games remain beloved, others have been largely forgotten despite their influence and lasting quality. The list spans point-and-click adventures, racing games, survival horror, platformers, puzzle games, action titles and role-playing games. It notes that technological advances during the decade allowed developers to build more complex mechanics and richer stories with more text.
Day of the Tentacle is presented as a 1993 graphic adventure and sequel to 1987's Maniac Mansion. Bernard returns with Hoagie and Laverne, and the trio travels through time to stop the evil Purple Tentacle from taking over the world. The game is described as goofy and packed with amusing puzzles. With point-and-click adventures becoming more niche, the retrospective says Day of the Tentacle demonstrates how good the genre can be, especially compared with older adventure games that can be difficult without a guide.
The Need for Speed, a 1994 racing game, pits a driver against a smug rival across different settings. Players use state-of-the-art supercars while avoiding traffic and police. Its realistic approach has held up, according to the list, though later entries such as Need for Speed: Underground, which leaned toward arcade racing, overshadowed it. Beetle Adventure Racing! is a 1999 N64 racer featuring the Volkswagen New Beetle, with races from start to finish and a vehicular combat mode. The retrospective calls it fun and charming, particularly in multiplayer, even if it is not the most realistic Beetle driving experience.
System Shock is described as a 1994 action-adventure game and one of the best survival horror games. The player, known as the Hacker, must stop a rogue AI from compromising a space station and killing everyone aboard. The list says the first game is often overlooked in favor of System Shock 2, but it created a blueprint followed by many sci-fi survival horror games. It remains creepy, with old-fashioned graphics adding to the atmosphere. Mr. Bones is a 1996 platformer and rhythm game in which the villain DaGoulian tries to revive an army of skeletons. One skeleton, Mr. Bones, decides to stop him. The game mixes platforming, rhythm sections and sequences closer to Breakout, a strange combination that the retrospective says is part of its charm.
Gex is a 1995 platformer in which the title character is sucked into his own TV and must work through levels based on genres including horror and sci-fi. His motivation is simply to relax and watch television. The list says the humor is cynically funny and nearly steals attention from how easy the game is to pick up and play, though the series never rose above cult-classic status. Columns is a 1989 puzzle game best known for its 1990 Sega Genesis port. It was essentially Sega's answer to Tetris, using falling jewels matched in groups. The retrospective says it was not on the level of the best Genesis games, but it was a solid Tetris alternative and helped lay groundwork for modern match-style puzzle games.
BattleTanx is a 1998 action game set in a near future after a deadly virus wipes out much of the world's female population. The story follows a man trying to rescue his wife from the U.S. government, battling across America in a tank and fighting gangs that want her. The list says most people who remember BattleTanx recall its commercial, which featured a teddy bear being shredded, but the game itself offers a satisfyingly chaotic experience with tanks tearing through buildings. Shadow Tower is a 1999 action RPG set in an unnamed world on the continent of Eclipse. Ruus Hardy descends after the city of Zeptar is dragged into the underworld, determined to destroy whatever is responsible. The retrospective describes it as claustrophobic, blending survival horror and JRPG elements, and says it showcases ideas later seen in FromSoftware titles such as Dark Souls.
Cannon Fodder is a 1993 shoot 'em up in which players control an ever-changing platoon fighting El Presidente's forces. Missions involve mowing down enemies, and civilians can be caught in the crossfire. The list says its anti-war message still lands and may resonate even more today, but the game remains niche and is often overshadowed by bigger names from the era such as Doom.
Sources: Comic Book Resources.