Nostalgic Bliss: Exploring the 120 Best Arcade Games of the 90s - NSF News and Magazine (2024)

The 1990s were a golden era for arcade gaming, where dimly lit rooms buzzed with excitement and the sound of clinking coins filled the air. During this time, numerous iconic arcade games captivated players with their addictive gameplay, cutting-edge graphics, and memorable experiences. In this article, we delve into the nostalgia-inducing world of arcade gaming by exploring the best arcade games from the 90s.

A Diverse Selection of Gaming Gems: From fighting games to shooters, racing games to puzzle adventures, the arcade scene in the 90s offered an incredible variety of gaming experiences. Games like “Street Fighter II: The World Warrior” and “Mortal Kombat II” revolutionized the fighting game genre with their intense battles and memorable characters. Meanwhile, titles such as “Daytona USA” and “Cruis’n USA” provided adrenaline-fueled racing action, immersing players in fast-paced competitions.

The arcade scene was also dominated by cooperative experiences, exemplified by classics like “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time” and “The Simpsons Arcade Game.” These games allowed friends to team up and relive their favorite franchises while battling hordes of enemies, delivering hours of cooperative fun.

Unforgettable Classics and Innovative Sequels: The 90s witnessed the birth of iconic franchises and the release of groundbreaking sequels. Games like “Metal Slug,” with its beautifully animated visuals and intense shoot ’em up gameplay, became synonymous with arcade excellence. The “Marvel vs. Capcom” series brought together beloved characters from both universes in an exhilarating crossover battle, captivating fans with its flashy combos and intense action.

List of 100 of the best arcade games from the 1990s

1. Street Fighter II: The World Warrior (1991)
2. Mortal Kombat II (1993)
3. Cadillacs and Dinosaurs (1993)
4. Dungeons & Dragons: Shadow Over Mystara
5. Metal Slug (1996)
6. NBA Jam (1993)
7. The Punisher (1993)
8. Daytona USA (1994)
9. The House of the Dead (1996)
10. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time (1991)
11. Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes (1998)
12. Samurai Shodown II (1994)
13. Virtua Fighter 2 (1994)
14. The Simpsons Arcade Game (1991)
15. Killer Instinct (1994)
16. Time Crisis (1995)
17. Armored Warriors (1994)
18. Puzzle Bobble (Bust-A-Move) (1994)
19. X-Men: Children of the Atom (1994)
20. Tekken 2 (1995)
21. Golden Axe: The Revenge of Death Adder (1992)
22. Raiden II (1993)
23. Armored Warriors (1994)
24. NBA Hangtime (1996)
25. OutRunners (1992)
26. Mortal Kombat 3 (1995)
27. Dungeons & Dragons: Tower of Doom (1993)
28. Gauntlet Legends (1998)
29. 1942 (Arcade – Capcom)
30. Metal Slug 2 (1998)
31. NBA Showtime: NBA on NBC (1999)
32. Cruis’n USA (1994)
33. 1943: The Battle of Midway
34. Marvel Super Heroes (1995)
35. Virtua Cop 2 (1995)
36. Alien vs. Predator (1994)
37. Area 51 (1995)
38. Primal Rage (1994)
39. Star Wars Trilogy Arcade (1998)
40. Puzzle Fighter II Turbo (1996)
41. Knights of the Round (1991)
42. Samurai Shodown IV: Amakusa’s Revenge (1996)
43. Sunset Riders (1991)
44. The King of Fighters ’97 (1997)
45. Super Street Fighter II Turbo (1994)
46. Mortal Kombat 4 (1997)
47. Capcom vs. SNK: Millennium Fight 2000 (1999)
48. Bubble Bobble (1994)
49. 1941: Counter Attack (1990)
50. Time Killers (1992)
51. NFL Blitz (1997)
52. Virtua Striker (1994)
53. Warriors of Fate (1992)
54. Virtua Racing (1992)
55. Snow Bros. (1990)
56. R-Type II (1991)
57. Puzzle & Dragons (1991)
58. The House of the Dead 2 (1998)
59. Metal Slug X (1999)
60. The Legend of Kage (1999)
61. Tekken 3 (1997)
62. Street Fighter Alpha 2 (1996)
63. Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter (1997)
64. King of Fighters ’98 (1998)
65. Tapper (1994)
66. Soul Edge (1995)
67. Strider (1990)
68. Virtua Fighter 3 (1996)
69. Ghouls ‘n Ghosts (1998)
70. NBA Maximum Hangtime (1996)
71. Area 51: Site 4 (1998)
72. Dragon’s Lair (1993)
73. Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker (1990)
74. Dance Dance Revolution (1998)
75. Captain Commando (1991)
76. Mortal Kombat (1992)
77. Galaga ’88 (1997)
78. Rampage World Tour (1997)
79. Samurai Shodown III (1995)
80. Daytona USA 2 (1998)
81. Ring of Destruction: Slam Masters II
82. Puzzle de Pon! (1995)
83. Mega Man X4 (1997)
84. X-Men vs. Street Fighter (1996)
85. Snow Bros. 2: With New Elves (1994)
86. Time Crisis II (1997)
87. The King of Fighters ’95 (1995)
88. Raiden DX (1994)
89. Cruis’n World (1996)
90. Virtua Fighter (1993)
91. Metal Slug 3 (1999)
92. Mortal Kombat II: The Arcade (1994)
93. NBA Jam Tournament Edition (1994)
94. The House of the Dead 3 (1999)
95. Puzzle Bobble 2 (1995)
96. Samurai Shodown (1993)
97. Tekken (1994)
98. Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers (1993)
99. T-MEK (1994)
100. X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse (1994)
101. Final Fight 3 (1995)
102. Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance (1995)
103. Virtua Striker 2 (1997)
104. Golden Axe (1995)
105. Night Warriors: Darkstalkers’ Revenge (1995)
106. Ridge Racer (1993)
107. NBA Hangtime (1996)
108. Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes (1999)
109. Gunblade NY (1996)
110. Virtua Tennis (1999)
111. Giga Wing (1999)
112. WWF WrestleFest (1991)
113. Time Crisis 3 (1997)
114. Giga Wing (1999)
115. Cyberbots: Full Metal Madness (1995)
116. Battle Circuit (1997)
117. Three Wonders (1991)
118. Puzzle Fighter II Turbo
119. Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors (1994)
120. Eco Fighters (1993)

As we look back at this list, we celebrate the rich tapestry of gaming gems that defined an era. They represent a bygone era, but their influence persists in the games we play today.

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