I used to love playing computer games when I was a hid and have the best memories of playing video games from the ’90s. I played games with my Dad on our massive desktop computer. We got our first computer some time in the early ’90’s and it had Windows 3.1 installed on it. I think the only games on there were Solitare and Minesweeper!
I also played games on my Desktop, Sega and eventually upgraded to a PlayStation! I’ve played most of the classic video games from the 90s, such as Tomb Raider, Street Fighter, Grand Theft Auto, Sonic – but there are a few that have a special place in my heart!
My favourite childhood video games from the 90s
Jezzball
Jezzball was on the Microsoft Best of Entertainment pack in the early ’90s. It was a simple game where you have to claim the space on the game area without hitting the balls so that 75% of the space was claimed.
Then you would get more balls with each level which made it harder to claimed the area. It’s addictive and fun!
Chips Challenge
This is a classic! Chips Challenge was another game on Microsoft Best of Entertainment where you play Chip McCallahen – who is a high-school ‘nerd’. He’s met Melinda the Mental Marvel in the school science lab and Chip has to navigate through Melinda’s “Clubhouse” to earn membership to a very exclusive club called the Bit Busters.
It’s a series of problem-solving games where you have to do things such as collect computer chips, open doors, press buttons, navigate ice and water to finish each level.
There are around 150 levels altogether and I think we were stuck on level 22. But I would just play it over and over again! I
Space Cadet 3D Pinball
I loved this one, my dad and I used to play it and compete with each other for the high score. It was on our new Windows 95 computer and I remember being amazing about how futuristic it looked.
I absolutely loved beating my Dads high score and then he would play it for ages until he beat me.
Donkey Kong
I played Donkey Kong Country on my Gameboy and had about 3 of the games. I loved how they came in yellow Gameboy cartridges rather than the normal grey ones.
I loved playing this and it was one of my favourites. I remember it looked so much better visually than the other games.
Super Mario
I can’t not mention Super Mario – right? I played this on the original Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) then the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) and then on my Gameboy.
I had Super Mario World 2 and almost completed it on my Gameboy. I just had the last boss to kill and I couldn’t do it!
Alex Kidd in Miracle Worlc
The Alex Kidd game was built in our Sega Master System! There was a remake of this game brought out in June on Nintendo and Steam. I would love to play it again!
I remember the underwater parts so well, they were really hard!
Jimmy White’s Whirlwind Snooker
This was another game I used to play with my Dad. You could play two players!
I remember having to use a floppy disk to load the game up and come out of Windows and load the game from DOS. Putting a command to boot the disk up.
The graphics are poor compared to now, but it was fun to play!
The Encarta Mindmaze
At school, we were all obsessed with the Encarta Mindmaze game. It was the game on the Encarta Encyclopedia in the library and we used to book time in just to play it. You had to explore a castle and got through each door by answering questions that could be found in the Encyclopedia articles.
Trip down memory lane…
So, what inspired me to start thinking about the games I used to play in my childhood? I’ve been spending a bit of time on a free game website called Plays.org recently and it has lots of games that remind me of these games I used to play as a kid!
There’s Shadoworld Adventure which is inspired by Mario itself! There are only 50 levels and you have two minutes to complete each level. The game gets harder and harder as you go through!
Space Adventure Pinball actually reminds me of the Space Cadet game! You don’t need to commit as much to this one, it’s one of those where you can play for a bit then stop and go and explore something else. I recommend playing this game in full-screen mode with the sound on.
I quite like the ‘Random Play’ button at the top. There’s a lot of games on this site so it can be hard to pick. This is how I got stuck on a game called Golf Stick for a while! I mean, this is a simple game. You just have to hit the goofball and hold the mouse down to get a harder hit. The flag changes each time you git the ball so you have to guess how hard you need to hit it.
I love remembering the hames I used to play in the past! What are your favourite video games from the 90s?