There must have been something in the water during the 1990s, because every year brought us another round of truly innovative and memorable video games. And 1993 was no exception. 1993 saw many sequels, prequels, and new franchises that would impact the gaming world forever.
Over three decades later, here are all of the games from 1993 every gamer should experience.
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
The Legend of Zelda franchise is easily considered one of the most iconic series to date. And it didn’t get that title from nowhere. The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening was released on the Game Boy in 1993 and led to not only millions of copies sold and an increase in Game Boy sales, but also a three-day long cross-country train competition called the Zelda Whistle Stop Tour. Even several decades later, Link’s Awakening is still one of the best-selling games in the series. And its popularity doesn’t end there, the remake is one of the best-selling Nintendo Switch games to date.
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening may be part of the canonical main story, but it takes a different approach to the story and gameplay. And Toto, I don’t think we’re in Hyrule anymore. Our lovable titular hero Link washes ashore on the mysterious Koholint Island. Instead of having to worry about Zelda, Ganon, or the Triforce, Link must now explore this new setting, trade with its inhabitants, and find the eight Instruments of the Sirens to wake the Wind Fish.
Star Fox
This iconic franchise got its start in 1993. With it, Nintendo made a major and revolutionary leap. Star Fox, or Starwing, was one of the first games not only to work with polygonal graphics but also to break away from two-dimensional graphics.
This sci-fi rail shooter introduced one of the most adorable and loved Nintendo characters, Fox McCloud. The series follows the fox himself and his quirky ragtag crew as they defend their home world and the galaxy from invading forces.
DOOM
1993 didn’t only give us bright and cheerful franchises, it also gave us the thrill ride of hell, Doom. Doom was considered an immediate success and an overnight phenomenon. It has impressive 3D graphics and gameplay for its time. To this day, it is considered one of the best PC games of all time and the series is still thriving.
This visceral experience is full of demons, firearms, and gore aplenty. The game starts on the moons of Mars but players will find themselves in the bowels of hell. Players must control an unnamed marine who must fight his way through numerous levels and a variety of monsters before he can slaughter the Barons of Hell. This series is not for the faint of heart.
Secret of Mana
©Side by Side Comparison of the original Secret of Mana from 1993 and the remake from 2018
This RPG is considered one of the greatest Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) games of all time. And it has definitely earned that title. Unlike other RPGs of its time that had turn-based combat systems, this fantasy role-playing game used real-time battles with power bar mechanics. Secret of Mana even has cooperative multiplayer gameplay that allows for a second and third player to drop in and out as they wish.
While the three main characters were not named in the initial release, we have come to love them as Randi, Primm, and Popoi. A young heroic boy, a young girl who is a hopeless romantic and runs away from an arranged marriage, and a sprite child from the Dwarf Village. These heroes must gather the 8 Mana seeds to save the Mana tree and prevent an evil empire from conquering the world.
Mega Man X
While the Mega Man franchise is so expansive this spin-off may seem unforgettable, it has been widely acclaimed by critics. Mega Man X takes a more mature spin on this beloved series and reinvents the usual Mega Man gameplay. The game is more fast-paced and the difficulty is harder than the original Mega Man games.
The game follows X, the more mature and advanced successor of the original Mega Man. This military task force android must stop a powerful Maverick leader before they bring about the extinction of humanity.
SimCity 2000
While this game is from 1993, people loved to put 2000 at the end of titles to make it seem futuristic. Calling SimCity 2000 one of the most popular computer games is an understatement. It was one of the best-selling games in not only 1993 but from ’93 to ’99. And it sold millions of copies.
This city-building simulator takes the basic concepts of its genre and goes even bigger. It not only introduced new facilities like prisons, marinas, and futuristic power plants but it also has alien invasions, random attacks, and monster breeding.
Myst
If you’re feeling overwhelmed with all of the RPGs and action games we’re throwing at you, Myst is the perfect solution. Myst has been praised for its open-world exploration, stunning graphics, mesmerizing sound, immersive narrative.
This sci-fi and fantasy graphic adventure is heavy on puzzle-solving and nonlinear storytelling. The game uses point-and-click gameplay. The puzzles are considered revolutionary. As you solve them, you get transported through different “Ages” in time. Each Age is essentially a self-contained mini-world. There are the Selenitic, Stoneship, Mechanical, and Channelwood Ages. It is easy to see why this has been called one of the best CD-ROM games of all time. It is an artistic masterpiece of a game.
Simon the Sorcerer
Here we have another memorable point-and-click adventure. Clearly, it also received critical acclaim or it wouldn’t be on this list. Simon the Sorcerer has quirky and impressive graphics, hilarious dialogue, and a witty story. It is full of satirical jabs at iconic media like The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, Rapunzel, and Jack and the Beanstalk.
In this wacky fantasy, players follow the story of Simon. Simon is just your average young boy who happens to have gotten transported to a parallel universe full of magic. Here he must go on a quest to become a wizard and stop an evil sorcerer. It even went on to get an equally hilarious sequel, called Simon the Sorcerer II: The Lion, the Wizard and the Wardrobe.
Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers
I hope you aren’t tired of point-and-click adventures because here is one of our favorites. Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers may not have been a huge financial success, but it is memorable enough to make the list. Critics have even gone on to compare the narrative quality to the likes of Stephen King and how it may scare you through the screen. And if that wasn’t impressive enough, the game even has voice acting from iconic stars like Tim Curry and Mark Hamill.
In this compelling title, the story unfolds over the course of several chapters. This is fitting because the main character, Gabriel Knight, is a novelist himself. Gabriel must not only solve the Voodoo murder mysteries but must also uncover the supernatural world if he has any hope of saving the day.
Disney’s Aladdin
If you were getting tired of all of the suspenseful narratives, take a break with this charming cartoon adventure. This platform game is based on the 1992 Disney film, Aladdin. Within its first week, the game sold over 1.5 million copies worldwide.
The gameplay is a simple 2D side-scroller where Aladdin can collect items like apples, genie tokens, and gems. It also has several playful minigames where players can control Abu to earn even more items.
Samurai Shodown
Similar to iconic franchises like Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter, Samurai Shodown is an arcade-style fighting game. It is one of the earliest additions to the genre. And it has gone on to have over 20 different titles across three decades.
Samurai Shodown is set in 18th-century Japan when the country was isolated from other nations, even with trade. The series is most famous for its Rage meter which lets you essentially go berserk with a variety of effects. Several characters are even based on real Japanese historical figures.
Star Wars: X-Wing
Who thought we would end this list with not only a flight simulator but a Star Wars one at that? But it was a commercial success for a reason. Star Wars: X-Wing features phenomenal controls and impressive graphics that make you truly feel like you are in the Star Wars universe.
This game features several tours that can be played in any order but the missions inside the tours must be finished in order. Missions are a variety of combat, escorting vehicles, and striking capital ships. Players have the choice between flying the A-wing, X-wing, and Y-wing starfighters. You will also have to focus on managing your available power between the lasers, deflector shields, and engines. There are also two expansion packs that expand the story and starfighter options further.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©The cover art for Gabriel Knight and screenshots from Samurai Shodown and Secret of Mana.