Although the video game industry is still ever-changing in 2023, in 1993, the market was in its adolescence. The 1980s had seen the rise of video game arcades, before transitioning in the second half of the decade to home consoles like the NES and Atari 2600. By the start of the ’90s, companies like Sega and Sony were diving into video game manufacturing.
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Many of the games that released in the year 1993 were revolutionary for the medium. Some of them have even gone on to influence not only future games, but pop culture as a whole. Whether it’s Nintendo’s latest franchise evolutions, or one-off games that inspired an entire genre, these 10 games from 1993 remain iconic for many video game fans.
10Star Fox
Star Fox,released for the SNES in 1993, wouldn’t just be the first installment in one of Nintendo’s most popular franchises. It was also their second game to be animated with 3D polygons, a practice that would be developed further with Nintendo’s subsequent console, the Nintendo 64, which also had a remake ofStar FoxtitledStar Fox 64.
This first title, nevertheless, is often considered one of the greatest games ever made for both its gameplay and technological advancements. However, it would beStar Fox 64that elevated the series to blockbuster status with the inclusion of voice-acting. Even today, the originalStar Foxis considered one of the best in the rail shooter genre.
9Doom
Few games from the 1990s were as controversial and debated as much asDoom. The first-person shooter was installed on more computers than Windows 95, thanks to its easily accessible nature. However, the game’s violent content drew criticism, particularly in the aftermath of the 1999 Columbine school shootings, allegedly inspired by the game.
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Aside from the arguments of whether video games cause violence,Doomwas incredibly influential to the future of the first-person shooter genre. Games likeHalf-LifeandHalowent on to become tentpoles in the FPS genre, while other franchises likeGears of Waraimed to capture the brutal graphic violence of the originalDoom.
8Secret Of Mana
By 1993, the video game developer Square (known nowadays as Square-Enix) wereexperts in the genre of RPGs. Their NES titlesFinal FantasyandDragon Questhad already become incredibly popular franchises, especially in Japan. However, the release of the SNES in the early 90s led to the first entry in a new RPG franchise of theirs:Secret of Mana.
AlthoughSecret of Mananever reached the same popularity as Square’s other properties, it became a favorite of RPG fans. Its use of artificial intelligence for enemies was also incredibly influential for the RPG genre going forward. However, its stilted development process led to Square’s decision to move their franchises to PlayStation consoles.
7Mortal Kombat II
Arcades were still incredibly popular in 1993, with many players being drawn to competitive fighting games. One of the most popular arcade fighting games of the 90s wasMortal Kombat II,the sequel to the 1992 game. The series has already garnered controversy, likeDoom, for its graphic violence, which wasn’t toned down for the sequel.
Among the improvements made between the first and secondMortal Kombatgames included the addition to alternate Fatalities for every playable character, as well as increased speed. It remains a beloved entry in video game history, as well as theMortal Kombatfranchise as a whole, serving as the benchmark for the series' best gameplay.
6Virtua Fighter
Another fighting game released in 1993 wasVirtua Fighter,developed for arcades by Sega.Virtua Fighterwas a significant moment in the history of arcade fighting games, being the first to feature 3D graphics. This obviously attracted a lot of attention from arcade gamers, as it went on to become one of Sega’s best-selling arcade titles.
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The polygonal characters ofVirtua Fighterwould also have a huge influence on video game developers of the 1990s.Mariocreator Shigeru Miyamoto refrained from making fighting games as a result of how impressed he was with the title. The character design ofVirtua Fighteralso influenced the development of iconicTomb Raiderheroine Lara Croft.
5Kirby’s Adventure
1993 was also a big year for a future legend in video game history: Masahiro Sakurai. Prior to the director’s work onSuper Smash Bros, he was notable in the world of Nintendo for creating the character of Kirby for the 1992 GameBoy titleKirby’s Dream Land. Its NES sequel,Kirby’s Adventure, would make many changes to the character and series formula.
Aside from depicting Kirby in his iconic pink color for the first time,Kirby’s Adventurewas alsothe first to introduce the Copy Ability to the series. Allowing Kirby to suck up enemies and steal their powers allowed players to use the enemies rather than mindlessly defeat them. These aspects would later become staples of the popular franchise going forward.
4Mega Man X
It’s hard to believe that by 1993, there had already been 6 entries in theMega Manfranchise. For what it’s worth, it was an easy formula to rinse and repeat, offering players new bosses to battle with new power-ups to obtain. However, the franchise made its biggest change yet with the 1993 SNES releaseMega Man X, which would reinvent many of its core elements.
While some core elements, such as players' ability to swap between power-ups gained from defeating bosses, would remain the same,Mega Man Xrevised how players advanced through levels. The addition of dashing and wall climbing offered new verticality and speed to the series. More sequels of this spin-off title would release throughout the 2000s.
3The Legend Of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
Link’s Awakeningwas the firstThe Legend of Zeldagame to release on a handheld console. The GameBoy title was developed by most of the same team who worked on the SNES titleA Link to the Past. Given the limitations of handheld game design at the time,Link’s Awakeningwas forced to strip theZeldaformula down to its most essential elements.
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The product Nintendo ended up releasing, for what it’s worth, exceeded expectations. Although its story and characters would have little influence over the future of the series, it remained an underrated fan-favorite. Furthermore, an HD remake was released for Nintendo Switch in 2019, reminding players how ahead of its time it was in 1993.
2Disney’s Aladdin
Video games based on movies or other existing IP were incredibly common, especially by the time the SNES rolled out. Most of them were forgettable, but the video game adaptation ofDisney’s 1992 animated filmAladdinhas remained memorable for video game fans. Thankfully, the sidescroller was in the hands ofMega Mandevelopers Capcom.
The game ended up becoming one of the best-selling SNES games of 1993. While it easily appealed to fans of the movie for its portrayal of characters and locations, fans of hardcore sidescrollers were also satisfied by its challenge. When it comes to games based on blockbuster films of the 1990s,Disney’s Aladdinwas both faithful and fun.
1Myst
For most of the 1990s,Mystwas one of the best-selling PC games. It was initially released in 1993 for Mac OS, before later being ported to Windows, Sega Saturn, and PlayStation. It’s quite an easy-going game, allowing players to explore and interact with objects on an island, learning more about the lore of its world as they slowly progress.
Mystis regarded as a big source of inspiration for adventure game developers, particularly due to the absence of lives, danger, and time limits. It would be a precursor to games likeMinecraft, which has gone on to define the video game industry throughout the 2000s. Just bring upMystto someone who was alive in the 90s, and they’ll light up with nostalgia.
