Best Retro Games by Platform

Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) — 1983

• Super Mario Bros. — Platform game; established the genre template for side-scrolling action games.
• The Legend of Zelda — Action-adventure; introduced open-world exploration on home consoles.
• Mega Man 2 — Action-platformer; praised for stage design and difficulty balance.
• Contra — Run-and-gun; known for cooperative two-player mode and tight controls.
• Castlevania — Action-platformer; gothic setting and structured progression influenced many future games.
• Metroid — Action-adventure; non-linear map design created the "Metroidvania" sub-genre.
• Tetris — Puzzle; one of the best-selling games of all time; available on NES from 1989.
• Ducktales — Platformer; Capcom adaptation of the Disney cartoon; re-released in HD in 2013.

Super Nintendo (SNES) — 1990

• Super Mario World — Platform; launch title; introduced Yoshi and cape mechanics.
• The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past — Action-RPG; dual-world mechanic and expanded scope set a new standard for the series.
• Chrono Trigger — JRPG; time-travel narrative with multiple endings; often cited as the greatest RPG ever made.
• Super Metroid — Action-adventure; atmospheric world design and freedom of movement.
• Final Fantasy VI — JRPG; ensemble cast and opera scene considered landmark storytelling for the era.
• Donkey Kong Country — Platformer; pre-rendered 3D graphics and momentum-based movement.
• Street Fighter II Turbo — Fighting; brought the arcade hit home with accurate controls.
• EarthBound (Mother 2) — JRPG; satirical modern-day setting, cult following.

Sega Mega Drive / Genesis — 1988

• Sonic the Hedgehog 2 — Platformer; high-speed gameplay and two-player split screen.
• Streets of Rage 2 — Beat-em-up; co-op brawler with exceptional soundtrack by Yuzo Koshiro.
• Gunstar Heroes — Run-and-gun; showcase of Treasure's technical skill on the hardware.
• Comix Zone — Action; comic book visual framing; graphic novel aesthetic.
• Phantasy Star IV — JRPG; concluded the original Phantasy Star saga.
• Castlevania: Bloodlines — Action; the only Castlevania entry on the Mega Drive.
• Earthworm Jim — Platformer; animation-quality sprites and irreverent humour.

Sony PlayStation (PS1) — 1994

• Final Fantasy VII — JRPG; landmark narrative and cinematic presentation.
• Metal Gear Solid — Stealth-action; introduced cinematic storytelling and tactical gameplay.
• Castlevania: Symphony of the Night — Metroidvania; RPG elements grafted onto exploration platforming.
• Crash Bandicoot — Platformer; Sony's answer to Mario; technical showcase for the platform.
• Resident Evil 2 — Survival horror; dual-protagonist structure and high production values.
• Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 — Sports; defined the skateboarding game genre.
• Spyro the Dragon — 3D platformer; open worlds before many contemporaries.
• Silent Hill — Survival horror; psychological approach distinct from Resident Evil.

Nintendo 64 (N64) — 1996

• Super Mario 64 — 3D platformer; defined 3D movement and camera control for an entire generation.
• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time — Action-adventure; Z-targeting system and 3D world design.
• GoldenEye 007 — First-person shooter; defined console multiplayer FPS.
• Banjo-Kazooie — 3D collectathon platformer; Rare's flagship title.
• The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask — Action-adventure; darker tone and three-day time loop mechanic.
• Paper Mario — RPG; mix of platforming and turn-based combat with paper aesthetic.
• Donkey Kong 64 — 3D collectathon; largest Rare title for the N64.

Game Boy / Game Boy Color / Game Boy Advance — 1989–2001

• Tetris (Game Boy) — Puzzle; the defining portable game; bundled with the hardware.
• Pokémon Red / Blue (GBC) — RPG; launched the Pokémon franchise; trade-and-battle mechanic.
• The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (Game Boy) — Action-adventure; near-SNES quality on a handheld.
• Metroid II: Return of Samus (Game Boy) — Action-adventure; dark, atmospheric follow-up to the NES original.
• Super Mario Advance 4 (GBA) — Platform; port of Super Mario Bros. 3 with enhanced content.
• Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow (GBA) — Metroidvania; soul-absorption mechanic extended the formula.
• Golden Sun (GBA) — JRPG; technically impressive RPG showcasing GBA hardware.

Atari 2600 — 1977

• Pitfall! — Platform/adventure; first game to feature a running protagonist in a side-scrolling world.
• Space Invaders — Shooter; drove early Atari 2600 adoption as the first arcade-to-home killer app.
• Adventure — Action-adventure; among the first to feature an Easter egg and open-world exploration.
• River Raid — Shooter; procedurally generated levels from 1982.

ZX Spectrum — 1982

• Manic Miner — Platform; defined the British home computer gaming scene.
• Jet Set Willy — Platform-adventure; large, free-roaming world for 1984.
• Knight Lore — Isometric adventure; pioneered the isometric perspective in games.
• Dizzy — Adventure; iconic UK franchise by the Oliver Twins.