Retro Games From 1990

A puzzle game where players control the Greek god Zeus, dropping thunderbolts to destroy blocks and defeat enemies. Combines elements of Breakout and Arkanoid with mythological themes.

A challenging run-and-gun action game set in a dystopian future where Jay McCray battles through five stages of mechanized enemies to avenge his father's death on the space colony Silius. Notable for its tight controls, varied weapon system, and exceptional soundtrack by Naoki Kodaka.

A colorful platformer celebrating Bugs Bunny's 50th anniversary, where players guide Bugs through various Looney Tunes-themed worlds to recover stolen birthday presents from Daffy Duck and other classic characters.

The first installment in the Might and Magic series, this RPG combines dungeon crawling with an expansive overworld. Players create a party of adventurers to explore the land of Varn, solving puzzles and battling monsters in turn-based combat.

Tecmo World Cup Soccer is a 1990 NES soccer game released during the height of World Cup fever. Featuring 24 international teams with distinct player stats, it combined arcade-style action with strategic elements like formation changes and stamina management. The game was notable for its smooth scrolling fields and special shot techniques.

A challenging NES action-platformer where players control ninjas with animal transformation abilities. Released in 1990, it features cooperative multiplayer and a unique weapon upgrade system.

Rad Racer II is a high-speed racing game developed by Square and released for the NES in 1990. As the sequel to the popular Rad Racer, this game features improved graphics, new tracks, and faster gameplay. Players race against time through various international locations, with the option to switch between first-person and third-person perspectives.

The NES adaptation of Ultima IV, where players embark on a spiritual journey to become the Avatar of virtue in the fantasy world of Britannia. This version simplifies the PC original with streamlined controls and modified gameplay for console audiences.

An energetic 4-player volleyball game featuring exaggerated jumps and powerful spike attacks. One of the few NES titles to support 4-player simultaneous gameplay using the NES Satellite accessory.

One of the first beach volleyball video games featuring fast-paced 2v2 action with authentic beach volleyball rules. Play as professional athletes in various beach locations with dynamic weather effects.

StarTropics is an action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the NES. Released in 1990, it follows the story of Mike Jones, a young baseball player who travels to a tropical island to rescue his archaeologist uncle, Dr. Jones, who has been kidnapped by aliens. The game combines dungeon crawling with puzzle-solving and features a unique yo-yo as Mike's primary weapon, along with various other items to discover throughout the island's mysterious caves and villages.

Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II is a first-person dungeon-crawling RPG developed by Atlus and published by Namco for the Famicom/NES. Serving as the direct sequel to the 1987 original, it takes place decades after the events of the first game in a post-apocalyptic Tokyo devastated by a nuclear war. The protagonist awakens in a strange laboratory with no memory of his past, guided by a mysterious computer program that tasks him with gathering demon allies to restore the world. The game dramatically expanded upon its predecessor's mechanics, introducing the now-iconic Law-Neutral-Chaos alignment system and a more sophisticated narrative structure.

A beat 'em up game based on Michael Jackson's film and musical career, where players control Jackson through various levels to rescue children from the villain Mr. Big. Features signature dance moves transforming into attacks and appearances from Jackson's iconic music videos.

A platform game where Mickey Mouse ventures through a magical castle to rescue Minnie Mouse from the evil witch Mizrabel. Features colorful fantasy worlds, projectile attacks using thrown apples, and transformations into special costumes.

The 1990 Genesis port of Taito's seminal arcade shooter, featuring branching paths across 7 galactic zones with the Silver Hawk spacecraft battling the alien Belsar army. Notable for its three-screen arcade display adaptation and iconic aquatic-mechanical enemy designs.

This sequel to The Revenge of Shinobi introduces a canine companion that attacks enemies on command. Players control ninja Hayate through 5 urban stages featuring subway trains and neon-lit rooftops, culminating in battles against cybernetically enhanced bosses.

Columns is a tile-matching puzzle video game developed and published by Sega. Released in 1990 for the Sega Genesis, it is one of the earliest falling block puzzle games. Players rotate and align colored gems to create vertical, horizontal, or diagonal lines of three or more matching colors.

This ambitious RPG features a multi-generational storyline where player choices determine bloodlines and alter the narrative across three distinct generations. Set in a floating world system, it combines traditional turn-based combat with groundbreaking marriage and inheritance mechanics.