Top 100 Games

  • Bubble Bobble

    Bubble Bobble
    Platform:
    Taito, 1986
    Debut system:
    Arcade

    With two super-cute dinosaurs as heroes, and goofy premise of capturing monsters by blowing bubbles, Bubble Bobble is just so charming. Stacks of bonus items and power-ups are just overwhelming.

  • Virtua Racing

    Virtua Racing
    Platform:
    Sega, 1992
    Debut system:
    Arcade

    Satisfied that your eyes weren’t deceiving you, the racing experience was also way ahead of anything else at the time. The sit-down version had seats that simulated Gs while cornering.

  • FIFA Soccer

    FIFA Soccer
    Platform:
    Electronic Arts, 1995
    Debut system:
    Megadrive

    Spectacular interpretation of our beloved national sport, presented for the first time in 3D. Soccer purists might moan about the sacrifice of realism, but EA raised the bar with FIFA.

  • Super Metroid

    Super Metroid
    Platform:
    Nintendo, 1994
    Debut system:
    Super NES

    Nintendo at the top of its game: lessons in pacing within an hours-long quest, layering of skills, and complexity of its puzzles. For Super NES this was stunningly atmospheric too

  • Burnout 2

    Burnout 2
    Platform:
    Acclaim, 2003
    Debut system:
    PlayStation 2, Xbox

    Driving hell-for-leather in rush hour traffic, down city streets and freeways: crazy, but cool. Reward for doing this while driving headlong into oncoming vehicles: absolute insanity. The crash replays rock.

  • Micro Machines

    Micro Machines
    Platform:
    Code Masters, 1991
    Debut system:
    NES

    Hasbro’s miniature vehicles proved perfect for races staged on kitchen tables, sandboxes and so on. The variety of vehicle types – among them helicopters, boats, and tanks – added to the appeal.

  • Rainbow Islands

    Rainbow Islands
    Platform:
    Taito, 1987
    Debut system:
    Arcade

    Beguiling sequel to Bubble Bobble in which rainbows double up as platforms to walk along, or as weapons to bounce enemies off the screen, revealing bonus items as they fall.

  • Super Smash Bros

    Super Smash Bros
    Platform:
    Nintendo, 1999
    Debut system:
    Nintendo 64

    Another suspicious idea that, in the end, had droves of gamers hooked: Nintendo’s best-loved characters unleashed, brawling with each other using their special powers! We’re sure it was only play-fighting.

  • Bomberman (‘Dynablaster’)

    Bomberman (‘Dynablaster’)
    Platform:
    Hudson, 1991
    Debut system:
    Saturn

    Your chosen weapon is dangerous both to you and the enemy. After planting each bomb, Bomberman must dart around the corner to safety else be blown up himself: heart-racing, multi-player fun.

  • Mike Tyson’s Punch Out!!

    Mike Tyson’s Punch Out!!
    Platform:
    Nintendo, 1987
    Debut system:
    NES

    As played by Bart Simpson, so it’s definitely cool! Whacky characters feature in this laugh-out-loud thwacking game, in which you get to KO Iron Mike himself... if you’re good enough.