The Most Popular Game In Each Year of the 1990s

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Ever curious about the biggest video game when you were born? This article focuses on the most popular home console and computer games of the 1990s. That decade was a time of huge growth for the industry, with new types of games like fighting games, platformers, and RPGs becoming incredibly popular. While many great games came out each year, we’re looking for the one that stood out. We’re judging ‘popularity’ mostly by sales numbers, but also by how much of an impact each game had when it was first released.

1990) Super Mario Bros. 3

Released in North America in 1990, Super Mario Bros. 3 quickly became a huge success. Nintendo cleverly advertised the game through the movie The Wizard, building a lot of excitement beforehand. This installment of the Super Mario Bros. series was a big step forward, adding new powers, a world map, and many other improvements. It’s often called the greatest game for the NES, and over 17 million copies were sold. Super Mario Bros. 3 has been remade and re-released several times, solidifying its place as one of the best platforming games on the NES.

1991) Sonic the Hedgehog

The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) was known for its platformer games, but the Sega Genesis took them to the next level with much faster processing power. The biggest hit of 1991 was undoubtedly Sonic the Hedgehog, a game that became synonymous with the Genesis and established Sonic as Sega’s iconic character. Sonic the Hedgehog stood out for its fast-paced gameplay, which was exciting and fun without being overly difficult. The game became a massive multimedia franchise worth billions, selling over 40 million copies and becoming both the best-selling game of the year and the most popular title for the Genesis.

1992) Street Fighter II

Fighting games weren’t always as easy to pick up and play, but Street Fighter II changed everything. The first game came out in 1991 and was fairly popular, but it was Street Fighter II: Champion Edition in 1992 that really took off. Capcom has released many different versions over the years, and fans each have their preferred one. No matter which version you like, Street Fighter II was the most popular game of 1992, both in arcades and at home. It was available on nearly every gaming system, quickly becoming a dominant force in the home video game market. While exact numbers are difficult to pin down due to the numerous releases, home console versions of the game sold over 15 million copies.

1993) Doom

In 1993, despite many great games available on consoles, Doom, first released for MS-DOS, was the year’s biggest hit, with Myst coming in a close second. Doom really changed the first-person shooter (FPS) genre, adding new levels of action and violence. Its graphic content sparked controversy, which ironically made the game even more popular. Doom is credited with popularizing the term “Deathmatch” and, despite limited capabilities, offered impressive online gameplay for its time. By the end of the 1990s, around 3.5 million copies had been sold, and the Doom franchise continues to thrive today.

1994) Donkey Kong Country

Originally, Donkey Kong was known as the villain in his first popular arcade game. However, Donkey Kong Country completely changed his image, turning him into a hero alongside his nephew, Diddy Kong. This game was groundbreaking for its use of pre-rendered 3D graphics, which set a new standard for platformer games on consoles. Donkey Kong Country remains the most beloved game in the series thanks to its innovative design and enjoyable gameplay. It features 40 challenging side-scrolling levels, and the game originally sold over 9.3 million copies, making it one of the best-selling titles for the Super Nintendo.

1995) Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island

1995 was an amazing year for games – we got classics like Chrono Trigger and Warcraft II! But if I had to pick just one game that really defined the year for me, it would be Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island. This game really put Yoshi in the spotlight, as you play helping Baby Mario rescue Luigi from the villain Kamek. Honestly, it took everything that was great about the first Super Mario World and just made it even better. Critics loved it, and over 4 million people bought it, making it a huge hit on the SNES!

1996) Pokémon Red and Blue

1996 was a fantastic year for video games, with popular titles like Duke Nukem 3D, Mario Kart 64, Super Mario 64, Civilization II, Command & Conquer: Red Alert, and Quake. However, despite the success of games like Resident Evil and Tomb Raider, it was Pokémon Red and Blue that truly revolutionized the industry. This game didn’t just start a huge multimedia franchise; it created what would become the most valuable franchise ever, currently worth around $115 billion. The original Pokémon games were incredibly popular, selling over 31 million copies in their various versions.

1997) GoldenEye 007

1997 was a fantastic year for gaming, with popular titles like Diablo, Fallout, Total Annihilation, and Age of Empires captivating players. Grand Theft Auto made its debut that year, alongside the blockbuster Final Fantasy VII. However, when people look back at 1997, GoldenEye 007 stands out as the defining game. This groundbreaking first-person shooter wasn’t just a great adaptation of a movie; it became one of the most important and influential FPS games of the 1990s, earning widespread praise and selling over 8 million copies for the Nintendo 64.

1998) The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time & Metal Gear Solid

1998 was a fantastic year for video games, with hits like Soulcalibur, Resident Evil 2, Half-Life, Fallout 2, Starcraft, and Baldur’s Gate. However, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Nintendo 64 and Metal Gear Solid for PlayStation truly stood out. Both games sold over 7 million copies and were considered the best on their consoles that year. They didn’t just top the sales charts; they also either launched or revitalized popular game series and pushed the boundaries of gameplay. Today, both are still widely regarded as some of the greatest games of 1998.

1999) Pokémon Gold and Silver

1999 was a fantastic year for video games, with standouts like Shenmue, Planescape: Torment, EverQuest, Age of Empires II, and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater. However, the game of the year award goes to Pokémon Gold and Silver, the sequel to a hugely popular franchise. Building on the success of the original, Pokémon Gold and Silver brought color to the Game Boy with the Game Boy Color and added 100 new Pokémon to collect. It was a massive hit, selling over 23 million copies in just ten years. Despite strong competition, Pokémon Gold and Silver ultimately came out on top in 1999.

What’s the one game you remember most from the 1990s? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-01-23 16:13