Time can have a funny effect on us sometimes. We fondly remember the classic games we grew up playing, and perhaps we still replay them regularly, but we can't believe it's been that long since they were first released. Aging our favorite games ages ourselves, too, and that can be a sobering thought.
Crash Bandicoot turns 30 years old this year (or rather, his debut game does), and so might many people reading this right now. If that's the case, you'll be glad to know you're in excellent company, as a lot of other truly iconic games also launched in 1996. Here are some of the very best of them.
Super Mario 64
Of Course It's-A Him
For the western release of the Nintendo 64 in 1996, just two games were available alongside the system. Fortunately, one of them was an absolute must-buy: Super Mario 64. From that first unforgettable dash across Peach's lawn, it felt new and exciting; a Mario adventure on a truly grand scale. The scope of the castle was awe-inspiring back then, and the mechanic of leaping into paintings to access different worlds was inspired. We all have our favorite moments from the title, whether it's tossing Bowser WWE-style, sliding down the snowy mountain with that adorable little penguin, or performing some canny platforming prowess on Bob-omb Battlefield to outfox Koopa the Quick in a race.
Though there was very little camera 'control' to speak of, and Mario does feel rather clunkier than he would in later 3D adventures like the wonderful Super Mario Galaxy, you really have to bring three decades of hindsight to bear to find much to complain about with this one. A critical part of gaming history, and a new standard for the growing world of 3D platformers.
Metal Slug
A Run And Gun Legend Is Born
There's something strangely comforting about the Metal Slug games. They have big, bold sprites and even a bit of a silly sense of humor, just enough to ease the intensity of the non-stop blasting action without ever distracting from it. The Rebel Army of General Donald Mordenis typically the force that the play must battle, and there are a range of weapons to collect and occassional vehicles to take control of in the effort. These conventions were all firmly established in the very first game, 1996's Metal Slug, and other than some side-stories in plotting, haven't really been deviated from much since.
This is a game that rewards practise and determination. Yes, you can simply blast your way through with some luck, but obtaining high scores is all about rescuing captured allies, careful use of your limited tank access and picking up those melee bonuses where possible. It's pure chaotic fun that has aged remarkably well and spawned a long-lived and beloved series.
Resident Evil
The Classic That Spawned A Genre
On the subject of games from 1996 that began long, popular series, Resident Evil is perhaps the biggest of all. Horror games had existed before it, of course, but so many afterwards would be inspired and shaped by it. Capcom's survival horror classic introduced the S.T.A.R.S. team (from series stalwart Jill Valentine to the nefarious Albert Wesker), the Spencer family, the Umbrella Corporation, infamous enemies like the Hunter, and unforgettable boss battles from Plant 42 to Yawn the snake. Its deliciously cheesy dialog was toned down a little in future re-releases, but that was part of its legacy and charm too. You never forget your first "master of unlocking" cutscene, after all.
It was remade as a GameCube exclusive, then remastered years later. It was also translated into a dual-screen adventure in its Nintendo DS port, entitled Resident Evil: Deadly Silence. There was also a prequel added to the mythos, Resident Evil Zero. This title's impact and its place in the genre and wider industry is unquestionable, even if some later series entries certainly weren't. Some of us are still haunted by the dogs smashing through that window, or the scene of the Hunter pursuing the protagonist through the door in the yard, 30 years later.
Nights Into Dreams
A Dream Of An Action Title
In the 1990s, Sega was carefully establishing its rival to Mario: the iconic Blue Blur himself. By 1996, in fact, the original Sonic the Hedgehog trilogy was already available on the Sega Genesis. The high-octane take on platforming was an entirely different direction from that taken by Super Mario, and so developed a huge following of their own. Nights Into Dreamsdemonstrated that Sega systems (this time the Saturn) had much more to offer than just Sonic.
This beloved, fantastical title is set in a world called Nightopia, a realm of dreams. It's under threat by Wizeman the Wicked, and so two human children join forces with a resident of Nightopia, Nights, to save both it and the real world. In order to do this, Nights must team up with the humans to protect the essence of this world. Nights traverses a series of levels, and in keeping with the dreamlike spirit of the game, flies through them in a leisurely, looping manner. The joyful music pairs perfectly with the colorful, whimsical visuals, while the slower-paced action contrasts nicely with the speed of Sonic's own titles. Visually, it was a real tour de force for the Saturn three decades ago, and still has a big place in the hearts of players who remember it.
Crash Bandicoot
An Enormous Platforming Challenge
Yes, Crash Bandicoot's debut video game is thirty years old in 2026. By 1998, we had already seen two sequels, Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes BackandCrash Bandicoot: Warped, both of which would take Crash's rather simple moveset of spin, jump, and belly flop into new directions and develop the scope and variety of the stages. They did this by, as with Metal Slug, retaining the humor and sensibilities of the original. One thing that didn't quite seem to carry forward, perhaps thankfully, was its difficulty.
The original Crash Bandicoot introduces series icons Dr. Neo Cortex, Tawna, Pinstripe Potoroo, Ripper Roo, and our dulcet-toned ally Aku Aku. The setup is simple: Crash has escaped Cortex's clutches before being transformed into one of his henchmen by means of Cortex's Evolvo-Ray, but Tawna is still in danger. A rescue is afoot, and so begins a journey through a series of stages around the Wumpa Islands. As would be the case later in the series, there are animal-riding levels and frequent boss fights to vary the action, but the devious level design and lengthier stages make this perhaps the most difficult Crash Bandicoot game to date. If you're trying to collect all the gems in particular, you'll have to be very thorough indeed with your box-smashing and extremely careful with every jump.
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This article originally appeared on GameRant and is republished here with permission.
