Ah, the 90s. It was a special time for many when it comes to video games, and in many ways, the decade that put video games into the mainstream.
You’d see games popping up in famous movies left and right, and they went from a rather niche medium to something far more accepted as a hobby.
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Part of that reason is the evolution of graphics. With the advent of Playstation and the N64, we entered the world of 3D visuals, and from then on, the world of media had a serious new contender that would one day blow away the competition in terms of revenue yearly.
We’re going to take a trip into the past, to the era that built the gaming landscape that exists today and the titles that wowed us with their visuals from that time period.
10Chrono Cross
An Artistic Achievement
Chrono Cross
Chrono Crosscame out in 1999 in Japan, and in some ways, was a last gasp for the PlayStation, which would quickly see the PS2’s release on the horizon.
Visually, Chrono Cross is simply dazzling, and it holds up today as one of the true technical achievements for the PlayStation.
From the incredible CGI cutscenes to the overall scenery, Chrono Cross is one of the most visually distinct games out there.
The characters are colorful and expressive, even with the pixelated graphics of the time, and the effects of spells and attacks were as good as the system had to offer.
9Metal Gear Solid
An Icon Is Born
Metal Gear Solid
You may not believe it, but that pixelated Snake pictured above was a graphical marvel back when Metal Gear Solid was first released in 1998.
Before this game, I don’t think there was a title out there that was as gritty, realistic looking, or as grounded in its gameplay.
Metal Gear Solid created an entire genrethat would get copied over and over for the next decade, and part of what was copied was the distinct visual style.
It was like a comic book was brought to life, but it felt real due to the muted colors and overall dour feeling the base of Shadow Moses depicted.
Its animations were second to none as well, with some legitimate physics being used to show guards being shot or punched. While it’s not much today, it was another piece to the overall incredible graphics that Metal Gear Solid initially showed us.
8Final Fantasy VIII
The New Age
Final Fantasy 8
Now, some may preferFinal Fantasy VIIfor this spot, but for me, I think Final Fantasy VIII is the best graphic representation of the series in the 90s.
Never before had I seen such realistic-looking characters. Coming from the previous game, we were all expecting more box monsters and overall cartoonish graphics.
With Final Fantasy VIII, the characters suddenly looked like real people, in both body shape and face, and the world was a sci-fi spin on a realistic setting as well.
Not only is the game great, but the cutscenes are still an incredible thing to witness. One of the best visual sequences in gaming history is the Battle of the Gardens, which is an epic skirmish taking place between military students. It all goes down in CGI in the background, while the normal game graphics play on in the foreground.
The opening cutscene sets the tone for the game, and the in-game graphics hold up their end of the bargain with incredible-looking attacks and over-the-top summons which, to this day, set the standard for what summon attacks should be in JRPGs.
7Mortal Kombat
A Bloody Marvel
Mortal Kombat (1992)
Mortal Kombat changed everything. It was the first game of its kind with graphics that actually looked like real people. That’s because theywerereal people that were used as models for the characters.
This unique style of animation is something only 90 games will remember as it’s not really used anymore, but at the time, it was groundbreaking.
When it comes to the gameplay, it literally looks like real people beating each other to death on screen, and while we’ve seen a million varieties of that act since, this was the first one to really make people clutch their pearls.
Long before Grand Theft Auto 3 had parents panicking, it was the bloodsoaked action of Mortal Kombat that scared them.
It’s a testament to the graphical skill of Midway Games that they were able to push this level of fidelity out of systems like the Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo, and arcade cabinets.
6Super Mario 64
Let’s-A-Go
Super Mario 64
In 1996, the gaming landscape was still in the in-between stage of the 2D, pixelated world and the future of 3D gaming.
Well,who better to make that 3D splash around the world than the already iconic Mario? Super Mario 64 was a revolution when it was released.
I remember the day it came out. I was 7 years old and already heavily into gaming at that point, and the second the colorful, 3D world came to life on my TV, I knew this was about to change everything.
It was a new standard instantly for what video games needed to look like, and every genre took notice.
The animations are still impressive to this day, and the wild variety of worlds and different mechanics that all come together to make the game work are still features that Nintendo uses in contemporary Mario games.
It was very much the “must-see” game of the mid-90s. For gamers and non-gamers alike, regardless of the gameplay,it was a visual spectacle and stays true to that to this day.
5The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall
Bethesda’s Building Blocks
The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall
The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall was a PC-exclusive game in an era where PC gaming was not all that popular.
The console was the place to be at the time, and PC gaming was considered niche and hardcore. Luckily for the hardcore players, they got the better end of the stick visually for a handful of years, and one of the best examples of this is The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall.
This game is quite remarkable looking considering its release date in 1996 as we weregetting entire worlds to exploreon foot or horseback, very realistic graphics, and some impressive character models for the time on top of that.
While most were marveling at games on the N64 and the PlayStation, many didn’t get the chance to see how amazing PC games could look. While the game itself is definitely at the lesser end of the series' quality, it’s an amazing piece of visual history for the video game world and showed us a preview of what Bethesda would one day be capable of.
4Xenogears
An Incredible Fusion
Xenogearswas originally going to be a Final Fantasy game, but it was deemed too dark. Because of that, although it got the green light, it wasn’t given the budget that Square’s flagship franchise was often gifted.
The team in charge made due with what they were given though, and in the process, createdone of the deepest, lengthiest, and most graphically gorgeous games of the 1990s.
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The graphics are a unique fusion between 2D sprites and 3D environments that somehow fits like a glove. The fights on foot are between 2D-looking characters, but when you pilot a Gear, the game switches to complete 3D graphics. This helps make the gear battles feel more intense and epic because of it.
There are also amazingly animated anime sequences, and gorgeous, 3D rendered levels with some of the grittiest and overall most unique art styles you’ll see.
This game resonates in the hearts of many for a ton of reasons, and one of those is that it still remains a graphically striking experience.
A Strange and Beautiful World
Mysthas an exhibit in the Museum of Modern Art, so that alone should tell you what this game is all about. As a puzzle game that is all about exploration and mystery, the visuals play a massive role in the experience.
The visuals are incredibly realistic, which is hard to believe considering it came out in 1993. It uses some impressive design, lighting techniques, and color to bring its weird and mysterious world to life.
It is one of the earliest realizations of a full video game world that you could explore, and seeing all the different ages and how they change the world is still one of the more interesting game mechanics that we have seen.
The scenery is so real-lookingthat you would think they just used real-life locations, but the reality is that nowhere looks like Myst. While games have copied it since, no one has been able to replicate the same mysterious magic on display here.
2The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Link’s Claim to Fame
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
If Super Mario 64 was the table-setter for the N64, thenThe Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Timeiswhat put asses in seats.
With PlayStation coming out with more mature and grandiose titles in the mid-90s, Nintendo clearly felt some pressure to match that energy. With that came the jump to 3D for, at the time, an already legendary franchise.
Ocarina of Time was a fantastic realization of the property that introduced full, 3D combat to the series for the first time ever, as well as a highly explorable map that in many ways feels like the first attempt at an open world.
Exploring while riding Epona and seeing all the weird and magical creatures of Zelda in full 3D was both astounding and creepy at the same time, with enemies like the Redead sticking in players' minds for years to come.
Visually, it still holds up today, with incredibly detailed faces for the time and some amazing effects, environments, and art style that will undoubtedly stand the test of time.
1Half-Life
The Realistic Shooter Is Born
I don’t recall a game before Half-Life that made me feel like the main character more. While Gordon Freeman was silent, I felt everything he was going through.
The visuals were highly realistic, with a sleek sort of art style that made things seem just a little bit off and only added to the tension on screen.
It’s one of the most important games of its kind and one of the most visually impressive games of its time, too.
The first-person shooter hadn’t really been given serious treatment until Half-Life, and the terrifying creatures you’ll encounter, the overall mature tone that oozes from the story, to the detailed scenery gave off a vibe that most games typically fail to accurately depict.
If you’re ever wondering where the feverish fanbase of Half-Life was born from, just check out the original game to see what all the hype is about. I guarantee you’ll be wowed within minutes.
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