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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesThere is no universally agreed list of the best retro games: a game can be historically influential without being the most enjoyable first choice today. This selection balances cultural reach, longevity, influence and the appeal of trying each game now, while drawing on the Hall of Fame criteria used by The Strong National Museum of Play and BAFTA’s dated 2025 public poll. The examples span arcade, console and computer games, as well as platform, puzzle, action, multiplayer, role-playing and simulation genres.
How to judge the best retro games
The Strong National Museum of Play evaluates Hall of Fame candidates by icon status, longevity, geographical reach and influence. It considers games across arcade, console, computer, handheld and mobile platforms, and says influence alone can be enough to qualify. The museum launched the World Video Game Hall of Fame in 2015; its FAQ listed 49 inducted games in early 2026. That count records recognition, not a ranked top 49. Museum staff select 12 finalists each year, but induction is not a verdict on which game is most fun to play now. The Strong’s Hall of Fame FAQ
Another useful reference is BAFTA’s public poll of influential games, published April 3, 2025. It put Shenmue first, Doom second and Super Mario Bros. third. That ranking reflects a question about influence and the voters who answered it; it is not a universal ranking of the most enjoyable classics. The picks below are therefore grouped by what they contributed and what kind of experience they represent, rather than assigned a false numerical order. BAFTA’s poll results and game notes
Retro games that shaped the medium
Pong: the early arcade landmark
Pong appears in BAFTA’s 2025 poll of influential games, making it a useful starting point for the arcade era. Its place in an influence-focused poll is evidence of recognition, not proof that it is the best introduction for every player. BAFTA’s poll results
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Asteroids: arcade action at home
Asteroids debuted in arcades in 1979 and later reached home players on Atari 2600. The Associated Press reported its 2024 induction into the World Video Game Hall of Fame. Its history offers a clear example of how an arcade hit could travel to a home console. Associated Press coverage of the 2024 inductees
Super Mario Bros.: a platform-game touchstone
Released in 1985, Super Mario Bros. ranked third in BAFTA’s 2025 poll. BAFTA credits it with helping popularize side-scrolling platform games and identifies its scrolling, jump physics and hidden secrets as mechanics that became genre staples. That makes it a strong pick for understanding the language of platform games, quite apart from whether a new player prefers its older design to later entries. BAFTA’s poll results and game notes
Tetris: a puzzle classic with lasting recognition
Tetris, released in 1984, also appeared in BAFTA’s poll. Its inclusion supports describing it as a widely recognized and influential puzzle game; the poll does not establish that it is objectively the greatest puzzle game. BAFTA’s poll results
Doom: a defining PC action game
Doom, released in 1993, placed second in BAFTA’s poll. BAFTA connects it to popularizing both the first-person shooter and deathmatch. It belongs on a history-minded shortlist for its effect on PC action and multiplayer, even if a reader is looking for something other than a shooter to play. BAFTA’s poll results and game notes
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Shenmue: BAFTA’s 2025 poll winner
Shenmue ranked first in BAFTA’s April 2025 public poll of influential games. That result makes it a notable case in how a poll can elevate a particular kind of legacy; it should not be read as consensus that Shenmue is the best retro game for every player. BAFTA’s poll results
Retro games that expanded multiplayer and 3D play
GoldenEye 007: console multiplayer
Nintendo 64 game GoldenEye 007 was among The Strong’s 2025 Hall of Fame inductees. Associated Press reporting notes that its four-person mode influenced later multiplayer games. The Strong’s current inductee listing reports more than eight million units sold worldwide; that is a game-specific figure, not a measure of quality or a general retro-game sales benchmark. Associated Press coverage of the 2025 inductees The Strong’s GoldenEye 007 entry
Quake: a major 3D-era milestone
Quake, released in 1996, also entered the Hall of Fame in 2025. The Associated Press reported that its 3D engine became a new industry standard. For readers tracing how computer games developed technically, Quake represents a different kind of legacy from GoldenEye’s shared-screen console multiplayer. Associated Press coverage of the 2025 inductees
Defender and Tamagotchi: breadth beyond familiar console hits
The Strong’s 2025 class also included Defender, an arcade game, and Tamagotchi, a handheld virtual pet. Their inclusion is a reminder that retro-game history is broader than home-console adventures and PC shooters: it includes arcade design and handheld play, too. Associated Press coverage of the 2025 inductees
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Role-playing and simulation classics
Ultima: an early role-playing influence
The Associated Press reported that Ultima, a 1981 role-playing game, influenced later series including Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy. Its place in the 2024 Hall of Fame class makes it a worthwhile historical pick for readers interested in the roots of later role-playing games. Associated Press coverage of the 2024 inductees
SimCity: building a genre of its own
SimCity (1989) was also inducted in 2024. AP reports that it inspired sequels and offshoots including The Sims. It is a history-minded recommendation for players more interested in building and managing a virtual place than following a conventional action-game structure. Associated Press coverage of the 2024 inductees
What should you try first?
Choose by the experience you want, not by treating influence as a proxy for personal enjoyment:
- For platform-game history: start with Super Mario Bros. and notice the scrolling, jumping and secrets BAFTA identifies as influential.
- For a puzzle classic: try Tetris, which appears in BAFTA’s 2025 influence poll.
- For PC action history: look at Doom; for the later 3D era, consider Quake.
- For multiplayer history: compare GoldenEye 007’s four-player mode with Quake’s computer-game legacy.
- For genres beyond action: explore Ultima for role-playing history or SimCity for simulation.
- For early arcade roots and handheld culture: include Pong, Asteroids, Defender or Tamagotchi in a broader tour.
These are historical recommendations, not a claim that a particular current release is easy to find or compatible with a particular device. Before buying or downloading, verify the edition, platform, region, controls and availability with the storefront or publisher. The sources cited here do not establish current editions, licensing, prices or compatibility.
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