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The 23 Best Vintage Video Games You Can Play In Your Browser

Bang goes your lunch hour.

Alan White
by Alan White

BuzzFeed News Reporter, UK

23. NBA Jam (1993).

Via youtube.com

Why should I play it? Because you can slam dunk a flaming basketball into someone's face.

Where can I play it? Here.

22. Aladdin (1993).

youtube.com

Why should I play it? Because once upon a time, game developers made film tie-ins that weren't utterly terrible.

Where can I play it? Here.

21. Super Metroid (1994).

youtube.com

Why should I play it? Because it's an endlessly complex, innovative platformer and one of the best games of all time. Bit of an undertaking for a lunch break, but still.

Where can I play it? Here.

20. Earthworm Jim (1994).

Via youtube.com

Why should I play it? Because as well as being extremely playable, it's also a genuinely funny game. It also looks kinda beautiful, even 20 years on.

Where can I play it? Here.

19. Donkey Kong Country (1994).

Via youtube.com

Why should I play it? Because it was made by Rare and they were rather good at games back in the day. The graphics were about a decade ahead of their time, but it was also incredibly good fun.

Where can I play it? Here.

18. Mortal Kombat II (1993).

Via youtube.com

Why should I play it? Because inflicting graphic violence on people never gets old and now you know that playing this didn't actually warp your brain you can play without fear of turning into a degenerate.

Where can I play it? Here.

17. Prince of Persia (1989).

Via youtube.com

Why should I play it? Because it's very cleverly designed, the animation still looks great and if you're good/have a particularly long lunch hour you might even finish it.

Where can I play it? Here.

16. Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe.

Via youtube.com

Why should I play it? Because it's a futuristic game of netball in which people get beaten up.

Where can I play it? Here.

15. Duke Nukem 3D (1996).

Via youtube.com

Why should I play it? Because it's a loud, crude 3D shooter that set the bar for the genre for the next five years.

Where can I play it? Here.

14. Super Castlevania IV (1991).

Via youtube.com

Why should I play it? Because it's a really good NES reboot from the days when Mode 7 (MODE 7!) was an exciting thing.

Where can I play it? Here.

13. Battletoads (1991).

Via youtube.com

Why should I play it? Because you're a lunatic and you want to play an incredibly hard game of Sisyphean magnitude. So hard. So, so hard. Oh GOD it's hard.

Where can I play it? Here.

12. Mega Man X (1993).

Via youtube.com

Why should I play it? Because it's one of many classic platformers from the era, and the stage selection set up means you can tackle different bits over a week.

Where can I play it? Here.

11. Elite (1984).

youtube.com

Why should I play it? Because interstellar sandbox space trading is quite a marvellous thing, but above all, because it's history, child. No, it doesn't look much. But listen, it's 30 years old and 30 years ahead of its time. You. Need. To. Play. This. Game.

Where can I play it? Here.

10. Alone in the Dark (1992).

Via youtube.com

Why should I play it? Because it's scary and basically better than all the Resident Evil games apart from the good one.

Where can I play it? Here.

9. Streets of Rage 2 (1992).

Via youtube.com

Why should I play it? Walk. Punch. Eat chicken. Walk. Punch. Etc. It's all quite therapeutic.

Where can I play it? Here.

8. Star Fox (1993).

Via youtube.com

Why should I play it? Because it's an unadulterated work of absolute genius. With a really annoying frog.

Where can I play it? Here.

7. Legend of Zelda: A Link To The Past (1991).

Via youtube.com

Why should I play it? Because you have enough time on your hands to play one of the best RPGs ever made.

Where can I play it? Here.

6. Super Streetfighter 2: Turbo (1994).

Via youtube.com

Why should I play it? Because you're actually a ninja and you can make this work for you on a keyboard without dislocating three of your fingers.

Where can I play it? Here.

5. Turtles in Time (1992).

Via youtube.com

Why should I play it? Because it's the best scrolling beat-em-up there has ever been or ever will be and you get to be your favourite turtle. Word of warning, you're going to get RSI after the first level.

Where can I play it? Here.

4. Doom (1993).

Via youtube.com

Why should I play it? Because it's terrifying and action packed and hasn't ever been bettered.

Where can I play it? Here.

3. Sonic 2 (1992).

Via youtube.com

Why should I play it? Because it's a lot of fun, has a really compelling difficulty gradient and it's still REALLY FAST.

Where can I play it? Here.

2. Super Mario World (1990).

Via youtube.com

Why should I play it? Don't ask stupid questions. Just play it.

Where can I play it? Here.

1. Super Mario Kart (1992).

Via youtube.com

Why should I play it? Obviously it's great, but this one really, really works well on a keyboard. It is the PERFECT lunch break game.


Where can I play it? Here.