Technology has advanced immensely since the ’90s, though Sci-Fi-loving people have been dreaming about robots and spaceships for much longer than this. Compared to modern software and hardware, the world of three decades ago simply cannot compare to the modern, but this has never stopped creative individuals from sharing their visions with the world.
Those that innovate and hold the attention of players have earned places in the memories of gamers the world over. Despite limitations in technology, there are quite a few games that pushed the envelope not only to create awesome games but also set standards that have benefited the entire Sci-Fi genre.
11 Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces 2 (PC)
1997 saw the release of the most beloved Star Wars game of the decade. In this lightsaber-wielding adventure for Personal Compters, players got a chance to visit their favorite locations in the franchise and do battle while controlling a skilled Jedi knight. Though whether one fights for justice or power is up to the player, as Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces 2 offers a huge number of choices to gamers. One could potentially ignore the main story and wander about an immersive and detailed world for hours, making this game stand out as one that encourages freedom instead of a linear experience. Something all Sci-Fi games should try to emulate.
10 Planescape: Torment (PC)
Enter a bizarre Science-Fantasy RPG world where death is not quite what the player expects. In 1999, the world was gifted with Planescape: Torment, which inserts the player into a unique world with a story so gripping that it can be fondly recalled by gamers even two decades after being played. Whereas most top-down isometric games tend to safely follow the same story-guidelines of others in the genre, this one does the opposite by thrusting the player’s mind into unpredictable situations that make every minute exciting. This weird and macabre setting has likely inspired quite a few others to shape unique and sinister worlds worth delving into.
9 Homeworld (PC)
In this fresh space-faring 1999 adventure, players need to get their ships past a hostile galactic empire and rediscover their Homeworld. These elements are probably familiar to quite a few Sci-Fi oriented gamers, though the unique user interface and control scheme are innovations to the genre that were rarely seen before. The ability to sort and command one’s forces in an intuitive manner removes much of the difficulty curve when learning how to play the game. This allows new players to immediately start enjoying themselves without slogging through bland tutorials. This in addition to impeccable audio, stellar gameplay, and gorgeously refined graphics for the time makes Homeworld feel like home for many space explorers.
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7 Maniac Mansion: Day Of The Tentacle (PC)
Of all the LucasArts point-and-click adventure games, Maniac Mansion: Day of the Tentacle is remembered for having some of the more hilarious dialogue and quirkiest characters. With a recently remastered version, this game allowed a whole new generation of fans to enjoy this classic from 1993.
Games in this genre heavily rely on story elements to be entertaining and Day of the Tentacle does not disappoint with near-infinite charm and time-traveling humor. This title redefined what point-and-click games could do in terms of storytelling and set the bar higher for all similar games that came after it.
6 Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri (PC)
Most know the name Sid Meier from the renowned Civilization games by the legendary game designer. Imagine a Civilization game that takes place on an alien planet beginning to be colonized by humans. Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri from 1999 is that game and it’s as crazy and fun as it sounds for lovers of grand strategy. Many enjoyed this departing from Earth as the new setting breathed fresh air into the genre and forced players to think more critically about decisions since there is no Earthling intuition to rely upon.
5 Final Fantasy 7 (PlayStation)
As the Final Fantasy series transitioned from purely Fantasy to being a Science-Fantasy franchise, many new opportunities were opened up in 1997. Final Fantasy 7 on the original PlayStation introduces players to guns, mechs, and much more that enhance the environment and set it apart from other RPGs of the generation. There are still dragons, spells, and magic, but now combined with a setting focused on the degradation of the natural world at the hands of those seeking only profit and urban development. Combine this with memorable characters and excellent gameplay for one of the best games in the long-lived franchise that future titles were able to build off of with great success.
4 System Shock 2 (PC)
Satisfying decision making is one of the aspects gamers crave the most out of their chosen titles. 1999’s System Shock 2 gives the player a variety of ways to complete each level in a spooky setting full of deranged foes. Though the frights one will receive in this game are not cheap jump-scares or loud noises in pitch-black alleys.
The terror one will experience arises from the sinister meaning of each event that the player encounters. The magnitude of happenings makes each glowing light seem like a watching eye, waiting for the player to make the wrong move. A sense of true horror in this laser and machine filled adventure forces gamers to remember why the future can be scary.
3 Wipeout XL (PlayStation)
This rapid racer from 1996 is the sequel to one of the best Sci-Fi racers ever to grace the gaming world. Usually, in such situations, follow-up games don’t meet the hype but Wipeout XL does the opposite by improving on many of the great features that players loved from the previous game. Furthermore, the light sourcing and great music make the atmosphere come alive in a way that most other racing games fail to emulate.
2 Metal Gear Solid (PlayStation)
The third installment of the Metal Gear series adds a whole dimension of innovations that have cemented it in place as one of the best video games ever made. Metal Gear Solid, the first entry in a 3D world, is a game that gave players exponentially more ways to sneak about and take out enemies. The world-class voice acting, unparalleled graphics for 1998, and a wealth of weapons are just a few things that allowed Metal Gear Solid to revolutionize the stealth genre. Facing off against advanced machinery as a normal human was also a unique aspect that endeared this game in the hearts of all Sci-Fi fans.
1 Half-Life (PC)
Gamers everywhere will defend Half-Life as the best game that they have ever played. This is less of a virtual world and more of a home-away-from-home for players. The setting feels so real and logical that at times it is possible to forget that it is a video game. The events and consequences of actions feel so severe that many spend hours upon hours exploring the best method of dealing with the various obstacles Half-Life throws their way. A feat not often found in the gaming industry since its release in 1998.
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