Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot. Even though Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot was released in 2020, the game has come back strong with its next-gen update and new season .
Dragon Ball games have always been a big deal and in 2023, one of those classics is turning thirty years old. Dragon Ball Z: Super Butōden was released in 1993 and was a big deal since it was the first Dragon Ball game ever released outside of Japan.
Disney's Aladdin
Disney's Aladdin was a fantastic side-scrolling game full of content. The gameplay could be genuinely challenging and frustrating (though players can adjust the difficulty) but incredibly addictive.
The game manages to perfectly capture the film through its gameplay and animation, which was actually the first hand-drawn animation ever performed for a video game. The game sold remarkably well and remained one of Sega Genesis's best-selling games overall.
Kirby's Adventure
There are some Kirby's Adventure is one of those examples and managed to introduce the most iconic feature of Kirby, his copying ability by sucking in his targets.
It's hard to imagine there was ever a Kirby game without this feature, but the first game didn't have it. Not only did this game introduce Kirby's copy ability, but it also introduces an incredible story and colored graphics for the first time in the franchise.
Sonic CD
Sonic CD wasn't always intended to be its own game and was originally supposed to be part of Sonic 2, which is likely why the game received such an odd title when it felt so similar to the rest of the Sonic trilogy.
The game introduced a new mechanic where Sonic could travel to the past and future during zones. This game is also where Amy Rose and Metal Sonic make their debut, the latter of which is the first character that Sonic has to race against in the games as well as the first true rival that Sonic receives.
NBA Jam
While basketball games had already existed, NBA Jam managed to take everything to the next level with its amazing gameplay, soundtrack, and the fact that there was a four-player mode. Not only this, but it was also one of the first sports video games to actually feature real players which largely brought the appeal of actual NBA fans to the game.
However, the game's easy-understanding and fun gameplay made it so that even non-basketball fans were more likely to enjoy the game too. Even though the game came out three decades to go it still holds up as one of the best basketball video games of all time.
Samurai Shodown
Samurai Shodown was without a doubt one of the best games to release in 1993, one of the best fighting games of the 1990s, and featured some of the best fighting game content for the time. The game takes place in the 18th century and has several historical characters appear like Hattori Hanzo.
Despite the name, however, most of the characters in the roster aren't actually samurai and some of them are warriors from other countries. What separated Samurai Shodown so much from most fighting games is the lack of reliance on combos which made the game easier for most gamers.
Dragon Ball Z: Super Butōden
Dragon Ball Z: Super Butōden was only ever released in Japan and Europe, however, it was the first Dragon Ball game to be distributed outside of Japan. Because of this, the game was simply known as "Dragon Ball Z" in Europe, a common naming for the debut of games in other countries.
The game is one of the best-selling in the franchise and was the first fighting game made for the franchise. The progression of its story, the combat, the different characters players can use, and the various stages to play on have all been huge inspirations for the way Dragon Ball games would be made going forward.
Mortal Kombat II
Mortal Kombat was a big deal in 1993. The first game, while released in 1992 at arcades, became widely accessible through various consoles like PlayStation 2 and the Game Boy. Mortal Kombat II was then released at the tail end of 1993 at the arcade and sured its predecessor in every way imaginable.
The game's story is incredible and picks up where the previous game left off. The most impactful aspect of Mortal Kombat II was its brutal gameplay which wasn't only addicting but controversial as well. While hardcore gamers saw the new finishing moves as ingenious, non-gamers saw the game as simply too violent and problematic.
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
best-selling Legend of Zelda games ever. The original game itself first appeared thirty years ago and was a sequel to the highly praised A Link to the Past. The game remains incredibly unique for the fact that there are so many usual tropes missing in the game.
Hyrule, Zelda, and Ganon do not make an appearance of any kind nor does the Master Sword which was introduced in the previous game. Link's Awakening manages to keep a fresh hold on how Zelda games have played while exploring a brand-new location making the game feel vibrant, fresh, and new.