# Your Favourite Retro Video Game (Best For its Time) **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [January 12, 2025, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-retro-video-game-best-for-its-time/1012883 "2025-01-12T20:04:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2025, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-retro-video-game-best-for-its-time/1012883/21 "2025-01-13T02:14:11Z")
Wow, 20 posts in and no one has mentioned **[_The Seventh Guest_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_7th_Guest)**, first released in 1993 and to this day a remarkable game that’s been re-released multiple times and still enjoyable today. I can still play it today on Windows 7 via a DOS emulator. Perhaps one of the most immersive video games ever made, and praised by Bill Gates as “the new standard in interactive entertainment”. The basic story line is that you’re one of seven guests in a spooky old mansion and have to solve a series of puzzles created by its former owner and now haunted by his evil spirit. Each puzzle you solve advances the story line with more spooky scenes and allows you to explore more of the house. The quality of the live action video clips and generated graphics was outstanding for its time, and the creativity is still impressive today. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2025, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-retro-video-game-best-for-its-time/1012883/22 "2025-01-13T02:14:29Z")
Galaga was my main game in the 80s. There was a Galaga on my college campus that I and another guy took turns on making new high scores. We had completely different styles- he played for points, I played to survive. So when I watched him play I’d marvel at his ability to wait out situations that might get him killed, to squeeze the maximum points out of the game. And when he watched me play he’d say whoa, I never saw this level yet! ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2025, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-retro-video-game-best-for-its-time/1012883/23 "2025-01-13T02:55:15Z")
I didn’t play it until years later on an emulator, but as far as SNES JRPGs go, _Chrono Trigger_ is also one of the classics. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2025, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-retro-video-game-best-for-its-time/1012883/24 "2025-01-13T02:55:24Z")
It might not have occurred to me to mention Archon or Seventh Guest but I loved both of these. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2025, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-retro-video-game-best-for-its-time/1012883/25 "2025-01-13T03:10:00Z")
My favorite game of all time is _[Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jak_and_Daxter:_The_Precursor_Legacy)_, released for the PS2 in 2001. It’s my son’s favorite game too. He still plays it all the way through every year. The game was notable for its graphics and lack of visible loading screens between levels. In college, my favorite game was an old arcade game released in 1986 called _[Rygar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rygar)_. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2025, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-retro-video-game-best-for-its-time/1012883/26 "2025-01-13T03:30:56Z")
[Wizardry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wizardry) got me hooked on PC gaming (the first one in 1981). ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2025, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-retro-video-game-best-for-its-time/1012883/27 "2025-01-13T04:33:08Z")
Wasteland. > **[Wasteland (video game)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wasteland_(video_game))** > > Wasteland is a role-playing video game developed by Interplay Productions and published by Electronic Arts in 1988. The first installment of the Wasteland series, it is set in a futuristic, post-apocalyptic America destroyed by a nuclear holocaust generations before. Developers originally made the game for the Apple II and it was ported to the Commodore 64 and MS-DOS. It was re-released for Microsoft Windows, OS X, and Linux in 2013 via Steam and GOG.com, and in 2014 via Desura. A remastered v Created by Interplay. Published by Electronic Arts. When Interplay wanted to make a sequel, EA–who as publisher of the original owned the intellectual property for the name (though Interplay owned the actual game IP)–wanted a huge amount of money to release the name to Interplay, who had grown to the point they had they’re own publishing wing. Instead of playing EAs game, Interplay released Fallout as a spiritual sequel. After Brian Fargo left [got forced out] Interplay and formed inXile, he was eventually able to acquire the rights to the Wasteland name and make an actual sequel. By then, Interplay had folded and Bethesda owned the rights to the Fallout franchise, which they would license to Obsidian to make Fallout: New Vegas and now all three companies are owned by Microsoft. ---
**Author:** ![Moonrise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonrise/32/14764_2.png) [@Moonrise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonrise)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2025, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-retro-video-game-best-for-its-time/1012883/28 "2025-01-13T10:25:06Z")
I’m not much of a gamer, but there was a time in the mid-80s when I was very much at the vanguard of early gaming systems in my hometown. I was one of the 3 students in my class who not only played video games regularly, but also owned a computer (a good old C128 that my parents had bought for my 12th birthday). I have very fond memories of Infogrames’ _[Madragore](https://youtu.be/1TLCc3wZQqM?t=84)_ (1985). I spent entire weekends playing that game. The [map](https://www.jeuxvideovintage.com/ressources/img/8/82/Mandragore_d%27Infogrames_pour_Commodore_64_%28exploration%29_%282%29.jpg) system was completely new to me at the time, and I was fascinated with how huge the world seemed compared to the other games that I had. The main goal was nothing fancy, explore the map, [visit](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFVlUK30x56JF8YpTaBeaHziN-RJioKMTREFm64DBlUutm6GnXTuWXP02Lc6On72nwojo7cu6MPrZwEisTZNPRv0-iLk22PUB8I5YBga2Uft7MswxkAz0kwwvLpjJi73SjMeN9hpIIu9Mg/s400/mandshateau.PNG) [dungeons](https://www.jeuxvideovintage.com/ressources/img/6/67/Mandragore_d%27Infogrames_pour_Commodore_64_%28donjon%29_%283%29.jpg), solve puzzles and fight random monsters, including some which would pop up suddenly as you were just [wandering](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg739LPxlZIowJ9X6TWswd4_3WS8Fw-I2yWd2ewPt8-95uJ_wXB7FbdkRd5YXrWD-YFaDESBwcGWaZIB_kUA3rexHtKvVuxCaC-6De82kxlLdIXAWHA7swpwwfV9n5-nbINwpglA5SkE1mq/s400/mandcombat.PNG) [around](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj42wLYnf2rgKq39ctac4-Kv-1SzqD-v6l5PEbxtZzzMrM16MDxhjZBROqGr794fmD13Fj-uReqSkwPUeBFmvXHtVLh5xR3rrWEeDZ_q9r8OegF6x7xFF2Aj_XHAn88jp_RL7e4ctjuMyez/s400/mandcombat2.PNG) the map. And as the icing on the cake, the soundtrack was [the third movement of Bach’s Flute sonata in B minor](https://youtu.be/zztgjDfi_gI?t=733). Classy. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2025, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-retro-video-game-best-for-its-time/1012883/29 "2025-01-13T10:28:14Z")
I forgot [Castle Wolfenstein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_Wolfenstein) (also 1981). So bad by today’s standards but I really loved that game (and it was legit good for its time…there is a reason it has been re-made and excellent re-makes at that). ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2025, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-retro-video-game-best-for-its-time/1012883/30 "2025-01-13T12:04:30Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > [Wizardry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wizardry) got me hooked on PC gaming (the first one in 1981). TREBOR SUX! I remember soloing with a bishop using the identify-9 bug(?) Brian tiltowait for the win ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2025, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-retro-video-game-best-for-its-time/1012883/31 "2025-01-13T12:15:48Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > Obviously technology continues to improve video game graphics. I recently had opportunity to play the old school game _Ultima IV_. It strikes me that given the memory and technological constraints of the time, it is a perfect game. This game blew my mind as a kid. A few years ago I tried playing a Flash version online and I quickly lost interest: I forgot about random encounters and messing around with spell components, among other systems that didn’t age well. On the other hand, I played the arcade game _Golden Axe: The Revenge of Death Adder_ (from 1992) last year and all the fond memories I have of that game came flooding back. ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2025, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-retro-video-game-best-for-its-time/1012883/32 "2025-01-13T18:11:08Z")
Descent I, II and III. Six degrees of movement, and killer multiplayer action (though I never fully enjoyed that due to never having a speedy Internet connection). ---
**Author:** ![We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/We_re_wolves_not_werewolves)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2025, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-retro-video-game-best-for-its-time/1012883/33 "2025-01-13T18:25:06Z")
Two vintage commodore 64 proto-role playing games from the 80’s for a kid deep, deep into D&D at the time. **Gateway to Apshai** ([Gateway to Apshai - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gateway_to_Apshai)) and **Might and Magic: Secret of the Inner Sanctum** ([Might and Magic Book One: The Secret of the Inner Sanctum - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Might_and_Magic_Book_One:_The_Secret_of_the_Inner_Sanctum)) ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2025, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-retro-video-game-best-for-its-time/1012883/34 "2025-01-13T18:30:54Z")
Falcon, the original. Used it with a flight stick. It was the best war simulator of it’s time … until F-119 Stealth Fighter replaced it. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2025, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-retro-video-game-best-for-its-time/1012883/35 "2025-01-13T18:38:39Z")
_ **Silent Service 2** _ was such a great convergence of slow stalking, fast and furious hits and maneuvers, and sometimes followed by creeping away to avoid counterattacks all with limited resources of fuel, battery power (for underwater propulsion), and torpedoes (with unlimited ammo for surface guns), all with the potential to take damage and keep on fighting. Technically there was nothing groundbreaking on the use of graphics but how it all came together was amazing. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2025, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-retro-video-game-best-for-its-time/1012883/36 "2025-01-13T18:41:20Z")
> [@Hoopy\_Frood](#): > > Wasteland. This one. Beaten it dozens of times. There is no branching storyline, it’s always the same, but I keep playing it again anyways, usually with less and less gear so there’s some challenge. Last time I played it, I used only melee weapons or fists. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2025, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-retro-video-game-best-for-its-time/1012883/37 "2025-01-13T18:47:14Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > until F-119 Stealth Fighter replaced it. Is that F-19 Stealth Fighter (aka. Project: Stealth Fighter) or F-117A Stealth Fighter? I played the crap out of the former on my C64 and managed to figure out how to play the game with no documentation whatsoever (it was a crack.) ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2025, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-retro-video-game-best-for-its-time/1012883/38 "2025-01-13T18:48:37Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Is that F-19 Stealth Fighter or F-117A Stealth Fighter? It was originally F-19 (I added an extra 1; Oooops) That’s the version I had. Later it was renamed F-117 ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2025, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-retro-video-game-best-for-its-time/1012883/39 "2025-01-13T19:02:19Z")
Gateway to Apshai was fun to play (and better than Temple). But while I think Ultima IV has aged reasonably well (some might disagree, there are certainly tedious parts, but plenty of it is surprisingly well designed and seems to have been widely borrowed), I don’t know about Apshai. It is not very complex. But it is fun, and it has black mambas to watch out for. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2025, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-retro-video-game-best-for-its-time/1012883/40 "2025-01-13T19:03:51Z")
Not sure these are up to the standards of others, but I spent too much time playing Myst, Doom, Duke Nukem and Star Wars: Tie Fighter on the PC, along with Goldeneye on the N64. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-retro-video-game-best-for-its-time/1012883.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-retro-video-game-best-for-its-time/1012883.md?page=3)