The 90s were a transformative time in history. The availability of the internet gave people a level of connectivity and access to information never seen before. The rise of multiculturalism gave people with different ethnic and sexual backgrounds the opportunity to gain positions of influence. In the world of gaming, the industry was taking bold strides into uncharted territory.

RELATED: 10 Best Retro Games You Can Still Play

This decade saw the refinement of 16-bit gaming and the first tentative steps towards the third dimension. Many of these titles are just as fun to play today as they were back then and are readily available for purchase on modern platforms.

10 The Hog Learned New Tricks In Sonic The Hedgehog 2

The chemical plant level from Sonic 2

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was where the series really hit its stride. It introduced several of the franchise's hallmarks, like Tails, the spin dash, and the blue blur's super transformation. It also boasted some of the best levels in the series such as the Chemical Plant and Casino Zones.

Sega has reliably re-released its Genesis classics on almost every conceivable gaming platform, with the first few Sonic titles being no exception. Many of these titles are available to play for free with ads through Google Play, and Sega recently released a remastered collection called Sonic Origins with widescreen support and brand-new animated cutscenes.

9 Players Would Be Bananas To pass On The Original Monkey Island Titles

Monkey Island Mutiny Cropped

The first two Monkey Island titles represented a substantial leap in the graphic adventure genre. Deviating from the well-tread fantasy setting, The Secret of monkey Island's swashbuckling locales, razor-sharp writing, and timeless humor culminated in one of the greatest gaming narratives of all time.

RELATED: Top 10 Best Tim Schafer Games, Ranked

Gamers who were fatigued with the trial and error design of Sierra's adventures could experiment as much as they wanted with no penalties such as instant deaths or unwinnable situations. Both games were given an HD makeover and are available for purchase on Steam for less than 10 pieces of eight.

8 Quake Secured Id's Place On The FPS Throne

Following the success of the Wolfenstein and Doom titles, Id Software had everything to lose with its spiritual successor, and titles like Duke Nukem 3D and Shadow Warrior were eager to take the first-person shooting crown. Against the odds, Id managed to pull off the impossible yet again with Quake by bringing the genre fully into the world of polygonal graphics.

The original title has seen re-releases on Steam and GOG, but due to licensing issues, its iconic soundtrack by Nine In Nails was completely omitted. Thankfully a fully remastered version of the game found its way to modern platforms with updated visuals, multiplayer, and a fully restored soundtrack.

7 Chrono Trigger Is A JRPG That Stands The Test Of Time

Official artwork depicting the main characters from Chrono Trigger.

Designed by Hirinobu Sakaguchi with character art by Akria Toryiama, Chrono Trigger served as a great demonstration of Square's storytelling chops. Its unique battle system, fascinating time-traveling premise, and diverse cast of interesting characters culminated in one of the best games for the Super Nintendo.

Chrono Trigger saw re-releases on the PlayStation and Nintendo DS with brand-new features and animated cutscenes. Its initial Steam release was plagued by a gaudy graphical filter, an interface that was clearly taken from an earlier mobile port, and game-breaking bugs. Thankfully, several patches and tweaks have made it the definitive way to play one of Square's best RPGs.

6 Super Metroid Saw The Intergalactic Bounty Hunter At Her Finest

nintendo super metroid samus aran fights kraid

Samus' 16-bit debut was the ultimate refinement of the formula introduced in the very first Metroid. Super Metroid's added ability to fire in all directions ensured that enemies could no longer get away with a cheap shot, while the map feature made exploration less cumbersome and easier to find hidden upgrades.

The Super Nintendo hardware allowed a level of atmosphere that wasn't possible in the bounty hunter's 8-bit entries, with more dynamic areas and a haunting ambient soundtrack. The game has seen re-releases on Virtual Console, the SNES Classic, and Nintendo Switch Online.

5 The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time Is The Once And Future King Of Openworld Titles

After the success of Super Mario 64, Nintendo once again changed the landscape of 3D gaming with The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The third dimension brought a new level of interactivity and immersion that wasn't possible with earlier entries, and dungeons took full advantage of this new perspective.

New additions to the formula also included Link's trusty steed Epona and the eponymous ocarina, which could be used to perform certain spells. Ocarina saw a re-release on the Nintendo 3DS with updated visuals, reworked controls, and a re-orchestrated soundtrack while the original title saw ports on the Gamecube, Virtual Console, and Nintendo Switch Online.

4 Players Could Fully Lose Themselves In Fallout's Nuclear-Ravaged Wasteland

Fallout 2 game

Black Isle crafted one of the most influential Western RPGs series of all time with their post-apocalyptic Fallout titles. Its highly robust character creation system gave players a level of freedom to tackle quests that was unparalleled by its peers. Skills rewarded players for specializing in a certain category, while traits gave both positive and negative consequences for players, leading to delightfully unpredictable outcomes.

The nuclear-ravaged wasteland was populated by a fascinating cast of characters with their own philosophical viewpoints and ideologies. Players who love the series and want to see its roots can buy the first two titles through Steam and GOG.

3 Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night Brought Some New Blood To The Franchise

An assortment of Symphony of the Night characters in gothic attire on a poster

Deviating from the level-by-level structure of previous entries, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night gave vampire hunters the entirety of Dracula's castle to explore and thwart at their leisure. Additionally, Alucard's half-vampire nature allowed him to gain new abilities that gradually opened up more of his father's manor and could be used to discover hidden secrets.

RELATED: Castlevania: 10 Toughest Bosses In The Series, Ranked

All of this was bolstered by a haunting score and some of the best 2D pixel art the PlayStation had to offer. The game was re-released as a digital download on XBLA, PSN, and on PS4 in a collection called Castlevania Requiem.

2 Half-Life Demonstrated The Genre's Limitless Potential

A Headcrab Flies At Gordon Freeman In Half Life

Valve changed the expectations of single-player first-person shooters for years to come with their landmark debut title, Half-Life. While other shooters opted to put narrative on the back burner or used intrusive cutscenes, Half Life boasted well-crafted prose without ever relinquishing control from players.

During the time of its initial release, its visuals, physics, and technical proficiency saw no equal. While its first-person platforming has become less palatable in recent years, and the Xen section is a bit of a slog, it's still well-worth the ten bucks it goes for on Steam.

1 Super Mario World Was A Giant Leap Into A Brave New World

Super Mario World FInal Cropped

Super Mario World was the culmination of everything Nintendo had learned in crafting 2D platforming titles. The map structure from Super Mario Bros 3 was more refined and interconnected in this installment. The cape feather and Yoshi provided players with new ways to approach levels and discover hidden secrets that would lead to the elusive Star Road and the even more elusive Special Zone.

Super Mario World also took full advantage of the Super Nintendo hardware with a higher color palette and more sound channels. The game saw re-releases on the GBA, virtual console, and is currently playable through Nintendo Switch Online.

NEXT: 10 90s Gaming Franchises That Deserve Modern Titles