How To Still Play 10 Of The Best Video Games From Your Childhood
"Legend of Zelda" - Nintendo Entertainment System
![How To Still Play 10 Of The Best Video Games From Your Childhood](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstaticbiassets.in%2Fthumb%2Fmsid-45116826%2Cwidth-700%2Cheight-525%2Cimgsize-376817%2Flegend-of-zelda-nintendo-entertainment-system.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
"Frogger" - Atari 2600
!["Frogger" - Atari 2600](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-45116827,width-700,height-525,imgsize-415607/frogger-atari-2600.jpg)
"Frogger," which came out in 1981, was a fun yet strangely difficult game. The object is to get your frog across a very busy street without getting run over.
There are a ton of different versions of the game. It was released in the arcade first, then ported to various systems.
But if the Atari 2600 version is your cup of tea, you can play an in-browser version over at the Internet Archive's Console Living Room. Use the arrow keys on your keyboard to move your frog forward, back, and side to side.
"Tetris" - Various Nintendo systems
!["Tetris" - Various Nintendo systems](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-45116828,width-700,height-525,imgsize-26830/tetris-various-nintendo-systems.jpg)
"Tetris," the game where you manipulate falling blocks to create lines that are then cleared from the screen, turned 30 years old this year.
The story behind "Tetris" is complicated, but the game itself is fun and hugely addicting.
It was released with the Game Boy handheld gaming system, and turned the Game Boy into the most popular portable gaming system of its time. Since then, it's become one of the top-selling games of all time. It's so beloved, in fact, that they're making a movie based on it.
There are plenty of remakes and spin-offs, but if you want to play the original, and play for free, head over to the official Tetris site. Even the music is still roughly the same. You can also get a version from Nintendo's Virtual Console for $3.99.
"Donkey Kong" - Arcade
!["Donkey Kong" - Arcade](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-45116829,width-700,height-525,imgsize-40756/donkey-kong-arcade.jpg)
"Donkey Kong" marks the first appearance of Nintendo's game hero Mario (his name was Jumpman at the time, but was later changed to Mario).
The goal is to rescue the princess at the top of the construction site while avoiding various obstacles thrown by the gorilla, Donkey Kong.
The game first came out in arcades in the early '80s, but a special licensing deal with Coleco made it the pack-in game that came with the ColecoVision, which helped make the console a huge hit with consumers.
Head over to Internet Arcade to help save the princess from that nasty gorilla.
"Mortal Kombat" - Sega Genesis
!["Mortal Kombat" - Sega Genesis](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-45116831,width-700,height-525,imgsize-460225/mortal-kombat-sega-genesis.jpg)
The first official "Mortal Kombat" game came out as an arcade game, then was released for home consoles on the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis in 1993. The difference between the two versions was in the details. Because of Nintendo's "family friendly" game policy, the blood and sweat in the original game were replaced with less-gory moves. On the Genesis, you could unlock those gory details with a cheat code: ABACABB.
To play the Genesis version, head over to the Console Living Room.
"Super Mario Bros." - Nintendo
!["Super Mario Bros." - Nintendo](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-45116832,width-700,height-525,imgsize-379769/super-mario-bros-nintendo.jpg)
Probably the best known game of all time is "Super Mario Bros.," released by Nintendo in 1985. The game is lauded for single-handedly bringing the flailing '80s video game market back from the dead.
The goal of the side-scroller is to rescue the princess from the evil King Bowser, killing mushrooms and turtles along the way.
If you want to get your "Super Mario" fix today, there are a ton of remakes and spin-offs for various consoles. But to get your hands on the original, your best bet is to go through Nintendo's Virtual Console or via an emulator. If you're a Mac user, try OpenEmu, which even offers full-screen support. And Windows users can check out FCEUX, which has been around since 2008.
"Sonic the Hedgehog" - Sega Master System
!["Sonic the Hedgehog" - Sega Master System](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-45116833,width-700,height-525,imgsize-876315/sonic-the-hedgehog-sega-master-system.jpg)
"Sonic the Hedgehog" is arguably the most iconic game released for the Sega, and was the company's answer to "Super Mario." But where Mario was lovable and dopey, Sonic relayed a more bad-boy image. Before landing on the name "Sonic," Sega's Japanese development team came up with a less than catchy name for the dude: Mr. Needlemouse. Luckily the North American leg of Sega talked them out of it, and thus Sonic was born.
The purpose of the game is to race through each level and collect power-up rings. He ran at supersonic speeds (hence the names), but had to avoid a ton of obstacles that were thrown his way.
The easiest way to play the game today is through the Internet Archive's Console Living Room.
"Galaga" - Arcade
!["Galaga" - Arcade](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-45116834,width-700,height-525,imgsize-212479/galaga-arcade.jpg)
You couldn't go into an arcade in the '80s without seeing a "Galaga" cabinet.
The goal of the fixed shooter was to rack up all the points by shooting space aliens that looked like bugs. Perhaps it's best known for being featured in the 1983 Mathew Broderick film, "WarGames."
You can try to beat the high score (4,525,150 points) over at the Internet Arcade.
"Metroid" - Nintendo
!["Metroid" - Nintendo](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-45116835,width-700,height-525,imgsize-608233/metroid-nintendo.jpg)
"Metroid" is a shooter, platform, and adventure game. Players take on the role of Samus, who's tasked with saving his planet from the Mother Brain. It borrows elements from both "Super Mario Bros." and "Legend of Zelda," but is among the first side-scrolling games to allow players to go left as well as right.
The easiest way to play the game now is through the Virtual Console. But if you don't have a Wii or 3DS, then you can download an emulator. If you're a Mac user, try OpenEmu, which even offers full-screen support. And Windows users can check out FCEUX, which has been around since 2008.
"Contra" - Arcade
!["Contra" - Arcade](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-45116836,width-700,height-525,imgsize-599278/contra-arcade.jpg)
"Contra" is perhaps most well known for its use of the Konami code — up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, start — a cheat code that gave players up to 30 lives in the Nintendo version of the game. The Konami code has since been used to find Easter eggs and cheats in various games and websites.
Gameplay objectives include running around and shooting enemies, while trying not to get shot yourself. The game is both a side-scroller and a sort of 3D game, where players could run forward and backward.
To play the game today, head over to the Internet Arcade, which is a little wonky. This browser-based version of the game runs a little smoother.
Speaking of Easter eggs ...
![Speaking of Easter eggs ...](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-45116837,width-700,height-525,imgsize-64913/speaking-of-easter-eggs-.jpg)
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