The last real year of the fourth generation of consoles before moving on to the fifth was 1994, at least in North America, as the PS1 and Sega Saturn were launched in '94 in Japan. This year was when a lot of the best games on the SNES and Genesis came out, pushing these systems to their limits.

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Of course, like most years, there were also some banger PC exclusives that you just don't get anymore. Back then, PC players really were the Master Race because they always got the biggest and best games out on the market.

10 🤪 Sonic 3 & Knu෴ckles

The Ultimate 2D Sonic Game

Screenshot of the first level of Sonic 3 & Knuckles

Developer

Platforms

Sega

Genesis, Saturn, GameCube, Switch, Nintendo ཧDS, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 🍬5, PC

While Sonic 2 is still the best classic entry in the franchise, the biggest one has to be Sonic 3 & Knuckles. Using a lock-on cartridge, if you put Sonic 3 on top of Sonic & Knuckles, you get the total package. 14 total zones is staggering, and they're all great with the same quality you'd expect from the franchise at this point.

You can save your progress now, which is much appreciated, especially due to 🅠the length. In fact, one of the only real issues here is the length. Sonic 2 has be༒tter overall pacing and is much easier to blast through in one sitting. Besides that, you definitely could make a case for Sonic 3 & Knuckles being the best entry with how much is packed in here.

9 🌼 X-COM: UFO Defense

The Granddaddy Of Sci-Fi Strategy Games

An isometric pixel-art of a dark room with an alien inside among rows of chairs from XCOM

Developer

Platforms

Mythos Games, MicroProse

PC, PlayStation

1994 was the year one of the greatest PC games, if not the greatest one ever made, was launched: 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:X-COM: UFO Defense. The first entry in what would become an illustrious series, this first title still holds up all these years later. Its story and how it was told was groundbreaking for the industry and something you wouldn't see on consoles for a very long time.

The strategy gameplay is just as fun today as it was back then. Customization is great, too, and naming your troops after your friends and seeing them do battle will never stop being enjoyable. Thankfully, this game's easy to run on modern operating systems, which you can't say 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:about every PC classic.

8 𝓡 ⛄ Wing Commander 3: Heart Of The Tiger

The FMV Game That Got It Right

Mark Hamill from Wing Commander 3

Developer

Platforms

Origin Systems

PC, 3DO, PlayStation

Today, Chris Roberts is most well known for the neverending title that is 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Star Citizen. The reason many backed the initial Kickstarter, though, was Roberts' previous work, the Wing Commander series. This was the series that showed everybody else 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:how you do FMV games.

Wing Commander 3 had a star-studded cast, and the cutscenes are a great watch. You can say that for other FMV games, but that's because they're funny bad. The space combat gameplay here is fantastic. Modern gamers probably won't click with it, but those more attuned to the old-school will have a blast. Wing Commander 3 and the whole series, for that matter, are must-play PC classics. You won't be asking for a refund here.

7 Donkey Kong C✃ountry

The Moment When DK Turned Into Its Own Franchise

Donkey Kong Carrying Some Bananas in DKC box art

Developer

Platforms

Rare

SNES, Switch (via Switch Online)

One of the biggest game releases of '94 was 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Donkey Kong Country. The graphics blew everyone away. Nobody though♒t you could do the character models like that on the SNES, but it🧸 was done.

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The game itself is a phenomenal 2D platformer that's short and sweet with a good level of challenge. For familiar players, it's a cozy game to replay every once in a while. DKC1 is a bit overshadowed by its sequel, however. DKC2 is superior in virtually every way. Regardless, DKC1 is still a classic SNES game.

6 Super Metr💜oid

A Top-Tier SNES Game

The Box Art for Super Metroid

Developer

Platforms

Nintendo, Intelligent systems

SNES, Switch (via Switch Online)

168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Super Metroid is a title that'll inevitably come up when thinking of the SNES library. The jump from the NES game to this one was massive. The atmosphere and environments were on a whole level, giving off a nice sci-fi horror vibe, along with a vast map to explore.

It's fun to go through this game every now and then, and the bosses are still A-tier in the franchise. You could argue that further 2D Metroid games outdid this one, but that doesn't stop Super Metroid from being one of the 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:best games on the SNES.

5 🐬 Final Fantasy 6

Ending Final Fantasy's 2D Run On The Highest Note Possible

Final Fantasy 6 Cid
Final Fantasy 6

Developer(s)
Square Enix, Square 🧜

In the SNES catalog, there exist the four horsemen of RPGs. There's 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Chrono Trigger, Secret of Mana, and another one is 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Final Fantasy 6. The steampunk setti♕ng is fresh for the 16-bit era, and its story remains top-tier in the franchise and throughout the console generation.

Even most PC games at the time couldn't touch the quality story on offer here. The characters are great, too, with Kefka being no doubt one of the series' best villains. FF6 has some stiff competition for the series' best entry, with FF7 and FF Tactics also in the running. Still, FF6 remains one of 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:the greatest Final Fantasy games.

4 EarthBo♊und ൲

An All-Time Great Sequel

Ness and crew in the city areas of Earthbound.

Developer(s)
👍 🌞 HAL Laboratory, Ape Inc.
Publisher(s)
Nintendo

Despite 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:EarthBound not having a number in the title, it's actually the second game of the trilogy. The original NES game wouldn't be launched in the West until way later. In retrospect, it's probably a blessing in disguise because EarthBound is superior in virtually every way. The combat's better with more quality of life improvements typically not seen in games of the era.

It's also not as grindy as the original, making EarthBound age so much better today. The soundtrack's great as well, and the story is one you'll never forget. Unfortunately, this title didn't sell well because Nintendo had the brilliant idea to charge $70 ($141 in today's money) compared to the usual $50 for new SNES games. Imagine how disastrous that would be if a company pulled that today.

3 Earthworꩵm Jim

The Genesis Game Of The Year

Earthworm Jim HD box art

Developer

Platforms

Shiny Entertainment

Gen♒esis, Sega CD, SNES, Switch (via Switch Online), GBA, Xbox 360, PlaySt𓆏ation 3, PC

One of the more beloved series from this time, that's nowhere to be seen today, is Earthworm Jim. Out of the trilogy, the first instalment is by far the best. The sprite work and animation were incredible for the time, and the sheer creativity on display remains impressive to this day. The whole campaign is so diverse, and like 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Battletoads, every level has something different.

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It's actually almost too similar to Battletoads because Earthworm Jim 1 is one of the hardest games on the Genesis. You'll want to use save states if playing the Switch version. Even though there was an SNES port, the superior and most complete version was on the Genesis. The title was awarded the Best Genesis Game of the Year by EGM, and they're completely right.

2 ♎ System Shock

Another PC Classic

System Shock original screenshot

Developer

Platforms

Looking Glass Studios

PC

You can't think about 90s PC gaming without thinking of 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:System Shock. The second instalment, in particular, is up there with Deus Ex in terms of the greatest PC games ever made. The original title isn't as good, but still a very worthwhile experience.

System Shock's story is stellar and excellently dripfeeds just enough details to keep you hooked in a page-turner fashion. Shodan is debatably the greatest AI villain in gaming, and you just can't look away when she's present. Playing the classic game now will turn most modern players off, so you're best off playing the excellent remake done by Nightdive Studios.

1 Su꧑per Street Fighter 2 Turbo

A Fighting Game GOAT

FeiLong kicks Ryu in the face during a match in a Chinese Garden in Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo.

Developer

Platforms

Capcom

Arcade, 3DO, Saturn, Dreamcast, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 4, Xbo💮x, Xbox One, Switch, PC

After so many updates, the definitive version of 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Street Fighter 2 was finally released: Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo. A masterpiece, Super Turbo pushed Street Figh🐽ter 2 to its fullest and added many new features that became fighting game staples. 🐎A big example is throw teching.

If both you and your opponent hit throw at close to the same time, but your opponent hit first, you'd take reduced damage and land on your feet. This matters a ton, and fighting games today would be much worse off without the feature. Akuma was also introduced here, as well as Super Moves. Super Turbo is one of the oldest fighters still played competitively, a testament to its greatness.

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