Press Start to the Past: Retro Gaming Gems Inspired by 90s Blockbusters

Iconic video games of the 90s and the films that inspired them

Storytelling can happen in many mediums, and there’s something so exciting about getting to play a video game based on a movie you love and place yourself right in the action. Movie tie-in games are popular and many exist, but we specifically wanted to go way back to the 16-bit world of the 1990s. We’re nostalgic for the blockbusters of the decade (and still legit terrified by Jurassic Park tbh), and the games based on these films are fun to remember. Here’s a list of some of the most memorable games based on 90s movies!

1. Disney’s Aladdin, 1992-1993

In 1992, we were introduced to Aladdin, an animated Disney feature film featuring the voices of Robin Williams and Scott Weinger. The film was a mega success, becoming the highest grossing movie of 1992. The animated film brought us Aladdin and Princess Jasmine, two young romantics who desperately want to escape their respective stations in life. Which is easy, if you have a magic lamp and a genie. In 1992 and 1993, two different video games were released: one for Sega Genesis and one for Super Nintendo. The Genesis game was wildly popular, selling 4 million copies. The Nintendo version was easier to play and complete, and was more of a platform game than the Genesis version. 

2. Batman Returns, 1993

Batman Returns was released in 1993, a Tim Burton film starring Michael Keaton as Batman, Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman, Danny Devito as Penguin and Christopher Walken as Max Shreck. It was a huge success and remains a modern classic. Batman Returns games were released in the same year for both Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo, classic “beat ‘em up” games where Batman could fight all of his enemies from the movie.

3. Dick Tracy, 1990-1991

Dick Tracy, an action crime film based on the comic book character from the 1930s was released in 1990. Warren Beatty starred in and directed the movie, which also featured Madonna and Al Pacino. It was a critical and commercial success, nominated for seven Academy Awards and winning three. In the same year, Nintendo released a game based on the comic strip, not the movie. But in 1991, Sega released a game based on the movie, and even included the likenesses of the film’s stars.

4. Jurassic Park, 1993

It’s impossible to talk about films of the 1990s and not mention Jurassic Park. The blockbuster based on the novel by Michael Crichton was released in 1993 and was a mega-success. Both Sega and Super Nintendo released games based on the film. In 1993 Nintendo released a game that loosely followed the events that happen in the film. Sega released several versions, including one that allows a player to play as either Dr. Grant or a velociraptor, and another that takes place after the events of the film. Several game releases have followed as sequels have been released, and since the technology has changed over the decades, the games have gotten more exciting as well.

5. The Addams Family, 1992-1993

The Addams Family, a feature film based on the popular sitcom from the 1960s (which was based on a cartoon), was released in 1991 and starred Angelica Huston, Raul Julia, Christopher Lloyd and Christina Ricci. An instant classic, the film appealed to both adults and kids. Super Nintendo released a game version in 1992, followed by Sega Genesis in 1993. It was a side-scrolling adventure game that included puzzle-solving and loosely followed the plot of the film. Recently, for the first time in decades, a new game featuring the kooky clan was released for PC, PlayStation, X-Box, and Nintendo Switch based on the cartoon feature film franchise. 

6. An American Tail: Fievel Goes West, 1994

An American Tail: Fievel Goes West was released in 1991, and it was a sequel to the popular first film, An American Tail. An animated western, both films were released by Steven Spielberg’s Amblimation animation studio. The film follows the Mousekewitzes, a Russian-Jewish family of mice who emigrate to the American west in the late 1800s. It became a favorite for a generation of children who grew up with the film. A game for Super Nintendo was released in 1994, and is directly based on the setting and events of the movie. Just like in the movie, the story in the game involves avoiding cats and making one’s way through the wild west of 1890.

7. Hook, 1992-1993

The 1991 family adventure film Hook starred Robin Williams, Julia Roberts, and Dustin Hoffman. A story about Peter Pan, the boy who promised never to grow up but actually did, the film places Peter’s children in Neverland, kidnapped by Captain Hook. Reminded of who he is, Peter must return to Neverland to save his kids–with the help of his old friends, the Lost Boys and Tinker Bell. In 1992, a side-scrolling game was released for Nintendo, followed by Game Boy and Super Nintendo. Sega CD and Sega Genesis came out with their own versions in 1993. All of the games have the player play as Peter Pan, who must travel through Neverland to save his children, following the plot of the film with some interesting exceptions.

What games based on movies are your faves? Tell us in the comments which games you loved in the 90s!

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