Gaming
Cloud gaming explained: play anywhere
Unlock the future of gaming with cloud technology—discover how playing anywhere without a console is changing everything you thought you knew.
Retro gaming: 5 classic games worth revisiting
Retro gaming is far more than mere nostalgia; it is a foundational journey back to the very origins of interactive digital entertainment. The iconic titles from past decades paved the way for today’s staggering gaming innovations, influencing everything from graphic design and core mechanics to complex storytelling and character development. These timeless classics continue to captivate players with their elegant simplicity, engaging challenge, and undeniable charm. Exploring five standout influential retro games highlights precisely why their impact still echoes powerfully through modern gaming culture and the technology that drives it. Whether you are revisiting beloved old favorites or discovering them for the first time, retro gaming offers an essential window into the creativity that meticulously built the vast foundation of the contemporary gaming world.
The Blueprint for Platforming: Super Mario Bros.
Although released in 1985, Super Mario Bros. remains a colossal cornerstone of classic influential retro games and a masterclass in technology-driven game design. Before Mario, many platformers featured static or single-screen levels, limiting player movement and exploration.
Revolutionizing Movement and World Design
Super Mario Bros. introduced innovative side-scrolling platform mechanics that set new industry standards. Its seamless, left-to-right scrolling was a major technological achievement on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) hardware, giving players the feeling of traversing an expansive, continuous world. The inclusion of power-ups (like the Super Mushroom and Fire Flower) fundamentally altered character states and abilities, a concept that is now essential to almost every adventure and platform game. The game’s intuitive controls made it immediately accessible, proving that complex fun could arise from simple, precise input. This enduring template of fluid movement, power-up progression, and level variation is why Super Mario Bros. is more than just entertainment; it’s a key part of gaming history and a blueprint for countless modern titles.
Pioneering Open-World Adventure: The Legend of Zelda
Released just a year after Mario, The Legend of Zelda (1986) established the template for non-linear, action-adventure games, cementing its place among the most influential retro games. It redefined what players expected from an immersive console experience.
Non-Linear Exploration and Persistent Worlds
This classic game inspired technology and gaming enthusiasts by dropping players into a vast, open overworld. Unlike the linear progress of many contemporary games, Zelda encouraged deep exploration and complex puzzle-solving. The game was one of the first console titles to introduce a battery backup for saving progress, making the concept of a persistent, evolving game world possible. This was a critical technological advancement that allowed for the development of lengthy, story-driven narratives. The Legend of Zelda’s design, which features item-based progression, hidden secrets, and the freedom to choose one’s path, directly influenced the development of new technologies and design philosophies in gaming, laying the groundwork for every major open-world and role-playing game that followed.
The Need for Speed: Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog, launched by Sega in 1991, is a classic example of how a focus on speed and technology can completely transform a genre, making it one of the most influential retro games in the platforming space. It was created specifically to challenge Nintendo’s dominance by offering a radically different experience.
Technological Push for Fast-Paced Gameplay
Sega leveraged the processing power of the Genesis/Mega Drive console to introduce fast-paced gameplay and vibrant, multi-layered “parallax” scrolling graphics that created a stunning sense of depth and speed. The game’s speed-focused mechanics required the player to develop quick reflexes and mastery of momentum, showcasing how innovative programming and technology can enhance user experience beyond simple jumping. Sonic the Hedgehog proved that a rival approach could not only be successful but could also push the entire industry forward in terms of technical performance and character design. Today, the physics-based approach to movement and the focus on kinetic energy within Sonic the Hedgehog continue to inspire game design, proving that the blend of high-speed technology and creativity remains a powerful force in gaming.
The Cinematic RPG Revolution: Final Fantasy VII
When Final Fantasy VII was released by Square Enix in 1997, it became a global cultural phenomenon and fundamentally revolutionized role-playing games, securing its spot as one of the most commercially and influential retro games of its generation.
Groundbreaking 3D Graphics and Storytelling
The move from 2D sprites to 3D polygonal models for character and battle sequences, combined with extensive use of cinematic pre-rendered backgrounds and full-motion video (FMV) cutscenes, was groundbreaking. Final Fantasy VII set a new standard for gaming technology by blending these graphical elements to deliver a presentation that felt truly cinematic and emotionally deep. Beyond the visuals, the game introduced a complex Materia system that allowed players unprecedented flexibility to customize their characters’ abilities, seamlessly blending technology and creativity in exciting new ways. Its emotional, epic narrative, often touching on mature themes and featuring shocking plot twists, demonstrated the medium’s potential for serious, immersive storytelling. Final Fantasy VII’s lasting legacy is its role in bringing the Japanese RPG (JRPG) genre to a massive Western audience and setting the benchmark for visual fidelity and narrative scope in 3D gaming.
The Arcade Icon and AI Pioneer: Pac-Man
Although released in 1980, Pac-Man remains one of the most influential arcade games in the world of technology and gaming, earning its status as an influential retro games masterwork. Its simplicity concealed a sophisticated mechanical design.
Simplicity, Character, and Early Artificial Intelligence
Pac-Man’s simple yet universally engaging gameplay, focused on navigating mazes, consuming dots, and avoiding the four distinct ghosts, was a stroke of genius. Critically, each of the four ghosts (Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde) followed a different, predetermined, and slightly randomized pursuit pattern. This gave the antagonists distinct personalities and behaviors, marking one of the earliest and most successful examples of character-driven artificial intelligence (AI) in a video game. This subtle complexity set a new standard for enemy behavior and inspired early developments in AI and robotics, demonstrating how simple programming rules could create the illusion of intelligence and unpredictable challenge. The cultural impact of Pac-Man goes beyond gaming, it established the concept of a video game mascot and proved the mass-market appeal of the medium, making it a timeless classic that continues to inspire game design decades later.
The Lasting Legacy of Influential Retro Games
The collective impact of these five influential retro games cannot be overstated. They solved fundamental design challenges that modern developers still rely on: Super Mario Bros. defined platform movement; The Legend of Zelda created the open-world blueprint; Sonic the Hedgehog pushed the boundaries of speed and graphical performance; Final Fantasy VII established the standard for cinematic 3D narrative; and Pac-Man pioneered early AI and character design.
Retro gaming remains a vibrant and beloved part of gaming culture, offering timeless experiences that were crucial in shaping the technology behind all modern games. These classics showcase the early innovation and relentless creativity in game design, which continues to influence the tools, genres, and technology used in gaming today. Exploring these influential retro games allows both new players and seasoned fans to appreciate the deep roots of gaming technology and the enduring impact of these iconic classics.
Categories:
Share
Amanda has a degree in Languages, is a postgraduate student, and is passionate about content creation. After joining Cenário Capital, she discovered a strong interest in technology. She currently works on the Marketing team, in the SEO and Content squad.
Most recent
Gaming
The future of VR gaming
Jump into the future of VR gaming with the best gear and games that promise immersive experiences—but what innovations will truly redefine play? Discover more inside.
Gaming
Best 3 console accessories you didn’t know you needed
Discover the best 3 console accessories you didn’t know you needed that dramatically boost comfort, convenience, and gameplay—your setup will never be the same.
Gaming
Must-have PC gaming accessories to upgrade your setup
Gear up with must-have PC gaming accessories that transform your setup—discover how these upgrades can elevate your gameplay to new heights.
Gaming
3 Best action games of the decade
Pioneering gameplay and unforgettable stories define the 3 best action games of the decade—discover what makes these titles truly exceptional.
Gaming
Best 5 gaming monitors for smooth and immersive gameplay
Best gaming monitors blend speed, clarity, and color precision for unbeatable immersion—discover which top five models can transform your gameplay experience today.