Games are an increasing influence on us all, there’s no doubt about it. So what better way to kick off the gaming section of this site than by taking a nostalgic walk into the pixelated past of gaming? These are but a few of the games that have personally shaped me – and a ton of other 90s/early 2000s kids – into the psychotic adult gamers that we are today.

10) Speed Freaks (1999, FunCom, PS1)
Speed Freaks is a game which nearly nobody has heard of, and to this day I have no idea why. Admittedly on the surface it seemed a fairly clichéd racing game of the 90s – at best a sort of poor man’s Mario Kart – with a couple of spiky haired punks go-karting across the tarmac. Those selected few that played it, however, unlocked a secret treasure chest of interestingly designed tracks, surprisingly likeable characters, and challenging yet addictive side races. If nothing else, Speak Freaks used a Jamiroquai song as part of its soundtrack, and if that’s not nostalgic then I have no idea what is. 

9) Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy (2006, LucasArts and TT Games, Xbox 360)
This is probably a strange choice of a “nostalgic” game, but if you happened to be a fan of Lego, gaming AND sci fi, then the moment of this game’s release was an explosion of nerdgasmic gold dust. The game was brilliant for its use of hilarious cinematic cutscenes and faithfulness to the original Star Wars trilogy that we all know and love (so no Jar-Jar binks in sight! Bonus!). The gameplay was friendly and easy to pick up for newcomers, children and hopeless gamers alike, while nostalgic adults and nerds could enjoy the stunning graphics and tongue-in-cheek references.

8) Left For Dead (2008, Valve, Xbox 360)
Left For Dead might not seem like an obvious nostalgic choice, given that it was released in the past 5 years. This game introduced me to the adult world of gaming. I consider this the bridge between my childhood and my introduction to adulthood. It also helped to fan the flames of my love of zombie culture. The controls were easy enough to pick up and yet the sophisticated AI made sure that the game was always a fun, gory and enjoyable challenge.

7) Roller Coaster Tycoon (1999, Infrogrames, Windows)
There was something fiendish about Roller Coaster Tycoon which you couldn’t quite put your finger on. You would spend hours watching the years and months roll past as you built massive virtual rides, and yet it was incredibly entertaining. From consistently winning the “worst value park award” to watching customers vomit on the pathway, and then hiring a handyman especially to clean it. It was realistic, frustrating and oh-so rewarding at the same time.

6) Pokemon Yellow (2000, Nintendo, Game Boy colour)
No nostalgia list would be complete without some reference to Pokemon. The innovative franchise attached to Pokemon Yellow (and all other Game Boy games) ensured that this game was bound to be a success right from the off. No child of the nineties was complete without a Charizard, Bulbasaur or Pikachu, preferably while screaming “It’s Super Effective!” at the top of their lungs.

5) Mario Kart DS (2005, Nintendo, Game Boy DS)
Moving on from the Gameboy colour was the Game Boy DS. The best game for the DS was arguably Mario Kart DS – but then, most Mario karting games are always seriously well made. Addictive, with smooth gameplay and interesting visuals, Mario Kart DS was a well-crafted game which ensured many hours of happy button mashing.

4) Runescape (Jagex Game Studio, Online)
Runescape may seem the odd one out as it’s the only MMORPG on this list, but like Pokemon, Beyblades and Scoubido string, this game was a fad. This was the online gamer trend which blended the border between primary and secondary school. I spent hours slaughtering chickens in order to get my XP up to a somewhat decent level. This game may have passed out of my general consciousness pretty soon after its arrival, but the fact that it’s still around today says a lot about its addictiveness.

3) The Simpsons Hit and Run (2003, Vivendi Universal Games, Windows)
The Simpsons Hit and Run had a clever storyline, gorgeous visuals and easy controls to master, combined with the personality of The Simpsons cast. What resulted was an unashamedly fun and addictive game. It took all of the fun elements of GTA, and combined it with a family-friendly yet still oddly violent atmosphere. I can’t be the only person who took a level of sadistic pleasure in continually running over Milhouse over and over again and again.

2) The Sims 2 (2004 EA Games, Windows)
Many hours were spent on this. Much money was spent on the expansion packs. But the possibilities were endless. The Sims 2 provided for every type of gamer. If you were interested in people and storylines then you could easily create a wide variety of characters, and focus on building (or destroying) their relationships. If you were a bit strange then you could focus on building mile high skyscrapers of houses with intricate windows and several bathrooms. If you were sadistic, then you could put your Sims in a swimming pool, remove the ladder, and watch while they slowly and inexplicably drowned. 

1) Crash Bandicoot (1996, Naughty Dog/Sony, PS1)
The original Crash Bandicoot was the epitome of my childhood. It taught me everything that I will ever need to know as an adult; good will always defeat evil, hogs are a surprisingly good form of ad hoc transport, and if you eat enough wumpa fruit you can survive falling into bottomless pits. Several times. The brilliant music in the game was amazing enough in itself – and who can forget the amazing Neo Cortex, one of the best game villains ever conceived? As far as I’m concerned, if you don’t understand what the sound OOGAHBOOGAH means, then you didn’t have a childhood.