Video games have been around for a while at this point, and as time goes by, they become more and more advanced. Nowadays, there are games with graphics so impressive that they look like real life. Sure, they may still have a bug or two, but video games have come a long way.
What if some of your favorite modern video games were launched in the ’90s? Here, we are going to take a look at just that. This will highlight some of the most popular modern titles, and dive into what they look like if they were a 1990s classic.
9Cyberpunk 2077
First up, we have Cyberpunk 2077. This is a massive game that looks quite impressive, but what would it look like if it came out in the ’90s, when graphics weren’t quite as impressive? We are picturing a combination of F-Zero, Street Fighter, and a choose-your-own-adventure. Imagine zipping through the streets of Night City, and then meeting pixelated Panam for a date.
If this actually existed in the ’90s, the game would need to be scaled back a bit. For example, this hypothetical Cyberpunk 2077 would lean fully into the Street Fighter vibe, letting you walk the streets and beat up Arasaka grunts.
8Ghost Of Tsushima
Ghost of Tsushima is anothermassive and beautiful game, but we are picturing it as an older, pixelated game similar to those in The Legend of Zelda. Take A Link to the Past as an example; this game came out in 1991, and lets you explore a wide kingdom while playing through a rich story.
In a ’90s version of Ghost of Tsushima, things would work similarly. As a pixelated Jin, you explore Tsushima Island. Sure, the game may lose some detail, but games like A Link to the Past prove that you don’t need overly-realistic graphics to make a great game. This ’90s Ghost of Tsushima would have also probably inspired more sequels.
7Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6
Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6 launched in late 2024. Visually, it’s quite impressive. In the ’90s though, we’d like to imagine that it looks something like the original Doom game. At the bottom of the screen, you’d even see your own little floating head.
Of course, this takes a lot of the suspense out of the game, as well as brings down the multiplayer aspect a few notches. Thankfully, multiplayer would still be possible; you could have a good old-fashioned LAN party!
6Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 came out in April 2025, and it really took the world by storm. If we rewound time a bit and this game came out in the ’90s, it would most definitely be like a classic JRPG, similar to franchises like Final Fantasy.
In fact, if Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 came out in 1997, it would have competed directly against Final Fantasy. Imagine these two powerhouse games with deep and complex stories, each developing their own community, with characters from Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 becoming just as beloved as ones like Cloud and Tifa.
5Warframe
Next up, we have Warframe. There are literally hundreds of hours worth of content in this game, all for free. If this game came out in the ’90s, you would expect to see less content, and probably a lot more jankiness.
The free multiplayer aspect with hub locations may be out of the question, but that’s okay. We are picturing a game like Super Mario 64, with your ship serving as your main hub, and different planets serving as the backdrop for missions.Precise Warframe editingmay be impossible, but you’ll still be able to choose from a preset option, with the ability to unlock more.
4Nier: Automata
At its core, Nier: Automata is a hack and slash game. So, if it came out in the ’90s, it would definitely work as a side-scrolling hack and slash game. As 2B, you’ll continuously run sideways, with the formula being mixed up occasionally with aerial combat and visual novel-like dialogue scenes.
Hack-and-slash games have some crossover with beat ‘em up games, but just picture a Nier version of Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master. The character designs in Nier: Automata translate pretty well into a pixelated world. We can also imagine a ’90s version of Nier Replicant launching, with similar mechanics.
3Minecraft
Minecraft in the ’90s? It’s more likely than you think! A nearly infinite world made up of several layers and dimensions may be difficult to create in the ’90s, but remember that Minecraft had humble origins and not nearly as much content as it has today. A ’90s Minecraft would be similar to games like SimCity, presenting an isometric view of your blocks.
If Minecraft came out in the ’90s, what would the community be like? It probably wouldn’t be nearly as big as it is today. Minecraft launched in the digital age where young gamers were eager to watch Let’s Plays on YouTube. In the 90’s Minecraft probably wouldn’t have seen this for at least a decade.
2Elden Ring
Elden Ring has been imagined as a ’90s game by gamers across the internet. you may even find Elden Ring characters drawn in a ’90s anime art style, giving it a very nostalgic feel. We’d like to think if Elden Ring launched in the ’90s, it would be like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night.
The aesthetic is there; dark, gothic, and creepy. The lack of a linear narrative works here too, since games like Castlevania aren’t linear either. One question remains though; would it still be hard? Most likely, yes. A Castlevania-esque Elden Ring would definitely still be hard.
1Monster Hunter
Last but not least, we have Monster Hunter. Out of all the games on our list, this one has the potential to be the jankiest. Imagine hunting for a monster with original PlayStation graphics. This isn’t the worst, but when combined with massive monsters in even larger environments and attacks on specific body parts, it probably won’t be as smooth.
Due to this, Monster Hunter from the ’90s may even do better as a turn-based RPG. This isn’t too out of the ordinary for a Monster Hunter game,as Monster Hunter Stories also used a turn-based system. Rather than teaming up with a monster though, you’ll slay them.
