Fun is what keeps you saying "just one more game" at 2 a.m. This Top 100 gathers the retro games with the most immediate and most lasting playability, based on RomWize's reassessed scores. For each title: its current score, its versions, their rarity and their collector value.
"The drift is king: mastering the controlled slide into a corner becomes a driving signature as technical as it is exhilarating. The sense of speed stays pure, the line clear, and every perfect trajectory brings instant pride. Rich in tracks and machines, this portable launch shines through its snappiness and elegance, an arcade racer that grabs you from the first drift."
"Everything here pushes toward excess: impossible tricks, roaring descents and a gauge that, once full, unlocks supernatural acrobatics. The fun springs from this constant one-upmanship, where every ramp calls for a wilder chain. A high-octane soundtrack, colourful characters and spectacular runs complete the picture. Gleeful, unabashed arcade snowboarding."
"The sequel thinks bigger: larger-scale clashes, spectacular sequences and the legendary Horde mode, where you withstand ever fiercer waves of enemies in co-op. The sense of weight and the brutality of the combat stay at the heart of the fun. Spectacular, generous and masterfully made, a TPS that elevates its formula and offers some of the most memorable co-op evenings."
"Grab a random item, watch it warp your weapon and your body, then stack effects to the point of absurdity: every descent becomes a unique experiment. Synergies number in the thousands, and the controlled chaos drives you to start over relentlessly. The insane generosity of content guarantees near-infinite replayability."
"Scaling the rooftops of Florence and Venice, planning your assassinations and diving into a gripping plot at the heart of the Renaissance: this entry lays the foundations of a formula turned cult. The fluidity of the parkour and the joy of free movement grab you from the very first steps. Rich, immersive and superbly made, a peak of historical open-world adventure."
"Behind its adorable pixels lies an adventure of razor-sharp precision: pinpoint jumps, tucked-away secrets and weapons that grow stronger the more you explore. Every room begs to be combed through, and the affection for its characters makes you want to wander this little world again and again."
"An action game of fearsome demand, where you play a whirling ninja in ultra-fast, technical fights. Mastering dodges and counters delivers an exhilarating satisfaction, worthy of the challenge offered. Snappy, brutal and beautifully fluid, a brawler that rewards precision and composure, for fans of uncompromising action."
"An open, wild tropical island, where you hunt, infiltrate enemy camps and improvise approaches as the mood takes you: the freedom of action is total and exhilarating. The unpredictable wildlife and the charismatic antagonist create unforgettable moments. Snappy, immersive and beautifully made, an open-world FPS that turns every situation into a playground for experimentation."
"The sequel transcends the concept: the creation workshop now lets you build not just levels, but entire games, from shoot'em up to puzzle. The joy of playing and creating reaches new heights, carried by intact charm and joyful co-op. Charming, generous and infinitely rich, a limitless playground of expression that turns every player into a true creator of worlds."
"Versus play stripped to its purest form: Champion Edition finally lets you take control of the bosses and dive into furious mirror matches. Every clash hinges on timing, reach and the patience to wait for the perfect opening. You come back for the instant clarity of one-on-one, no frills, where only skill decides. A benchmark that keeps all its bite decades later."
"A dive into the Cold War through a breathless campaign with varied missions, and a multiplayer of fearsome depth paired with a Zombies mode turned cult. Co-operating to survive waves of undead delivers a gleeful release. Snappy, generous and packed with modes, an FPS that multiplies the ways to play and guarantees hours of intense action."
"Running, jumping and stomping Goombas to the right: three moves are enough to understand, a whole life isn't enough to forget. The perfect handling, the genius level design and the joy of the pixel-perfect jump defined the platformer for decades. Immediate, luminous and timeless, the game that saved an industry stays a model of efficiency and joy."
"Chaining grinds, jumps and tricks in pursuit of the longest combo: it all rests on this joy of flow and precision that quickly grows obsessive. The levels, built for chaining, brim with lines to discover, and the energetic soundtrack sets the mood. Immediate, addictive and stylish, an arcade skater that turns every session into a quest for the perfect score."
"Bounding through 3D levels designed like playgrounds, donning the cat suit to claw walls and climb anywhere, all with up to four players at once: 3D platforming here is as readable as it is gleeful. Co-op mixes teamwork and rivalry in joyful disorder. Inventive, colourful and bursting with ideas, a family peak of the genre."
"Bringing the fighters of Virtua Fighter and Fighting Vipers into the same arena means offering a dream crossover to fans of 3D brawling. The huge roster, the zany secret characters and the snappy handling guarantee duels as varied as they are gleeful. With several players, the urge to chain matches never fades. Generous, fun and packed with surprises."
"The manual makes its entrance and changes everything: linking tricks without ever touching the ground opens combos of dizzying length. This new depth, married to memorable levels and cash to spend on upgrades, multiplies the addiction. Richer, freer, more gleeful, this entry is often cited as the absolute peak of arcade skating."
"A return to roots for the bloodiest fighting saga: brutal combos, reinvented gory fatalities and staging of assumed violence. The snappy handling rewards memory of the chains, and every spectacular finisher delivers a guilty satisfaction. Rich in modes, generous and built for the duel, a cult versus that reconnects with its DNA with flair."
"Beneath its cute platformer looks hides a world of dark humour, parodies and deranged set-pieces nothing prepared you for. The irreverent writing and the wild variety of situations surprise at every stage. Bold, funny and full of cheeky ideas, an unforgettable oddity that gleefully subverts the genre's conventions."
"Scaling the rooftops of Florence and Venice, planning your assassinations and diving into a gripping plot at the heart of the Renaissance: this entry lays the foundations of a formula turned cult. The fluidity of the parkour and the joy of free movement grab you from the very first steps. Rich, immersive and superbly made, a peak of historical open-world adventure."
"Gathering a handful of varied adventures and mini-games on a single cartridge is the generous promise of this Kirby entry. Inhaling, copying powers, calling an ally to help: the formula blossoms with rare richness. The co-op mode and the variety of modes grip for hours. Gentle, clever and bursting with ideas, a peak of the series, accessible to all."
