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.
"Dashing, wall-climbing and weapons stolen from bosses: this snappy reboot modernises the blue robot's formula with exhilarating fluidity. Discovering hidden upgrades and improving your armour rewards exploration relentlessly. The fast pace and the growing sense of power grab you at once. Precise, stylish and deep, a peak of action-platforming that has never aged."
"The sequel thinks bigger on every front: even snappier combat, titanic bosses and settings of breathtaking mythological scale. Chaining devastating combos and finishing enemies with flair delivers an immediate, constant satisfaction. Spectacular, generous and of dazzling technical mastery, a culmination of the genre on the console."
"Fighting plays out in three dimensions here, in arenas where you run, jump and grab anything lying around to hurl at your opponent. Collecting gems to transform into a powered-up form unleashes gleeful chaos. Accessible, spectacular and unpredictable, this arena versus reinvents brawling for the pure joy of mayhem."
"An enriched version of a 2D fighting classic, with a bursting roster, the -isms system that shapes your playstyle and intact snappiness. Landing your first combos delivers instant pleasure, while the tactical depth rewards hours of practice. Rich in characters and modes, a benchmark versus whose intensity never wavers, ideal on the go."
"Flying in spirals through dreamlike worlds, chaining acrobatics and tracing perfect lines to inflate your score: the sense of aerial freedom here is simply unique. The fluid handling and the enchanted soundtrack deliver instant euphoria. Dreamlike, elegant and exhilarating, this Sonic Team masterpiece reinvents the joy of pure movement."
"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."
"Playing as Yoshi carrying baby Mario, gulping enemies to turn them into eggs and aiming at targets with gleeful precision: this crayon-styled masterpiece overflows with ideas and tenderness. Every level reinvents its mechanics with wild inventiveness. Gorgeous, clever and deeply satisfying, a platformer apart that charms as much as it challenges, timeless down to its very linework."
"Bombing down a whole mountain in one go, from snowy peak to valley, chaining dizzying jumps and endless tricks: the sense of riding hits its high. The freedom to carve your own line and chase the perfect combo grabs you instantly. Smooth, exhilarating and overflowing with style, an absolute must of arcade snowboarding, even more gleeful with several players."
"A 2.5D beat 'em up of unheard-of cinematic style, where the hero triggers action-movie special effects — slow motion, zoom, fast-forward — to floor his enemies and solve puzzles. This brilliant idea delivers unique sensations and a stylish release. Colourful, snappy and zany, an adventure of crazy inventiveness that looks like nothing else."
"Here, slamming into your rivals is no longer an accident but the goal: triggering a takedown by hurling an opponent into the scenery delivers a brutal, hilarious satisfaction. The speed hits new highs, the boost chains endlessly and crashes become an art. Aggressive, spectacular and fiercely addictive, arguably the peak of the series."
"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."
"Grinding rails, tagging walls and shaking off the cops to a cult soundtrack: everything breathes freedom and style. The blazing cel-shading and constant motion deliver a glide unlike any other. Bold back then, just as cool now, this urban ballet remains a burst of pure energy."
"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."
"3D fights of remarkable fluidity, an already memorable roster and a move system that's accessible yet deep: this sequel laid the foundations of a versus legend. Landing your first combos delivers instant pleasure, while mastery is savoured for years. Elegant, snappy and fearsome two-player, a pillar of fighting games on the console."
"Slicing through hordes of demons with unstoppable style, alternating sword and guns to sustain an endless combo: here, the fun comes from the pure class of the combat. The more you chain with flair, the more the game rewards boldness. Snappy, demanding and furiously cool, this pioneer of stylish action laid the foundations of a whole genre."
"Exploring a teeming Hyrule, flipping between the Light World and the Dark World and solving dungeons of perfect ingenuity: this adventure lays the foundations of an entire genre. Every screen rewards curiosity, every item opens new possibilities. The joy of discovery never fades. Timeless, dense and spellbinding, an absolute peak of action-adventure."
"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."
"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."
"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."
