Yahoo News I Stumbled Upon Some Of My Favorite Childhood PC Games And I Need To Talk About Them
I recently found a box of old computer games and was instantly met with all the childhood memories. Something about a '90s PC game hits different — back when games were megabytes instead of gigabytes.
I compiled a list of my favorites I hope will take you back to the good ol' days! Check out the YouTube walkthroughs linked below for even more reminiscing.
1.The ClueFinders 3rd Grade Adventures: Mystery of Mathra
Release Year: 1998
To this day, I think the ClueFinders series is what made me love RPG games. In particular, 3rd Grade was my favorite due to the villain, the vicious "Mathra."
With a compelling story, fun characters, animated cutscenes, plot twists, and different areas to explore, I spent countless hours gathering sneezeberries, solving math puzzles, and exploring the Goo Lagoon.
Not only were the puzzles fun, but the game had vibrant colors and a fun sidekick character that gave you hints. So good!
2.The Oregon Trail: 5th Edition
Release Year: 2001
The Oregon Trail was a game that my sister and I re-played over and over; it was cool that each time was never the same and provided a good challenge. To get to the end, you had to make decisions (like whether or not to ford a river), manage inventory, and also have a bit of luck on your side.
Choosing your supplies at the beginning was always my favorite part!
As you traveled in the game, a series of cutscenes followed Parker, Cassie, Jimmy, and Captain Jed, navigating their way to Oregon.
The scenes were wonderfully animated — I would have watched a TV series with these characters.
3.JumpStart 1st Grade
Release Year: 1995
With a plethora of things to do, like reading books, helping serve cafeteria food, and following recipes to make "Frankie's Fantastic Fudge," there was never a dull moment in this game. The books and the cafeteria especially bring back memories. Anyone remember "Popcorn Popping" or "The Candy Machine"?
I'm impressed she had so many pennies to begin with.
Doesn't that cafeteria food look appetizing?
4.Backyard Baseball
Release Year: 2000
I have fond memories of playing game after game, trying to perfect my team roster and win the Hall of Fame. Who can forget the iconic commentary from Sunny Day or everybody's favorite secret weapon, Pablo Sanchez?
Between striking out players with fastballs and hitting satisfying home runs, I honestly want to boot up Backyard Baseball right now and play a few rounds.
For more information on this game, read the history behind it.
5.Big Action Garage
Release Year: 1998
Before Pixar's Cars, we had Fisher-Price's Big Action Garage. In the game, you help Tommy get parts to save his broken-down friend from the most terrifying tow truck ever created.
You could visit the body shop, where you could paint and customize a car, and the race track.
(I was apparently very scared of Tuffy the Tow Truck as a kid).
6.SchoolHouse Rock: Grammar Rock/Math Rock
Creative Wonders LLC / Via m.media-amazon.com, Creative Wonders LLC / Via m.media-amazon.com
Release Year: 1995/1996
YouTube Walkthrough: Grammar Rock, Math Rock
"Conjunction Junction, what's your function?" (Such a catchy song!) These games brought the SchoolHouse Rock characters to life through a series of grammar and math-related mini-games.
Each had an overarching objective (convincing the characters to join your band or bringing the characters to the diner for a big party). You had to win every mini-game to do so, and my favorite was finding the farmer in the hay bales in Math Rock.
The Grammar Rock Diner!
The colorful world of Math Rock.
7.Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? (Junior Detective Edition)
Release Year: 1995
Get your GizmoTapper 586-LC ready to go — it's time to catch Carmen Sandiego! The game took you to different countries and would give you a photograph. Using your magnifying glass, there would be clues in the photograph indicating where you should look next. If you didn't solve all the clues before your GizmoTapper ran out of power, well, better luck next time!
8.My Disney Kitchen
Release Year: 1998
Few games have given me such pure, unadulterated joy as My Disney Kitchen. The kitchen was super detailed; my favorite parts were using the griddle to cook breakfast and picking the different icings for the cake.
When you were done cooking, Mickey and Minnie would come and eat everything; it was just the most pure thing ever.
You can't tell me this cake doesn't look amazing.
How cute are they?
9.Arthur's Math Carnival
Release Year: 1998
Growing up as an Arthur super-fan, it was only natural that I had all the accompanying games to go along with the book/television series. This was a cute game for beginner math skills, with various activities like helping D.W. run the snack stand or helping Muffy navigate a field of treacherous sprinklers. (Anyone else deliberately run into the sprinklers, or was that just me?)
Everything on the menu looks pretty good, but idk about those veggie pops...
10.Arthur's Computer Adventure
Release Year: 1998
"Deep Dark Sea" was a game mentioned in the TV show, and I remember being so excited actually getting to play it. I spent hours searching for treasure and dodging various sea creatures (and sea ghosts?).
Other mini-games included helping D.W. run her "store" and baking with ingredients like gummy worms, leaves, and jelly beans. Yum yum!
Watch out for those nasty sea ghosts!
11.Reader Rabbit Math Adventures (Ages 6-9)
Release Year: 1998
Reader Rabbit and Sam the Lion crash their ship on an unknown island, and we must find the parts to repair it. Unbeknownst to our castaways, the island is full of Pirats (pirate rats), who think they are out to steal their cheese. As you complete different mini-games, you are awarded parts for the ship.
The games were fun, but the real star of the show was the Pirats songs. With lyrics like, "I command a pirate ship and wear a pirate hat, and I am proud to say, I'm still a low down dirty rat," they were a good time.
Uh-oh, shipwrecked!
Fun fact: The main villain was voiced by Charles Martinet (who you might recognize as the voice of Mario!)
12.Science Sleuths
Release Year: 1997
YouTube Walkthrough: Vol 1, Vol 2
Whether it was a mysterious blob on the beach or food poisoning at a company picnic, our job was to use the lab equipment to solve the case. There were various beakers, Geiger counters, and other tools at your disposal, but the best part was the eyewitness videos. The actors really gave their all in the short clips!
Each case had various levels of difficulty, and it wasn't easy, but it made you feel like a scientist.
13.Treasure Mountain! / Treasure Cove!
Release Year: 1990/1992
YouTube Walkthrough: Treasure Cove, Treasure Mountain
The Master of Mischief needed to be stopped from his terrible tricks, and only the Super Seeker could save the day! In Treasure Cove, you had to explore the ocean, collecting gems to rebuild a rainbow bridge by solving different riddles. In Treasure Mountain, the Master of Mischief was again up to no good, stealing treasures he hid around the mountain.
These were fun exploratory games that took a surprisingly long time to complete. (They also get bonus points for having a fun instrumental soundtrack in the background).
The underwater world of Treasure Cove.
The art style of these games gives me such nostalgia!
14.The Magic School Bus Explores the Solar System
Release Year: 1994
Ms. Frizzle goes missing on a field trip in outer space (what could possibly go wrong?), and you get to scour the planets to find her. On each planet, you had to find gold tokens to earn clues.
Some of the planets were pretty intense, like Venus, where you had to flip on different platforms while dodging lava. Just another day in Ms. Frizzle's class!
I would love to see Ms. Frizzle's insurance policy.
15.Math Munchers
Release Year: 1995
I remember playing this game at school and liking it so much that I got it at home. Your character literally "munched" the correct numbers on the board, and I remember competing for the best score in class. It was a great way to practice math skills in a fun setting, and they should totally revive this game for the 21st century!
How many of these did you play growing up? What are some favorites not on this list? Let me know in the comments below!
