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1990's hidden gems on Steam
Every game here is tagged 1990's on Steam, sits between 1,000 and 5,000 reviews, is rated at least 80% positive, and carries a catch drawn from its own negative reviews. All 29 of them. How these pages are made.
Tattletail95% positive from 4,985 reviews201637% finish itDeck Playable
A first-person horror game where you manage a demanding virtual pet while avoiding its dangerous mother. The core loop involves caring for the pet and stealthily navigating its environment.
What players likedPlayers praise this mascot horror game for its simple, tension-building resource management, comparing it to a "Furby game."
The catchConstantly grooming, feeding and charging the toy turns the horror into tedious chores.
Games like Tattletail →
Slice-of-life adventure game with pixel art. Explore a 90s Indonesian town, dive into minds, and uncover supernatural secrets.
What players likedPlayers praise its touching story, beautiful pixel art, and music, comparing it to "Until Then" for its similar masterful vibes.
The catchThe story keeps stalling behind nested fetch quests and long walks across the map.
Games like A Space for the Unbound →
This is a '90s internet simulator where you investigate user violations on a simulated web. You'll browse websites, manage downloads, and customize your desktop.
What players likedPlayers praise "Hypnospace Outlaw" as a unique, immersive, and nostalgic exploration of a 90s-style internet, often compared to "Papers, Please" and "Serial Experiments Lain."
The catchPuzzles turn so vague that progress often means aimless clicking or looking up a guide.
Games like Hypnospace Outlaw →
A classic first-person shooter where you run and gun through Nazi strongholds. Fight enemies with various weapons in a fast-paced, action-packed experience.
What players likedPlayers say it's like Hotline Miami and praise its revolutionary impact as the "grandfather" of fast, addictive FPS games.
The catchThe Steam release is a bare DOSBox port with awful controls that cannot be rebound.
Games like Wolfenstein 3D →
This is a single-player horror game featuring animated VHS tapes. Players solve escape room puzzles by interacting with characters who communicate directly through the screen.
What players likedPlayers praise its fun puzzles and analog horror style, comparing it to a playable horror series.
The catchPuzzle solutions are barely hinted, so progress usually means looking up a guide.
Games like Amanda the Adventurer →
A walking simulator with puzzle elements, this Japanese psychological horror game features a VHS aesthetic and an immersive, unsettling atmosphere. The core loop involves navigating a closing shift while experiencing escalating dread.
What players likedPlayers praise its realistic horror and unsettling storylines, comparing it to Sally Face and FNAF for its impactful, suspenseful scares without relying on jump scares.
The catchMost of the runtime is repetitive coffee making with only cheap jumpscares for horror.
Games like [Chilla's Art] The Closing Shift | 閉店事件 →
This is a procedural, found-footage survival horror game where players explore a shifting school maze, encountering unique entities. Its core loop involves managing proximity voice and inventory to survive the unpredictable environment.
What players likedPlayers compare it to Backrooms-style games, praising its immersive, challenging, and unique levels with varied mechanics.
The catchStill buggy years into early access, with enemies clipping and getting stuck.
Games like The Classrooms →
This is a short, psychological horror game with a 90s cartoon aesthetic. Players navigate a linear story, experiencing supernatural events and protecting their family from a menacing figure.
What players likedPlayers praise this short indie horror game for its amazing atmosphere, suspense, impactful story, and surprising twists, reminiscent of old 2000s graphics.
The catchMost negative reviews target the developer's conduct rather than the game itself.
Games like Bad Parenting 1: Mr. Red Face →
This is an analog horror telephone operator simulator where players diagnose household threats from a catalog. It features a core loop of listening to callers and providing correct advice under pressure.
What players likedPlayers praise its unique analog horror, worldbuilding, and monster lore, comparing it to a cozy 90s reading sim.
The catchThe loop of hearing a call and matching a database entry gets repetitive fast.
Games like Home Safety Hotline →
This is a point-and-click adventure game featuring puzzle-solving and narrative exploration. Players guide two characters through a globe-spanning conspiracy with a classic mystery feel.
What players likedPlayers praise Broken Sword: Director's Cut as one of the best point-and-click adventure games, comparable to classics, for its enduring story, sharp humor, and engaging mystery.
The catchThis edition cuts dialogue, animations and puzzles that the original release still has.
Games like Broken Sword: Director's Cut (2009) →
This is a classic point-and-click adventure game where players solve puzzles and uncover conspiracies. It features a narrative-driven experience with fully voiced characters and a wry sense of humor.
What players likedPlayers praise its intriguing story and clever puzzles, reminiscent of classic point-and-click adventure games.
The catchEndless dialogue and slow unskippable animations stretch every scene into a crawl.
Games like Broken Sword 5 - the Serpent's Curse →
This is a first-person shooter with a focus on intense, old-school combat. Players fight through a chaotic world to uncover the source of an ancient evil.
The catchCombat gets repetitive fast and the level layouts leave players lost and bored.
Games like SharpShooter3D →
A 3D side-scrolling action platformer where players use a wind bullet to grab and throw enemies. It offers a nostalgic journey with upgraded graphics and adjustable difficulty.
What players likedPlayers praise the charming, engaging platforming and level design, reminiscent of classic Zelda or simple, fun PS1/PS2 gems.
The catchMovement is slow and stiff, with a fixed jump height and very short grab range.
Games like Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series →
Arcade Paradise81% positive from 2,027 reviews20229% finish itDeck Verified
Retro arcade simulator where you build and manage an arcade, playing over 35 distinct games. It features a 90s aesthetic and a core loop of playing, earning, and expanding.
What players likedPlayers praise this immersive 80s arcade management sim for its playable games and the satisfying progression from laundromat work.
The catchThe laundry work is a slow, repetitive grind that keeps interrupting the arcade games.
Games like Arcade Paradise →
This is a 90s-style platformer where players use animal mask powers to navigate levels and defeat enemies. It features pixel art and challenging platforming across over 80 levels.
What players likedPlayers consistently praise Kaze and the Wild Masks as a tight, fun 2D platformer, often compared to Donkey Kong Country, with enjoyable challenges and level design.
The catchThe back half turns into autoscroller levels built on trial and error memorization.
Games like Kaze and the Wild Masks →
A point-and-click puzzle adventure with time travel mechanics and a cartoon feel. Players solve puzzles across different eras to prevent world domination.
What players likedPlayers praise its hilarious, clever puzzles, fantastic art style, and well-written dialogue, calling it one of the greatest adventure games ever made.
The catchsome puzzles rely on nonsensical, illogical solutions
Games like Day of the Tentacle Remastered →
This is a 3D platformer where players rescue family by dodging ghosts and solving puzzles. It features unique PAC-MAN abilities like butt-bouncing and rev-rolling.
What players likedPlayers praise this 2.5D platformer for its well-made levels, good controls, and enjoyable boss fights, comparing it favorably to its sequel.
The catchLevels repeat the same easy fetch and backtrack loop until it turns boring.
Games like PAC-MAN WORLD Re-PAC →
This is a classic dating sim with a summer romance theme. Players experience a comedic coming-of-age drama by interacting with characters and choosing a romantic partner.
The catchThe protagonist is a one note pervert whose harassment of women sours the romance.
Games like Dōkyūsei: Bangin' Summer →
A low-poly 3D collect-a-thon platformer where players use a kiwi's wall-sticking ability to explore non-linear levels. It evokes a late 90s console feel.
What players likedPlayers praise its charming, nostalgic platforming and tight controls, reminiscent of classic collectathons.
The catchLevels are empty and offer almost no challenge, and it is over in about an hour.
Games like Super Kiwi 64 →
A graphic adventure game featuring point-and-click puzzles and humorous dialogue. Players solve inventory puzzles and engage in insult swordfights to progress.
What players likedPlayers praise its compelling story, amazing dialogue, and awesome soundtrack, comparing its mysteries to the show "Lost."
The catchPuzzle solutions run on moon logic, so progress means trying every item on everything.
Games like The Curse of Monkey Island →
Retro arcade rally racer with time-trial laps in unique parking garage circuits. Features tight controls, dynamic physics, and ghost/realtime multiplayer.
What players likedPlayers praise this retro arcade racer as a tight, addictive drift-booster, like a lost Sega Saturn or Mario Kart game.
The catchLevels and physics punish the speed encouraged
Games like Parking Garage Rally Circuit →
Last Call BBS92% positive from 1,574 reviews20228% finish itDeck Playable
This is a collection of retro-style puzzle games featuring logic, simulation, and card mechanics, offering a nostalgic and challenging experience.
What players likedPlayers praise this Zachtronics collection for its top-tier logical puzzle games, often compared to their other works, and its retro aesthetic.
The catchMinigames arrive with barely any instructions, and fake download timers make you wait.
Games like Last Call BBS →
Classic side-scrolling platformer. Jump and shoot through alien worlds as a child genius.
What players likedPlayers praise it as classic platforming history, a great way to play old DOS games with VGA graphics.
The catchThe pack sold as complete is missing two episodes of the series.
Games like Commander Keen →
A point-and-click adventure game featuring puzzle-solving and exploration. Players experience a story with multiple paths and a dynamic musical score.
What players likedPlayers praise its engaging story that fits the movies, awesome voice acting and animations, and multiple paths and endings.
The catchExcessive backtracking to collect pieces, especially the final act
Games like Indiana Jones® and the Fate of Atlantis™ →
Alisa89% positive from 1,532 reviews202117% finish itDeck Playable
Survival horror action-adventure with pre-rendered backgrounds, featuring challenging combat against doll-like enemies in a 1920s fantasy setting. Players explore a mansion, manage inventory, and upgrade gear to survive.
What players likedPlayers praise "Alisa" as a fantastic take on classic survival horror, reminiscent of old Resident Evil games.
The catchCombat sours it, with fiddly manual aiming and enemies that stunlock you to death.
Games like Alisa →
The Big Con94% positive from 1,524 reviews202133% finish itDeck Verified
A 90s comedy adventure game where you con people to save a video store. It features a crime-filled road trip with pickpocketing and complex grifts.
What players likedPlayers praise its '90s teen film vibe, vibrant art, and engaging story with varied gameplay and a great soundtrack.
The catchThe same pickpocket minigame repeats all the way through and turns tedious fast.
Games like The Big Con →
This is a point-and-click detective mystery game with a '90s setting. Players collect clues, interrogate suspects, and solve puzzles to uncover a dark truth.
What players likedPlayers praise its engaging story, good voice acting, and logical puzzles, comparing it to classic point-and-click adventures like Zak McKracken and Silent Hill.
The catchIt starts strong then falls apart, ending in a nonsensical supernatural anticlimax.
Games like Kathy Rain: Director's Cut →
A retro first-person shooter featuring a dark, violent atmosphere and unique weapons. Players battle through levels with a focus on combat and exploration.
The catchThe Steam release is a bare DOSBox port with poor performance and clunky controls.
Games like Blood: One Unit Whole Blood →
Slice-of-life adventure game with pixel art. Explore rural Indonesia, interact with townsfolk, and dive into minds.
The catchBarely half an hour of fetch quests, closer to a teaser than a standalone game.
Games like A Space For The Unbound - Prologue →
![[Chilla's Art] The Closing Shift | 閉店事件](https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1843090/header.jpg)
