Cell phone hardware has long since outstripped classic consoles, and devs are taking notice, porting many fan favorites to mobile with only light touches to the UI and controls. So now long-time fans and newcomers who never got a chance to play these 90’s titles can rejoice and pull up a playthrough on the bus, the beach, or the comfort of a couch (even if your spouse is watching Netflix.)

To be fair, these ports aren’t perfect. The 90’s were a time when cell phones flipped and touch screens required styluses, so games designed to be played on a controller don’t always translate smoothly to small, modern touchscreens. When I first pulled up Sonic: The Hedgehog, I was so frustrated that I pulled out my Genesis to play the real deal. That was when I realized my mistake: I was trying to control Sonic like I was using a joystick, not a D-pad. To be fair, the in-game UI shows a digital joystick, but once I figured out this difference and adjusted my playstyle, the mobile version became playable again. Victory!

And to clarify, this list isn’t going to include modern reboots like Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty, or pirated games that can be played with emulators. We are going to focus on official titles (or franchises) that remain as close to the original as is reasonable for a mobile port.

Without further ado, and presented in no particular order, I give to you: seven 90’s classics you can play on mobile.

Streets of Rage

With the recent announcement of Streets of Rage 4, nostalgia for this franchise is strong. Originally released in 1991 for the SEGA Genesis, Streets of Rage is a classic side-scrolling beat-em-up wherein Axel, Blaze, and friends kick ass, eat chicken, and take names.

Fortunately for fans who need something to tie them over while they wait for Streets of Rage 4, SEGA has released Streets of Rage I & II on mobile thanks to their SEGA Forever program. Fans can either play for free (with ads), or purchase the full version for a small price, so no matter which side of the fence you sit on in terms of free vs paid, you can punch people to your heart’s content.

Handy links in case you want to learn more:



Streets of Rage I: Android – iOS

Streets of Rage II: Android – iOS

(No, we do not get paid if you click on these, or any links in this article.)

Final Fantasy

The folks at Square Enix did not hold back. Every main series, 90’s Final Fantasy game is currently available on mobile, from III-IX. Okay, except VIII. I’m sure there is a reason, but it’s odd that they would have VII and not VII. And yes, they do also have IV: The After Years. And yes, they do have I and II as well, but this is a list for the 90’s, not the 80’s. Stay focused!

Anyway, for those rare souls who may not know, the Final Fantasy series is perhaps the most well-known JRPG series. It broke a lot of ground in the 90’s, making turn-based fantasy popular, and then constantly redefining that genre with rotating casts, plots, and battle systems. It’s a vast franchise, and no two people can agree on which game is the “best,” but if you’re willing to put down the $10- $15 to pick up one of these titles, you can see for yourself what all the fuss is about.

Don’t worry, I’m not going to spam you with all six (x2) links for these games. You can find all of the Final Fantasy mobile versions, as well as other Square Enix titles, here:

Android

iOS

Sonic the Hedgehog

This one is my personal favorite, and the reason I made this list in the first place. I grew up on the original Sonic The Hedgehog game on Genesis, so when I found out it was available on mobile, I was stoked. As I mentioned in the opening, I had a bit of difficulty with the controls at first, but it was well worth persevering for that sweet, sweet dose of nostalgia.

While Sonic is a bit of a meme machine these days, back in the early 90’s he was the top rival to Mario. SEGA vs Nintendo. Sonic vs Mario. It’s hard to believe how hard Sonic fell from grace in the transition to 3D, or that his current iteration is being kept alive through crossovers and collaborations with Nintendo. Oh, how times change. And yet, his original outings are still as awesome as I remembered.

Much like Streets of Rage above, Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 have been brought back through SEGA’s Forever program and can be had for free or for a small price if you want to play without ads. You can find links to both below.

Sonic the Hedgehog: Android – iOS

Sonic the Hedgehog 2: Android – iOS

Baldur’s Gate

Even if you’ve never heard of Baldur’s Gate, you’ve probably heard of BioWare. You know, the folks behind Mass Effect, and Dragon Age? The folks who are making Anthem, the new looter-shooter to rival Bungie’s Destiny series? Well, regardless, Baldur’s Gate is the game that put BioWare on the map.

After their first game saw modest success, the three doctors of BioWare decided they wanted their next game to be an RPG. An excellent decision, considering they are now renowned for their fantastic RPGs. And as it just so happened that BioWare’s publisher at the time, Interplay, had recently acquired the license for Dungeons & Dragons and thought BioWare’s game engine would be a perfect fit. And thus, history was made. Two million copies later (that’s almost the same amount of sales as Diablo), BioWare was officially a gaming household name.

And as you may have guessed, this blast from the past is now playable on mobile. While it is technically an “Enhanced Edition,” the changes are limited to mostly interface and control cleanup, leaving the core gameplay and graphics just as they were.

And it should also be noted that this version is optimized for tablets, so folks planning on playing on phones may have a rough experience.

You can find Baldur’s Gate: The Enhanced Edition here:

Android

iOS

Secret of Mana

When Square Enix brought a plethora of Final Fantasy games to mobile, they didn’t stop shy of Final Fantasy spin-offs. The Seiken Densetsu series started off as part of the Final Fantasy franchise, launching in America as Final Fantasy Adventure. But the second game, Secret of Mana, was the first game in the series to stand on its own two legs, no Final Fantasy monikers attached.

That being said, Secret of Mana still carried all the Final Fantasy makings of a successful game: a unique battle system, expansive plot, and bright graphics. While it initially flew under the radar here in America, it saw big success in Japan and went on to see re-releases on PS4, Vita, Windows, and mobile. The most recent release is a full HD remake that has been widely well-received by newcomers and longtime fans alike. But we’re here for mobile, untouched classics, and you can find the links to those below.

Android

iOS

Mega Man

Much like Square Enix with Final Fantasy, Capcom did not hold back with their classic Mega Man franchise. Mega Man 1-6 are all available on mobile with minimal changes to accomodate for the smartphone environment. (And yes, 1 & 2 are actually 80’s games. Shh…)

Mega Man can be seen as the overlooked little brother in the Sonic vs. Mario rivalry of the early 90’s. With robots, a blaster, and the ability to choose which order you complete the levels, it had plenty to make it stand apart from its big brothers.

Of course, Mega Man X was the real star of the franchise, taking place as the sequel to the original Mega Man series and receiving plenty of critical acclaims. While it isn’t currently available on Android, it is available on iOS. Apple players, rejoice!

Still, Mega Man X would not be around if it weren’t for the success of Mega Man 1-6, so the original series is still worth the playtime, especially if you’re interested in experiencing the birth of the Mega Man franchise.

You can find all of the Mega Man mobile games here:

Android

iOS

Chrono Trigger

The last item on our list is Chrono Trigger, a game known by some as, “A fantastic RPG”, and by others as, “That game made by the Dragon Ball guy!” Personally, I haven’t had a chance to play Chrono Trigger yet, so I’ll take their word for it.

And I’ll also take the word of Wikipedia. (Hey, I’m not against citing my sources.) According to my visit to the great Wiki, Chrono Trigger had quite the powerhouse behind it. Not only did they have Akira Toriyama, the artist from the Dragon Ball series (which was in its prime in the 90’s), but it also had Hironobu Sakaguchi, “the creator of Square’s successful Final Fantasy series,” and Yuji Horii, the creator of Dragon Quest (A game that flies under the radar here in America, but is wildly popular in Japan). And this powerful trio delivered.

Chrono Trigger became an instant bestseller in Japan, and received wide critical acclaim from all the major players of the time, only receiving two scores below 9/10 according to this list on Wikipedia. And even now, it is commonly found on “Best Games of All Time” lists. And of course, since it’s on this list, that means it is also available on mobile. I guess I no longer have an excuse to procrastinate playing Chrono Trigger.

You can find Chrono Trigger’s mobile iterations here:

Android

iOS

Honorable Mentions

Of course, there are more than just seven 90’s games available on mobile, but we won’t keep you here all day. So here’s a quick list of honorable mentions:

So what are your thoughts? Is there a game we missed? Did we do your favorite games justice? Let us know in the comments.

Oh, and if you’re wondering why Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic isn’t on this list, that’s because it’s a 00’s game. Stay tuned for that list.