# The 23 Best PC Games of the 1990s

> From genre-defining shooters and real-time strategy showdowns to surreal point-and-click puzzlers and dungeon-crawling RPGs, this era spans mainstream blockbusters and cult favorites gamers still argue about today. Which one takes the crown?

*By YPB Team · Published September 6, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/the-23-best-pc-games-of-the-1990s*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Half-Life** — score 1000/1000
   Valve's 1998 sci-fi shooter that redefined narrative-driven FPS with its seamless, cutscene-free storytelling.
2. **Doom** — score 699/1000
   id Software's 1993 demon-slaying shooter that defined the FPS genre and sparked the modding scene.
3. **Myst** — score 671/1000
   Cyan's 1993 surreal puzzle-adventure on a mysterious island that became a bestselling CD-ROM phenomenon.
4. **Civilization II** — score 635/1000
   Sid Meier's 1996 turn-based strategy sequel that let players build an empire from antiquity to space.
5. **The Secret of Monkey Island** — score 498/1000
   LucasArts' 1990 pirate comedy adventure that launched the beloved point-and-click Monkey Island series.
6. **System Shock 2** — score 498/1000
   Looking Glass and Irrational's 1999 horror hybrid of FPS and RPG aboard the doomed starship Von Braun.
7. **Fallout** — score 440/1000
   Interplay's 1997 post-apocalyptic RPG known for dark humor and branching, consequence-driven choices.
8. **SimCity 2000** — score 440/1000
   Maxis' 1994 city-building simulator that added terrain, zones, and infrastructure depth to the genre.
9. **Diablo** — score 440/1000
   Blizzard North's 1996 dungeon-crawling action RPG that popularized loot-driven click-to-kill gameplay.
10. **Grim Fandango** — score 440/1000
   LucasArts' 1998 film-noir adventure set in a stylized Aztec land of the dead, directed by Tim Schafer.
11. **System Shock** — score 372/1000
   Looking Glass's 1994 immersive-sim shooter starring the rogue AI SHODAN, a genre-defining forerunner.
12. **Age of Empires II** — score 372/1000
   Ensemble Studios' 1999 medieval RTS prized for its balance and enduring competitive scene.
13. **Day of the Tentacle** — score 372/1000
   LucasArts' 1993 time-traveling cartoon adventure sequel to Maniac Mansion, prized for its puzzle design.
14. **Duke Nukem 3D** — score 372/1000
   3D Realms' 1996 irreverent shooter famous for its destructible environments and one-liners.
15. **Command & Conquer** — score 293/1000
   Westwood Studios' 1995 RTS pitting GDI against Nod, famed for its FMV cutscenes and Tiberium lore.
16. **Planescape: Torment** — score 293/1000
   Black Isle's 1999 CRPG celebrated for its literary writing and philosophical Nameless One storyline.
17. **Star Control II** — score 293/1000
   Toys for Bob's 1992 space adventure blending exploration, dialogue, and tactical ship combat.
18. **StarCraft** — score 200/1000
   Blizzard's 1998 real-time strategy classic whose three-way faction balance still anchors global esports.
19. **Unreal Tournament** — score 200/1000
   Epic Games' 1999 arena shooter praised for fast movement and inventive multiplayer modes.
20. **Warcraft II** — score 200/1000
   Blizzard's 1995 orcs-vs-humans RTS that helped cement the genre's mainstream popularity.
21. **Quake** — score 200/1000
   id Software's 1996 shooter that pioneered true 3D engines and online deathmatch multiplayer.
22. **X-COM: UFO Defense** — score 88/1000
   MicroProse's 1994 tactical strategy game defending Earth from alien invasion through squad combat and base building.
23. **Baldur's Gate** — score 88/1000
   BioWare's 1998 Dungeons & Dragons RPG that revived the isometric party-based CRPG genre.

Tags: games, 90s, classics, retro, pc