My favourite childhood computer games
I loved playing computer games as a kid. I liked sitting in front of the PC for hours, playing all sorts of games, strategy, shooters, simulators, and so on, or playing with friends, meet up or (later) play online. And yes, it must not have been easy for my parents, enforcing limits on my computer time and me, continuously fighting against it. Sorry :-)
Last week I came across an old game, Airline Tycoon, and I had a childhood "flashback", and started thinking what other games I regularly played and googled a bit around and started reading - and was really surprised how old most of those already are!
It's also funny how your perspective changes when you grow up. For example, I loved Deadly Tide and thought it was the best shooter with the best graphics ever made, until I found out later that it is a rail shooter and everything is pre-rendered video, playing in the background :-)
I wondered what games would still run on a today's PC (or even be available for buying/downloading) and was surprised that most of those more than 20 year old games are still playable today!
My 35 favourite games 1996 - 2003
Here's my very personal list of games I remember and liked as a kid, roughly in chronological order, and whether they're still playable today.
Deadly Tide
Release: 1996
Still playable today: Available on Amazon for 10.-
Myst II: Riven
Release: 1996
Still playable today: Yes, on Steam, price: 6.-
Airline Tycoon
Release: 1998
Still playable today: Yes, on Steam price: 10.-
Need for Speed 3: Hot Pursuit
Release: 1998
Still playable today: Available on Amazon, price: from 5.-. The 2010 (remake?) version (Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit) is available on Steam, price: 30.-
Anno 1602
Release: 1998
Still playable today: Yes, downloadable at the Ubisoft store, price 3.- (-75% at the time writing)
Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines
Release: 1998
Still playable today: Yes, on Steam, price: 5.-, or on GOG for 3.-
Delta Force
Release: 1998
Still playable today: Yes, on Steam, price: 5.-
Browning African Safari
Release: 1998
Still playable today: ?
Age of Empires
Release: 1999
Still playable today: Yes, on Steam (HD edition), price: 19.-
Roller Coaster Tycoon
Release: 1999
Still playable today: Yes, on Steam, price: 10.- or RCT II via the OpenRCT-project, price: free
3D Ultra Radio Control Racers / Funkflitzer
Release: 1999
Still playable today: ?
Slave Zero
Release: 1999
Still playable today: Yes, on Steam, price: 7.-
GTA 2
Release: 1999
Still playable today: Yes, on Steam, price: free
Sim City 3000
Release: 1999
Still playable today: Available on GOG, price: 3.-
Unreal Tournament
Release: 1999
Still playable today: Yes, on Steam, price: 10.-
Physicus
Release: 1999
Still playable today: On BrainGames, price: 16.-
Tomb Raider 4: The Last Revelation
Release: 1999
Still playable today: Yes, on Steam, price: 8.-
Neues von Pettersson und Findus
Release: 1999
Still playable today: Available on Amazon, price: 20.-
Worms Armageddon
Release: 1999
Still playable today: Yes, on Steam, price: 15.-
Swat 3
Release: 1999
Still playable today: Available on GOG, price: 7.-
Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun
Release: 1999
Still playable today: Available on Amazon, price: 6.-
Crimson Skies
Release: 2000
Still playable today: Available on Amazon, price: 6.-
Bridge Builder
Release: 2000
Still playable today: Yes, download from Archive site, price: free
The Sims
Release: 2000
Still playable today: Available on Amazon, prices vary
Cossacks: European Wars
Release: 2000
Still playable today: Yes, on Steam, price: 5.-
Tropico
Release: 2001
Still playable today: Yes, on Steam, price: 7.- (bundle for Tropico 1, 2 and 3)
The Sting 2 / Der Clou! 2
Release: 2001
Still playable today: Available on Amazon, price: 6.-
Empire Earth
Release: 2001
Still playable today: Yes, on GOG, price: 6.-
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
Release: 2001
Still playable today: Available on Amazon, prices vary
Medal of Honor: Allied Assault
Release: 2002
Still playable today: Available on GOG, price: 10.-
Warcraft 3
Release: 2002
Still playable today: Yes, soon available as Warcraft III: Reforged, price: 30.-
Battlefield 1942
Release: 2002
Still playable today: Available on Amazon, prices vary
NHL 2003
Release: 2002
Still playable today: No official digital purchase possible at the moment, at Amazon for 10.-
Command & Conquer: Generals
Release: 2003
Still playable today: Available on Amazon, prices vary
Prince of Persia: Sands of Time
Release: 2003
Still playable today: Yes, at Steam, price: 12.-
