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The Best Retro Games You Can Play on Steam

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The Best Retro Games You Can Play on Steam


Valve’s Steam is essentially the Library of Alexandria for video games. It hosts a huge range of titles, from big-budget AAA blockbusters to small indie titles, with few restrictions on what can appear on the platform. Although Steam is not the only service of its type, it is certainly the most famous.




Given its enormous library, it’s no surprise that many classic video games have found their way to Steam.This does not necessarily refer to games like the original Half-lifebut rather titles that were created long before Valve even launched Steam


10 Dragon’s Lair has surprising replayability

Release date – June 19, 1983

  • Steam Deck Compatibility: Playable

The dragon’s lair is a flagship arcade game, hosted by Don Bluth. The best way to describe it is as a short animated film with quick time events. You play as Dirk the Bold, a brave knight on a quest to save Princess Daphne from a large and macabre castle owned by the evil dragon Monkey. Along the way, Dirk must navigate the perils and tribulations that the castle has in store for him.


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The dragon’s lair is a very simple game to play, requiring minimal intervention from the player to avert certain disaster at just the right moment. This simplicity makes he surprisingly fun to replay, especially considering its short length. The dragon’s lair is available on Steam for $9.99 and is no less difficult on a home computer than it would have been in an arcade.

9 Alone in the Dark Spooks Steam

Release date – circa 1992

Edward Carnby sword fights with Ezekiel Pregzt in Alone in the Dark (1992).

  • Steam Deck Compatibility: Playable


Alone in the dark is a revolutionary game in the survival horror genre. The story follows the inquest into the estate of the late Jeremy Hartwood, who took his own life. Players control either private detective Edward Carnby or Jeremy’s niece Emily Hartwood. Shortly after their arrival, they discover that the estate is haunted, with ghosts and other supernatural threats targeting them.

Alone in the dark is reminiscent of today’s survival horror video games. In fact, games like resident Evil take inspiration directly from it, from the fixed camera angles to the use of jump scares. Alone in the dark is a fascinating piece of horror video game history that players should check out. It is available on Steam as part of the Alone in the dark Anthology for $14.99.

alone in the dark game from 1992

Franchise
Alone in the dark

Platform(s)
PC, iOS

Released
1992-00-00

Developer(s)
Infograms

Editor(s)
Infograms


8 Commander Keen is very enthusiastic

Release date – December 14, 1990

Commander Keen gameplay in Invasion of the Vorticons

  • Steam Deck Compatibility: Playable

Commander Keenofficially titled Commander passionate about the vorticon invasionis one of the first platform games on the PC and one of the first games developed by the team that would later create Loss. The game’s story is divided into three episodes: Abandoned on Mars, The Earth explodesAnd Keen must die!each featuring the titular Commander Keen fighting aliens in different scenarios.

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The game is easy to understand and enjoy, particularly because of its importance in the history of non-console platform games and its role in the future of its developers. Commander Keen is available on Steam as part of the Commander Keen Complete Pack for only $4.99which also includes the following Commander Keen in Goodbye Galaxy!

7 Earthbound Jim is Steam’s groovy platformer

Release date – circa October 1994

Jim runs towards a man perched on construction equipment in Earthworm Jim.

  • Steam Deck Compatibility: Playable

Jim the earthworm is a comedic platformer that launched a cult classic franchise of the same name. The game’s star, Jim, was once a normal earthworm until he was given a magical spacesuit that allowed him to move like a human. The premise is already absurd, but it only gets wackier as Jim fights his way through various strange enemies to save Princess What’s Her Name.


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Jim the earthworm combines platforming with running and shooting mechanics, which adds to the entertaining nature of the game. While it’s best on the SNES, it also has a terrific PC port. Jim the earthworm is available on Steam as part of the Earthworm Jim Collection for $19.99. This collection also includes Jim’s Earthworm suites: Earthworm Jim 2 And Earthworm Jim 3D Model.

earthworm-jim-tag-page.jpg

Platform(s)
Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, PC, PS3, Sega CD, Game Gear, Master System, Sega Genesis, SNES, Xbox 360

Released
December 16, 1994


6 Aladdin and the Lion King are two classics in one package

Release date – October 19, 1993 and November 4, 1994

  • Steam Deck Compatibility: Verified

Aladdin And The Lion King are names that most will recognize from Disney’s most popular animated films of the 1990s, but they are also the titles of two major video games based on those films. Both games closely follow the plots of their respective films, although the titles have been adapted to fit the platform game format.

In their time, Aladdin and The Lion King were popular platform games, and they remain beloved by fans today. Their lasting appeal is clear, as both games are available on Steam. Aladdin And The Lion King are sold together on Steam for $19.99with additional classic Disney platformers like The Jungle Book sold as DLC for an additional fee.


5 Tomb Raider is Steam’s treasure

Release date – October 24, 1996

  • Steam Deck Compatibility: Not supported

tomb Raider is an iconic action platform video game that spawned an equally iconic action platform video game franchise. It stars Lara Croft, a brilliant and beautiful archaeologist tasked with recovering an artifact hidden deep in the Peruvian mountains. As Lara navigates dangerous terrain, the challenges only multiply with the discovery of the mysterious artifact.


Like the game that launched the franchise, tomb Raider is highly regarded for its innovative platforming and action mechanics, which have been refined in its sequels. The original tomb Raider is available on Steam for $6.99which is a great deal for gamers looking to experience one of the most influential titles in the action-platformer genre.

Release date – March 23, 2000

Tarma fights an alien boss in Metal Slug 3 gameplay

  • Steam Deck Compatibility: Not supported


Metal Slug 3 is perhaps the most famous entry in the Metal Slug franchise, which began in arcades. In this episode, the Peregrine Falcon Strike Force teams up with the SPARROWS unit to once again take on General Morden, who attempted a global coup in the previous game. It is up to the brightest soldiers to once again stop General Morden and his intrigues.

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Metal Slug 3 is widely considered one of the best run and gun arcade video games, and for good reason. Its standout feature is the incredibly satisfying gunplay, with action mechanics designed to make taking down the toughest enemies smooth and rewarding. Metal Slug 3 is available on Steam for $7.99— a great price for such a fun, colorful and satisfying game.


metal slug 3

Metal Slug 3

Franchise
Metal slug

Released
June 1, 2000

3 Wolfenstein 3D is an essential FPS classic

Release date – May 5, 1992

Wolfenstein 3D title screen

  • Steam Deck Compatibility: Playable

Wolfenstein 3D is a flagship title in the first-person shooter genre and a precursor to Loss in many ways. The game follows American spy William Blazkowicz as he escapes from a prison cell in Castle Wolfenstein, a key Nazi stronghold. As Blazkowicz navigates an increasingly dangerous facility, he eventually confronts Adolf Hitler himself.


Often referred to as the “baby boomer shooter,” Wolfenstein 3D is part of a retro FPS subgenre. While it doesn’t seem revolutionary by today’s standards, it’s still easy to appreciate what it accomplished in its time, particularly its complex shooting mechanics. Wolfenstein 3D is available on Steam for $4.99allowing players to experience a key piece of video game history at an affordable price.

Wolfenstein 3D

Wolfenstein 3D

Franchise
Wolfenstein

Platform(s)
3DO, Atari Jaguar, Game Boy Advance, PC, PS3, SNES, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Mobile

Released
May 5, 1992

Developer(s)
Identification software

2 Quake is the ancestor of Half-Life

Release date – June 22, 1996

Quake remasters three beasts approaching through a supernatural archway.

  • Steam Deck Compatibility: Playable


Earthquake is a spiritual successor to the original Loss games, developed by the same game studio. In the game, “Quake” is also the code name of the main antagonist, who must be stopped by the protagonist, Ranger, voiced by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails. Earthquake is similar to Loss in its episodic structure, which sees Ranger traverse dangerous dimensions and face the most brutal enemies.

Earthquake proved to be a significant development in the first-person shooter genre. Earthquake II‘s game engine was later used by Valve, the creator of Steam, to create Half-lifea revolutionary FPS in its own right. The original Earthquake worth buying on Steam for $9.99 just to experience the fascinating level designs and mesmerizing sound effects and music.


1 Doom is far from doomed on Steam

Release date – December 10, 1993

  • Steam Deck Compatibility: Verified

Loss is a first-person shooter that hardly needs any introduction. The game follows Doomguy, who finds himself in Hell fighting hordes of possessed soldiers and a wide array of demons. The setting is as dark as one would expect, with nightmarish landscapes and incredibly hostile enemies, making the journey through Hell a brutal challenge for both Doomguy and the player.

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Of all the retro classics available on Steam, Loss is perhaps the one most worth playing. Its mechanics have aged like fine wine, making it easy for new players to dive into. Loss is available on Steam for $9.99, which also includes the equally appreciated Destiny II. From Loss can run on just about anything, players should have no problem running it, especially on a Steam Deck.

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