While many of our favourite childhood games have been long forgotten, some have stood the test of time and are making a comeback in the form of mobile games. Granted they don’t feel the same without those flimsy controllers, you can still enjoy some old computer or console games which have been remastered for iOS or Android devices.
Old Games Remastered for iOS or Android
These games look the same as they did twenty – thirty years ago and with the help of your mobile device you can re-live those fond memories, all from the comfort of your home. Even so, after trying some of my own childhood games, I must say that the use of a touchscreen (in most instances) doesn’t affect how the game is perceived, but that being said, I would recommend you try out these old games remastered for Android or iOS on a larger screen (ideally 5+ inches).
Pac-Man
Pac-Man is one of the most iconic games ever made. Even nowadays, the munching sound of Pac-Man and the marching sound of the ghosts is known far an wide by adults and children alike. This classic game has been a favourite in the arcade and is now making a rebirth as mobile apps which younger generations can enjoy. It is available both in the Play Store as well as in the iTunes Store in multiple versions.
Tetris
Just like Pac-Man, Tetris is an iconic title which has spawned an entire generation of similar games across all platforms. But the classic Tetris game still remains the best version out there, and as such, both Android and iOS devices will allow you to download and play the game. The newest and probably closest to the original game was created by Electronic Arts and is available on the Play Store and iTunes Store.
Prince of Persia Classic
I still remember playing the original Prince of Persia as a child, going through an entire range of emotions, from anger to delight. Of course, this was way before Ubisoft took over the development of PoP and created the Sands of Time franchise, which was also a great series on its own. But for those of you who long for the 2D Prince of Persia, the Android and iOS game will most definitely fill that gap.
DOOM
Ahh…Doom. The original game has haunted the memories of children all around the world. This horror/shooter was a revolutionary game in its time, standing right there besides Wolfensteing 3D. While remakes were made for Doom, it seems none of them have really reached their expectations and if you feel the same way, then playing the original DOOM on iOS will definitely bring a smile on your face.
Pole Position: Remix
I’ve always been a fan of racing games, and way before games like Need for Speed existed, we were delighted with 8-bit and 16-bit racing games which had next to 0 control and crude gameplay. But at that time it was jaw-dropping, and if you want to relieve those moments of playing the very successful Pole Position: Remix, you should head over to the iTunes Store and download the remastered version.
Streets of Rage
Fighting games in the ’90s were amongst the best source of entertainment possible, and these games were trail blazers in the sense that they begun an entire genre which continues to this day. One of the most memorable of these games is Streets of Rage, where ex-cops are fighting criminals and bosses all day, every day. The game is available for download from the iTunes Store, which will definitely make beat-em-up games fans very happy.
Tomb Raider I
Solving puzzles, fighting robbers and searching for hidden treasure, in a nutshell, that’s what Tomb Raider is. But you already know this, don’t you? We’ve seen some great titles in this series, both in the form of games as well as movies. For die-hard Tomb Raider fans who remember the good old days of low quality textures and box-shaped characters, Square Enix has remastered the original Tomb Raider for iOS devices.
The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition
LucasArts may be mostly known for their Star Wars collection. but they’ve occasionally dabbled with other projects, the most notable of which being The Secret of Monkey Island. It’s humours storyline and colourful graphics made a fairly successful game, but as time went by, it was forgotten until the studio decided to remaster the game for iOS devices so fans can once again enjoy this awesome classic game.
Sim City Deluxe
Sim City has seen a number of iterations over the years, all of them contributing to the game’s success. Now it has become a very popular name when it comes to simulation / tycoon games and thanks to the recent remastering of the classic game, iOS users will have a chance to enjoy the thrill of building they own metropolis in Sim City Deluxe.
Worms
Another childhood favourite pastime (for me at least) was to play Worms with my mates on our local network. It filled up most of our time, and I’m sure many of you who are reading this right now can relate. The game was extremely amusing, an important factor which contributed to the game’s success. Worms has been remastered for iOS, allowing users to once again enjoy this classic game. As for Android users, they can take part in the action by downloading Worms 2 from the Play Store.
Sonic The Hedgehog 1 and 2
Sonic is without a doubt the most famous hedgehogs in the world, and has been for many years now. While there were multiple versions of Sonic released, SEGA announced that they will be remastering the original game and they surely kept their word. Sonic The Hedgehog 1 and later 2 were released and apart from the old game we all knew, SEGA added a few more levels and game modes. Sonic 1 is available for Android and iOS, and so is Sonic 2, which can be downloaded from here (Android) or here (iOS).
Duke Nukem 3D
“Now this is a force to be reckoned with!” – Doesn’t that sound familiar? The voice of good old Duke has been heard in almost every household and thanks to its massive success, the game saw multiple remakes, but none of them rose to the heights where Duke Nukem 3D stood tall. If you ‘re still a fan of Duke Nukem, then you will be excited to know that you can download the remastered version of this classic game from the Play Store or iTunes Store.
Crazy Taxi
SEGA’s Crazy Taxi was unbelievably fun thanks to its fast-paced gameplay and accompanied by great music. The title has more than a decade under its belt and millions of fans worldwide. If you are a fan of old school SEGA games, then Crazy Taxi isn’t a title you’d want to miss out on. The game is available for Android and iOS devices.
Final Fantasy III
With its first release back in 1990, Final Fantasy III was a turning point for the franchise, as it was one of the most successful games of its time. Thanks to its massive success, the developers at Square Enix tried to breathe new life in it by remastering the title for Android and iOS devices. Of course, such a title will come with a somewhat higher price tag.
Carmageddon
Without a doubt, few games were more controversial than Carmageddon, but this didn’t stop it from becoming a smash hit with kids all over the world. This classic game was so successful that it spawned a number of similar style games in later years. Now, everyone can enjoy this modern classic game which was remastered for Android and iOS.
Pong
The game that stared it all. You can trace every game in the world today to this title, and as such, it is the ultimate classic. All consoles had it, and nowadays, it has been remastered for pretty much any mobile device out there. Just type in “Pong” in your preferred app store and you’ll see tons of results for this game.
Worthy Mentions
Apart from the titles listed above, we could mention lots more that were released more recently or on different platforms. Here are a few examples of other old games which have been remastered for Android or iOS:
R-Type (Android) Street Fighter IV Volt (iOS) Ecco the Dolphin (iOS) Icy Tower (Android, iOS) Myst (iOS) Frogger (Android / iOS) Beneath a Steel Sky: Remastered (iOS) The Oregon Trail (Android, iOS) DONKEY.BAS (iOS) Re-Volt (Android, iOS) Tank (Android) Commander Genius (Android) Atari’s Greatest Hits (Android / iOS) Another World (iOS) Sonic CD (Android / iOS)
