These Were the Video Best Games of 1989

May 2, 2026 - 17:32

1989 was a landmark year for video games, marking the arrival of two consoles that would define the next decade: the Nintendo Game Boy and the Sega Genesis. These new systems brought fresh energy to the industry, but the games themselves were what really stole the show.

On the home console front, Nintendo's NES was still king. "Super Mario Bros. 3" dropped like a bomb, offering power-ups like the raccoon tail and a world map that felt massive. It remains one of the most celebrated platformers ever made. Capcom also delivered "DuckTales," a surprisingly tight action-platformer based on the cartoon, with a catchy moon theme that players still hum today. Meanwhile, "Tetris" hit the Game Boy at launch, turning a simple puzzle game into a global obsession. Its addictive gameplay and portable format made it a must-have.

Sega's Genesis launched with "Altered Beast," a side-scrolling beat-em-up where players transformed into monsters. But the real highlight was "Golden Axe," a fantasy brawler that let you ride dragons and chop up enemies with a barbarian. Arcades also thrived in 1989, with "Final Fight" bringing gritty street combat to the big screens, and "S.T.U.N. Runner" pushing 3D polygon graphics in a futuristic racer.

From handhelds to home consoles, 1989 set the stage for the 16-bit era and proved that gaming was here to stay. It was a year of innovation, memorable characters, and games that still hold up today.