15 Best Years In Video Game History

Notable Releases - Mortal Kombat, Super Mario Kart, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Contra III

Street Fighter II was regarded as the uncontested fighting game for only a year, before Ed Boon and John Tobias unleashed Mortal Kombat onto the world. Due to the digitised sprites, finishing moves, and boundless gore, MK was making a killing (no pun intended) at the arcade.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 improved on its predecessor in every aspect, further cementing Sega's reputation. Sega continued to rival Nintendo, bringing out more gems like Streets of Rage II, Ecco the Dolphin, and Road Rash 2.

Rather than tossing out another Mario platformer to stay on top of the competition, Nintendo devised a racing spin-off starring the moustachioed mascot. Super Mario Kart proved to be a triumph, kickstarting the most celebrated racer of all time.

It was also a monumental year for PC owners, due to the release of the Dune II. Not only was it a fantastic game, it was the first recognised real-time strategy title. Starcraft, Command & Conquer, and Warcraft owe their success and their very existence to this underrated classic.

During this period, gamers genuinely thought things couldn't get better. Little did they know the best was still to come.