All 10 Old Microsoft Windows Games from the '90s, Ranked
Vote up the classic Microsoft games that always kept you entertained.
It’s safe to say most of us grew up using a computer that ran some version of Microsoft’s classic home PC software, and because you probably weren’t a child accountant, you likely spent your time playing the games that came with Windows. Microsoft was very cool about including different types of games for all types of players. There were puzzle games, pinball, and even classic card games for those of us who enjoyed an old school sensibility with the added class of not having to touch a filthy stack of cards. But which were the best Microsoft Windows games? You’re going to help answer that question in this ranking of all the old Microsoft games.
Maybe this is rose-tinted hindsight speaking, but there was something pure about '90s Microsoft games. They all had a simple conceit, but never lost their luster. If you don’t think that’s true, think back to the countless games of Solitaire you played and try to convince anyone you didn’t love it. Could you have been outside chasing butterflies? Probably, but then you never would have seen the fireworks that go off when you beat a game of FreeCell in less than 10 minutes. Now that was living.
- 1
Pinball
- Photo:
It was a revelation when computer users discovered they never had to go to an arcade again to play pinball. On one hand, the tactile nature of playing on big machines is unbeatable, but free games forever? YES PLEASE!
The best? - Photo:
If you were born any time after 1985, you can probably count the number of times you've played Solitaire IRL on one hand. Who knew Microsoft struck anti-boredom gold when they included this classic rainy day game on all of their computers?
The best?- Photo:
Do you remember how frustrating it was when you saw people solve Minesweeper in one move? Most of us were never able to capture that magic, but it must've been very, very satisfying.
The best?- 4
Microsoft Mahjong
- Photo:
Admit it, you tried to play Mahjong so many times on Windows 98 and never got further than staring at the large pyramid of tiles, trying to figure out what to do with them.
The best? - Photo:
For a lot of millennials Chip's Challenge was the first puzzle game you played, and it was the perfect primer to prepare your inner nerd for a lifetime of fawning over Legend of Zelda. Raise your hand if you still see that warp door in your dreams.
The best?- Photo:
SkiFree probably offers the best gameplay to those who've never skied before. Thing is, once you've been out on the slopes, you know there's no way it compares to being chased by a pixelated abominable snow man. Thus, SkiFree has ruined your skiing forever.
The best?- 7
FreeCell
- Photo:
Most of us will never understand how FreeCell is different from Solitaire, but moms of the world insist it's a totally disparate experience. Maybe it's something you only truly understand when you're over 40 and have a son who won't stop pretending to be a ninja and you're halfway through a bottle of red and, like, seriously, this game is not the same as Solitaire.
The best? - Photo:
Do you think Pipe Dream is responsible for millions of millennials being unable to fix real world problems with straightforward solutions? What's not to love about this game? It's kind of like Tetris, but instead of clearing out lines of weird blocks, you got to make a giant mess.
The best?- 9
JezzBall
- Photo:
Oh JezzBall, you're just an out-of-date computer game, so you'll never know how happy you made a generation of bored latchkey kids.
The best? - 10
Rodent's Revenge
- Photo:
Rodent's Revenge was such a weird puzzle game, and it really doesn't get enough credit for being a kind of reverse Pac Man. Didn't the cats you trap turn into skeletons after the clock ran out? And isn't trapping cats kind of inherently weird?
The best?
