5 Retro Games You Should Replay as an Adult

Here are just a few classics that get even better with age.

Playing video games as a kid is likely one of your fondest memories. Whether you were squashing Goombas in Mario, catching ‘em all in a game of Pokemon, or getting your butt handed to you over & over again in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, there’s nothing quite like experiencing a new game for the first time. And while replaying some of these games as an adult may simply remind you of frustrating or exhilarating experiences as a child, there are some games that – like fine wine – age well with time. Whether it’s the advanced game mechanics you were too young to leverage, or the themes you couldn’t understand at the time, all of the games on this list are ones that deserve a replay in your adult years. Try out some of these games in your spare time and discover what you didn’t pick up on as a child.

StarTropics for NES

Released in 1990 for the Nintendo Entertainment System, StarTropics is an action-adventure video game that was released exclusively in North America and Europe. The game follows regular Seattle teenager Mike Jones as he visits C-Island, an island on the South Seas inhabited by monsters. Upon arriving, Mike discovers that his uncle, Dr. Steven Jones, has disappeared. The local village chief gives Mike a yo-yo for protection and sends Mike on a mission to find his uncle, traveling across the islands of the South Seas and slaying monsters along the way.

While the action and adventure of this game was captivating for children, StarTropics takes on an entirely new life for adult gamers. For starters, the writing is surprisingly clever – while as a child, you probably skimmed the dialogue to get straight to the action, adult players will discover that the game is full of witty writing, pop culture references, and campy sci-fi humour. As an adult, you’ll notice that the game plays like a mashup of Indiana Jones, E.T., and a Saturday morning cartoon – and this time, you’ll get all the jokes. The game’s story also has more heart than you probably remember – replay it as an adult, and you’ll notice themes of family, friendship, and sacrifice. The bond between Mike and his kidnapped uncle, and the emotional twists near the end of the game, will resonate more deeply when you’re old enough to understand loss and loyalty.

StarTropics is available through the Nintendo Switch Online service for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 users. 

Super Metroid for SNES

Released in 1994 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Metroid is the second entry in the Metroid series. And it isn’t just a cornerstone of gaming – it’s a game that grows with you.

Replaying the game as an adult, you’ll probably notice that the different environments – with their unique music and visuals –  tell a story. The game’s tone shifts through environmental cues and unspoken narrative moments, like the final battle with Mother Brain.

You’ll also gain a new appreciation for the world of Zebes, as it isn’t just a map, but a living, breathing maze. As an adult, you’ll appreciate the brilliant level design, where every new power-up unlocks a different part of the world that you may have visited previously. The sense of discovery feels deeper when you can recognize how intricately the whole planet is constructed.

Plus, the game’s eerie, atmospheric soundtrack becomes a character of its own, building tension and signaling danger in a way that feels cinematic.

Super Metroid also doesn’t hand-hold. There are no tutorials, no flashing arrows, and no in-game guides telling you where to go next. Instead, it’s just you, your instincts, and your curiosity. As a child, Super Metroid may have felt overwhelming with its freestyle design. But now, as an adult, you’ll gain a great deal of satisfaction in figuring things out for yourself.

Finally, the game’s themes of isolation and resilience in the face of challenges will resonate more with adult players. Samus is alone and vulnerable in a strange new world, finding ways to use her powers and skills to navigate her way to the end. It isn’t just a game – it’s a quiet struggle for survival in a hostile world, and there’s something deeply resonant about that now.

Super Metroid is available through the Nintendo Switch Online service for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 users.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past for SNES

Released in 1991 for the Super Nintendo, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is one of those rare games that feels entirely different when replayed through the eyes of adulthood. What once seemed like a fun, colourful adventure now reveals itself as a layered masterpiece of design, pacing, and storytelling.

As a kid, you probably wandered around aimlessly, mashed buttons, got stuck in dungeons, and barely scratched the surface of its layered story. But as an adult, you can fully appreciate the game’s clever puzzles, brilliant pacing, and the emotional weight of Link’s journey.

There’s also the matter of the Dark World mechanic. While the original moment you unlocked the Dark World likely hit hard, as an adult, you’ll be able to appreciate how clever and ahead of its time this mechanic truly was. Navigating two mirrored versions of Hyrule isn’t just cool – it’s a masterclass in non-linear world-building.

The storyline will also hold more emotional weight for adults. As a kid, rescuing Princess Zelda felt like a standard fairytale trope. But as an adult, you can see the bigger stakes – the fall of a kingdom, Link’s personal growth, and the underlying themes of fate, courage, and corruption.

Plus, the exploration phase of the game will feel more rewarding, and you’ll be able to go about it in a more methodical way. You’ll find heart pieces you previously missed as a child, discover hidden caves, and appreciate how densely packed and interconnected the overworld is.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past for SNES is available through the Nintendo Switch Online service for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 users.

EarthBound for SNES

Released in 1995 for the Super Nintendo, EarthBound is full of all sorts of goodies you may have missed as a child. Replaying the game as an adult is like watching your favourite childhood movie and realizing it was way deeper, weirder, and more profound than you ever imagined. What felt like a quirky, bizarre RPG as a kid reveals itself to be a poignant satire on American culture, childhood, and growing up. Its humor, deeper themes, and emotional ending hit way harder now.

First and foremost, you’ll quickly notice the game’s 1990s satire. As a child, EarthBound’s world was strange and silly – talking statues, hippie enemies, and ATM cards? But as an adult, you’ll recognize these elements for what they are: a parody of 1990s American suburbia, consumerism, and authority figures. These game elements aren’t just random – they’re biting commentary wrapped in absurdity.

Secondly, you’ll notice that the game’s emotional depth hits harder. When you’re old enough to appreciate the game’s emotional throughlines, you’ll be better able to understand Buzz Buzz’s sacrifice, Ness confronting his own fear in Magicant, and the haunting final boss fight with Giygas. There’s a subtle darkness woven into the fabric of EarthBound – one that you’ll only truly understand when you play the game as an adult.

Plus, when you play EarthBound as an adult, you’ll be able to understand just how ahead of its time it was. EarthBound is an RPG that breaks all the typical rules of RPGs, with enemies that run away when you’re overpowered, auto-win battles when you’re strong enough, or the fact that you fight a pile of puke and win with a jar of fly honey. That’s not to mention the fact that you can call your mom to avoid homesickness. EarthBound doesn’t take itself too seriously, which means the serious moments that it does have are more impactful.

EarthBound’s Magicant sequence is also a metaphor that you’ll finally understand as an adult. Ness’ journey into Magicant is a deep dive into his own psyche, where he faces his subconscious, his fears, and, ultimately, his identity. As a kid, it was just trippy. But as an adult, it’s a profound moment of inner growth that you can now fully appreciate.

Finally, EarthBound is a time capsule of the weirdness that was the 1990s. From the enemy designs, to the slang-filled dialogue, to the offbeat soundtrack, EarthBound is more than just nostalgia – it’s an artistics statement, one that feels even more magical with the benefit of hindsight.

EarthBound is available through the Nintendo Switch Online service for Switch and Switch 2 users.

Metal Gear Solid for PlayStation

Released in 1998 for the PlayStation, Metal Gear Solid is far more than just your typical “gruff badass takes on evil”. The game’s story is way more philosophical than you remember. As a kid, the game was all about sneaking around and fighting cool bosses. But as an adult, you’ll find that the game contains deep themes like genetic determinism versus free will, the legacy of war and trauma, and government manipulation and surveillance. It’s a military thriller wrapped aorund a sci-fi think piece, and it hits way harder when you play as an adult.

The characters are also far more nuanced than you remember. You likely remember Solid Snake as a gruff badass – but now, you’ll see him as a deeply conflicted anti-hero. Every major character in the game has their own layers of pain, ideology, and tragedy that make their actions resonate. As an adult, you’ll see the humanity beneath their code names.

You’ll also pick up on the complex political themes, existential questions, and commentary on war and identity that likely flew over your head as a kid. Plus, the stealth gameplay rewards patience—something you’ve (hopefully) developed with age.

Plus, the game’s fourth-wall breaks will feel smarter than ever when you replay the game as an adult. Remember when Psycho Mantis read your memory card? Or told you to plug the controller into Port 2? As a kid, it blew your mind. As an adult, you’ll appreciate these moments as a form of meta-commentary on player agency, immersion, and control.

Finally, the game’s political messages feel uncannily relevant even decades later. Metal Gear Solid dives into themes like nuclear deterrence, secret military projects, arms proliferation, and state-sponsored terrorism. In today’s modern geopolitical climate, the game’s warnings about technology, war profiteering, and shadow governments feel disturbingly real. What once seemed like sci-fi now feels prophetic.

Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1, which contains the original Metal Gear Solid, is available through the PlayStation online store for PS4 and PS5 players.

There’s no shortage of games you likely played as a kid that have even more relevance and depth when you replay them as an adult. From StarTropics, to Metal Gear Solid, to EarthBound and more, these games age like fine wine – they only get better with time.

What’s one game that you found you came to appreciate more with age?