10 Games That Were So Ahead of Their Time It Hurts
Ever play a game and suddenly realize you're in uncharted territory? That’s exactly how I felt when playing these back in the day—when I had more hair and less… fat around the waist. Some of these games changed entire genres, while others introduced mechanics that still blow my mind, even years later.
I figured why not put together a list of 10 games that were seriously ahead of their time? These are the ones that broke ground before the rest of the industry even knew what was happening.
Just a heads up: I still play the last one at least once a year. That’s how much I love it.
What makes a game ahead of its time, though? Well, it could be an innovative mechanic no one had thought of, a storyline that pushed boundaries, or tech that maxed out the potential of its console. Whatever it was, these games made us rethink what video games could do—and what they should be.
Ready to take a trip down memory lane? Let’s get into it!
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1. Pokémon 1st Generation (Game Boy)
Pokémon Gen 1 changed how we viewed handheld games by introducing the idea of trading and battling with other players through the Game Boy Link Cable. It wasn’t just a single-player game; it was social, which was wild for the time. Not to mention, it created an entirely new genre that still dominates the world today.
2. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64)
Ocarina of Time was the first game to really nail 3D open-world exploration. That Z-targeting system? It pretty much laid the groundwork for how future 3D action games would handle combat. Plus, the time travel mechanic and dungeon design were so intricate, it felt like it was pulling off magic on the N64.
3. Super Mario 64 (N64)
Super Mario 64 introduced a whole new world (literally) to platforming by letting you roam in 3D space. The freedom to explore levels from different angles and tackle objectives in any order? Total game-changer. Mario’s fluid movement in 3D also set the standard for character control in platformers moving forward.
4. Final Fantasy Tactics (PSX)
Tactics took turn-based strategy and storytelling to a whole new level. The deep job system combined with a morally complex narrative was way more intricate than anything else at the time. Political intrigue? Check. Customizing your army down to every skill and job class? Double check.
5. The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (PC/Xbox)
Morrowind gave you an open world where you could do anything. No hand-holding, no “you must go here next” mission markers. You were dumped into a beautifully weird, alien landscape and left to figure it out. The level of freedom was overwhelming (in a good way), and it’s a format that Bethesda stuck with ever since.
6. Metroid Prime (GameCube/Switch)
Metroid Prime didn’t just slap a first-person view onto a Metroid game. It recreated the 2D exploration of earlier Metroids in a 3D space perfectly. The atmospheric world-building, environmental storytelling, and scanning mechanics made the game feel like you were piecing together an alien puzzle one discovery at a time.
7. Shadow of the Colossus (PS2/PS4)
Shadow of the Colossus was one of the first games to show that less can be more. No hordes of enemies, no side quests, just you and the Colossi. Its minimalist storytelling and huge, interactive boss fights made it feel like a game about art as much as it was about adventure.
8. Parasite Eve (PSX)
Parasite Eve was a crazy mix of survival horror and RPG that felt like a glimpse into the future of action RPGs. It had cinematic storytelling, deep combat mechanics, and a mature narrative—a combination few games were doing at the time. Square Enix really leaned into creating something fresh here.
9. Resident Evil 4 (PS2/GameCube)
Resident Evil 4 didn’t just revolutionize survival horror—it revolutionized third-person shooters with its over-the-shoulder camera. The fluid combat system combined with horror elements was something no one had seen before. It created a blueprint for nearly every modern action game.
10. Xenogears (PSX)
Xenogears is my favorite game ever, so I am 100% biased. It had a deep, convoluted storyline that tackled big topics like philosophy, religion, and the nature of existence. It was a story-driven RPG at a time when most RPGs were just focusing on fantasy tropes. And let’s not forget about the giant mechs you got to fight in.
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