1998 in video games

1998 saw many sequels and prequels in video games and several new titles such as Half-Life, Metal Gear Solid, F-Zero X, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Gex: Enter the Gecko, Xenogears, Banjo-Kazooie, Spyro the Dragon, Radiant Silvergun and MediEvil.

List of years in video games

Top rated gamesEdit

Critically acclaimed titlesEdit

Metacritic (MC) and GameRankings (GR) are aggregators of video game journalism reviews.

1998 games and expansions scoring at least 88/100 (MC) or 87.5% (GR)[1][2]
Game Publisher Release Date Platform MC score GR score
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Nintendo November 21, 1998 Nintendo 64 99/100 97.54%
Tekken 3 Namco March 26, 1998 PlayStation 96/100 95.8%
Half-Life Sierra Entertainment November 19, 1998 Microsoft Windows 96/100 94.02%
Metal Gear Solid Konami September 3, 1998 PlayStation 94/100 93.24%
Grim Fandango LucasArts October 30, 1998 Microsoft Windows 94/100 92.97%
Resident Evil 2 Capcom January 21, 1998 PlayStation 89/100 93.13%
Street Fighter Alpha 3 Capcom December 23, 1998 PlayStation 93/100[3] 90.28%[4]
StarCraft Blizzard Entertainment March 31, 1998 Microsoft Windows 88/100 92.85%
Panzer Dragoon Saga Sega January 29, 1998 Sega Saturn N/A 92.46%
Banjo-Kazooie Nintendo June 29, 1998 Nintendo 64 92/100 92.38%
Thief: The Dark Project Eidos Interactive December 1, 1998 Microsoft Windows 92/100 89.41%
Baldur's Gate Interplay Entertainment December 21, 1998 Microsoft Windows 91/100 91.94%
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX Nintendo December 12, 1998 Game Boy Color N/A 91.21%
International Superstar Soccer 98 Konami June 4, 1998 Nintendo 64 91/100 89.15%
Crash Bandicoot: Warped Sony Computer Entertainment October 31, 1998 PlayStation 91/100 89.07%
Xenogears Square February 11, 1998 PlayStation 84/100 90.99%
Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus GT Interactive November 17, 1998 PlayStation 88/100 90.42%
NFL Blitz Midway Games September 12, 1998 PlayStation N/A 90.13%
NFL Blitz Midway Games September 9, 1998 Nintendo 64 N/A 90.02%
1080° Snowboarding Nintendo February 28, 1998 Nintendo 64 N/A 89.60%
Battlezone Activision March 11, 1998 Microsoft Windows N/A 89.03%
Railroad Tycoon II Gathering of Developers November 2, 1998 Microsoft Windows 89/100 83.15%
Turok 2: Seeds of Evil Acclaim Entertainment December 10, 1998 Nintendo 64 86/100 88.96%
FIFA 99 EA Sports October 31, 1998 Microsoft Windows N/A 88.87%
Caesar III Sierra Entertainment September 30, 1998 Microsoft Windows N/A 88.6%
Unreal GT Interactive May 22, 1998 Microsoft Windows N/A 88.58%
NBA Live 99 EA Sports November 10, 1998 PlayStation N/A 88.39%
R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 Namco December 3, 1998 PlayStation 88/100[3] 88.16%[4]
NHL 99 EA Sports September 30, 1998 Microsoft Windows N/A 88.11%
Wario Land II Nintendo October 21, 1998 Game Boy Color N/A 88.04%[4]
Myth II: Soulblighter Bungie December 28, 1998 Microsoft Windows 88/100 86.39%
Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit Electronic Arts March 25, 1998 PlayStation 88/100 85.63%
Starsiege: Tribes Sierra Entertainment December 23, 1998 Microsoft Windows 88/100 84.77%
Shogo: Mobile Armor Division Monolith Productions October 15, 1998 Microsoft Windows 88/100 81.6%
FIFA 99 EA Sports October 31, 1998 PlayStation N/A 87.95%
F-Zero X Nintendo July 14, 1998 Nintendo 64 85/100 87.61%
Madden NFL 99 EA Sports November 1, 1998 Nintendo 64 N/A 87.59%

EventsEdit

BusinessEdit

Game releasesEdit

The list of games released in 1998.

Video game platforms
GB Game Boy
GBC Game Boy Color
N64 Nintendo 64
Neo Neo Geo
NeoCD Neo-Geo CD
PS1 PlayStation
Sat Sega Saturn
DC Dreamcast
Win Microsoft Windows

January–MarchEdit

Month Day Title Platform(s) Genre(s) Source(s)
J
A
N
U
A
R
Y 		5 Robotron 64 N64 Shoot 'em up [11]
8 No One Can Stop Mr. Domino! PS1 Puzzle [citation needed]
12 Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes Arcade Fighting [citation needed]
21 Resident Evil 2 PS1 Survival horror [12]
29 Bomberman World PS1 Action, maze [citation needed]
Bust a Groove PS1 Music, fighting [citation needed]
Panzer Dragoon Saga Sat Action-adventure, role-playing [citation needed]
31 Skullmonkeys PS1 Platform [citation needed]
F
E
B
R
U
A
R
Y 		9 James Bond 007 GB Action-adventure [citation needed]
11 Xenogears PS1 Role-playing [13]
24 Gex: Enter the Gecko PS1 Platform [citation needed]
26 Burning Rangers Sat Action, third-person shooter [citation needed]
Tenchu: Stealth Assassins PS1 Action-adventure, stealth [citation needed]
X-Men vs. Street Fighter: EX Edition PS1 Fighting [citation needed]
28 1080° Snowboarding N64 Racing [14]
Battlezone Win First-person shooter, real-time strategy [citation needed]
ReBoot PS1 Action [15]
Star Wars: Rebellion Win Real-time strategy [citation needed]
M
A
R
C
H 		9 Wario Land II GB Platform [citation needed]
19 Descent: FreeSpace – The Great War Win Space combat simulation [citation needed]
Real Bout Fatal Fury 2: The Newcomers Arcade Fighting [citation needed]
25 Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit PS1, Win Racing [citation needed][16]
26 Dungeon Master Nexus Sat Role-playing [citation needed]
The House of the Dead Sat Rail shooter [citation needed]
The King of Fighters '97 Sat Fighting [citation needed]
Tekken 3 PS1 Fighting [17]
29 Parasite Eve PS1 Action role-playing [18]
31 Blasto PS1 Third-person shooter [citation needed]
StarCraft Win Real-time strategy [19]
Warhammer: Dark Omen Win Real-time tactics [citation needed]
World Cup 98 PS1, Win Sports (soccer) [citation needed]

April–JuneEdit

Month Day Title Platform(s) Genre(s) Source(s)
A
P
R
I
L 		4 Sakura Wars 2: Thou Shalt Not Die Sat Tactical role-playing, dating sim, visual novel [20]
7 Warhammer: Dark Omen PS1 Real-time tactics [21]
9 G-Darius PS1 Shoot 'em up [citation needed]
14 GT 64: Championship Edition N64 Racing [citation needed]
17 Puyo Puyo Sun Win Puzzle [citation needed]
29 Real Bout Fatal Fury 2: The Newcomers Neo Fighting [citation needed]
Shining Force III Scenario 2 – Target: Child of God Sat Tactical role-playing [citation needed]
Super Tempo Sat Platform [22]
30 Bomberman Hero N64 Platform [citation needed]
Might and Magic VI: The Mandate of Heaven Win Role-playing [citation needed]
World Cup 98 Win Sports (soccer) [citation needed]
M
A
Y 		7 Jazz Jackrabbit 2 Win Platform [23]
18 World Cup 98 N64 Sports (soccer) [citation needed]
21 Baroque Sat Role-playing [citation needed]
22 Unreal Win First-person shooter [citation needed]
28 Radiant Silvergun Arcade Shoot 'em up [citation needed]
The King of Fighters '97 PS1 Fighting [citation needed]
J
U
N
E 		4 Atelier Marie Plus PS1 Role-playing [citation needed]
International Superstar Soccer 98 N64 Sports (soccer) [citation needed]
Vigilante 8 PS1 Vehicular combat [24]
11 Super Gem Fighter Mini Mix PS1 Fighting [citation needed]
12 Wetrix N64 Puzzle [25]
24 Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines Win Real-time tactics [citation needed]
25 Castlevania: Symphony of the Night Sat Action-adventure [citation needed]
29 Banjo-Kazooie N64 Platform [26]
Street Fighter Alpha 3 Arcade Fighting
30 Deep Fear Sat Survival horror [citation needed]
N2O: Nitrous Oxide PS1 Shoot 'em up [27]

July–SeptemberEdit

Month Day Title Platform(s) Genre(s) Source(s)
J
U
L
Y 		4 Heart of Darkness PS1 Platform [citation needed]
9 FIFA 99 PS1 Sports (soccer) [citation needed]
Super Gem Fighter Mini Mix Sat Fighting [citation needed]
14 F-Zero X N64 Racing [28]
WWF War Zone PS1 Sports (professional wrestling) [citation needed]
16 Brave Fencer Musashi PS1 Action role-playing [citation needed]
Hopkins FBI Win Adventure [29]
23 Radiant Silvergun Sat Shoot 'em up [citation needed]
Real Bout Fatal Fury 2: The Newcomers NeoCD Fighting [citation needed]
30 Star Ocean: The Second Story PS1 Action role-playing [citation needed]
31 F-1 World Grand Prix N64 Racing [citation needed]
Heart of Darkness Win Platform [citation needed]
Iggy's Reckin' Balls N64 Racing [citation needed]
A
U
G
U
S
T 		1 Gex: Enter the Gecko N64 Platform [citation needed]
Pokémon Stadium N64 Role-playing [30]
6 Resident Evil: Director's Cut – Dual Shock Version PS1 Survival horror [citation needed]
Wachenröder Sat Tactical role-playing [citation needed]
11 WWF War Zone N64 Sports (professional wrestling) [citation needed]
21 Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Win Tactical shooter [citation needed]
27 Black/Matrix Sat Tactical role-playing [citation needed]
S
E
P
T
E
M
B
E
R 		3 Metal Gear Solid PS1 Action-adventure, stealth [31]
9 NASCAR 99 N64 Racing [32]
NFL Blitz N64 Sports (football) [33][32]
10 NFL Blitz PS1 Sports (football) [34]
Spyro the Dragon PS1 Platform [35]
12 Pokémon Yellow GB Role-playing [36]
17 Suikoden Sat Role-playing [citation needed]
23 Digital Monster Version S: Digimon Tamers Sat Virtual pet [citation needed]
Madden NFL 99 N64 Sports (football) [32]
Shining Force III Scenario 3 – Bulzome Rising Sat Tactical role-playing [citation needed]
25 Dragon Warrior Monsters GBC Role-playing [citation needed]
26 Dance Dance Revolution Arcade Music [citation needed]
30 Body Harvest N64 Action-adventure [citation needed]
Caesar III Win City-building [citation needed]
Delta Force Win Tactical shooter [citation needed]
Gex: Enter the Gecko Win Platform [citation needed]
NHL 99 PS1, Win Sports (ice hockey) [citation needed]
Rogue Trip: Vacation 2012 PS1 Vehicular combat [citation needed]
Shogo: Mobile Armor Division Win First-person shooter [citation needed]

October–DecemberEdit

Month Day Title Platform(s) Genre(s) Source(s)
O
C
T
O
B
E
R 		1 MediEvil PS1 Action-adventure [37]
NHL 99 N64 Sports (ice hockey) [38]
2 NFL Blitz Win Sports (football) [39]
12 Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit Win Racing [citation needed]
21 Turok 2: Seeds of Evil N64 First-person shooter [40]
Tetris DX GBC Puzzle [41]
Wario Land II GBC Platform [42]
22 Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter Sat Fighting [citation needed]
28 Grim Fandango Win Adventure [43]
29 Fallout 2 Win Role-playing [44]
31 Age of Empires: The Rise of Rome Win Real-time strategy [citation needed]
Apocalypse PS1 Third-person shooter [citation needed]
Centipede Win Shoot 'em up [citation needed]
Crash Bandicoot: Warped PS1 Platform [45]
FIFA 99 Win Sports (soccer) [citation needed]
Glover N64, Win Platform [citation needed]
Heretic II Win Action-adventure [citation needed]
NBA Live 99 PS1, Win Sports (basketball) [46]
Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus PS1, Win Platform [47]
Railroad Tycoon II Win Business simulation [citation needed]
N
O
V
E
M
B
E
R
 		1 Red Comrades Save the Galaxy Win Adventure [citation needed]
4 NBA Live 99 N64 Sports (basketball) [48]
9 SiN Win First-person shooter [49]
10 Rush 2: Extreme Racing USA N64 Racing [citation needed]
11 Sonic R Win Racing [citation needed]
19 Half-Life Win First-person shooter [50]
20 The Settlers III Win Real-time strategy, city-building [51]
Tomb Raider III PS1, Win Action-adventure [52]
21 The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time N64 Action-adventure [53]
25 Blood II: The Chosen Win First-person shooter [54]
27 Puyo Puyo Sun GBC Puzzle [citation needed]
D
E
C
E
M
B
E
R 		1 Gex: Enter the Gecko GBC Platform [citation needed]
Thief: The Dark Project Win Stealth [55]
3 Star Wars: Rogue Squadron Win Action [citation needed]
4 Magic and Mayhem Win Real-time strategy [citation needed]
7 Star Wars: Rogue Squadron N64 Action [citation needed]
12 Falcon 4.0 Win Air combat simulation [citation needed]
Hey You, Pikachu! N64 Virtual pet [56]
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX GBC Action-adventure [57]
17 Suikoden II PS1 Role-playing [citation needed]
18 Mario Party N64 Party [58]
Pokémon Trading Card Game GBC Digital collectible card game [59]
StarCraft: Brood War Win Real-time strategy [60]
21 Baldur's Gate Win Role-playing [61]
South Park N64 First-person shooter [62]
23 Chocobo's Mystery Dungeon 2 PS1 Roguelike [63]
Sonic Adventure DC Platform [64]
Starsiege: Tribes Win First-person shooter [65]
28 Myth II: Soulblighter Win Real-time tactics [66]
31 Akuji the Heartless PS1 Action-adventure [citation needed]

ReferencesEdit

  1. ^ "Best Video Games for 1998". Metacritic. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  2. ^ "Highest-Ranking Games of 1998 (with at least 5 reviews)". GameRankings. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Best Video Games for 1999". Metacritic. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  4. ^ a b c "Highest-Ranking Games of 1999 (with at least 10 reviews)". GameRankings. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  5. ^ Stephanie Strom (March 14, 1998). "Sega Enterprises Pulls Its Saturn Video Console From the U.S. Market". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 30, 2013. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
  6. ^ Kent, Steven L. (2001). The Ultimate History of Video Games: The Story Behind the Craze that Touched our Lives and Changed the World. Roseville, California: Prima Publishing. p. 558. ISBN 0-7615-3643-4.
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