Best games of 1993
The 15 best games released in 1993, ranked from 2,710 critic and player ratings.
The best game of 1993 is Maniac Mansion: Day of the Tentacle, with a critic score of 93/100 — updated augustus 2026.
Maniac Mansion: Day of the Tentacle
93
/100
02
Day of the Tentacle
Day of the Tentacle, also known as Maniac Mansion II: Day of the Tentacle, is a 1993 graphic adventure game developed and published by LucasArts. It is the sequel to the 1987 game Maniac Mansion. The game's plot follows Bernard Bernoulli and his friends Hoagie and Laverne as they attempt to stop the evil Purple Tentacle — a sentient, disembodied tentacle — from taking over the world. The player takes control of the three and solves puzzles while using time travel to explore different periods of history. Dave Grossman and Tim Schafer co-led the game's development, their first time in such a role. The pair carried over a limited amount of elements from Maniac Mansion and forwent the character selection aspect to simplify development. Inspirations included Chuck Jones cartoons and the history of the United States. Day of the Tentacle is the eighth LucasArts title to use the SCUMM engine, and the company's first title to feature voice acting. The game was released simultaneously on floppy disk and CD-ROM to critical acclaim and commercial success. Critics focused on its cartoon-style visuals and comedic elements. Day of the Tentacle has featured regularly in lists of "top" games published more than two decades after its release, and aspects have been referenced in popular culture.
89
/100
03
Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium
You are Chaz Ashely, a rookie Hunter straight out of training who is supported by Alys Brangwin – a crafty veteran whose good looks and prowess with the blade have earned her an awesome reputation. The two Hunters along with a cast of supporting characters will go beyond Motavia to unwittingly save their entire solar system.
88
/100
Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers
The adventure of Gabriel Knight starts with gathering materials for his new book, and ends up becoming a fight for his very soul. During his investigation he discovers that he is the heir to the title of “Schattenjäger”, or “Shadow Hunter”, which has been passed down in his family from generation to generation since times long forgotten. He must now face countless dangers in New Orleans, Africa and Germany, each bringing him ever closer to unraveling the mystery behind suspicious voodoo murders. Haunted by nightmares, he won't give up until he reveals the truth.
86
/100
05
DOOM
83
/100
06
Illusion of Gaia
Journey into the dark side of an ancient civilization. Radiating an ominous light in its path, the Chaos Comet threatens the existence of the planet. Battles erupt and a tentative peace is returned to the lands. Danger lurks as the Chaos Comet orbits and dreadful beasts lie awaiting. In the Age of Exploration a boy named Will is born. Tragedy strikes during an expedition to the Tower of Babel separating Will from his father. Telekinetic forces awaken as Will returns to South Cape. Armed with his transformation abilities of two great warriors, Will must save the planet. Gaia, Will's guiding spirit bestows magical powers and advice along his journey. With the help of his friends Will must battle relentless enemies and solve the puzzles of the ancient ruins. Patience and knowledge are essential to reunite this father and son.
81
/100
07
Castlevania: Rondo of Blood
In Castlevania X: Rondo of Blood, the player takes control of Richter, the ultimate Vampire Killer, guiding him through a total of nine stages filled with treacherous traps and hidden secrets. Using your legendary whip – passed on from generations of Belmonts – and a powerful selection of Item Crash attacks, it's up to you to destroy Dracula and his evil horde. What's more, rescuing Maria at some juncture in the game allows you to use her as a playable character for even more vampire-slaying fun.
80
/100
08
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening is the first title in the series to be released on a handheld system and the only Zelda title on the original Game Boy. The gameplay is mostly similar to its predecessor with a top-down perspective, however there are short sections in dungeons where the game switches to a side-scrolling view with platforming elements. For this new adventure, Link must go onto each of the 7 temples to retrieve a musical instrument that will help awaken the Wind Fish. Along the way, he must search the land and uncover hidden treasures and items that will allow him to progress on his journey. Since its release, Link's Awakening has been popular among fans and critics.
80
/100
09
The 7th Guest
The 7th Guest is a horror adventure described as "the first Interactive Drama", with plentiful pre-rendered 3D graphics, live action video clips, and an original, orchestrated musical score. The atmosphere is dense, the puzzles difficult and the experience as a whole is completely horrifying.
75
/100
10
The Lost Vikings
75
/100
11
Fatal Fury Special
70
/100
12
Gunstar Heroes
60
/100
13
Disney's Aladdin
59
/100
14
Mega Man X (1993)
55
/100
15
The Chaos Engine
40
/100
What is the best game of 1993?
Maniac Mansion: Day of the Tentacle currently tops the ranking with a score of 93/100 across 81 ratings. Ranking updated augustus 2026.
How is this ranking built?
Games are ranked on their aggregated critic score out of 100, with a minimum vote threshold so a single glowing review never outranks a proven classic; the Tier community's own F-to-S grades are shown alongside each game.