Five classic online games that have been immortalised online

With new technology comes an endless stream of new games, offering everything from immersive VR experiences to authentic characters with intimate storylines. However, even the most digital-minded amongst us feel the lure of nostalgia calling us back to simpler times. No matter how great the graphics get, there’s nothing quite so satisfying as watching those chunky pixels hop about the screen like the building blocks of our childhood. Here are ten games that you can play online which have stood the test of time.

Super Mario Brothers

Mario and Luigi don’t look quite like they used to; they’re a little more streamlined and a little less glitchy. And yet, jumping about as this inexplicably adventurous plumbing duo – squashing goombas, eating mushrooms, collecting coins and sliding down pipes – is as charming as ever. If you don’t have a Nintendo Switch, it’s possible to download the Super Mario Run app or simply play online.

Pac-Man

You don’t get much more classic than Pac-Man. Not only is it an icon of the 80s gaming world, but the imagery is also featured in films and TV to this day. A chomping yellow circle being chased by ghosts might not be the most complex concept, but it’s the simple beauty of the maze that makes it so timeless. What’s more, thanks to the Internet, it’s possible to get your name on the global leaderboard rather than being restricted to one arcade machine.

Solitaire

Anyone who had a Windows computer as a child will probably have a soft spot for solitaire. Whether you prefer the original or had a knack for spider solitaire, sitting at that virtual card table could keep you entertained for hours. Dealing the deck with competitors across the world adds another layer of intrigue to the game that stops it from ever getting old.

Tetris

Tetris is a game that has come to be part of our vocabulary. It’s the word we use when we are trying to pack the car or squeeze the leftover lasagne into a suitable tub. It’s the term we use for that feeling of pure satisfaction when everything fits into place. This is why it’s so magical that it can be downloaded to our mobile devices: watching those cubes descend into the perfect space on our phones provides a feeling of instantaneous inner peace that words can’t quite describe.

Diddy Kong Racing

If you thought Diddy Kong Racing died with your N64, you are wrong. For one thing, it was also launched on the  DS in 2007, to the delight of fans of the franchise. Crucially though, thanks to the wonders of modern technology, you can now play it online from your phone or computer. With the help of an emulator, you can hop into your favourite kart, plane or hovercraft and race your way to victory as a whole host of beloved animal characters including a monkey, crocodile, tiger, turtle and badger.

The editorial unit