What was your favorite Windows 95 game?
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It's been over two decades since Microsoft released its groundbreaking Windows 95 OS on August 24, 1995. Since then, we've written love letters to Windows XP and popped Listerine tabs to get that awful taste of Windows Vista out of our mouths. We then resumed with Windows 7 and 8, skipped over 9 (why? what's the story here??) and are now adjusting to Windows 10. So since most of us have seen more operating systems than presidents in our lifetime, it's worth taking a look back at the release that put Microsoft on the map.
What do you remember about Windows 95? I asked various people here at Continuum, and here's what people of all ages and tech experience had to say!
Windows 95 as Told by Kids Who Grew Up in the 90s
While most of us instantly picture this classic maze screen saver...
or hear a dial-up sound followed by "YOU'VE GOT MAIL!"...
...let's be real. It was all about the Windows 95 games for us kids who grew up in the 90s. Forget Angry Birds or Candy Crush! We couldn't get enough of:
Pinball
Yes, we were all pinball wizards when this game was released, and our thumbs paid the ultimate price. Who else remembers hitting the space bar with the determination of a teen attempting to get into an online chat room on AOL?Minesweeper
Yeah...like anybody ever won this game. You. were. always. so. close. You had almost all of the mines mapped out, and then the slightest distraction would rattle your focus. For me, it was usually my mom calling up, "MAAAAARYYYYY, you need to let the dog out now!" Sure, it wasn't the most exciting game. There were no special effects or post-apocalyptic world visuals, but how good did you feel each time you sidestepped catastrophe and discovered the little emoticon at the top remained smiling?That Cat and Mouse Game!!
Rodent's Revenge was my undoing. Out of all Windows 95 games, this is the one I was the most addicted to. As that little gray mouse I scurried to dodge the hungry felines - up arrow, down arrow ahhhhh left arrow! - and watched with relief as they'd be forced to curl up when blocked in. I'll leave you with that comforting thought rather than remind you of the sheer terror of two cats coming at you at once. Yes, you actually screamed. Don't deny it.SkiFree
Chocolate milk, AIM and SkiFree. That's how I rewarded myself for enduring hours of geometry (I was always more of an algebra fan), P.E. and petty locker gossip - after I completed my homework, of course! The animation was crude, but we all felt like Olympic skiers gliding through the stark white Swiss Alps, narrowly avoiding tree concussions.And then of course we can't talk about SkiFree without calling to attention this possessed Snowman and demonic Yetti hybrid...
Warning: the following Game Over image may be unsuitable for small children...
EXCEPT SMALL CHILDREN WERE FORCED TO WATCH THEIR PIXELLATED SELVES GET GOBBLED UP BY THE SCARIEST CREATURE TO COME OUT OF THE 90S, AND WE'RE STILL NOT OK.What were your favorite Windows 95 games? Chip's Challenge? I can still hear the theme music in my head. JezzBall? Pipe Dream?
Keep reading to see what features and functionalities our IT professionals remember, and even watch a video of teens reacting to Windows 95! It's aggravating.
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I completely forgot about the cat and mouse game. I did enjoy that one. Minesweeper was probably the one I spent the most time playing. I cheated too much at the pinball game to make it enjoyable for any period of time.
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Not sure if it was a '95 game but Loom is probably my favorite games of all time.
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Command and Conqure was my favorite.. .though it started as Windows 3.1 game.
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Hover was my favorite, game... But I really like the Good Times video that was on the Windows 95 CD. I have no idea, but the music to that song is mesmerizing to me.
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Chips Challenge was amazing, I've just bought number 1 and 2 (previously unreleased due to copyright dispute stuff) on Steam!
But gotta love RTCW too...The game that got me into FPS games (from watching my dad play it I should add...)
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Well, I liked a lot. Most of the games I had were demo's or shareware.
However, I did have a few full games.Favourite was definately X-Wing Vs Tie Fighter
Honourable mentions: Hover (Windows 95 Plus! disc), Stars! (shareware), Age of Empires (Firends house), Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II (Demo), Fury III (demo), Return Fire (demo) -
@dafyre said:
Hover was my favorite, game... But I really like the Good Times video that was on the Windows 95 CD. I have no idea, but the music to that song is mesmerizing to me.
That was a pretty cool video.
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Does anyone remember the game, it was futuristic tank warfare where the tanks were all polygons and they hovered around? There were 3 different classes I think. Started with a T.
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Traxx?
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I never played a game on Windows 95.
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@coliver said:
Not sure if it was a '95 game but Loom is probably my favorite games of all time.
I have that currently from Steam, I think.
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@scottalanmiller said:
@coliver said:
Not sure if it was a '95 game but Loom is probably my favorite games of all time.
I have that currently from Steam, I think.
Probably, I think it is on GOG as well.
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V4Victory
Syndacate
Commandos
Jagged Alliance: Deadly Games
Panzer General 1 & 2
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I remember the ice skating level of Chip's Challenge!!!
Also, Oregon Trail anyone?
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@MKM8DY Command and Conquer 1 through 4, Dune 1+2. Also a little Duke Nukem 3D in the computer repair lab, slightly modified with some of ..... those..... mods. Hopefully the different network shares that was hidden on are gone by now!
