I was thinking today about games I played in the 80s and 90s that instantly fascinated me for the sheer beauty of their design, especially character movement and wordless storytelling. What younger gamers might take for granted in today's games - realistic, fluid, and natural animation - was revolutionary then. In the 80s and early 90s, characters looked basic, with rougher, simpler movements and animations. Enter four of the best games of their time:
Karateka (1984) by Jorden Mechner
Prince of Persia (1989) by Jorden Mechner
Another World (1991) by Éric Chahi
Flashback (1992) by Paul Cuisset
These four have forever topped my list for their initial "wow" effect, fluid character animations and incredible wordless storytelling. The latter is an underrated art form.