8 of the Best Rare Video Games in History

Rare is the British games developer that has had a very productive partnership with Nintendo in the past. This developer released some big gaming blockbusters for Nintendo consoles. Today, Rare is a first-party developer within the Xbox Game Studios umbrella. Rare’s games are renowned for their cutting-edge graphics and technical innovation. These are the best Rare video games in gaming history.

Killer Instinct

Rare made a huge splash in arcade and Nintendo console gaming with Killer Instinct during the 1990s. Killer Instinct was one of the best Rare video games because of how it revolutionized the fighting genre with its fast-paced, adrenaline combo system and unique two-health bar matches. This game also featured unforgettable graphics and audio with its pre-rendered 3D visuals that were vastly superior to Street Fighter II. Street Fighter II and Mortal Kombat II looked utterly dated in the mid-1990s when placed alongside Killer Instinct’s sparkling 3D sprites and cinematic visuals.

You can play Killer Instinct on Windows PCs today. Steam includes Killer Instinct: Anniversary Edition, which is a premium package that includes all 29 fighters from the KI seasons. That version of the game also has updated graphics rendering.

GoldenEye 007

GoldenEye 007 is one of the best Rare games ever because it shifted the trajectory of an entire first-person shooter genre. This cinematic adaptation of the GoldenEye Bond movie for the Nintendo 64 revolutionized the FPS genre on home consoles with its stealth mechanics, objective-based missions, and iconic split-screen four-player multiplayer. Mission objectives added a completely new dimension to GoldenEye 007’s gameplay at a time when FPS games were typically focused on shooting everything in sight. The addition of time challenges also added unique replayability value to GoldenEye 007.

Perfect Dark

Perfect Dark was one of the highest-rated N64 games alongside Ocarina of Time and Mario 64. This was another masterfully designed FPS with a revolutionary, robust Combat Simulator multiplayer experience and engaging sci-fi campaign set in a gritty, futuristic sci-fi world. It was a first-person shooter of unmatched depth with an astonishing array of creative weaponry, co-op and counter-op modes, and a treasure trove of fun cheat codes to unlock. Perfect Dark also pushed back the graphical technical boundaries with enhanced lighting effects and cinematic sequences for which an N64 Expansion Pack was required.

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy Kong’s Quest

Although Donkey Kong Country pushed back graphical boundaries on the SNES, Diddy Kong’s Quest was a more polished sequel. Diddy and Dixie were the stars of the show in this sequel, which many players rate as among the finest 16-bit platformers. Players loved DKC 2 because of its dynamic character mechanics, creative and diverse level design, atmospheric Stickerbrush Symphony soundtrack, and rewarding collect-a-thon. This is also one of the finest SNES games for visual quality with its SGI pre-rendered 3D sprites, which set it apart from many other 16-bit platformers.

Banjo-Kazooie

Banjo-Kazooie was a masterpiece of a 3D platform game based on foundational aspects from Mario 64. This was one of the great Rare video games because of its rich storytelling, vibrant level design, immersive audio, and rewarding exploration. The dynamic duo of Banjo and his Kazooie bird sidekick provided players with a repertoire of cooperative abilities for unlocking new areas in a 3D platform game that encouraged deeper exploration. Banjo-Kazooie’s vibrant worlds and tight controls made it a joy to play on the N64.

Sea of Thieves

Sea of Thieves is a swashbuckling multiplayer pirate adventure developed by Rare. This is perhaps the most notable multiplayer Rare video game because it focuses on pure adventure rather than monotonous grind. Sea of Thieves features a stunning and immersive open world for players to explore with an accessible yet deep co-op multiplayer experience. Every Sea of Thieves voyage is unpredictable because the game gives players more freedom to choose paths. Thus, Sea of Thieves captures the very essence of emergent storytelling with its unpredictable adventures.

Battletoads

Battletoads on the NES game console was Rare’s first major hit. It was Rare’s answer to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles gaming phenomenon. Players loved this side-scrolling beat ‘em up because of how it mixed traditional brawling, platforming, vehicles, and abseiling into one game. Battletoads was one of the best Rare video games because the genre variety, iconic humor, and co-op chaos it offered were unique for its time.

Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise

Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise is a delightful Rare-developed life simulation game for the Xbox 360. This is a game in which players can transform a neglected plot of land into a beautiful garden for attracting Piñata wildlife. Viva Piñata offers considerable strategic ecosystem management depth beneath its vibrant and charming exterior. It also excels as a social game with the robust co-op mechanics and Piñata Vision that enables players to share items and creatures with the Xbox Live Vision camera.

Those rare video games above represent the pinnacle of UK game development. There’s no doubting that Rare’s most productive era was when partnered with Nintendo. However, Rare has also rolled out some exciting console and PC game titles as a part of Xbox Game Studios. Rare’s best games were technical masterpieces that pushed back the boundaries of console limitations.