Konami is a third-party game developer with a significant historical legacy. This developer has been rolling out gaming blockbusters for arcades and home consoles since the 1980s. It is the company behind renowned gaming franchises, such as Castlevania, Contra, and Metal Gear Solid. These are some of the best Konami games in history that are still worth playing today.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a legendary 1989 arcade game that propelled the Ninja Turtles cartoon into gaming folklore. This game became the gold standard for side-scrolling beat ‘em ups because of the kinetic joy of its co-op gameplay, which enabled four players to team up. It had some of the most engaging beat ‘em up action mixed with the Turtles cartoon series charm. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game was a huge global hit and remains in some arcades today.
To play this arcade classic today, check out the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection. That compilation pack includes 13 games from the Ninja Turtles game series, including the 1989 arcade hit. You can play Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles from that compilation pack on the Switch, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
Contra III: The Alien Wars
Contra III: The Alien Wars ported the intense run-and-gun action of its 8-bit predecessors onto the 16-bit Super NES with great effect. This is one of the best Konami games because it remains a masterclass of pure, unadulterated side-scrolling shooting action with explosive Mode 7 effects, massive bosses, and relentless action. It raised the bar for Contra games with refined and expanded gameplay mechanics, such as dual weaponry and new movement options.
You can play Contra III on the Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One today with the Contra Anniversary Collection. That compilation pack includes 10 games from its series, including Contra III, NES, and arcade titles. Those are ports of the original games, rather than remakes, with additional display settings and save state options.
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night was one of the best Konami games in history for how it revolutionized its 2D action-platforming franchise. It defined a new-style Metroidvania platforming genre by moving away from the more traditional linear level-by-level structure and introducing a vast interconnected castle for players to explore. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night also had one of the greatest symphony rock soundtracks in gaming history.
Players can play Symphony of the Night today via the Castlevania Requiem bundle for PlayStation 4. That package includes the original Symphony of the Night and Rondo of Blood games. Castlevania Requiem natively supports HD and 4K and includes some display effects and filter options for the games.
Metal Gear Solid
Metal Gear Solid must be selected as one of the best Konami games in history because it altered the trajectory of the gaming industry with its revolutionary stealth gameplay. This game sidelined mindless shooting action in favor of tactical concealment, with groundbreaking mechanics like radar evasion, enemy vision cones, and environmental camouflage. Metal Gear Solid’s seamless presentation, masterful voice acting, tactical focus, and iconic boss encounters made it one of the most enthralling action-adventure games. It was a politically charged espionage thriller like no other, more comparable to a Hollywood Blockbuster.
Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 is a compilation package that enables you to play four of the earlier MGS games on the Switch and PlayStation 5 consoles. That includes the original Metal Gear game, along with the Songs of Liberty and Snake Eater sequels. It also comes with master and screenplay books providing details about the Metal Gear Solid characters, lore, and scripting.
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
This Metal Gear Solid 2 sequel was a breathtaking showcase for the PlayStation 2 with amazing graphical detail and fidelity for its era. It introduced significant gameplay innovations, such as first-person aiming, non-lethal combat options, and enhanced enemy AI. The AI narrative in Metal Gear Solid 2 is also remarkably prophetic, which makes it all the more interesting to play via the Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 package.
Contra
Contra cemented Konami’s reputation for arcade excellence during the 1980s. This fast-paced run-and-gun side-scrolling shooter enthralled players with its variety of action and co-op gameplay. It shook up the standard formula for side-scrolling shooters by shifting perspectives between levels. This was a tough arcade game to beat, which made its legendary Konami Code cheat code for extra lives all the more appreciated. It remains a classic game to play today as part of the Contra Anniversary Collection.
Castlevania
The original Castlevania is also among the best Konami games for how it broke the side-scrolling platforming mould with its spooky gothic atmosphere, whip cracking, and unique horror style. Castlevania was a game that relied on precise controls and more strategic sub-weapon use for classic action gameplay that set it apart from other platformers. The game’s unforgettable soundtrack, which included famous tunes like Vampire Killer, was another highlight.
This game remains a timeless classic you can play via the Castlevania Anniversary Collection. That compilation pack for the Switch and Windows PC includes eight Castlevania titles, including the original game that kick-started the series. You can also read the History of Castlevania – Book of the Crescent Moon ebook digital content bundled within the game package.
Konami has a history and legacy that most third-party developers envy because of the games above. Those best Konami games are among the most celebrated milestones in gaming history. They are not relics of the past because they remain fun and engaging retro games to play on modern consoles today.
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