The most interesting games released in 1998
All the best and most popular games of the year, upcoming releases, and hits from the past. Use filters to narrow down search.
Half-Life
Action
November 19, 1998
An FPS set in a science-fiction world, created by the debuting American studio Valve Software. The story takes place in secret research facility of Black Mesa and begins the main character of the game – Gordon Freeman - arrives at the facility. As a result of failed experiment that opened an inter-dimensional portal, the laboratory is invaded by aliens from planet Xen, and our protagonist has to fight for survival, facing not only alien creatures, but also soldiers of a special forces unit, sent in to cover up the disaster. The goal of the game is to escape from the destroyed facility with the assistance of its other workers. Half-Life has been acknowledged as a cornerstone of the FPS genre, skillfully combining FPP with horror elements and complex plot.
Resident Evil 2 (1998)
Adventure
January 21, 1998
The second installment in the best-selling survival horror action-adventure game series. Similarly to the original installment, the game has been developed by the Japanese studio Capcom. The action of Resident Evil 2 is set after the events shown in the first installment – nearly all citizens of Raccoon City have been infected by a mysterious virus, which changed them into bloodthirsty zombies. Once again, the player gets to control two characters – this time around it's Leon, a young police officer and Claire, a journalist. Their task is to save Raccoon City from complete destruction and stop the virus before it spreads all over the world. In Resident Evil 2, gameplay revolves around exploration and solving environmental puzzles – another important aspect of the game is fighting numerous foes using a wide range of weapons, limited by scarce amounts of ammunition. As befits an installment in the Resident Evil series, in order to survive and escape consecutive dangers, the player has to carefully manage the supplies they acquire on their adventure.
Fallout 2
RPG
October 31, 1998
A post-apocalyptic RPG and a sequel to the 1997’s bestseller, Fallout. Fallout 2 was developed by Black Isle Studios, once again in cooperation with Interplay. The action is set in 2241, 80 years after the events of the first game. The player assumes the role of a chosen one, who is tasked by the village elders with finding the G.E.C.K, a device capable of restoring the world after the nuclear apocalypse. Many gameplay solutions from the original remain unchanged, including the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. character creation system and the tactical turn-based combat mechanics. The number of available skills and perks, as well as the player's weapon arsenal and additional equipment were increased. The game offers isometric 2D graphics, a feature characteristic of the RPGs of the late 90s.
Lula: The Sexy Empire
Strategy
February 18, 1998
An economic strategy game for adult players. It was developed by Interactive Strip. The player's task is to establish and expand a porn empire. The game is divided into three parts. First, the player is required to earn enough money to buy counterfeit documents in order to escape from a desert town, where the protagonist was left alone by treacherous companions after a bank heist gone wrong. Second, the player has to set up and develop their porn business - the player produces porn films and extends their studio. In the last part, global expansion begins and the player develops a chain of sex-shops and sends a 24/7 TV broadcast. A model called Lula is the player's main business partner, but one can also hire other actresses and actors. One of the player's tasks is to shoot porn films, which requires them to select appropriate stars and create scenarios. Lula: The Sexy Empire offers two-dimensional graphics, resembling comic books in terms of the visuals. The game features significant erotic content.
Age of Empires: The Rise of Rome
Strategy
January 31, 1998
An expansion for Age of Empires, a popular strategy game developed by Ensemble Studios. The expansion introduces four new civilizations (Rome, Carthage, Palmyra, and Macedonia) and additional battle units, including armored elephants, battle chariots, camel riders, slingshooters, as well as galleys armed with burning projectiles. Additionally, the add-on introduces new technologies, such as logistics, medicine, pavises, or martyrs, and incorporates buildings characteristic for the Ancient Rome era, including its numerous landmarks – during the gameplay, we can build coliseums, aqueducts, or thermae.
Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines
Strategy
June 30, 1998
A turn-based tactics game set in the World War II, created by Spanish developer Pyro Studios. In Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines you take command of a small squad of specially trained soldiers sent on a variety of high-risk missions behind enemy lines. The game offers 25 missions with varying objectives and difficulty levels. One of the characteristic features of Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines is the fact that each member of the team has different skills. The key to success in most missions lies in using them in a smart and synchronized way. Your team is composed of a variety of commandos: a green beret, a driver, a diver, a minesweeper, a sniper, and a spy – each of them has unique skills not available for the rest. For this reason keeping all your men alive is essential for completing each mission – loosing just one of them makes reaching your objectives impossible.
StarCraft
Strategy
March 28, 1998
A world-famous real-time strategy by the legendary developer Blizzard Entertainment. Set in a science fiction world, the game features dynamic battles between three enemy fractions – the descendants of humans known as Terrans, the enigmatic Protoss, and the insectoid Zerg. StarCraft offers 30 extensive missions divided into three different single player campaigns. Each of the available races is distinguished by unique units, technologies, buildings etc., giving players the opportunity to play in three vastly different styles. The single player mode serves as an introduction to the extensive multiplayer for up to eight players, which has earned StarCraft eternal fame and gathered a huge e-sport community. Additionally, the title offers level and scenario editor allowing for the creation of original levels, units, and even whole campaigns.
Mech Commander
Strategy
August 21, 1998
An unusual real-time strategy embedded in the Battle-tech universe, in which we take control of the powerful combat machines - the mosses. The game focuses on the tactical side of the clashes. There are no options for building a base and obtaining raw materials. Instead, our task is to skillfully control the battle groups.
Unreal
Action
May 15, 1998
A first person shooter set in science-fiction world, developed by the team of Epic Games studio, led by James Schmalz and Cliff Bleszinski. We play as a convict whose prison ship crashes on an unknown planet Na Pali, ruled by a hostile Skaarj race. Their representatives took over control of the planet and enslaved its inhabitants. To help them and escape from this dangerous place, the protagonist will have to travel through many different locations and face hordes of distinctive, intelligent monsters. Unreal's biggest asset was its game engine - the original Unreal Engine, which could generate graphics of previously unseen quality and support multiplayer matches, offering five different game modes.
Guilty Gear
Fighting
May 14, 1998
A two-dimensional brawl that debuted on PlayStation 1, and after many years also reached other platforms. Guilty Gear takes us into the future, when man-made, animated weapons have turned against their creators; as we struggle, we participate in a tournament whose winner will have to face their leader, the Testament.
Get Medieval
Action
August 10, 1998
Arcade action game in the realities of fantasy by Monolith Productions. Our task is to defeat the Great Dragon and save the kingdom of Arrius with one of the four characters available in the game. There are many levels of bloodthirsty creatures waiting for us, and each hero has his own unique skills. Graphics of the game is simple, but effective. Multiplayer mode allows you to play with up to four other players on the network.
StarCraft: Brood War
Strategy
November 18, 1998
An official expansion pack for the excellent real-time strategy by Blizzard Entertainment set in a science fiction setting. The action of StarCraft: Brood War takes place after the events of the base game. Even though the Overmind has been destroyed, the Zerg still pose a threat, and a new danger emerges. The central character of the expansion, around whom most of the story revolves, is Sarah Kerrigan – a Terran infected by the Zerg. She became the most powerful Overmind – the Zerg Queen. The expansion offers three campaigns, one for each races – the Terrans, the Protoss, and the Zerg. All races received a few new units and modifications. Brood War introduces additional types of terrain – twilight, ice, and desert – making levels more diverse. Moreover, the expansion enriches multiplayer with 150 new levels.
Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit
Racing
March 25, 1998
The third installment in the bestselling racing game series created by EA. The game allows us to drive the fastest cars in the world. This time it contains eight brand new racing tracks and eleven licensed vehicles among which one can find cars such as Aston Martin DB7, Ferrari 550 Maranello, and Lamborghini Diablo SV. The included editor lets us create hundreds of individual vehicles as well. The biggest novelty in Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit is the option to play on both sides of the law. During the game one can be either a classic roadhog, that breaks all possible rules and escapes the cops while listening to loud music, or a policeman who uses radars, road blocks, and caltrops in order to stop the fugitive. The game features improved graphics with realistic visual and weather effects, and even such details as falling leaves and the smoke coming from under the wheels.
Baldur's Gate
RPG
December 23, 1998
A fantasy RPG that draws inspiration from the roots of the genre and faithfully recreates the rules of the second edition of the D&D system. The action starts in Candlekeep, a stronghold located on the Sword Coast in the Forgotten Realms. The protagonist is a youngster brought up by his foster father, Gorion. When strangers attempt to take his life, both heroes try to escape, but Gorion sacrifices himself to save his son. Uncovering his true destination and the cause of the unexplained events become the goals of the protagonist. Bioware’s Baldur’s Gate offers a classical isometric view and the possibility of controlling a party of diversified characters with various personalities and statistics. The gameplay is focused on exploring vast lands of the Forgotten Realms, completing a myriad of primary and secondary quests, and real-time combat featuring an active pause.
F-22 Total Air War
Simulation
October 31, 1998
Continuation of the F-22 Air Dominance Fighter simulator by Digital Image Design. In the game we sit back at the helm of the undetectable Raptor fighter and move to the theatre of action known from the predecessor. We are waiting for 10 mini-campaigns describing 10 fictitious armed conflicts involving the USA, China and Russia.
Mortal Kombat 4
Fighting
June 24, 1998
The fourth installment of the popular series of fights and, at the same time, the first, in which the clashes take place in three-dimensional arenas. The title has retained all the elements characteristic of the cycle, including brutal finishers on defeated enemies.
Populous: The Beginning - Undiscovered Worlds
Strategy
November 30, 1998
Official add-on to Populous: The Beginning, the third installment of the so-called 'god games' series launched in 1989. The plugin doesn't make any changes in gameplay mechanics, offering 12 completely new missions for single- and multiplayer fun.
Blood II: The Chosen
Action
November 12, 1998
A dark first person shooter, created by authors of such hits as Shogo and F.E.A.R. The hero of the game is Caleb, the immortal warrior who fights against a corporation threatening humanity. There is no shortage of fancy weapons, diverse opponents and surprising locations in production. The game also contains a large dose of black humour and parodistic accents.
Tomb Raider III: Adventures of Lara Croft
Action
November 15, 1998
The third installment in a popular series of action-adventure games developed by Core Design and following the story of the fearless Lara Croft - an archeologist searching for legendary artifacts all around the world. In Tomb Raider III, the protagonist tries to find four mysterious artifacts carved from an ancient meteorite. In so doing, she visits five different locations, including a jungle in India, islands in the southern part of the Pacific Ocean, dark rooftops of London, an underground secret base known as Area 51 and the frosty Antarctica. Interestingly, the game is non-linear to a specific extent, for the player sets the order of visiting particular locations, excluding the first and one which comes the last. The next installment is based on the best mechanics of the predecessors, although several improvements were made. These include the addition of new movements, previously unavailable vehicles and weapons, as well as the increase in the number of different enemy types.
Thief: The Dark Project
Action
December 2, 1998
A first person action game with stealth features, set in a Medieval world, developed by the experienced Looking Glass Technologies studio, known from such games as System Shock and Flight Unlimited. In Thief: The Dark Project we take the role of Garret, a young adept of the art of thievery, who leaves the ranks of a secret brotherhood to start working on his own. During the following 12 missions the protagonist will explore various locations filled with many enemies – from ordinary humans, through guards and professional assassins, and up to blood-thirsty fantasy monsters. The game revolves around stealth and encourages you to fulfill your objectives silently while avoiding direct confrontation with enemies, as most of the time they lead to instant death. At the time of release, the game stood out thanks to its impressive three dimensional graphics filled with atmosphere of the dark, Medieval times and suggestive sound effects.
Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped
Arcade
October 31, 1998
Digital reissue of the platformer from 1998, which is the third fully-fledged part of the series about the adventures of the friendly Jamrai Crash. In this part of the game he also has to help his sister Coco. Together they move in time to stop the villains who want to reverse the course of history and prevent the frustrated plans of Dr. Neo Cortex from being thwarted.
Heart of Darkness
Action
July 4, 1998
A climatic platform game featuring logical puzzles, developed by the French Amazing Studio led by Eric Chahi - the creator of Another World. In Heart of Darkness, we play as a boy named Andy, whose dog Whisky is kidnapped by Forces of Darkness during an eclipse. Despite the dangers, the protagonist sets out to rescue his pet, equipped with self-made plasma weapon and vehicle. In terms of game mechanics, the title is a classic platform game, with the hero jumping, running, swimming and – naturally – fighting various enemies: from spiders, worms, and shadows, up to the Lord of Darkness himself. But Andy won’t be alone during his journey, as he can rely on the assistance of the strange flying creatures, which resisted the darkness. Another ally of our hero is magical energy, which allows him to use nearby trees in different ways.
Hopkins FBI
Adventure
July 16, 1998
A detective adventure with a point-n-click interface. As a ruthless FBI agent, you must find Bernie Berkson, a dangerous criminal, who escaped straight from the execution site on an electric chair. The game involves investigating, interrogating witnesses, collecting evidence and solving riddles.
Warhammer: Dark Omen
Strategy
April 7, 1998
Warhammer: Dark Omen is a real-time strategy (RTS) with cRPG elements, whose action is set in the reality of the popular fantasy universe. The player takes on the role of captain of mercenaries Morgan Bernhardt, leading his troops to fight against the hordes of darkness. The title was produced by Mindscape under license from GamesWorkshop.
Tekken 3
Fighting
April 29, 1998
The third installment of the cult series of three-dimensional fights. The action of Tekken 3 takes place a dozen or so years after its predecessor, which served as a pretext for exchanging a large part of playable characters. The production introduced a lot of changes to the gameplay mechanisms, putting a bigger aspect on rolling fights in full three-dimensional and limiting the height of jumps.
Might and Magic VI: Mandate of Heaven
RPG
April 15, 1998
The sixth major installment of the cult RPG series. Might and Magic VI: Mandate of Heaven tells a completely new story that fills the plot hole between the second and third installment of the Heroes of Might and Magic series. The action takes us to the fantastical land of Enroth which was plunged into chaos after king Roland Ironfist had disappeared and the apocalypse worshippers decided to overthrow prince Nicolai to put their leader on the throne. The eponymous Mandate of Heaven can only be reclaimed by the player-controlled party of four heroes — this time, they are all human and represent character classes typical of the universe. The novelty in the series is the possibility of choosing between turn-based and real-time combat mode. In technical terms, the production is a great step forward in history of the series since it features seasons, a day-and-night cycle, and fully three-dimensional graphics that let us rotate the view by 360 degrees as well as look up and down.
