Top 5 most nostalgic cartoon based video games

Many of us grew up watching cartoons. While cartoons allow us to create limitless imaginative worlds, video games based on cartoons provide not only a nostalgic homage but also player interaction. Here are our Top 5 most nostalgic cartoon based video games.

This fun side-scrolling platformer was on the 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). Players control this wonderful black and white cat to rescue his girlfriend, Kitty the Cat, from the evil Professor. Felix’s Magic Bag of Tricks is the key tool he uses to get rid of many enemy creatures. The Magic Bag powers up Felix by transforming into a monoplane, a submarine, a one-wheeled car, and many more, which helps him big time exploring different places. Furthermore, find some hidden giant Magic Bags for entering the bonus rooms, where Felix can collect Tokens and Milk.

The game’s controls are precise and responsive. Its environments, characters, and animations are well-crafted, with cartoon-like colors that fit original nature of the Felix the Cat cartoons. The cheerful music enhances the gameplay experience, especially when the Felix the Cat cartoon theme is heard throughout the game.

The game was ported to Nintendo Switch by Konami in 2024. In this handheld version, players can choose to play either the NES version or the Game Boy version.

• Faithfulness: 8/10
• Creativity: 7/10
• Story: 7/10
• Gameplay: 8/10
• Graphics: 8/10
• Sound: 7/10
• Controls: 8/10
• Overall: 7.6/10

This Disney quality side-scrolling platformer was on the 16-bit Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). Players control this Disney mascot to rescue his dog, Pluto, from the evil Pete. Mickey has the ability to grab different objects and make them freely move at his will, accurately attack his enemies, and magically drop useful items. Three costumes are available to Mickey — Wizard, Firefighter, and Mountaineer. When Mickey changes into any of these costumes, he gains corresponding magical powers that enable him to overcome different challenges. Furthermore, Mickey collects coins, which allow him to purchase useful items and upgrades in the shop.

The game’s controls are precise, and the grab-and-release mechanics are well-designed, enhancing the game’s strategic elements. Everything appears lively and colorful. The backgrounds are skillfully crafted, accurately reflecting environmental elements, and all the characters feature smooth, detailed animations. The music and sound effects are quite catchy and fit the game’s magical moments effectively. Each tone clearly conveys the Mickey Mouse theme, recalling familiarity of nostalgia for Disney cartoons.

The game was ported to Game Boy Advance by Capcom in 2002. In this handheld version, players can choose to play as either Mickey Mouse or Minnie Mouse.

• Faithfulness: 7/10
• Creativity: 8/10
• Story: 7/10
• Gameplay: 7/10
• Graphics: 9/10
• Sound: 8/10
• Controls: 8/10
• Overall: 7.7/10

This Marvel amazing beat’em-up action game was on the 32-bit arcade machine. Players control not only their friendly neighborhood Spidey but also three other characters — Hawkeye, Black Cat, and Namor. All four characters can team up at the same time to confront formidable villains like the evil Dr. Doom, in this thrilling multiplayer game. Each character has his or her own moves, and players can input simple commands like holding directional buttons and pressing double buttons to execute more powerful special moves. What makes this game unique is that the camera occasionally zooms out, allowing players to see more of the surrounding environment. During this zoom-out mode, each character can perform more actions like climbing, crawling, sliding, hanging, and even falling. In addition, the characters can find dropped items to replenish their health points.

The game’s controls are straightforward, and the command moves are easy to use. The camera zoom transition has been designed to be as smooth as possible. The character graphics are impressively big and well animated in detail during zoom-in. On the other hand, the background physics are richer during zoom-out. Moreover, speech balloons are displayed in specific situations, such as greeting, hitting enemies, getting hit, introducing a boss, winning, and losing. This dynamic feature, along with plenty of voice acting and fast-paced, upbeat music, provide players with a dramatic comic book experience.

The game was never ported to home consoles or handheld systems.

• Faithfulness: 8/10
• Creativity: 9/10
• Story: 7/10
• Gameplay: 7/10
• Graphics: 9/10
• Sound: 8/10
• Controls: 9/10
• Overall: 8.1/10

This “Cowabunga” beat’em-up action game was on the 32-bit arcade machine. Players control any of the four Ninja Turtles, and all four characters can team up at the same time to save the kidnapped Statue of Liberty, in this adventurous multiplayer game, which is the improved sequel to the 1989 version. The Turtles have their own sets of weapons and special abilities, and players can input simple commands like holding directional buttons and pressing double buttons to execute more strong moves like running, shoulder dash, slide kick, slam, and throw. Also, enemies can be thrown at the screen for a dramatic effect. The stages are filled with objects like construction signs, fire hydrants, and fire barrels that the Turtles can break to inflict extra damage on their enemies. However, the Turtles must be cautious not to get hurt by background traps like wrecking balls, explosives, and security lasers. There are support items like pizza for the Turtles to collect to recover health points, as well as power items like bombs that enable a timed invincible super attack.

The game’s controls allow for accurate movements like running, jumping, and aiming. Each Ninja Turtle and their enemies feature a wide array of animations, including subtle facial expressions. In several stages where the Turtles surf at hyperspeed, the game handles it smoothly without any slowdown. Fitting voice lines are heard whenever the Turtles are happy or unhappy, and fully reflect the variety of other characters and humorous elements within the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles world. The intense music is as “totally radical” as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles theme.

The game was ported to Super Nintendo Entertainment System by Konami in 1992. In this home console version, only two players can play the game at the same time, and the enemies are weaker, and some bosses are different.

• Faithfulness: 8/10
• Creativity: 8/10
• Story: 8/10
• Gameplay: 9/10
• Graphics: 9/10
• Sound: 9/10
• Controls: 9/10
• Overall: 8.6/10

This was one of the best-selling beat’em-up action games on the 32-bit arcade machine. Players control any of the four members of the Simpsons family, and all four characters can team up at the same time to save the kidnapped baby Maggie, in this incredibly entertaining multiplayer game. Bart smashes with his skateboard, Lisa whips with her jump rope, Marge thrusts with her vacuum cleaner, and Homer punches his way through just everything madly to his Maggie. The Simpsons family members support one another by using the powerful double-team attacks: a double clothesline attack with Bart and Lisa, a rolling attack with Homer and Marge, a riding attack with the kids and Homer, a launching attack with the kids and Marge. Food like donuts, burgers, beer, and more for health points recovery, while objects like bottles, rocks, signs, bowling balls and more for additional attacks, are all over the places. Adding more to the game’s fun factor, some interesting bonus mini-games have been specifically designed and thoughtfully placed after the previous stages. After defeating the second stage boss, he makes his escape in a hot air balloon, the Simpsons family members in the bonus mini-game have to blow up their self look-alike balloons to go after the escapee. And, after falling into the water at the end of the sixth stage, the characters become trapped in their own dreams, and in the next bonus mini-game the players have to slap them to wake them up.

What makes this game one of the best-selling is that every aspect of the game stays true to the original The Simpsons cartoon. All the cartoon references, including hilarious Simpsons quotes in voice lines and speech balloons, iconic places like Springfield, Krustyland, Moe’s Tavern, Channel 6, Nuclear Power Plant, familiar people like Sherri and Terri the twins, Snowball II the pet cat, Bleeding Gums Murphy, Principal Skinner, and more, can be seen in this enjoyable game. The whole game, from the specially made opening, the cutscenes, to the ending credits roll, looks and sounds just like a real The Simpsons cartoon episode.

The game was ported to Sony PSN by Konami in 2012. In this home and online versions, players can play with friends online, and have access to new unlockable bonus contents like posters, artworks, leaderboards, trophies, and more game modes.

• Faithfulness: 10/10
• Creativity: 9/10
• Story: 8/10
• Gameplay: 9/10
• Graphics: 9/10
• Sound: 9/10
• Controls: 9/10
• Overall: 9/10