5 video games to play with dad on Father’s Day

From Zelda to Mario to Sonic, here are some top picks

Are you looking to celebrate your dad on Father’s Day without leaving the couch?

Believe it or not, your dad might be just as familiar with some of today’s most popular video games as you are.

Many of them were originally created more than 20 years ago.

Some of these games include Final Fantasy, Need for Speed and FIFA. 

Back then, the graphics and the gameplay weren’t nearly as complex as they are today. 

Even if you don’t have a dad in your life, here are five games to play alongside any adult who is a vintage gamer.

1. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge

The TMNT game was originally created in 1989 on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES).

Shredder’s Revenge is a modern version of the classic “beat-em-up” style game from the 1980s and ’90s developed by Konami, a Japanese entertainment company.

It’s a multiplayer game and features the original turtle squad along with some new characters.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge is inspired by the retro arcade-style video games from the 1980s and ‘90s. (Image credit: Nintendo)

2. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

While most Zelda games are single-player, your dad might enjoy seeing Link again as you both pass the controller back and forth. 

The very first game, The Legend of Zelda, was released in 1986. 

In this game, much like modern-day Zelda games, players travel through the mythical kingdom of Hyrule using Link’s unique powers and abilities to fight enemies.

All together, the Zelda franchise has sold more than 130 million games worldwide, according to Nintendo.

Link, seen on the right, is the main character of the Zelda franchise. (Image credit: Ed Jones, Richard A. Brooks/Getty Images)

3. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

This year, Paper Mario is celebrating the 20th anniversary since The Thousand-Year Door was released on Nintendo’s GameCube in 2004.

The Mario franchise as a whole began in 1985, including favourites like Super Mario World, Mario Party and Super Smash Bros.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, came out on Nintendo Switch on May 23, 2024. (Image credit: Nintendo)

Can you guess which game is the best-selling Mario game of all-time?

It’s Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the Nintendo Switch, which sold nearly 62 million copies, according to Nintendo.

Mario Kart is a family favourite and a great game to play against dad!

4. Sonic Frontiers

Sonic the Hedgehog was a side-scrolling game originally released in 1991 on the Sega Genesis console.

Since then, the Sonic franchise has grown to include many more video games, comic books, movies and TV shows.

Gameplay from the new Sonic X Shadow Generations game, coming out in October 2024. (Image credit: SEGA)

Sonic Frontiers is a great game to play with dad this year because it features many familiar Sonic characters in an open-world setting.

The newest game of the Sonic franchise, Sonic X Shadow Generations comes out on all major platforms in October 2024.

5. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Spider-Man first appeared in comics by Stan Lee in 1962, but his debut in the video game world came 20 years later.

In 1982, the first Spider-Man game came out on the Atari 2600 console. 

The new game, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, brings graphics and gameplay that earned a nomination for game of the year in 2023 at the Game Awards.

Gameplay of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, where Spider-Man swings through the streets of New York City. (Image credit: Playstation/YouTube)

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TOP IMAGE CREDIT: Tribute Games, Richard A. Brooks/Getty Images, Nintendo, SEGA, Insomniac Games