Games Released in 1993

1,167 new games released in 1993 across 10 platforms, with Sega Mega Drive/Genesis being the most popular seeing 239 new titles. December was the busiest month of the year, launching 183 new releases.

Which days had the most releases?

February 1 was the busiest single day of 1993 with 99 releases.

Which month had the most releases?

The busiest release month of 1993 was December, totaling 183 titles.

How did each season compare?

Q1 was the busiest quarter of 1993 with 397 releases.

Q2 (Apr–Jun)

298 releases
Day of the Tentacle

Most popular release in Q2

Day of the Tentacle

Day of the Tentacle, also known as Maniac Mansion II: Day of the Tentacle, is a 1993 graphic adventure game developed and published by LucasArts. It is the sequel to the 1987 game Maniac Mansion. The game's plot follows Bernard Bernoulli and his friends Hoagie and Laverne as they attempt to stop the evil Purple Tentacle — a sentient, disembodied tentacle — from taking over the world. The player takes control of the three and solves puzzles while using time travel to explore different periods of history. Dave Grossman and Tim Schafer co-led the game's development, their first time in such a role. The pair carried over a limited amount of elements from Maniac Mansion and forwent the character selection aspect to simplify development. Inspirations included Chuck Jones cartoons and the history of the United States. Day of the Tentacle is the eighth LucasArts title to use the SCUMM engine, and the company's first title to feature voice acting. The game was released simultaneously on floppy disk and CD-ROM to critical acclaim and commercial success. Critics focused on its cartoon-style visuals and comedic elements. Day of the Tentacle has featured regularly in lists of "top" games published more than two decades after its release, and aspects have been referenced in popular culture.

Q3 (Jul–Sep)

232 releases
Super Mario All-Stars

Most popular release in Q3

Super Mario All-Stars

Super Mario All-Stars is a compilation of remasters for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It enhances Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 2, Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels with an added on-cartridge save feature, updated graphics and sound, and an additional "battle game" for Super Mario Bros. 3. It is also the first time that the original Japanese Super Mario Bros. 2 was released for the western public. Revisit the magic and fun of the classic Super Mario Bros. series on your Super NES! All the great Super Mario Bros. games for the NES have been powered up with 16-bit graphics and sound and collected on one super game pak. As an added bonus, the previously unreleased "Lost Levels" are included. These super challenging courses have never been available in this country until now!

Q4 (Oct–Dec)

355 releases
Doom

Most popular release in Q4

Doom

In the future, humans have left Earth and settled throughout the galaxy. On Mars, the Union Aerospace Corporation has established a radioactive waste facility and allowed the military to conduct teleportation experiments on the nearby moons of Deimos and Phobos. Hours ago, the base on Mars began receiving incoherent distress messages from Phobos, while Deimos has disappeared completely. With all attempts to establish contact failing, you and your team have been dispatched to investigate. Upon arrival, you secure the perimeter as the rest of your team enters the facility. As you stand guard, your radio crackles with the sound of gunfire, cracking bones and blood-curdling screams and eventually falls silent. Alone, with no way off the planet or means to defend yourself other than your trusty pistol, there’s only one way out - into the complex of death and the horrors that await you within. If you plan to get out of here alive you must fend off the hordes of demonic imps, haunting spectres and your undead, former comrades waiting to tear you limb from limb. So, grab the nearest shotgun and blast your way out of this fragging madness!

Which platforms saw the most releases?

Sega Mega Drive/Genesis received 239 new titles in 1993, holding the most releases. The runner up was Super Famicom with 235 new titles.

Sega Mega Drive/Genesis239 releases
Super Famicom235 releases
Super Nintendo Entertainment System190 releases
Game Boy102 releases
Arcade86 releases
DOS69 releases
PC-9800 Series63 releases
Family Computer55 releases
Sega CD54 releases
Turbografx-16/PC Engine CD53 releases

What genres were most popular?

Adventure was the dominant genre in 1993 with 198 titles. Platform followed closely with 195.

Adventure198
Platform195
Sport179
Role-playing146
Shooter145
Strategy114
Fighting106
Puzzle103
Arcade93
Simulator81