Licensed games used to be a staple to many gaming homes in the earlier days of gaming. I was a huge fan of licensed games as a kid as sometimes those were the only games to get, but are any of them actually good? I have a list of 5 more licensed games to check out! If you want to see my previous top 5 list, go here.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time
SNES, Arcade
SNES Cover of TMNT: Turtles in Time
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles star in this time-traveling beat’em up. You can pick one of the four turtles to battle Shredder and his gang in multiple settings in the past and future. The game was a hit in the arcade, but it also transitioned very well to the Super Nintendo. Overall, it is one of the best TMNT games in the series long run of videogames and worth it to check out!Â
Astro Boy: Omega Factor
GBA
GBA Astro Boy
Astro Boy is a series I am not very familiar with. I did not watch the show when I was a kid, but this game is outstanding even if you don’t know the source material. Another beat’em up game, this one has you controlling Astro Boy as he protects Earth. One thing I like about this game is that it has chances to improve your speed and strength as you battle through levels.
Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue
PSX, N64, Dreamcast
PS1 Copy of Toy Story 2
Who doesn’t love Toy Story? This isn’t just a Toy Story game, but also one of the best 3D platformers of the era. It was released on a huge variety of consoles so many people could experience how great this one is. You are controlling Buzz Lightyear as he is trying to rescue Woody from that creepy toy collector guy who stole him from a yardsale. The game follows the general plot of the movie, but it is just so much fun experiencing the different settings from the movie and playing as a toy.
SpongeBob: Battle for Bikini Bottom
PS2, GameCube, Xbox
Ready to Battle Robots
Robots have taken over Bikini Bottom and it is up to SpongeBob and his friends to save the day! This is another great 3D platformer that has a huge variety of levels with different objectives in each. Think Mario 64 meets SpongeBob. You have to do various challenges to earn golden spatulas to unlock the next level. Each level is based on a popular location in the show and they are all huge with a ton of character. Lastly, you can even buy the remake that came out recently!
Spider-Man
PSX, N64, Dreamcast
#image_title
Spider-Man has been a massive hit for the PlayStation 5, but what about the games that came before? This is one of the best Spider-Man games that really got me into the property as a kid. The game has you controlling the wall-crawling web-slinger himself. You are off to clear your name after being framed by Doctor Octopus and Carnage. My favorite part about this game is the huge amount of characters that appear in it! You fight Scorpion, Rhino, Venom, and more! You even get to see Daredevil, Black Cat, Human Torch, and the Punisher. If you love Spider-Man, you need to try this game.
Licensed games aren’t always so bad. Sometimes they are a big part of our childhood and still hold up today. What are some of your favorite Licensed games that I forgot to include? Let us know in the comments or on our Discord.