If you grew up in India in the ’90s or early 2000s, chances are your first taste of digital entertainment came from a bulky desktop PC, a dial-up connection, and a handful of games that defined an entire generation. These weren’t just games. They were shared cultural moments. From school computer labs to cyber cafés and family PCs, these classics shaped how Indian millennials experienced fun, challenge, and technology. Here’s a nostalgic look at the PC games every ’90s Indian millennial played, whether legally installed or mysteriously appearing on the computer thanks to a helpful cousin.
1. Road Rash – The OG Racing Obsession
Ask any ’90s kid about their first racing game, and the answer is almost always Road Rash. Released in the early ’90s but wildly popular in India throughout the decade, this motorcycle combat-racing game became a staple on home PCs. The combination of high-speed rides, roadside hazards, and the ability to whack opponents with chains made it absolutely addictive. For many Indian millennials, Road Rash was the first taste of competitive gaming; long before online multiplayer existed in our worlds.
2. Prince of Persia – The First Platformer We Ever Loved
Long before the Sands of Time trilogy, the original Prince of Persia ruled school computer labs. Known for its fluid rotoscoped animation and nerve-wracking countdown timer, this game tested patience, precision, and memory. That iconic leap over spikes, the mirror clone, and the final showdown with Jaffar became universal childhood memories. Completing the game wasn’t just a win, it was a rite of passage.
3. Midtown Madness – The Ultimate City Racing Sandbox
For Indian millennials who discovered gaming in the early 2000s, Midtown Madness was pure freedom. Unlike structured racing circuits, this game lets you tear through Chicago’s streets with zero consequences, driving on footpaths, blasting through traffic signals, and flipping the Beetle for fun. Cyber cafés across India echoed with laughter and chaos as kids raced, crashed and replayed endlessly. For many, this was the first introduction to an open-world experience.
4. Age of Empires II – The Strategy Classic That Defined LAN Gaming
Before esports, there was Age of Empires II, a strategy game that transformed Indian cyber cafés into battlegrounds. Every millennial remembers picking favourite civilisations, building empires, and unleashing the dreaded “wololo” priest conversions. Whether you played the campaigns or endless deathmatches, AoE II taught us resource management long before adult life did. It remains one of the most iconic PC games for Indians who love strategy and competitive play.
5. NFS Most Wanted – The Era of Epic Car Chases
While the NFS series was popular from the start, NFS Most Wanted (2005) hit differently. This was the game that dominated Indian college hostels, neighbourhood gaming centres, and home desktops. With its cop chases, customisable rides, and legendary Blacklist rivals, Most Wanted became an essential part of every Indian millennial’s gaming journey. Beating Razor and reclaiming the BMW M3 GTR? Peak satisfaction.
6. Counter-Strike 1.6 – The Birth of Multiplayer Culture in India
For many Indian millennials, Counter-Strike 1.6 wasn’t just a game. It was the cyber café game. Teams yelling callouts, sniper battles in Dust 2, clutch rounds, and the satisfying thunk of planting the bomb… CS 1.6 shaped the social side of gaming long before battle royale games took over. Even those who weren’t “serious gamers” found themselves dragged into LAN matches with friends.
7. Dave – The Game That Lived in Every PC
It didn’t matter whether you were a hardcore gamer or someone who used the PC only for MS Paint—Dangerous Dave was installed on every Indian computer. Dave’s pixelated levels, secret rooms, and impossible jumps sparked frustration and joy in equal measure. For many, it was the first-ever platformer played on a computer.
8. GTA Vice City – A Cultural Phenomenon
Few games made as big an impact as GTA: Vice City. Set in a neon-soaked ’80s Miami (which many of us confuse with “America” in general), the game brought unparalleled freedom. Whether we completed missions or simply spent hours driving around on stolen bikes, Vice City became a defining part of Indian gaming culture.
Why These Games Still Matter
These games weren’t just entertainment. They were shared chapters in Indian millennial life. They introduced us to strategy, speed, storytelling, teamwork, and exploration. More importantly, they connected kids across schools, hostels and neighbourhoods long before social media existed.
In an era dominated by high-end GPUs and online multiplayer titles, revisiting these classics reminds us where our gaming journeys began. For ’90s Indian millennials, these games aren’t just memories; they’re milestones.
