Earthworm Jim 1 & 2

An earthworm in a robotic suit saving the universe – if that sounds like something out of a Saturday-morning cartoon lineup, you're absolutely right. Earthworm Jim looks and plays exactly as if an animated film had come to life, and it is precisely this distinctiveness that made it one of the icons of gaming's nineties on the SEGA Mega Drive.

Behind the bizarre world and the hero stands artist Doug TenNapel, whose quirky imagination gave rise to a gallery of unforgettable characters – from a blind cat and a cosmic cow to catchphrases like „Groovy". The creative team had experience with animation, so the game boasts fluid, wildly exaggerated movements that give it that signature cartoon flair.

The gameplay mixes platforming with run & gun action. Jim shoots his blaster pistol, uses his own body as a whip to grapple and climb, and works his way through a series of inventive, often utterly insane levels. The 1995 sequel pushed the absurdity even further and added a range of completely madcap gameplay situations that broke the conventions of the genre.

Humor is absolutely essential here. Earthworm Jim pokes fun not only at its enemies but also at the medium itself and at genre clichés. This relaxed, slightly zany atmosphere combined with precise gameplay made it an instant hit and a beloved favorite of many players.

The success was so great that Jim outgrew the boundaries of games – he got his own television series as well as a range of merchandise, joining the ranks of the true pop-culture phenomena of his time. The first two installments remain the best this franchise ever offered.

Why play it: An iconic pair of action platformers with cartoon humor and insane design that defined the atmosphere of gaming's nineties.