Overview of the events of 1998 in video games
This article may misquote or misrepresent many of its sources. Please see the
cleanup page for more information. Editors: please remove this warning only after the diffs listed [[Wikipedia talk:Requests for comment/Jagged 85/(({subpage))}|here]] have been checked for accuracy. (August 2022)
1998 saw many sequels and prequels in video games, such as F-Zero X, Marvel vs. Capcom, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Resident Evil 2, Metal Gear Solid, Glover, Crash Bandicoot: Warped, Street Fighter Alpha 3, Gex: Enter the Gecko, Fallout 2, Return to Krondor and Tomb Raider III, along with new titles such as Banjo-Kazooie, Half-Life, MediEvil, Radiant Silvergun, Spyro the Dragon, StarCraft and Xenogears.
The year's best-selling video game console was the PlayStation for the third year in a row. The year's most critically acclaimed title was The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, which remains Metacritic's highest-scoring game of all time. The year's best-selling home video game worldwide was Pokémon Red/Green/Blue/Pikachu for the Game Boy, while the year's highest-grossing arcade game in Japan was Tekken 3.
Top-rated games
Game of the Year awards
The following titles won Game of the Year awards for 1998.
Critically acclaimed titles
Famitsu Platinum Hall of Fame
The following video game releases in 1998 entered Famitsu magazine's "Platinum Hall of Fame" for receiving Famitsu scores of at least 35 out of 40.[25]
Metacritic and GameRankings
Metacritic (MC) and GameRankings (GR) are aggregators of video game journalism reviews.
1998 games and expansions scoring at least 88/100 (MC)[26] or 87.5% (GR)[27][28]
Game
|
Publisher
|
Release Date
|
Platform
|
MC score
|
GR score
|
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
|
Nintendo
|
November 21, 1998
|
Nintendo 64
|
99/100
|
97.54%
|
Tekken 3
|
Namco
|
March 26, 1998
|
PlayStation
|
96/100
|
95.8%
|
Half-Life
|
Sierra Entertainment
|
November 19, 1998
|
Microsoft Windows
|
96/100
|
94.02%
|
Metal Gear Solid
|
Konami
|
September 3, 1998
|
PlayStation
|
94/100
|
93.24%
|
Grim Fandango
|
LucasArts
|
October 30, 1998
|
Microsoft Windows
|
94/100
|
92.97%
|
Resident Evil 2
|
Capcom
|
January 21, 1998
|
PlayStation
|
89/100
|
93.13%
|
Street Fighter Alpha 3
|
Capcom
|
December 23, 1998
|
PlayStation
|
93/100[29]
|
90.28%[30]
|
StarCraft
|
Blizzard Entertainment
|
March 31, 1998
|
Microsoft Windows
|
88/100
|
92.85%
|
Panzer Dragoon Saga
|
Sega
|
January 29, 1998
|
Sega Saturn
|
—
|
92.46%
|
Banjo-Kazooie
|
Nintendo
|
June 29, 1998
|
Nintendo 64
|
92/100
|
92.38%
|
Thief: The Dark Project
|
Eidos Interactive
|
December 1, 1998
|
Microsoft Windows
|
92/100
|
89.41%
|
Baldur's Gate
|
Interplay Entertainment
|
December 21, 1998
|
Microsoft Windows
|
91/100
|
91.94%
|
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX
|
Nintendo
|
December 12, 1998
|
Game Boy Color
|
—
|
91.21%
|
International Superstar Soccer 98
|
Konami
|
June 4, 1998
|
Nintendo 64
|
91/100
|
89.15%
|
Crash Bandicoot: Warped
|
Sony Computer Entertainment
|
October 31, 1998
|
PlayStation
|
91/100
|
89.07%
|
Xenogears
|
Square
|
February 11, 1998
|
PlayStation
|
84/100
|
90.99%
|
Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus
|
GT Interactive
|
November 17, 1998
|
PlayStation
|
88/100
|
90.42%
|
NFL Blitz
|
Midway Games
|
September 12, 1998
|
PlayStation
|
—
|
90.13%
|
NFL Blitz
|
Midway Games
|
September 9, 1998
|
Nintendo 64
|
—
|
90.02%
|
1080° Snowboarding
|
Nintendo
|
February 28, 1998
|
Nintendo 64
|
—
|
89.60%
|
Battlezone
|
Activision
|
March 11, 1998
|
Microsoft Windows
|
—
|
89.03%
|
Railroad Tycoon II
|
Gathering of Developers
|
November 2, 1998
|
Microsoft Windows
|
89/100
|
83.15%
|
Turok 2: Seeds of Evil
|
Acclaim Entertainment
|
December 10, 1998
|
Nintendo 64
|
86/100
|
88.96%
|
FIFA 99
|
EA Sports
|
October 31, 1998
|
Microsoft Windows
|
—
|
88.87%
|
Caesar III
|
Sierra Entertainment
|
September 30, 1998
|
Microsoft Windows
|
—
|
88.6%
|
Unreal
|
GT Interactive
|
May 22, 1998
|
Microsoft Windows
|
—
|
88.58%
|
NBA Live 99
|
EA Sports
|
November 10, 1998
|
PlayStation
|
—
|
88.39%
|
R4: Ridge Racer Type 4
|
Namco
|
December 3, 1998
|
PlayStation
|
88/100[29]
|
88.16%[30]
|
NHL 99
|
EA Sports
|
September 30, 1998
|
Microsoft Windows
|
—
|
88.11%
|
Wario Land II
|
Nintendo
|
October 21, 1998
|
Game Boy Color
|
—
|
88.04%[30]
|
Myth II: Soulblighter
|
Bungie
|
December 28, 1998
|
Microsoft Windows
|
88/100
|
86.39%
|
Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit
|
Electronic Arts
|
March 25, 1998
|
PlayStation
|
88/100
|
85.63%
|
Starsiege: Tribes
|
Sierra Entertainment
|
December 23, 1998
|
Microsoft Windows
|
88/100
|
84.77%
|
Shogo: Mobile Armor Division
|
Monolith Productions
|
October 15, 1998
|
Microsoft Windows
|
88/100
|
81.6%
|
FIFA 99
|
EA Sports
|
October 31, 1998
|
PlayStation
|
—
|
87.95%
|
F-Zero X
|
Nintendo
|
July 14, 1998
|
Nintendo 64
|
85/100
|
87.61%
|
Madden NFL 99
|
EA Sports
|
September 23, 1998
|
Nintendo 64
|
—
|
87.59%
|
Financial performance
Best-selling video game consoles
Rank
|
Manufacturer
|
Game console
|
Type
|
Generation
|
Sales
|
Japan
|
United States
|
Worldwide
|
1
|
Sony
|
PlayStation
|
Home
|
32-bit
|
4,660,000[31]
|
9,130,000[31]
|
22,500,000[31]
|
2
|
Nintendo
|
Game Boy / Game Boy Color
|
Handheld
|
8-bit
|
4,730,000[32]
|
2,430,000[33]
|
12,990,000[32]
|
3
|
Nintendo
|
Nintendo 64
|
Home
|
64-bit
|
1,210,000[32]
|
3,881,000[34]
|
7,860,000[32]
|
4
|
Nintendo
|
Super NES / Super Famicom
|
Home
|
16-bit
|
50,000[32]
|
200,000[34]
|
1,430,000[32]
|
5
|
Sega
|
Dreamcast
|
Home
|
128-bit
|
900,000[35]
|
—
|
900,000
|
6
|
Sega
|
Sega Genesis (Mega Drive)
|
Home
|
16-bit
|
—
|
659,000[34]
|
659,000+
|
7
|
Sega
|
Sega Saturn
|
Home
|
32-bit
|
150,000[35]
|
55,000[34]
|
205,000+
|
8
|
Nintendo
|
NES / Famicom
|
Home
|
8-bit
|
50,000[32]
|
120[34]
|
50,120
|
Best-selling home video games
The following titles were the top ten best-selling home video games (console games or computer games) of 1998 in Japan, the United States, and Germany.
Best-selling home video games in Japan, United States and Germany
Rank
|
Title
|
Platform
|
Sales
|
Japan
|
United States
|
Germany
|
Combined
|
1
|
Pokémon Red / Green / Blue / Pikachu
|
Game Boy
|
3,288,391[a]
|
4,000,000[36]
|
—
|
7,288,391
|
2
|
Resident Evil 2 (Biohazard 2)
|
PlayStation
|
2,298,814[37]
|
1,194,840[38]
|
Unknown
|
3,493,654+
|
3
|
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
|
Nintendo 64
|
920,000[39]
|
2,500,000[40]
|
Unknown
|
3,420,000+
|
4
|
Gran Turismo
|
PlayStation
|
1,495,761[41]
|
1,431,483[38]
|
270,000+[42]
|
3,197,244+
|
5
|
Tekken 3
|
PlayStation
|
1,266,000[41]
|
1,113,749[38]
|
100,000+[43]
|
2,479,749+
|
6
|
GoldenEye 007
|
Nintendo 64
|
< 17,676[44]
|
2,300,000[45]
|
Unknown
|
2,300,000+
|
7
|
Metal Gear Solid
|
PlayStation
|
765,000[39]
|
1,064,909[38]
|
—
|
1,829,909
|
8
|
Dragon Quest Monsters: Terry no Wonderland
|
Game Boy Color
|
1,660,000[39]
|
—
|
—
|
1,660,000
|
9
|
Crash Bandicoot: Warped (Crash Bandicoot 3)
|
PlayStation
|
649,000[39]
|
858,726[38]
|
Unknown
|
1,507,726+
|
10
|
Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back
|
PlayStation
|
395,884[41]
|
941,686[38]
|
Unknown
|
1,337,570+
|
The following titles were the top ten highest-grossing home video games of 1998 in the United States and Europe.
Highest-grossing home video games in United States and Europe
Rank
|
Title
|
Platform(s)
|
Sales revenue
|
United States
|
Europe[46]
|
Combined
|
Inflation
|
1
|
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
|
Nintendo 64
|
$150,000,000[40]
|
€39,000,000+ ($44,000,000+)
|
$194,000,000+
|
$350,000,000+
|
2
|
Gran Turismo
|
PlayStation
|
$58,568,520[38]
|
€66,000,000+ ($74,000,000+)
|
$132,568,520+
|
$238,017,061+
|
3
|
Resident Evil 2
|
PlayStation
|
$58,597,202[38]
|
€29,000,000+ ($33,000,000+)
|
$91,597,202+
|
$164,456,063+
|
4
|
GoldenEye 007
|
Nintendo 64
|
$70,377,973+[38]
|
€19,000,000+ ($21,000,000+)
|
$91,377,973+
|
$164,062,453+
|
5
|
Tekken 3
|
PlayStation
|
$48,554,550[38]
|
€36,000,000+ ($40,000,000+)
|
$88,554,550+
|
$158,993,204+
|
6
|
Banjo-Kazooie
|
Nintendo 64
|
$51,790,624[38]
|
€26,000,000+ ($29,000,000+)
|
$80,790,624+
|
$145,053,644+
|
7
|
Tomb Raider III
|
Multi-platform
|
Unknown
|
€68,000,000+ ($74,000,000+)
|
$74,000,000+
|
$133,000,000+
|
8
|
Pokémon Red / Blue
|
Game Boy
|
$70,000,000+[47]
|
—
|
$70,000,000+
|
$126,000,000+
|
9
|
Super Mario 64
|
Nintendo 64
|
$39,184,953[38]
|
€21,000,000+ ($24,000,000+)
|
$63,184,953+
|
$113,443,952+
|
10
|
FIFA 99
|
Multi-platform
|
Unknown
|
€50,000,000+ ($56,000,000+)
|
$56,000,000+
|
$101,000,000+
|
Japan
In Japan, the following titles were the top ten best-selling home video games of 1998.
Rank
|
Title
|
Platform
|
Publisher
|
Genre
|
Sales
|
Ref
|
1
|
Pocket Monsters: Red / Green / Blue / Pikachu (Pokémon)
|
Game Boy
|
Nintendo
|
Role-playing
|
3,288,391
|
[a]
|
2
|
Biohazard 2 (Resident Evil 2)
|
PlayStation
|
Capcom
|
Survival horror
|
2,298,814+
|
[37]
|
3
|
Dragon Quest Monsters: Terry no Wonderland
|
Game Boy Color
|
Enix
|
Role-playing
|
1,660,000
|
[39]
|
4
|
Gran Turismo
|
PlayStation
|
Sony
|
Racing simulation
|
1,495,761
|
[41]
|
5
|
Tekken 3
|
PlayStation
|
Namco
|
Fighting
|
1,266,000
|
6
|
Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters
|
PlayStation
|
Konami
|
Card battle
|
1,175,000
|
[39]
|
7
|
Parasite Eve
|
PlayStation
|
Squaresoft
|
Horror
|
1,049,000
|
8
|
Tales of Destiny
|
PlayStation
|
Namco
|
Action role-playing
|
965,280+
|
[37]
|
9
|
The Legend of Zelda: Toki no Ocarina (Ocarina of Time)
|
Nintendo 64
|
Nintendo
|
Action-adventure
|
920,000
|
[39]
|
10
|
Xenogears
|
PlayStation
|
Squaresoft
|
Role-playing
|
892,015
|
[41]
|
United States
In the United States, the following titles were the top ten best-selling home video games of 1998.
Rank
|
Title
|
Platform
|
Publisher
|
Genre
|
Sales
|
Revenue
|
Inflation
|
1
|
Pokémon Red / Blue
|
Game Boy
|
Nintendo
|
Role-playing
|
4,000,000[36]
|
$70,000,000+[47]
|
$126,000,000+
|
2
|
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
|
Nintendo 64
|
Nintendo
|
Action-adventure
|
2,500,000[40]
|
$150,000,000[40]
|
$270,000,000
|
3
|
GoldenEye 007
|
Nintendo 64
|
Nintendo
|
Shooter
|
2,300,000[45]
|
$70,377,973+[38]
|
$126,358,492+
|
4
|
Gran Turismo
|
PlayStation
|
Sony
|
Racing simulation
|
1,431,483[38]
|
$58,568,520[38]
|
$105,155,485
|
5
|
Resident Evil 2
|
PlayStation
|
Capcom
|
Survival horror
|
1,194,840[38]
|
$58,597,202[38]
|
$105,206,981
|
6
|
Tekken 3
|
PlayStation
|
Namco
|
Fighting
|
1,113,749[38]
|
$48,554,550[38]
|
$87,176,136
|
7
|
Madden NFL 99
|
PlayStation
|
EA Sports
|
Sports
|
1,073,777[38]
|
$44,130,798[38]
|
$79,233,613
|
8
|
Metal Gear Solid
|
PlayStation
|
Konami
|
Stealth
|
1,064,909[38]
|
$51,834,077[38]
|
$93,064,286
|
9
|
Banjo-Kazooie
|
Nintendo 64
|
Nintendo
|
Platformer
|
1,054,349[38]
|
$51,790,624[38]
|
$92,986,269
|
10
|
Super Mario 64
|
Nintendo 64
|
Nintendo
|
Platformer
|
946,411[38]
|
$39,184,953[38]
|
$70,353,711
|
Europe
In Europe, the following titles were the top ten highest-grossing home video games of 1998.
Rank
|
Title
|
Platform(s)
|
Europe sales revenue[46]
|
France
|
Germany
|
Sales revenue
|
Inflation
|
Rank
|
Sales
|
1
|
Tomb Raider III
|
Multi-platform
|
€68,000,000+ ($74,000,000+)
|
$130,000,000+
|
Unknown
|
Unknown
|
2
|
Gran Turismo
|
PlayStation
|
€66,000,000+ ($74,000,000+)
|
$130,000,000+
|
1[48]
|
270,000+[42]
|
3
|
FIFA 99
|
Multi-platform
|
€50,000,000+ ($56,000,000+)
|
$101,000,000+
|
Unknown
|
Unknown
|
4
|
World Cup 98
|
Multi-platform
|
€48,000,000+ ($54,000,000+)
|
$97,000,000+
|
Unknown
|
339,000+[42]
|
5
|
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
|
Nintendo 64
|
€39,000,000+ ($44,000,000+)
|
$79,000,000+
|
Unknown
|
Unknown
|
Tomb Raider II
|
Multi-platform
|
€39,000,000+ ($44,000,000+)
|
$79,000,000+
|
Unknown
|
358,000+[42]
|
7
|
FIFA: Road to World Cup 98
|
Multi-platform
|
€37,000,000+ ($41,000,000+)
|
$74,000,000+
|
Unknown
|
160,000+[42]
|
8
|
Tekken 3
|
PlayStation
|
€36,000,000+ ($40,000,000+)
|
$72,000,000+
|
Unknown
|
100,000+[43]
|
9
|
Colin McRae Rally
|
Multi-platform
|
€30,000,000+ ($34,000,000+)
|
$61,000,000+
|
Unknown
|
10
|
Resident Evil 2
|
PlayStation
|
€29,000,000+ ($33,000,000+)
|
$59,000,000+
|
Australia
In Australia, the following titles were the top ten best-selling home console games of 1998.[49]
Highest-grossing arcade games in Japan
In Japan, the following titles were the highest-grossing arcade games of 1998.