1990 saw many sequels and prequels in video games, such as Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, Dr. Mario, Dragon Quest IV, Final Fantasy III, Phantasy Star II, and Super Mario World, along with new titles such as Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light and Magic Sword. The year's highest-grossing arcade video games were Final Fight in Japan and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in the United States. The year's bestselling system was the Game Boy, while the year's best-selling home video game was Super Mario Bros. 3 for the Nintendo Entertainment System.

Financial performance

Highest-grossing arcade games

Japan

In Japan, the following titles were the top ten highest-grossing arcade video games of 1990.

United Kingdom and Australia

In the United Kingdom and Australia, the following titles were the top-grossing arcade video games of each month.

United States

In the United States, the following titles were the highest-grossing arcade video games of 1990. The following were the top-grossing arcade video games on the monthly RePlay arcade charts in 1990.

Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, these were the top-grossing arcade video games of each month on the Bondeal charts.

Best-selling home systems

Best-selling home video games

Japan

In Japan, according to Famicom Tsūshin (Famitsu) magazine, the following titles were the top ten best-selling 1990 releases, including later sales up until 1992. The following titles were the best-selling home video games on the Japan game charts published by Famicom Tsūshin (Famitsu) and Family Computer Magazine (Famimaga) in 1990.

United States

In the United States, Super Mario Bros. 3 was the best-selling home video game of 1990. The following titles were the best-selling home video games of each month in 1990.

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, the following titles were the best-selling home video games of each month in 1990, for various home computer and game console platforms.

Top-rated games

Major awards

Japan

United Kingdom

United States

Critically acclaimed titles

Famitsu Platinum Hall of Fame

The following video game releases in 1990 entered Famitsu magazine's "Platinum Hall of Fame" for receiving Famitsu scores of at least 35 out of 40.

English-language publications

Notable video game releases in 1990 that have accumulated overall critical acclaim from at least three contemporary English-language sources include:

Events

Hardware releases

Game releases