Top 10 Konami Games

We’re kicking things off with an arcade classic, a game that’s is easy to understand but difficult to master. The player must guide a frog through lanes of fast-moving cars and jump over debris in a river in order to advance to the next level. It might seem simple compared to some of the other entries on this list, but at the time, Frogger was regarded as one of the best and most innovative arcade games around. The game has been ported dozens of times over, but nothing sizes up to the original. It’s so iconic that it even featured in its own episode of Seinfeld!

#9: “Pro Evolution Soccer" series (2001-)

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Also known as “Winning Eleven,” the Pro Evolution Soccer Series is one of the best-selling sports franchises of all time. Cast under EA Sport’s Fifa series looming shadow since its inception, this extremely popular soccer series has had to make do without some major licenses in some of its early iterations, but Konami makes up for this by consistently putting out the most playable, fun and rewarding ‘football’ games on the market.

The Suikoden series is usually overlooked by all but the most die-hard RPG fans – yet Suikoden II, often considered the pinnacle of a beloved franchise to those who know it. Deftly mixing political intrigue with a heart-wrenching emotional journey, Suikoden II weaves a memorable story based around betrayal and family. With fast-paced combat, comprehensive war simulation segments, and over 100 playable characters to find and recruit, Suikoden II is a real RPG gem.

The original Gradius, released for Arcade in 1985, was a side-scrolling space shooter that implemented a complex weapon system. And Konami continued to refine and develop the Gradius formula until coming upon Gradius V, developed by legendary shoot-em-up icons Treasure. Adding a fresh coat of paint to the punishing challenge of the previous entries, and pushing the Playstation 2 to its limits in terms of what you can fit on the screen, Gradius V is the crowning achievement in this storied franchise.

#6: “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time” (1991)

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The Ninja Turtles was by and large, one of the most popular names in the late 80’s early 90’s, and Konami’s charm made the series into a fantastic side-scrolling beat ‘em up. Laying the groundwork in The original Arcade game, It was refined to perfection with improved graphics, controls and new depth of gameplay, such as giving the turtles the ability to throw enemies at the screen, while simultaneously sending our beloved anthropomorphic turtle heroes careening through time? Bebop and Rocksteady in Pirate costumes? Sure why not.

With dozens of different iterations, is there a more quintessential arcade experience than the Dance Dance Revolution series? Combining a frenetic rhythm game with a physical peripheral—the legendary dance-pad—DDR had downstairs neighbours frantically banging on their ceilings when it was ported to home consoles in 2001. This is a game that was as noted for its hardcore gameplay and user base as it was for breaking into mainstream pop culture, and one of those games that makes our jaws drop when we see someone beat the Highest difficulty songs.

The original Contra was a brutally difficult run and gun games that exposed many gamers to the infamous ‘Konami Code.’ Contra III: The Alien Wars brought the hardcore alien warfare to the SNES, incorporating better graphics and new overhead shooting segments. Widely accepted as one of the best and most challenging co-op games on the Super Nintendo, Contra 3 dialled up the fun factor, all the while ensuring that you would die many, many times on your way to thwarting the dastardly alien faction known as Red Falcon.

#3: “Silent Hill 2” (2001)

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One of the most highly praised survival horror games ever, Silent Hill 2 upgraded its terrifying predecessor and threw us into the distorted psyche of its protagonist, a man named James Sunderland, as he attempts to discover the source of a letter he received from his deceased wife. With some of the most disturbing enemy and environment designs ever seen in a video game, Silent Hill 2 tackled taboo topics such as abuse while painting a bleak and horrifying picture that seized the attention of players and critics everywhere.

#2: “Castlevania: Symphony of the Night” (1997)

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The original Castlevania was a relatively straight-forward but fun action platformer. Symphony of the Night, however, totally revolutionized the series. Boasting a moody, mysterious protagonist named Alucard, RPG elements previously unseen in the Castlevania series and an absolutely massive castle brimming with secrets to find and bosses to conquer, Symphony of the Night was a near-perfect combination of role-playing and action elements. It took the foundation that Super Metroid had laid and built a mansion on top of them to give birth to a whole new genre: Metroidvania. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “Beatmania Series” (1997-2002) “Lethal Enforcers” (1992) “Sunset Riders” (1991) “The Simpsons Arcade Game” (1991) “Zone of the Enders” (2001) "X-Men Arcade Game" (1992)

#1: “Metal Gear Solid” (1998)

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Metal Gear Solid for the Playstation, was truly a gaming masterpiece. It mixed a mature, complex storyline with unparalleled stealth action gameplay, as you guide Solid Snake through the Alaskan Military Facility: Shadow Moses Island. Credited as the origin of the stealth genre and is one of the first games to feel like a AAA Hollywood blockbuster, Thanks to memorable characters, boss battles and plot twists galore. Though Snake Eater came close to taking this slot, the first game is still the easiest to follow. And that’s what makes it the best. Agree with our list? What's your favorite Konami game? For more entertaining top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.