For those who have been gaming for many years, or have old souls, there’s not much better than finding old-school games on Steam for cheap. There are myriad options for classic game bundles on Steam, but which are the best?
We’re always on the lookout for great deals when it comes to purchasing games. As such, a list of best classic game bundles will likely change frequently over time — for more reasons than you think. This list may not be set in stone, but the legacy of these classic games will never crumble.
The best classic game bundles you can find on Steam
We’ve searched around the endless sea that is the Steam marketplace to highlight these classic game bundles. Naturally, there’s plenty of room for subjectivity (I am partial to my shooty-bang-bang games). We kept genre and taste in mind when it came to deciding, but there could always be more buried deep within the marketplace. For now, let’s begin!
DOOM Classic Bundle
What better way to start a classic game bundle list on Steam than with arguably the best shooter collection of all time? The DOOM Classic Bundle needs no glory kills, wall mantling, or gasoline to be loud, messy, and badass. This collection lets you rip through demons and tear them a new one in four legendary games:
- DOOM
- DOOM II
- DOOM 3
- DOOM 64
Buyers will get the originals plus a free upgrade for the enhanced versions of the games (that includes DOOM 3: BFG Edition remastered for DOOM 3).
Star Wars Complete Collection
Despite what you think, the newest game in the Star Wars Complete Collection only launched in 2011 (no Cal Kestis in sight). And while that doesn’t exactly count it as “classic” (it doesn’t!), the other games on the list certainly are. We’re talking 1995 here, people, back when a lot of games were releasing for MS-DOS. The collection contains some of those, such as Star Wars: Dark Forces — a game that later spun into the Jedi Knight series. There are 26 games in the collection and includes such all-time classics as Knights of the Old Republic, X-Wing and TIE Fighter, and LEGO Star Wars – The Complete Saga.
LucasArts Adventure Pack
LucasArts is synonymous with “classic games,” as anyone who played its adventure titles during the ’90s will gladly tell you. Many games with the LucasArts branding are still remembered fondly today; Day of the Tentacle, Maniac Mansion, and Sam & Max: Hit the Road are timeless classics. While the LucasArts Adventure Pack doesn’t include many of these, it does feature four of the company’s best point-and-click adventure games:
- Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis
- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
- LOOM
- The Dig
Fans of old-school adventure games shouldn’t be disappointed in the collection. Of course, if you’re looking for something with more name power, there’s always Monkey Island.
Monkey Island Collection
No monkey is an island, as they say, but the Monkey Island series is big enough to warrant its own collection. This famous LucasArts point-and-click adventure franchise stayed relevant for decades and even managed to get its story wrapped up in 2022. The Monkey Island Collection includes the five mainline games, starting with The Secret of Monkey Island, which first launched in 1990 (visually updated in 2009). There’s a lot of history and hilarity in the bundle for any fan of adventures on the high seas.
Quake Collection Bundle
Now we’re talking my language. Fun fact: Not listening to my parents and playing the Quake II soundtrack as loud as possible is why I need to sleep with a fan on in my room every night. The newest game in the Quake Collection Bundle is Quake Champions, but it’s also free to play and can be ignored. The rest of the games are absolute bangers, though there is some quality argument to be made about the RavenSoft-led Quake 4. Regardless, the original Quake trilogy is legendary and deserves to be played today. Both Quake and Quake II have also been enhanced, and owners of the games get the update (and expansions) for free.
Myst 25th Anniversary Collection
Myst may leave you scratching your head, but the inclusion of its bundle on this list certainly won’t. Few PC gaming fans don’t know the name Myst. And there are fewer still who have actually untangled its complex puzzles. I’ve been stuck in that damn forest for over two decades. The Myst 25th Anniversary Collection includes the original Myst tetralogy; the sequel, Riven; the Uru spin-off games; and the 3D adaptation, realMyst. It’s a ton of mystery all in one package, so be sure to put your thinking cap on before approaching these challenging games.
NEOGEO Bundle
Ah, NEOGEO. I’d be a richer man today if I never dropped that first quarter in that old Metal Slug arcade cabinet when I was in middle school. But I don’t regret it for an instant. The NEOGEO Bundle contains some of the finest arcade action games the ’90s could deliver. Metal Slug, Metal Slug 2, Shock Troopers… and Twinkle Star Sprites is there! Just give it a chance. The only unfortunate exclusion in the list is Metal Slug X, an upgraded spin-off of Metal Slug 2. You can pick it up separately, and I suggest you do if you decide to get this bundle. No Metal Slug collection is complete without it.
The best classic game collections on Steam
While these are some of the best classic game bundles you can find on Steam, they do come with a potential caveat. Not all Steam bundles last forever. In fact, some may only exist for a short while as part of a sales promotion. And if you don’t pick them up quickly, they disappear. Many of the bundles listed here will likely stay for a while, but that’s no guarantee. If you want to get classic games on Steam and keep them, consider buying a collection.
There is a major difference between a collection and a bundle. The latter is a list of separate, complete games. But retro collections are arguably launchers of sorts, featuring an emulator with ROMS and a navigable menu keeping them all together. Collections can also be considered as singular, official games, meaning they won’t up and vanish like a bundle.
Consider picking up these classic game collections:
- Contra Anniversary Collection
- A list of 10 Contra games starting from the NES era.
- Mega Man Legacy Collection
- The first six classic games are included, beginning with the 1987 original.
- The Disney Afternoon Collection
- Four of the most popular Disney games once found on the NES, all in one place.
- TMNT: The Cowabunga Collection
- The turtle boys are back in 13 retro games for this collection.
- Castlevania Anniversary Collection
- Another list of Konami greats to go along with Contra, this bundle includes nine blood-sucking classics.
- The Apogee Throwback Pack
- Apogee was a major name when it came to PC gaming in the ’90s, and this collection includes four reasons why.
- Zork Anthology
- And you thought this article wouldn’t feature deep cuts! >Open the door and try the OG text-based adventure game series in this collection.
Bundles may not always last, but classic games are forever. Check out the above selections if you’re itching for some real old-school gaming.
