When you think of classic cartoons, many may come to mind, such as works from Disney, Looney Tunes, and Scooby-Doo. Still, a variety of others have captured the interest of many, from inspiring heroes to despicable villains and enchanting worlds.
Technology has come a long way since the very first animated cartoon was made in 1908. With the rise of arcades, gaming consoles, and PCs, this gave companies the chance to lets fans play as some of their favorite cartoon characters. While many of us have moved on from the Commodore and NES days, there are plenty of cartoon characters you might have forgotten that starred in their own video games.
10 Chip ‘N Dale Rescue Rangers
Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers is an NES game based on the cartoon of the same name. This platform game lets you play as the two main characters while getting support from the other cast of the Rescue Rangers.
In the game, your mission is to rescue a missing kitten, but it was all a rouse so that Fat Cat could kidnap one of the team members, Gadget. You will go through different stages, trying to overcome obstacles and fight enemies. The other three members of the Rescue Rangers will also help you out by breaking down barriers, granting you invincibility for some time, and giving you tips.
9 Betty Boop’s Double Shift
Betty Boop made her debut in 1930 and has been an iconic character throughout the decades. She would go on to make her video game debut in Betty Boop’s Double Shift which was released in 2007 for the Nintendo DS.
The game itself is quite similar to Diner Dash, in which Betty Boop goes from table to table, serving her customers. The customers can get angry and walk off if you take too long to serve them. Waiting tables isn't the only feature in this game as Betty gets called up to the front of the diner to sing, and you must hit the correct notes while she sings the song.
8 Tom And Jerry
Over the years, Tom and Jerry have starred in over 160 films since their creation in 1940. While their starring roles in films and shows have been impressive, they have also been in quite a few video games as well.
Their earliest games were released for the MS-DOS and Commodore 64 but would go on to have games for the NES, Game Boy, and a few other consoles. Perhaps one of their most well-known movies, Tom and Jerry: The Magic Ring, lets you play out the story on the Game Boy Advance.
7 ThunderCats
ThunderCats immediately captured the attention of audiences when it was released in 1985 for its science fantasy setting and cast of characters. Capitalizing on the profound success, its first game was released in 1987 for home computers known as ThunderCats: The Lost Eye of Thundera.
The game starts with the villain showing that they have the Eye of Thundera, the power source for the ThunderCats. You will play as Lion-O as he goes through 14 stages of side-scrolling action to find the missing Eye of Thundera. There is plenty of close and short-range combat along with a flying vehicle and a time limit to the level. The villain and their goons appear if the time limit expires, making the level more difficult to finish.
6 Popeye
Popeye has been around since January 1929, when his first comic strip was released. Since then, he’s been promoting how strong you can get by eating spinach. His very first video game would be an arcade game simply known as Popeye.
The main objective of the main is for Popeye to collect a certain amount of items that are dropped by Olive Oyl. The level determines what those items are, such as hearts, musical notes, or letters spelling out 'help.' Meanwhile, you must also try to avoid enemies like the Sea Hag and Brutus. You can climb up and down stairs trying to get the items or the can of spinach to attack the enemies, and it also makes you invincible for a limited time.
5 Biker Mice From Mars
Biker Mice From Mars debuted in 1993, and while it was a relatively short-lived show with only three seasons, it still was a huge hit with a cult following. Its first game was released in 1994 for the SNES and served as a tie-in to the cartoon.
You can play as one of six racers competing in a series of contests on different tracks. This racing game gives you weapons to help you get the advantage over the other racers, and each character has their own special ability and weapon. You can also upgrade your bike, armor, and weapons in-between contests.
4 He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe tells the story of Prince Adam, who lives another life as he is transformed into He-Man while wielding the Sword of Power. This 80s show was so successful it was a no-brainer to make it into a video game. The very first game was released as a horizontally scrolling shooter and action game.
The game was developed for the Atari 2600. Since its first game, there have been five more, such as He-Man: Power of Grayskull was made for the Game Boy Advance, and a follow-up He-Man: Defender of Grayskull was made for the PS2, where Adam’s adventures in Eternia take you on a story up against some of his iconic foes like Skeletor.
3 The Jetsons
The Jetsons was a wildly popular show created by Hanna-Barbera, the same company that brought you Tom & Jerry and Scooby-Doo, among many other famous cartoons. This show was about a futuristic family and their everyday lives.
After finding its footing and success, a game was developed for the SNES known as The Jetsons: Invasion of the Planet Pirates. The game lets you play as George Jetson as he tries to stop the leader of the space pirates from stealing resources from the galaxy. In nine different stages, you will fight against different bosses, gather items, and try to get a high score. This wouldn’t be the only Jetsons game, as seven other titles were made.
2 The Flintstones
If you haven’t had a chance to meet the Flintstones, then now might be a good chance for you to. This Stone Age family captured the interest of many when it aired in 1960. Since then, this show has spawned many reruns, movies, and merch.
Plenty of video games have been made for the Flintstones for MS-DOS, Amstrad CPC, SNES, PlayStation, and more. The 1988 game was released for home computers, and you could play through four different levels, each with something different. Painting rooms, racing to a bowling alley, bowling with Barney, and trying to find Pebbles are all the objectives that make up this game.
1 Bugs Bunny
Bugs Bunny is perhaps one of the most iconic and instantly recognizable cartoon characters in the world. Created in the late 1930s by Warner Bros, Bugs Bunny would star in a variety of his own and other shows and films. He has also appeared in a plethora of video games, such as his own titles, Looney Tunes, Space Jam, and more.
One of his first games was The Bugs Bunny Crazy Castle, released on the NES. This side-scrolling adventure lets you play as Bugs trying to help Honey Bunny escape from her kidnappers in over 60 levels. You can use different items to defeat or avoid enemies, but you must also collect eight carrots to pass each level.