Retro Games That Feel Like Summer 🌴

Outrun is amazing! I speed run it on the arcade! I’m #5 in Goal D. I actually play it on an actual arcade machine! Fantastic game. The vibes can’t be matched. Passing Breeze is the only right song choice also…

Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball

For me that has to be Curse of Monkey Island. With their caribbean setting all of the Monkey Island games somewhat feel like summer. But Monkey Island 3 with it's beach settings and the wonderful summer like soundtrack feels most like summer to me.

Dark Cloud 1 and 2. Mainly cause I got them during summer breaks, but you tour the world, go on adventure, and bring people together just like a great summer vacation movie would do.

Nobody likes ska music except for a bunch of washed up boomers at the townhouse in Sudbury, Ontario.

pokemon ruby and sapphire have super cozy summer vibes and half the map is an ocean

I was wondering if you were going to include THPS. My go to is part 2. Outrun, Super Spike among others. Good list.

Ice cream truck guy wants 12 bucks for a frozen treat 😮

Good stuff. I would include Star Tropics as well.

Some of these have more to do with them releasing in summer, or me playing them on summer break as a kid, but a few picks I'd add:
Boktai
Pikmin 2
Castlevania: Circle of the Moon (really any GBA launch game tbh)
Donkey Kong Country 2
Ape Escape
Einhander
Tomba
Sonic Adventure (even though I personally don't think it holds up well)

Wind Waker probably also deserves a summer game nod even though to me it's more of a spring game, because it came out right when I started spring break that year.

With Outrun pictured, there was a distinct lack of... Outrun :| And we need Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball in the summer! An island resort, bikinis, and volleyball! Surprisingly wholesome, too! No, really!

Not retro, but retro-inspired: River City Girls 1 and 2. The vibes remind me a lot of the old Scott Pilgrim game (which is great for winter, btw).

GTA Vice City. Available everywhere.

Maybe put also Crazy Taxi and Jet Grind Radio on that list.

11/10 External Summers to you jus for mentioning Link's Awakening.

WINDJAMMER MENTIONED!!!!

I agree crash and adventure island have summer vibe, maybe outrun, other games are disputable. Name PS2 summer game for example? It's may be something like skating or motorcycle, because other games have autumn fellings.

Dude you're a canadian. There's no summer in canada. Stop larping. People suffer for real because of the heat.

Sonic 1 is my summer game. Got it at launch. 91 was such a good summer.

Yuzo koshiro and super adventure island. One of my favorite snes game soundtracks.

ESPN Extreme Games on the ps1 also did a great job of giving summer vibes!

Windjammers is peak

Dodgeball on NES is a core early first gaming memory of mine with Super Mario 1, 3 and Mega Man 2.

Man I have so many memories with Goof Troop..... But you mentioned so many games here that I totally forgot about.
Great video as always dude, have a root beer on me 🥤

Cold shadow was always a fun start to summer. Between Maui being dressed like a tourist, and the early tropical stages, the game always felt summery to me.

I miss Cool Spot on that list... (I wonder if the comment stays up now...)

Toobin' (Arcade): jump in your inner tube and race down a canyon river with very nice paddle controls. Good for co-op!

Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball (Xbox / various): highly recommended for 99 year olds!

I didn't know that a NES game could be both fun and not infuriating at the same time but Super Spike V'Ball positively surprised me. Thanks!

There is a version of Super Dodge Ball on the SNES, called Kunio-kun no Dodge Ball - Zenin Shuugou. Also one on NeoGeo.

Great choices Ty 😊

Please cover Afterplay, an emulation platform that is browser-based.