Summary
Since 1969, the talking Great Dane and his mystery-solving teenage friends have been entertaining audiences of all ages. Originally airing as an animated series and even transitioning to the big screen, it seemed only natural that the crime-fighting quintet wouldfind their way to video games, givenScooby-Doo’s popularity and mass appeal.
Countless games have popped up over the years. Some have been sub-par cash grabs and others were downright dreadful, but every now and again, an enjoyable gem has found its way to players’ homes. Here are some of the best,ranked by their general quality and popularitywith fans.
10Scooby-Doo! Mystery of the Fun Park Phantom
A Point-And-Click Mystery
Beginning with an FMV cutscene that is familiar to fans of the classic TV series,Scooby-Doo! Mystery of the Fun Park Phantomis a nostalgia hit from beginning to end. The story goes as expected, as the gang are stranded by an amusement park and must find clues to uncover the identity of the phantom who is driving away customers.
Playing as one of the four humans and utilizing the assistance of the beloved poochwith point-and-click gameplay, the culprit could be different in every playthrough, adding to the game’s replay value. Graphics and sound are good for the time, and it’s even possible to compete against AI opponents, to see who solves the mystery first.
Drawing many comparisons with the TT GamesLegoseries,Scooby-Doo! And the Spooky Swampboasts very similar and varied gameplay, featuring elements of combat, platforming and puzzling. Swapping between the five members of Mystery Inc. is easy and necessary since they each possess unique skills.
While trying to solve two mysteries, Shaggy and Scooby are also aiming to track down ingredients for a stew, acting as one of the many collectibles in the game. The gameplay itself is incredibly fun and some of the voice actors from the live-action film reprised their roles, butthe stylized graphics are quite polarizing.
An adventure game with platforming elements,Scooby-Doo Mysteryfeatures two distinct and separate stories, each with mysteries to solve. Taking control of Shaggy and Scooby, and receiving occasional assistance from the rest of the crew, players must search for clues in Blake’s Hotel and Ha-Ha Carnival.
Faithfulness to the source material is an obvious strong point here, and the humor and overall story also came in for high praise at the time. The only real gripe is that the game is too short, and occasionally the interface could be a bit clunky.
There is nothing revolutionary aboutScooby-Doo! Unmasked.It’s a fairly formulaic adventure game with platforming elements, but itstill warms the hearts of many fans. Playing as the eponymous dog, players must battle rogue animatronics and find clues to solve the mystery, all while dressing in various costumes, including ninja and super-hero.
Each costume gives Scooby distinct abilities to traverse the game world or battle enemies. While the game met with a mixed reception from contemporary critics, it has since developed a dedicated fanbase, who enjoy the charm that we all expect from the source material.
6Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo
Scrappy Takes Center Stage
Exclusive to the PAL region,Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doois a fun platformer where Scooby’s feisty nephew takes the spotlight. Naturally, just as in the cartoons and as his name suggests, the youngster is keen to unleash some puppy power on enemies as he attempts to rescue Scooby and Shaggy.
Navigating the gaps, ladders and ledges across four levels in a haunted castle, Scooby snacks can also be collected to earn bonus lives. Gameplay variety is lacking, and Scrappy isnot the most popular with the fans, but graphically, this game features incredibly attractive sprites and can be enjoyable for the duration of its short runtime.
5Scooby-Doo
The First Of Many Great Scooby Games
Thought to be the first video game based on a cartoon,Scooby-Doocontains elements of both the platforming and beat-em-up genres. Critics at the time found the gameplay addictive and the graphics incredible, though players with modern sensibilities may not be as impressed.
Still, as a part of gaming history, many fans still feel that the game is worth playing. While the original plans were extremely ambitious to the point of being unrealistic given contemporary hardware, many players still enjoy playing through its four levels and executing Scooby’s various effective attacks.
4Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase
A Digital Mystery
Following thoseturn-of-the-millennium trends, the gang are beamed into cyberspace inScooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase, where they must defeat the Phantom Virus. As Scooby and Shaggy in a fully 3D environment with help from Fred, Velma and Daphne, players should expect the usual gameplay of the platforming genre.
In the game’s seven themed stages, each consisting of three levels, there are plenty of collectibles, costumes, and boss battles to tackle. As with many otherScooby-Doogames, critics were not overly thrilled with this entry at the time, but it has developed a dedicated fanbase, who still love to play and discuss both the PS1 and GBA releases.
Drawingsome comparisons withLuigi’s Mansion,Scooby-Doo! Mystery Mayhemfeatures plenty of gameplay variety in its five different locations. The titular dog and his old buddy Shaggy are the playable characters once again, both being able to dress in various costumes in locales like a movie studio and the bayou.
Many enemies must be avoided, but using the Tome of Doom, the two heroes can capture the ghosts and ghouls that have been unleashed by a scheming business tycoon. Perhaps the similarities with the ghost-hunting exploits of the Italian plumber played a factor in this game’s mixed reviews, since critics feltLuigi’s Mansionwas better, but many fans enjoy this game and its own unique mechanics.
Scooby-Doo! Classic Creep Capersis one of those rare occasions where the handheld port is regarded as better than the home console version. Naturally, the two games are very different in terms of gameplay and graphics, but both are retellings of stories from the hit TV showScooby-Doo, Where Are You!.
The Nintendo 64 release is more of an adventure game, where Scooby and Shaggy must wear disguises and sneak through levels, with fear and courage playing a major role in success, whereas the Game Boy Color game is a point-and-click adventure. In its six chapters, players control all of Mystery Inc. and puzzle their way through a typical and enjoyable episode of the show.
1Scooby-Doo! Night of 100 Frights
A Scooby-Doo Metroidvania
Regarded by many fans as the best game featuring Mystery Inc.,Scooby-Doo! Night of 100 Frightsbaresmany similarities with Metroidvania-style games. At Mystic Manor, the gang has gone missing. Scooby must find them within the twelve areas by himself, utilizing various inventions he discovers along the way to aid in his quest.
Many paths are blocked off and must be unlocked via hidden keys, but there are other secret areas to explore and special items to be found. Many classic scenes from the original series are recreated, as well as some of the great monsters making appearances. Perhaps the crowning glory of this title is Tim Curry lending his voice to the main villain, The Mastermind.
