For around seventy years, Godzilla, the ultimate King of the Monsters, hasn’t just been stomping through the movie world. This is a giant with a giant reach that goes way beyond the big screen.
Over the years, there have literally been dozens of Godzilla-themed games across consoles, PCs, casinos and arcades. There are classic beat-‘em-ups, strategy games, slot games and even Slingo games online. And there are some that are so hilariously and weirdly quirky and campy that they’ve even managed to earn cult status.
So, if you’re looking for something different from your usual standard gaming session, then here are some of the best Godzilla-themed games that will give your experience a change of pace.
Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee (2002)
First of all, we have one of the most popular Godzilla games that’s ever been released, Destroy All Monsters Melee, which first appeared on the GameCube, before it stomped its way over to the Xbox. This was the game that finally managed to give kaiju fans exactly what they’d been after for years… huge fights between their favourite monsters and destroying cities as they do so.
You can choose from all sorts of legendary creatures - like Mothra, King Ghidorah, and Mechagodzilla, and then unleash ultimate chaos in cool, local multiplayer matches. It’s simple, satisfying, and completely replayable… and it’s the ultimate classic for fans who are looking for couch co-op mayhem.
Godzilla: Save the Earth (2004)
And two years later, we were treated to a spiritual sequel to Destroy All Monsters Melee. And this one took the monster battle concept to a whole new level. Available on PlayStation 2 and Xbox, it was even bigger and better than its predecessor, with bigger maps, new moves, and more playable kaiju. And there was also the addition of online multiplayer (which was rare for the time) and mini-games that kept things fresh.
Although it never actually reinvented the genre, it arguably perfected the gaming formula for monster-on-monster fights to become a game that no true Godzilla fan should miss.
Godzilla: Unleashed (2007)
Continuing the trend, we have Godzilla: Unleashed, which dropped on the Nintendo Wii and PlayStation 2, giving us even more monsters, factions, and a storyline that brought together humans and kaiju in one big all-out war. You could align yourself with Earth Defenders, Aliens, Mutants, or the Global Defence Force, each one with its own unique goals and monsters.
Although the Wii motion controls aren’t a big hit with everyone, Godzilla fans still love its sheer scale… and its undeniable dedication to kaiju lore.
Godzilla (2014)
Fans were absolutely over the moon when, seven years later, Godzilla stomped its way back onto consoles with this PlayStation 4 exclusive. With a much more traditional approach, this game lets you control Godzilla through various missions - as you grow in size by absorbing energy, fight other classic monsters, and knock down skyscrapers like bowling pins.
Although the game was released to mixed reviews, with some mentioning its clunky mechanics, its faithfulness to the Godzilla movie vibe made it a bit of a cult favourite… especially with die-hard fans who like nothing more than roaring, smashing, and causing havoc and mayhem.
Super Godzilla and Godzilla: Monster of Monsters
And we have to mention a couple of the classics, which might not be as hi-tech and visual as newer games, but have a charm and appeal all of their own.
The NES game Godzilla: Monster of Monsters, released in 1988, is old-school kaiju goodness at its best… a side-scrolling beat-‘em-up game with strategy elements that challenges us to defeat different monsters across a hex-grid map.
Meanwhile, the game Super Godzilla, which followed in 1993, served up a strange but highly appealing mix of brawler and cinematic sequences that still manages to charm players… even decades later.
The Final Roar
There’s nothing that quite beats the madness and mind-blowing action that you get from a decent Godzilla game. Movies are great because you get to sit back and watch it all unfold. But with games, you actually get to be a real part of the action, fighting monsters, destroying cities and becoming part of the legend yourself.
So, if you are thinking about giving Godzilla gaming a go, then these games are well worth a look!
