10 Best Forgotten Nicktoon Video Games, Ranked

Highlights

• Nickelodeon has inspired various video games, including classics like
  SpongeBob SquarePants
  and
  Ren & Stimpy.
• Games like
  Rocko’s Modern Life
  and
  Aaahh!!! Real Monsters
  bring back nostalgic 90s gameplay with unique challenges.
• Nicktoons Unite!
  and
  SpongeBob SquarePants: Lights, Camera, Pants!
  offer fun party game experiences for fans of these iconic shows.

Nickelodeon is home to many beloved cartoons. Doug, Ren & Stimpy, SpongeBob SquarePants…kids and adults have tuned into this programming since the 90s. There are memes, movies, toys…Nickelodeon is truly part of the zeitgeist, and has been for decades.

This beloved network is also responsible for inspiring hundreds of whimsical video games across all platforms. SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom, for instance, is so popular, it was remade on Steam and for the Switch and PS4. While there are many titles that gaming fans know all about, there are other Nicktoon video games that have slid under the radar.

10 Rocko’s Modern Life: Spunky’s Dangerous Day

GameFAQs Product Rating: 2.46 Stars

• Platform: Super NES
• Release Date: April 1994
• Developer: Viacom New Media
• Genre: 2D Action Platformer

Puzzles and platforming abound in Rocko’s Modern Life: Spunky’s Dagerous Day. Spunky is Rocko’s bull terrier, and he does nothing more than dig through the trash and annoy the next-door neighbor by rolling around in his bushes.

In this game, Spunky is the cause of all sorts of destruction. Players must control Rocco and move objects around so Spunky can safely make it to the end of four levels. Despite the mixed reviews, the graphics are vibrant and crisp and the gameplay is fun, yet challenging.

9 The Ren & Stimpy Show: Veediots!

GameFAQs Product Rating: 2.61 Stars

• Platform: Super NES, Game Boy
• Release Date: 1993
• Developer: THQ, Gray Matter Studios
• Genre: Platform, Adventure

Ren and Stimpy are lovable pals, so there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be ranked as one of the best video game duos. Unfortunately, time has seemed to forget all about the games inspired by this classic Nicktoon.

Poor reviews on top of a controversy surrounding the show’s creator hurt any chance of the games being remembered. All that aside, the most playable title in the Ren & Stimpy series has to be Veediots! There aren’t any save points, which can be frustrating, but with references to “Log” and the same zany energy of the show, this platformer is still worth checking out.

8 Aaahh!!! Real Monsters

GameFAQs Product Rating: 2.66 Stars

• Platform: SNES, Sega Genesis
• Release Date: August 15, 1995
• Developer: Realtime Associates, Viacom
• Genre: Platform

In this forgotten game from the 90s, players must make their way through Monster Academy. After all, Ickis, Oblina, and Krumm want nothing more than to pass their Monster Midterm and graduate from school.

Players control all three monsters, each with their own special abilities. Ickis can fly, Oblina is able to reach up high, and Krumm can use his prominent eyeballs to look further ahead on the screen. The trio can also work off each other when needed. The unique abilities of the characters, and the interesting levels, make this a fun Nicktoon game that shouldn’t be overlooked.

7 Hey Arnold! The Movie

GameFAQs Product Rating: 2.83 Stars

• Platform: Game Boy Advance
• Release Date: May 29, 2002
• Developer: Altron
• Genre: Action-Adventure, Platform

Hey Arnold! The Movie was released in theaters in 2002. It was only an hour and 16 minutes long. The game inspired by the film was released the same year and has the same title, but features a stunning 12 hours of gameplay!

There are four main levels and one final boss, Scheck, an industrial tycoon who plans on demolishing Arnold and Gerald’s neighborhood to build a shopping mall. Hey Arnold! was always ahead of the curve in tackling mature themes, and the movie tie-in game was no different.

6 The Wild Thornberrys: Animal Adventures

GameFAQs Product Rating: 3.06 Stars

• Platform: PlayStation
• Release Date: October 26, 2000
• Developer: Know Wonder
• Genre: Action-Adventure

The PlayStation 5 is more popular than ever, so many gamers have forgotten all about PS1 titles in the four console generations since. The Wild Thornberrys: Animal Adventures is one such game that time has left behind.

It’s too bad, though, since this Nicktoon game is actually a ton of fun for kids. One level plays like Frogger, with Eliza hopping across floating logs. Another has the adventurer traversing through ruins, trying to find her way out. There are close to two hours of gameplay in this game, which is the perfect length for young gamers.

5 The Fairly OddParents: Shadow Showdown

GameFAQs Product Rating: 3.13 Stars

• Platform: Game Boy Advance, GameCube, PlayStation 2
• Release Date: September 8, 2004
• Developer: Blitz Games, Helixe, ImaginEngine
• Genre: Platform

The best platformer games are challenging and have creative level designs that keep players on their toes. The Fairly OddParents: Shadow Showdown doesn’t break any new ground in the genre, but it’s still a fun Nicktoon game that checks all the platformer boxes.

Anyone who likes the snarky tone of the show will love this title. Timmy Turner battles his way through seven levels trying to find his way back to the real world after getting sucked into a training movie. Look out for cameos from beloved characters like Vicky and the Crimson Chin. The game is challenging enough for speed runners, but simple enough for kids.

4 Rugrats: Search For Reptar

GameFAQs Product Rating: 3.21 Stars

• Platform: PlayStation
• Release Date: October 31, 1998
• Developer: n-Space
• Genre: Action-Adventure, Platform

In Rugrats: Search for Reptar, Tommy is on a mission to build his Reptar puzzle. The pieces are in fun locations, and there are various challenges to complete, such as an egg hunt, a mini golf course, and a backyard obstacle course.

With title cards in the purple burst and the same music and voice overs as the cartoon series, this PS1 gem has all the nostalgic feel of the classic 90s show. However, it’s the adventurous spirit of Rugrats that comes through in the gameplay. Players can control as Chucky, Tommy, Phil and Lil, and even Spike, the family dog. Putting the clunky controls aside, the levels are all unique, making this game worth any Nicktoon fan’s time.

3 Nicktoons Unite!

GameFAQs Product Rating: 3.33 Stars

• Platform: PlayStation 2, GameCube, Nintendo DS, Game Boy Advance
• Release Date: October 26, 2005
• Developer: Blue Tongue Entertainment, Climax Action
• Genre: Action-Adventure

Time has been kind to some Nicktoon video games, while others have been left in the dust. Nicktoons Unite! is one of those titles that players forget even existed.

Four characters are on the screen at the same time: Jimmy Neutron, SpongeBob, Danny Phantom, and Timmy Turner. Players can choose one depending on which power they need at a given time. SpongeBob, for instance, has a bubble bomb, while Danny Phantom builds an impenetrable ghost wall. This Nickelodeon crossover is an action-adventure game that puts some of the best cartoons all in one place for some brawling action.

2 Danny Phantom: Urban Jungle

GameFAQs Product Rating: 3.52 Stars

• Platform: Nintendo DS, Game Boy Advance
• Release Date: September 18, 2006
• Developer: Altron
• Genre: Side-Scroller

Danny wants a simple movie night at home. Unfortunately, evil never sleeps, and the town is quickly taken over by vicious ghosts. Danny must defeat them if he wants to enjoy the evening with his friends.

Danny Phantom: Urban Jungle is a side scroller released exclusively on handheld consoles, and it is a total blast. It features over an hour of playtime, and the graphics are pretty incredible for a game from this era. Plus, the creature design is brilliant. There’s a villainous lunch lady, a Meat Monster, and Undergrowth, a personified plant covered in tangled vines. Don’t miss out on this forgotten Nicktoon video game.

1 SpongeBob SquarePants: Lights, Camera, Pants!

GameFAQs Product Rating: 3.58 Stars

• Platform: Xbox, PlayStation 2, GameCube, Game Boy Advance
• Release Date: October 19, 2005
• Developer: THQ Studio Australia, WayForward Technologies
• Genre: Party

Video games are always more fun when they can be shared with others. Anyone looking for the best party games to play with friends should pick up SpongeBob SquarePants: Lights, Camera, Pants!

SpongeBob, Patrick, Sandy, Plankton, Squidward, and Mr. Krabs are all playable characters. Compete in over 30 mini games (or “auditions”), such as serving up the most patties at the Krusty Krab, racing boats around a curvy course, and even jamming out Guitar Hero style. Any fan of party games won’t want to miss out on this Nicktoon gem!